The Pinnacle of First Tee

Ace certification is the highest level a participant can achieve at chapters of First Tee. After completing the four levels of certification, PLAYer, Par, Birdie, and Eagle, participants have the option of working towards this final step in the program.

Ace focuses on personal planning and will reinforce skills such as self-management, goal setting, self-coaching, interpersonal communication, and resilience that were applied in earlier levels of the program. Using these skills, participants will become Ace-certified by completing four projects that will help them build a foundation in higher education and for a career.

projects completed by Ace participants:

  • Community Service: Participants learn the value of giving back by volunteering for activities at First Tee or in the community.
  • Career: Participants explore their interests and skills, matching them with career possibilities.
  • College: Participants explore issues related to college selection and educational alternatives.
  • Golf: Participants examine their golf skills, create an improvement plan, and assess the role they want golf to play in their lives.
I wanted to become Ace-certified because I wanted to fully invest in a program that had already fully invested in me.

Joseph Ford, alumnus from First Tee of the Triad in North Carolina

It is required that participants take one-to-two years to complete all four projects. Although Ace participants will still have a coach, most of the responsibility requires them to work in small groups and independently. Each participant that completes Ace-certification will have shown their ability to apply the lessons they learned both on and off the golf course.