Category: Character Education

New Study: 9 out of 10 parents are losing sleep, concerned about the state of their child’s development and well-being

85% of parents fear character is a “lost value” & many are looking to extracurriculars (including sports-based programs) to help bridge the gap

PONTE VEDRA, Florida, May 10, 2023 – Character is a “lost value,” according to 85% of parents surveyed by youth development organization First Tee and Harris Poll, a market research and analytics company that has been tracking the sentiment of American adults since 1963. According to the new research, parents believe kids need regular opportunities to build character, and they’ve found extracurricular activities like First Tee can help fill the gap.

Eighty-seven percent of parents say they’ve lost sleep over their kids’ well-being. Contributing factors include bullying (41%), the impact of social media (37%) and technology (35%), and peer pressure (36%). Six in 10 parents say their children have a high level of stress, with the majority saying they are concerned about their children’s emotional (60%), behavioral (59%), social (58%), academic (55%), and physical health (55%).

More than 75% of parents agree that playing golf helps children build character and learn important life skills, benefits that are especially critical today as kids face new challenges that are keeping parents up at night.

First Tee is currently undergoing a multi-year business evolution that’s designed to better meet the changing needs of today’s kids and families. The organization launched an updated curriculum last year that’s being implemented by trained coaches in all 50 states and select international locations.

“The findings from Harris Poll support First Tee’s efforts to impact kids beyond the golf course, using sports as a launchpad to introduce key character-building concepts like resilience, leadership and teamwork,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Parents clearly value these types of opportunities for their kids, and we are committed to making First Tee programming available to families of all means and backgrounds.”

Extracurriculars can help kids build character and confidence

Sixty percent of parents enroll their kids in extracurricular activities to help them build confidence, according to the survey data. Eight of 10 parents say development is more important than recreation when it comes to extracurricular activities. Popular reasons parents put their kids in extracurriculars include socialization (66%), physical outlet (62%), build confidence (60%) and pursue interests (53%).

Sports are the most popular extracurricular activity for kids, with most parents of young athletes reporting that sports have had a positive impact on their kids’ social (94%), physical (93%), behavioral (93%) and emotional (92%) health. Hobbies like coding, music and art trail sports in popularity, followed by scouting.

An ethnicity and socioeconomic “opportunity gap” apparent for parents

While 87% of all parents are losing sleep over concerns for their child’s well-being, the number is higher for Black parents (93%). Black families are least likely (63%) to enroll their kids in activities outside of school, compared to Asian and Pacific Islander families, who are most likely (79%). Families that earn less than $50,000 per year are 27% less likely to enroll their kids in extracurriculars compared to families that earn more than $100,000 annually, highlighting the importance of making youth activities affordable and accessible.

To collect this data, Harris Poll surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. adults in March of 2023, including 542 parents of kids under 18. This is the first of three First Tee/Harris Poll surveys to be conducted through 2025. To learn more about First Tee and to download the report in its entirety, please visit firsttee.org/charactergap.  

About The Harris Poll
 The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:    

Megan Hart, First Tee    

[email protected]

(904) 940-4348

Coach Joe: ‘This program has taught me to become a better coach and father’ 

Joseph Goh, or Coach Joe as many know him from First Tee – Greater Dallas, has been a coach for more than 17 years. He sat on the board of directors for the Greater Dallas chapter until focusing his time as a volunteer coach, where he made it his goal to recruit other volunteers. 

Originally from Singapore, Joe started his journey as a coach through First Tee – Singapore and moved to the United States after his technology company was bought out by a company in Dallas. Eventually, he and his wife planted themselves in Texas and started their own family.  

“First Tee is more than a golf instruction program; we teach life skills. This program has taught me to become a better coach and father because of it,” he said. 

He enrolled his two children in the program and the rest became history.  

His two kids participated in First Tee throughout high school. His oldest, Jonathan, attended the University of California, Los Angeles and graduated in 2021 with a major in electrical engineering. He currently works at Amazon Robotics in Boston as a hardware development engineer. 

His youngest daughter, Joni, is attending the University of Texas in Austin and will graduate in May 2023 with her degree in architecture engineering. She is currently an intern at The Boring Company and will be working with Southland Holdings as a business development associate. 

