First Tee – Coachella Valley Magazine
•
Spring 2022
•
5
The
candy
man
Meet Program
Coordinator Kyle
Winn, aka Coach
Peanut Butter Cups
W
ith a name like Coach
Peanut Butter Cups,
you've got to figure Kyle
Winn has all the right ingredients
to have a positive impact on kids
at the First Tee – Coachella Valley.
Winn, who began as a coach in
2020, now serves as the organiza-
tion's Program Coordinator, where
he helps create Life Skills activ-
ities through the game of golf as
well as overseeing the growth of
the Volunteer Program. Here, he
talks about coaching and how he
received his unique nickname:
How did you get started in the
game? I was introduced to golf by
my mother when I was 5, but didn't
really start "playing golf" until I
was 16. I ended up working at golf
courses in high school and college,
and I'm very fortunate to turn my
passion into my profession.
How did you get the name
Coach Peanut Butter Cups? Peanut
Butter Cups are the sixth unofficial
food group in my opinion. I love
them! When new participants join
the program, I often tell them my
coaching nickname to break the
ice and get a giggle out of them.
What do you enjoy most about
coaching? Making kids better at
golf while making them laugh.
How would you describe your
coaching style? Cool, calm, and
comfortable.
What's the biggest life lesson
you've learned from golf? Patience,
patience, patience. Reminding my-
self when things go wrong, be pa-
tient, stay positive and you'll be
able to get back on the right track.
Spirit of
giving
Local clubs provide
opportunities to
support the First Tee
T
here are many differ-
ent ways to help sup-
port the First Tee –
Coachella Valley, and
even private clubs in the area
can get in on the act.
That was the case in March,
when both Desert Horizons
Country Club and PGA WEST
stepped up to the plate for the
organization.
At PGA WEST, women
turned their annual Solheim
Cup on March 14-15 into a
fundraiser that brought in
nearly $15,000. At Desert Hori-
zons, host site of the First Tee –
Coachella Valley's major fund-
raising golf tournament, the
organization's highest level
participants were invited to the
club for a delicious lunch buffet
and nine holes of golf.
"Collaboration with the golf
clubs in the Coachella Valley
with our youth participants
help us provide life experiences
by playing golf with and talk-
ing to adults to learn the art of
conversation," said Executive
Director Teal Guion. "Each
club that holds a fundraiser
is making a huge impact on
what experiences we are able
to offer the kids and teens of
the Coachella Valley."
......................................................
> Click here for information on
donating to the First Tee or for
holding an event at your club.
MEET THE TEAM
"Our main goal with the
Volunteer Program is to
grow the squad back to
where it was before the
pandemic. I look forward
to reconnecting with
past volunteers to get
them back onboard."
<< KYLE WINN
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