Category: Character Education

Our One in Three Billion Story

PGA TOUR has given over $3 Billion in all-time charitable giving. This is a monumental milestone; one First Tee is thankful to be part of for more than twenty years. As we celebrate this achievement, we reflect on just a few of the ways PGA TOUR has made an impact.

Serving as Leadership for First Tee

Former PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem led the efforts to launch First Tee in 1997 and Monahan now continues that tradition, committing the resources of PGA TOUR’s global platform to further lift its mission. Commissioner Monahan and Former Commissioner Finchem currently serve as Chairman and Vice Chairman of First Tee.

Inspiration from the Greatest Players on TOUR

From Jason Day to Kevin Kisner, PGA TOUR players go the extra mile when it comes to inspiring our First Tee participants.  Experiences range from one-one interactions to youth clinics, but the results are the same: a lasting impressions that encourage our participants to reach for their dreams and goals.

International Expansion

This past December First Tee expanded our global impact with the launch of our sixth international chapter: First Tee of Australia. Like many of our other international chapters, PGA TOUR was instrumental in helping us expand so we can positively impact many more youth with programs that introduce them to core values and help prepare them for their future. It’s thanks to a collaboration between the Presidents Cup, Citi and PGA of Australia that our latest expansion in to Australia was possible.

Lifting Up Our Work & Impact

If you’ve ever tuned in to a PGA TOUR tournament, you may have seen one of our PSAs with Rickie Fowler, Sergio Garcia, Jimmy Walker or Scott Langley. Thanks to the PGA TOUR our message of impacting young people with programs that help build their strength of character through the game of golf has been seen by audiences nation-wide.

Community Support through our Chapters

With more than 150 First Tee chapters, many of the PGA TOUR tournaments across the country and world are directly supporting our local efforts to empower kids. Thank you, PGA TOUR, for your ongoing support and inspiration. We look forward to continuing to impact and empower young people through the game of golf. 3 billion is just the beginning!

Power of Relationships

Mentors can play a critical role in building the confidence of a young person and helping them feel empowered to pursue their goals. But mentoring relationships go beyond that. They are a shared opportunity for learning and growth. Mentoring not only greatly benefits the person you are teaching, but the experience will also have a positive impact on your life. During National Mentoring Month and all year-long, First Tee celebrates and recognizes our coaches, who often times are regarded by participants as mentors. Our coaches make a difference and empower kids every day to become the best version of themselves.
  • 84 percent of teens and 87 percent of alumni at First Tee said their relationships with their coaches were meaningful and grew stronger over time.
Benefits of Being a Mentor:
  • Enjoyment when spending time with someone you care about.
  • A sense of accomplishment when your mentee feels empowered and reaches milestones.
  • Personal growth and the opportunity to learn more about yourself and how to be an effective leader.
  • Knowing you are making an investment in your community and future leaders.
Without caring mentors, positive youth development just doesn’t happen. We believe that a meaningful, quality relationship between coach and participant is vital to our program.

Make a difference today

Offered at more than 1,200 locations across the U.S. and in select international locations, our character building programs are delivered by coaches who are formally trained to empower youth. Check with your local chapter to see if becoming a coach is right for you and change the life of a participant… and yourself. Find a Location Near You

20 Things We’re Looking Forward to in 2020

We are already well into the first month of a new decade, and we are thrilled to experience all of the exciting and impactful events and initiatives 2020 has in store. Here are 20 things we’re looking forward to this year, in no particular order.
  1. Kicking off our inaugural First Tee National Championship hosted at Clemson University June 21-26, 2020
  2. Watching a participant demonstrate confidence as he or she plays alongside a PGA TOUR pro through the Wells Fargo Succeeding Together Contest
  3. Celebrating chapter anniversaries and the long lasting impact they’ve had in their communities
  4. Empowering girls to build their inner strength and set goals to prepare for their future during the John Deere Drive Your Future Academy
  5. Welcoming new schools and youth centers across the country which bring new opportunities and exposure to the game of golf through First Tee National School Program and DRIVE.
  6. Pairing veterans and First Tee participants in a Presidents Cup Style event at the Perfect Sense Unified Challenge
  7. Supporting participants with their collegiate aspirations with the John Deere Power For Good Scholarship Contest
  8. Launching the First Tee College Scholarship Program featuring a wrap-around experience to support alumni throughout their college career.
  9. Providing a life-changing experience for participants focused on building their character at the Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. Life Skills & Leadership Academy
  10. Enjoying an inside look at what it’s like working at one of the largest corporations in the world during Coca-Cola America’s Future.
  11. Playing golf on National Golf Day
  12. Celebrating those who reach the pinnacle of First Tee, through our ACE program.
  13. Participants demonstrating their values and character while competing on the national stage at Pebble Beach during the PURE Insurance Championship
  14. Bringing teens together at the Youth Leadership Summit
  15. Interacting with kids and families during the U.S. Open
  16. Golf’s return to the XXXII Olympic Summer Games
  17. Expanding our First Tee Alumni program
  18. Watching First Tee participants at Augusta National for the Drive, Chip & Putt competition
  19. Impacting millions of participants across the world.
  20. Empowering our youth and teaching kids honesty, confidence and goal-setting to ensure a brighter future.
 

Dedication and Hard Work Pays Off for 24 Participants Who Earn their Ace Certification, the Pinnacle of First Tee

Achieving Ace certification is the pinnacle of the First Tee program. For 24 First Tee participants, they put their life skills and core values to the test, earning the highest level of certification this year. These teens completed four major projects to earn the certification – Community Service, Career, Educational Opportunities and Golf – which were then submitted and reviewed by a national committee. It is a notable feat and the honorable culmination of hours of volunteering, goal-setting, preparation and practice. Gavin Hogan from First Tee of Fort Worth is one of these participants. Gavin was a member of his chapter’s Junior Advisory Committee, serving as Secretary of the group. He was in the program for more than 10 years and while in high school, was one of the chapter’s most frequent volunteers. He even designed some of the committee’s volunteer guidelines and policies. Gavin attended a number of the participant opportunities including the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship. He is currently a freshman at New Mexico State University, studying in the Professional Golf Management Program. Take a look at a few of the other Ace honorees who will continue their education at colleges across the country. Victoria Ladd, First Tee of the Triad Victoria is a freshman on the golf team at Western Carolina University Blake Brantley, First Tee of the Triad Blake will move on to play golf at Yale University Ayana Boyd, First Tee of Tennessee Ayana will attend University of Michigan Marlee Claassen, First Tee of Tennessee Marlee will attend Lipscomb University Gabrielle Edmonds-Andrews, First Tee of Tennessee Gabrielle will attend Xavier University Lincoln Haymaker, First Tee of Tennessee Lincoln will attend Manhattan College Justin Reed, First Tee of Tennessee Justin will attend Middle Tennessee State University Brandon Sudbury, First Tee of Tennessee Brandon will attend University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Emilie Williams, First Tee of Tennessee Emilie will attend The University of Arizona Click Here to learn more about how you can begin the path to success with the Ace certification.

Celebrating an Impactful Year: A Message from President of First Tee, Greg McLaughlin

As 2019 draws to a close, I can’t help but be proud of the millions of lives that have been impacted this year through First Tee. Whether it’s on a golf course, in school or at a community center, we are helping young people build their strength of character and empowering them to pursue their goals. This year marks our 22nd year helping kids and teens develop character through the game of golf. It takes a strong network of chapters and support from our partners, donors, staff and volunteers, to ensure we reach young people with our life-changing programs. Thank you for your contributions to our mission to help us reach tomorrow’s leaders. Here are some of our favorite moments from the year. We look forward to making many more in 2020. Warm regards, Greg McLaughlin President, First Tee

First Tee’s Top 5 Moments from 2019

1. Expanding Across the Globe

This year, First Tee expanded by four new chapters! With support from partners like Citi and the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation, First Tee expanded to Australia, Morocco, North Coast (Calif), and West Texas.

2. U.S. Open Junior Experience featuring First Tee

First Tee experienced the U.S. Open like never before. Our interactive venue welcomed kids and families to learn more about our fun and educational programs. From celebrity drop-ins to the announcement of a $15,000 grant from USGA for local First Tee chapters, we made a huge impact and had a great time along the way.

3. PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee

This year’s PURE Insurance Championship was a huge success! Sportsmanship and teamwork were out in full force as participants, family and friends came out to support the 78 junior players. It was the trip of a lifetime for First Tee teens who competed, including Ashley Menne from First Tee of Phoenix and Sam Sommerhauser from First Tee of Greater Sacramento who won the female and male pro-junior titles.

4. THE PLAYERS Kids Zone presented by First Tee

First Tee returned to THE PLAYERS Championship with a larger-than-life set-up representing the hub for family fun at the tournament. The tent featured activities like a putting challenge, golf simulator and digital photo booth to document all of the smiles. THE PLAYERS 2019 Champion Rory McIlroy, along with Tommy Fleetwood, helped kick-off the week with clinic for 100 local First Tee participants.

5. Charles Schwab Announced $5 Million Grant to Impact First Tee Chapters in Texas

Charles Schwab announced his donation of $5 million to nine First Tee chapters in Texas in the form of a challenge grant. Over the next three years, Charles Schwab will match donations to the chapters to expand programs and deepen their impact statewide.  We can’t wait to see the continued support and success of our First Tee Texas chapters.

Golf is Fun. Here’s Why:

Each year, millions of youth participate in First Tee programming. How have we hooked them on the sport of golf? Golf is fun!

5 Ways we make golf fun

1. Friends & social Experiences

Kids participate as a class where they meet others from all walks of life. They’re even taught how to properly introduce themselves to each other to help break down barriers and start having fun together! Many participants find lifelong friends [like alumni Kyle DiGiacobbe and Beau Zastrow] through The First Tee.

2. We’re outside

It’s rare you’ll find us in the classroom. We are in the business of doing, not telling. Participants are taught the game of golf through experience based learning, out on the golf course or driving range. Life skills and values are taught through games and activities. Speaking of games….

3. Creative Games

Ever heard of zoo golf or golf tic-tac-toe? You probably have if you’re involved with First Tee! Our coaches come up with fun and exciting games to introduce golf concepts to kids. In fact, you’ll often see foam noodles and hula hoops during a lesson.

4. Fun Golf Coaches

Our coaches are fun! They care about kids and through required training through our Coach Program, they understand how to keep kids attention. Our golf coaches are experts in making young people feel comfortable and assure they have a positive, non-intimidating experience.

5. We make the game less intimidating

We teach participants the 3 tips for having fun:

  1. Be patient
  2. Be positive
  3. Ask for help

 

Get Started

Offered are more than 1,200 locations, the First Tee program was developed by experts in the field of positive youth development and is delivered by trained coaches. Our mission is to help prepare kids and teens from all backgrounds for success in all areas of life. Chapters offer full scholarship or reduced fee programming for those with financial need.

Find a Chapter

Not All Youth Sports Are Created Equal

For generations, parents have been enrolling their children in sports programs with the hope that they will develop discipline, teamwork and stay active and healthy. The benefits of participating in youth sports are long-lasting.

Research shows:

  • High school athletes are more likely than non-athletes to attend college and get degrees.
  • Physical activity, and sports in particular, can positively affect aspects of personal development among young people, such as self-esteem, goal-setting, and leadership.
  • Female high school athletes are less likely to be sexually active, to use drugs and to suffer from depression, when compared to non-athlete peers.
  • Regular physical activity benefits health in many ways, including helping build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints; helping control weight and reduce fat; and preventing or delaying the development of high blood pressure.
So why have most youth sports seen a decline in participation over the last five years? Because parents have concerns about youth sports today. espnW and Aspen Institute Project Play joined together to survey parents about their issues with youth sports.

Top 5 Concerns Parents have with Youth Sports

  • 88% – risk of injury
  • 82% – quality or behavior of coaches
  • 70% – cost
  • 68% – time commitment
  • 66% – emphasis on winning over having fun

Not All Youth Sports are Created Equal

While many parents may have experienced one or all the above concerns, there are youth sports programs available that address and minimize these matters. At The First Tee, we offer youth golf programs to youth ages 7 to 18, no matter their background or experience.

Safety is a Priority

From day one, youth learn about safety precautions, like where to stand when someone is swinging their golf club. And while physical activity is never completely risk-free, there are fewer opportunities for physical contact leading to injury while playing golf. Golf is a game for everyone—size, age or gender don’t have a significant impact on your ability to compete with others.

Quality Coaches

At The First Tee, coaching is important to us. Coaches are formally trained and can progress through levels of training. New research confirms that after participating in The First Tee’s multi-level and multi-year coach development program, coaches are transformed over time from quality coaches to community advocates.

Golf Is Affordable

At The First Tee, the average cost for a six to eight week session is $72, though it varies from chapter to chapter. Chapters also offer financial aid so that no child is turned away due to an inability to pay. Need more proof golf is affordable? Keep reading here.

Time Commitment

While schedules vary from chapter to chapter, most programs offer weekly classes that last six to eight weeks. In many cases, it’s up to your family how involved you’d like to be as chapters typically offer additional opportunities to expand their golf or life skills. But they are optional!

It’s More Than A Game

We believe that golf is more than a game. The emphasis at The First Tee is bigger than who wins. It’s an opportunity to have fun, meet new people and develop character through The First Tee Nine Core Values.

Ready to Get Started?

With more than 1,200 locations, The First Tee offers programs to youth from all backgrounds—no golf experience needed! If you know a young person who would enjoy The First Tee, visit our location map to find a local chapter! Find a location

The First Tee Designated a National Sports Organization of Character

Golf is more than a game; it’s an opportunity to learn life lessons. At The First Tee, we center all of our lessons on positive youth development. That’s why The First Tee is honored and proud to be a 2017 National Sports Organization of Character.

Bringing Character Education to Sports

Character.org, the nonprofit organization that validates character initiatives in schools and communities around the world, began a new initiative. The Sports Organization of Character program seeks to recognize exemplary organizations beyond traditional schools. “We recognize The First Tee as a genuine leader in today’s field of comprehensive social-emotional character development,” Doug Karr, president & CEO, Character.org. “As one of two organizations in the nation to receive this honor in its inaugural year, The First Tee has shown itself to be deeply committed to character.” Our recognition comes after an almost two-year-long and detailed period of data collection, analysis, feedback, revision, field visitations and final submission of information. “We are extremely proud of the inaugural group of National Sports Organizations of Character,” said Karr. “Their dedication to character development has proven over time to increase the well-being of so many young people, their families and their communities.”

Join The First Tee

Values like sportsmanship, confidence and perseverance — these are traits you expect youth to acquire through sports. At The First Tee, we include these values in each lesson as part of our curriculum. We use golf as the platform to help youth learn our Nine Core Values. Students learn about honesty by keeping track of their own score. Youth learn respect by beginning each game or round of golf with a handshake. Furthermore, we train our coaches to help students apply these values beyond the course. Offered are more than 1,200 locations, The First Tee program was developed by experts in the field of positive youth development and is delivered by trained coaches. Our mission is to help prepare kids and teens from all backgrounds for success in all areas of life. Chapters offer full scholarship or reduced fee programming for those with financial need. FIND A CHAPTER

5 Steps for Helping Youth Overcome Shyness

For many kids and teens, meeting new people is intimidating. What you may not know is for most people, shyness is a learned behavior. Currently, as many as 40 to 60% of adults report being shy. Effective meeting and greeting is a basic communication and social skill that can help build confidence in young people. But learning how to introduce yourself is just the first step! As youth become comfortable meeting new people, they start to learn more advanced communication skills for everyday social situations.

Developing Interpersonal Skills

Understanding how to form relationship is vital to young people’s success. While learning effective ways to meet someone and start conversations may seem basic, these skills are the foundation of positive values like confidence, respect, sportsmanship and courtesy. We’ve heard story after story from young people that start just like this: “When I first joined First Tee, I was a super shy kid… after a year in the program, I could easily go up to someone and introduce myself with no problem.” – Luke Shrestha, alumnus

Building Confidence Through Golf

high five
82% of The First Tee participants felt confident in their social skills with peers.
How do youth overcome shyness and build confidence through golf? Golf is all about socializing! Golf provides an experience to spend a few hours getting to know someone. Starting with that very first encounter on the tee box, to the very last putt, every round of golf begins and ends with a handshake. Throughout our curriculum, coaches and other mentors serve as models of effective communication skills. They help lead the way in communication techniques for youth.

5 Steps for Meeting Someone New

How can you make a good first impression? A greeting is a combination of speech and gesture. It involves the tone and pitch of the voice, as well as one’s expressions and body language. In short, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. When you meet someone for the first time, make sure you:

1. Face the other person.

This first step is easy. There’s no work involved – just turn your body to face the person you are meeting. You don’t have to hide!

2. Smile and look him/her in the eye.

Sometimes when we’re nervous, we look at the ground or avoid eye contact. But if you give a genuine smile and look someone in the eye, both of you will be more at ease.

3. Give a firm handshake.

A strong handshake creates a bridge for communication between individuals of all ages and backgrounds and sets the tone in showing respect for others.

4. State your name clearly.

Make sure you aren’t mumbling your name; speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard.

5. Begin a conversation using the Ask-Listen-Respond method.

Ask-Listen-Respond (A-L-R) is a conversation model for learning more about others and building relationships. Let’s think about what happens when you are talking to someone:
  • First ASK the other person some questions. Open-ended questions are usually the best conversation starters.
  • Then LISTEN to what the other person says.
  • Finally, RESPOND to what the other person has said.

Help Your Child Overcome Shyness

Is your child struggling with shyness? The First Tee may be the perfect place for you and your family. Research shows 82% of our participants felt confident in their social skills with peers. Our life skills lessons are woven throughout each and every golf class.  And each of our coaches is trained to deliver our positive youth development programs. Visit our locations map and find a chapter in your area. Find a Chapter

Resolving Conflict in 4 Steps

Shaking hands after resolving conflict
The First Tee teaches youth to be good golfers and better people. Find out more

From the school yard to the work place, we experience conflict in every stage of our life. The ability to resolve conflicts with one another is a critical life skill, especially in today’s divisive world. At The First Tee, we encourage participants to work out disputes for themselves whether they arise on or off the golf course.

4 steps To resolve Conflict: CARE

Looking for ways to resolve a conflict that meets the needs of both parties is challenging, but something youth should learn to strive towards. As participants of The First Tee proceed through the program, they learn CARE:

1. Communicate

Open communication is key in a dispute. Expressing how you feel about the situation and sticking to the facts will let the other person know you’re genuine in your actions. Focusing on the problem at hand and not what the other person did will avoid unnecessary conflict.

2. Actively Listen

Listen to what the other person has to say, without interrupting. Try to be objective. Then, ask open-ended questions to make sure each side understands what the other person thinks and how he/she feels.

3. Review Options

Talk over the options, looking for solutions that benefit everyone. Do not feel pressured to come up with one answer immediately. Bring in objective third party for ideas, if necessary.

4. End with a Win-Win Solution

This is the ultimate goal—to agree on an option that benefits both sides to some extent. When one party wins by aggressive behavior or one party simply gives in, someone is losing. And that means you get outcomes that do not resolve the underlying causes of the conflict.

More than a Game: The First Tee uses golf to teach youth ages 7 to 18 life lessons and leadership skills.

More Than a Game

Offered are more than 1,000 locations, The First Tee program was developed by experts in the field of positive youth development and is delivered by trained coaches . Our mission is to help prepare kids and teens from all backgrounds for success in all areas of life. Chapters offer full scholarship or reduced fee programming for those with financial need so that no one is ever turned away for inability to pay.

Find The First Tee Location In Your Community

Character Gap: A Report from First Tee and Harris Poll

Parents continue to prioritize their children’s well-being as appetite for character-building rises.

Yet a new study between First Tee and Harris Poll finds that character is a lost value driven by a lack of regular opportunities to cultivate it.

Learn More

How to Practice Perseverance in the Midst of Failure

golfer-female-PerseveranceIt’s no secret perseverance is key to achieving your goals. Even the most successful individuals face their share of defeat – it is part of the journey in reaching goals. One of the most valuable lessons youth can learn in their pursuit of success is to learn how to react to failure and to persevere.
per·se·ver·ance
to persist in an idea, purpose or task despite obstacles
To succeed in golf, players must continue through bad breaks and their own mistakes, while learning from past experiences. In golf, players come across hazards, which stand in the way of the pin. Life is the same way – obstacles stand in the way of our goals. Whether you hit your golf ball into the water or didn’t get the test scores you wanted in school, use these steps to drive yourself beyond failure.

4 Steps for Responding to Failure

The 4Rs can help you stay cool and control yourself in anything you do; in golf, other sports, at home, at work or school.

PerseveranceStep 1 Replay

Think about what you did and what you wanted to do. Did your expectations match your actions? If they do, then take a second to enjoy what you did well and store it in your memory. If you didn’t achieve what you desired, move to the next step.

Step 2 Relax

Feel yourself taking a deep breath, with a slow exhale. The more frazzled or upset you are after a fumble, the more likely you are to make another mistake. Make sure you are calm before moving forward.

Step 3 Ready

Think about what you will do differently next time. Say to yourself, “Next time I will …” and decide what your action would be in that situation.

Step 4 Redo

Imagine yourself doing it better. You can also take a physical practice swing or stroke that matches what you imagine. Visualize the success you desire and keep going.

FIRST TEE – IT’S MORE THAN A GAME

At First Tee, we use golf to teach youth from all backgrounds life lessons and leadership skills—and you don’t have to come with any golf experience! The First Tee helps youth become good golfers and even better people. Our Programs

How to React To Challenging Situations

We all face challenges in life. Whether it is a sport like golf or life in general, few goals are ever achieved without encountering some obstacles along the way. Part of our mission at The First Tee is to equip youth to deal with challenges, no matter how big or small. Youth in our junior golf programs learn practical skills they can apply to any situation—on the golf course, at school, and at home.

how do we use golf to learn about reacting to challenges?

starThe First Tee coaches emphasize the need to make good decisions when facing a challenge. They introduce participants to the acronym: STAR.

STOP and take a deep breath.stop_star_k_rsg

When you face a challenge in life, the first step in deciding how to overcome it is to STOP what you are doing or what you are getting ready to do. This allows you to pause and gives your mind a break.

Think of all your choices.think_star_k_rsg

The next step in good decision-making is to THINK of your choices. What are some of the choices you have in this situation? Take time to think of as many choices as possible.

Anticipate what could happen.anticipation_star_k_rsg

The third step is to ANTICIPATE the consequences (good or bad) of each choice. When you anticipate the consequences of each choice, think how the choice will affect your ability to reach your goals.

Respond by selecting the best choice.respond_star_k_rsg

After you have identified all your choices and you have anticipated the consequences of each choice, the final step is to RESPOND by picking the best choice. What makes something the best choice? The best choice is the one that helps you get to your goal. What one person considers the best choice may differ from what another person thinks is best.

The First Tee – It’s More Than a Game

With more than 1,080 locations in the U.S. and several other countries, The First Tee uses golf to teach youth ages 7 to 18 life lessons and leadership skills. Teaming up with experts in positive youth development, The First Tee helps youth become good golfers and even better people. Learn More