“I want to emphasize that the First Tee program has built a foundation for its participants, including my own kids,” said Joe.  

He makes it his mission to positively impact and equally empower First Tee participants with the skills and opportunities they need to be successful.  

“As a volunteer coach at First Tee, I could change the trajectory of a child’s life,” he said. “No other organization gives me the opportunity to impact another’s life and add value to them like First Tee would.” 

Joe, like many other First Tee coaches, is just one of many unique stories that make First Tee’s impact so profound. If one person can make a difference, a difference can be made upon a multitude of generations.  

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A small idea that led to a mission to Save Our Salmon

Austin Picinich, an 18-year-old participant at First Tee – Greater Seattle, is using his passion for art to paint Save Our Salmon Murals in Seattle, Washington. Today may be Earth Day – but for Austin, every day is Earth Day.

Here is Austin, in his own words:

Living in the Pacific Northwest, nature surrounds me. I enjoy nature outdoors on the golf course and I am currently in my 11th year with First Tee – Greater Seattle.

Off the course, I’m an avid artist.

In 2021, I was selected to attend the Innovators Forum – a leadership summit of 28 teens from First Tee chapters across the country. I spent the week in San Jose, California learning about innovation, leadership, and sustainability. Each of us First Tee students were tasked with developing our own innovative service projects to implement in our communities.

When I learned that Juanita Creek – the salmon-spawning stream less than a minute from my home in Kirkland, WA – had only three salmon return to spawn, I had identified the focus for my Innovators Forum project. But, as a high-schooler, I couldn’t envision how to make a difference; it initially felt like “too big of a problem to solve”.

First Tee encouraged me to think outside the box. I narrowed down the problem: Juanita Creek is hidden in a culvert, and a missing link is neighbors not knowing how to care for the stream. I decided to use my knack for art and passion for the environment to educate my community about Juanita Creek and its salmon.

I found the perfect “canvas” to bring my public art project to life – a 112-foot blank wall along Juanita Creek. I named my project the “Save Our Salmon” (SOS) Mural.

This wasn’t my first mural – in fact, First Tee gave me my first public art experience back in 2019. I painted a mural in the clubhouse of Crossroads Par 3 Golf Course, the course where I started golfing at First Tee – Greater Seattle.

My goal wasn’t just to create a mural that’s nice to look at – but a mural that teaches and inspires my community to protect salmon. I hosted a Community Paint Day leading 170 volunteer painters, ages 4 to 74, to “paint-by-number” the 112-foot blank wall – transforming it into vibrant public art, while teaching attendees how to become better stewards of Juanita Creek.

The Seattle Times summed up my project as, “it takes a village to paint a mural. Sometimes it takes a teen to bring a town together”.

First Tee inspired my confidence as a leader. I stepped up from an artist who enjoyed nature while golfing, to a leader actively protecting nature. I developed confidence in my leadership while a First Tee staff coach at Crossroads.

Since the first mural, I’ve painted two more SOS Murals along McAleer Creek. In total, I’ve led 370 painters and 1,000 event attendees painting 300 feet of “art-ivism” walls.

I tapped into another skill from First Tee: marketing. I’m now currently the Director of Marketing & Communications for First Tee – Greater Seattle’s Junior Advisory Board (JAB) where I create flyers and graphics for JAB.

I create SOS merchandise sold in a dozen local shops. So far, I’ve raised $23,541 with 100% of proceeds supporting stream restoration – an impact that continues long after the paint dries.

In 2023, I’ll be leading five new SOS Murals – with seven new streams each benefitting with a mural – and a projected 4,000 attendees.

Save Our Salmon Through Art is now nationally-awarded – I won the Barron Prize for Young Heroes, and SOS was named one of the top 15 international projects making communities and the environment a better place.

It all started as my idea at the First Tee Innovators Forum, with support from experience I gained from First Tee opportunities in leadership, marketing, and murals.

Prestigious Payne Fellowship will enable First Tee alumna Karrington Knight to help others 

Karrington Knight has been interested in global politics since middle school. Now she’s getting ready to embark on a career that could take her all over the world. 

An alumna of First Tee – Greater New Orleans, Knight recently received the competitive Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship that will facilitate a career with the U.S. Agency for International Development, which aims to reduce poverty and promote democracy abroad. 

Knight graduated last year from Rhodes College in Memphis, where she was a team captain of the golf team. She’s heading to the nation’s capital this fall for graduate school, where she’ll study international affairs with a concentration in democracy and government. Through the Fellowship, she’ll also spend one summer working at a congressional office in Washington, D.C. and another at a U.S. embassy abroad. Then she’ll spend at least five years in the USAID foreign service after graduation. 

“In high school and in college I was able to have teachers and professors foster that passion of mine,” Knight said. “Now I’ve found exactly what I want to do. I’ll be able to go to South America and work in politics and with indigenous populations. It’s everything I’ve wanted all wrapped into one.” 

As an undergraduate student, Knight minored in Spanish and wrote a thesis on indigenous political parties in Bolivia and Guatemala. She’s looking forward to working on the continent – especially after the COVID-19 pandemic dashed her plans to study abroad in 2020. And that’s not the only change she’s experienced in the last few years. 

“My original plan was to attend law school after graduating, but something just didn’t feel right,” Knight explained. “I think a big part of planning is allowing yourself to take a step back and reevaluate your goals.”  

One thing that’s for sure is golf will continue to play a role in Knight’s life. “It’s growing all over the world,” she said. “I would love to integrate golf into international development. There’s so much you can learn from golf, and it can bring people together.” 

Knight first got into the sport when she was young and would ride in the cart with her dad. “He’d let me sit in his lap to drive,” she recalled. “After always going out with him, my parents put me in First Tee just to see if I’d take to it, and the rest is history.” 

She’s still connected with First Tee – Greater New Orleans as chair of the chapter’s alumni committee. “I think it’s important to stay involved because First Tee gave me such a great foundation, not only for golf but just as a person,” she said. “Especially for Black girls, it’s important for them to see that golf might not be a very popular sport right now but it can be rewarding in the long run.” 

As committee chair, Knight keeps in contact with other First Tee – Greater New Orleans alumni and serves as a liaison between them and the chapter. She also helps the chapter find alumni to speak at classes and events. 

She’s happy to give back to the organization, she said. “First Tee has nurtured me at every stage of my life. It’s something where a lot of other youth organizations fall short. I just praise First Tee so much for seeing who I was as an individual and catering to what I needed at each stage of my life,” she said. 

Learn more about the First Tee Alumni Network.

Derrick Ow on how he overcame an obstacle to achieve his dream 

Without First Tee, I would still be the shy kid from Salinas, CA with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  

Devoid of lessons learned through First Tee programs, I would simply not be writing this letter yet alone be talking.  

When you suffer sixteen seizures at two years old and have doctors tell your parents that you will never talk or never succeed in a mainstream class in school, I guess you can say I learned perseverance early in my life.   

My parents enrolled me into numerous special education classes, occupational and physical therapy to regain my small muscle skills. However, with those classes came constant bullying of racial slurs and derogatory labels.  Looking for appropriate programs that would help my social and physical development, my parents enrolled me into First Tee – Monterey County in 2005.  

You can say that my local chapter and I have grown up together, so I consider myself part of the foundation and groundwork of our chapter. The coaches were always inclusive and willing to help guide my growth as a young adult on and off the golf course.  

Despite the respect and acceptance into a sport that has given me so much, I still had a secret that I needed to tell. I did not share my disability with my First Tee coaches until 2014 when I talked to our Executive Director, Nick Nelson.  

I was applying for the Outstanding Participant Summit, and I needed a recommendation letter from him. When he read my essay for the application he said to me,” Derrick, I had no idea you had Autism.”  

Hearing that from someone I respect and look up to be a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. This was the first time in my life that I felt loved by people who truly care for me, the sport of golf provided me an inclusive and safe environment where I was allowed to grow and develop as a golfer but most importantly a future citizen.  

Building on this newfound confidence I was able to share my disability with my best friends at school and others outside my family.  

In addition to life skills and core values I learned the importance of networking. I was honored to participate in five national First Tee events, where I met fellow First Tee members like me from all around the country. I keep in touch with most of the participants I have met along the way and cherish their friendship and support.    

What so many people consider to be a rich man’s sport is a sport that has given me a once in a lifetime opportunity. First Tee taught me life and golf skills – how to speak at public events to coaching an anti-bullying station during summer camp.  

Most of these small accomplishments seem impossible to achieve with a disability like mine, but all you have to do is persevere through all the learning experiences I had to endure, working hard and never ever giving up. That is the impact First Tee has given me.  

Coach Jignesh leading the next generation 

It started with his passion for the sport.  

Coach Jignesh, from First Tee – Raritan Valley, found a love for the game of golf and only wanted to get better. He focused a lot of his time on playing in tournaments and excelling in his skills to be a better player.  

When it came time to grow his family, he knew that he wanted to share his love for the game with his kids and once they were of age, he got them involved with First Tee.  

“First Tee builds mental health and strength for the kids so after many years of experience with the chapter, I too wanted to get involved to give back to the community and be a part of building game changers,” said Coach Jignesh. 

Since his kids have been involved with First Tee, they have been excelling in their golf game and together as a family, they build memories over their shared passion. Over time, Coach Jignesh would see change in how his kids became focused in school, in their golf game and instilling daily the character building blocks into their lives.  

“First Tee brings so many life values for the kids including mentorship and safety,” said Coach Jignesh. 

“I saw a big change in my son’s behavior and how when he goes out and plays, he brings those values to the tournaments.” 

Coach Jignesh started as a coach in 2020 and has gone through First Tee’s Coach Level 2 training, now a senior coach. Eventually, he will take his skills and passion to soon become a master level coach.  

As for his kids, they continue to stay involved in the chapter while his son has recently begun to volunteer himself as a way to give back to what has been given to him.  

“First Tee is more like an education itself, knowing there’s safety in the program and values that you can learn such as being able to define what confidence is. Here, the kids get to learn, be smart and have fun – all at the same time.” 

Carter Bonas wants everyone to feel like they belong on the course 

Carter Bonas has already broken through in the business world, and he’s just 12. His love of golf helped inspire his company, Spectrum Golf. 

The golf brand got its name because Carter is on the autism spectrum. The company was created to address an issue he faced, turning a challenge into an opportunity. 

“Me and my mom were spending lots of money on clothes that were supposed to be comfortable but weren’t because I have skin sensitivity,” explained the First Tee – Florida Gold Coast participant.  

“I started Spectrum Golf because I wanted other people to be comfortable too.” 

The brand sells golf attire and accessories, which have been displayed at the PGA Show in Orlando, an industry standard event. Carter has been interviewed by Golf Channel, Golf Digest and more about his company. 

It’s impossible for Carter to choose a favorite memory from his time as a golfer. “They’re all super amazing,” Carter said.  

He’s walked the course with Ernie Els at the Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida, chipped with PGA Champions Tour player Alex Cejka and even met basketball star Steph Curry. Last year Curry was honored as Sports Illustrated’s Sports Person of the Year, while Carter was named Sports Kid of the Year. 

Carter has big goals for his company, ultimately aiming to own a retail store and collaborate with other major brands. Playing on the PGA TOUR isn’t out of the question either, he said. 

Carter loves the sport because he’s able to play on a team while still controlling the outcome of his round – whether good or bad. He also loves spending time in nature, he said. 

Carter began playing golf after struggling to find another sport that fit.  

During Autism Awareness Month, his message to others on the spectrum: “If you’re considering golf it takes lots of patience and practice, and you always need to stay positive,” he said. 

Carter and his family have faced their own set of challenges when it comes to managing a new business. They had to table Spectrum Vitamin Water due to a manufacturing issue. “Carter only wants to sell products he loves,” said his mother, Dr. Thelma Tennie. But after finding a new producer, the vitamin water could be back on the market this year. 

Seeing his mom – who owns a private therapy practice – helped inspire Carter to become an entrepreneur, he explained. And he’s also passionate about giving back. He recently launched a nonprofit, and he serves as a golf coach and motivational speaker for schools and events. 

Like First Tee, