Joe Gaffke wears two hats in the Southeast Wisconsin community. By day, he’s a special education teacher at Alcott School in Milwaukee. With us, he’s a lead coach at Noyes Park and PGA TOUR Superstore.
A few years ago, Joe wanted to bring a positive experience with golf directly to his students at Alcott. He’d been dreaming of the idea for years before he made it real, about three and a half years ago, with First Tee — Southeast Wisconsin providing nearly everything he needed to get started.
We supported the program from the ground up. “First Tee was integral in getting this going,” Joe said.
Every Wednesday, Joe runs range sessions at Alcott using that same First Tee model, and the results speak for themselves. “Every day another kid takes the sheet that wants to sign up,” Joe said. “Just using your model and going with it, and it’s been great.”
That same success at Alcott drew Joe further into First Tee itself. What began as borrowing our approach for his own students grew into a deeper role on the course, and today he’s one of our lead coaches at Noyes Park, bringing that same energy and connection to the kids who come through our program every week.
More Than Just Golf
Ask Joe why he keeps coming back, and the answer has almost nothing to do with swing mechanics.
“It’s not only golf. It’s the building, reinforcement, it’s being together, camaraderie, goals, achieving goals, working, persevering, just getting through,” he said. “You’re using golf as a tool to really have these kids grow in ways that maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise.”
That growth is what keeps him showing up week after week.
“Seeing kids grow, from not being aware of it, to really enjoying it and having fun with it and becoming good at it, is something that I just love to see, and I love being a part of that,” Joe said. “It’s really special when you can see a kid that maybe doesn’t really know their niche just have fun learning and interacting with you and the other kids.”
Watching Kids Shine
Joe has a front row seat to some of the program’s most meaningful moments, the quiet ones that don’t always make headlines but change how a kid sees themselves.
“When you meet a kid for the first time and they’re shy and so withdrawn at the start that you’re not even sure if you’re going to get this kid to participate,” he said, describing how patience and small wins slowly open a child up. “Then they start to talk to you, start to interact, not just with me as a coach, but with other kids. You see them gaining that confidence.”
One student in particular stuck with him.
“He has gone from barely speaking to becoming actually a decent player, and a very communicative kid,” Joe said. “It’s just a testament to what we do, how we interact with the kids, how we allow them to grow in their self-confidence. They go from unpolished and unsure to this person that all of a sudden really starts to enjoy it.”
Joe, whose background is in special education, is quick to point out that every child arrives with a different set of needs and a different way of connecting.
“Every kid is different, whether it’s a need that they have or an emotional quality that they have,” he said. “You have to find a way to connect with that kid. It matters how they’re going to learn. That’s kind of my constant goal, to do that for them.”
Bringing First Tee Back to the Classroom
One of the things Joe is most proud of is how much the experience has shaped him, not just as a coach, but as an educator.
“I feel like I’m a better teacher. I feel like I’m a better person,” he said. “I even incorporate some of the stuff into my teaching, back and forth between teaching and First Tee, the messages that you’re trying to teach. It’s nothing but positivity.”
Advice for Anyone Considering Coaching
For those thinking about getting involved with First Tee, whether as a coach or a volunteer, Joe’s advice is simple.
“You wanna be structured in what you do, but you also wanna keep that structure fun and interactive, and you have to do it for the kids. Constant encouragement, constant positivity, constant feedback. That’s the relationship formation. It’s really important.”
He’s candid that the role isn’t for everyone.
“If you’re walking in and you don’t think you can do that, then it’s probably not for you,” he said. “It’s not just golf.”
What He Hopes Kids Remember
At the end of the day, Joe hopes his students walk away with more than a better swing.
“I hope they would smile, say that we had a good time together, and that our interactions were positive and enjoyable and fun and engaging,” he said. “I want every kid enjoying their time and leaving as a confident young person, proud of what they achieve.”
And for Joe, the gratitude runs both ways.
“I feel like I’m a better teacher, I’m a better person. I’ve met people that I never would have met had I not done this program,” he said. “It’s just a joy to be able to work with families and the kids, and the colleagues that I have.”
Inspired by Joe’s story? First Tee — Southeast Wisconsin is always looking for more coaches like Joe. Learn more here.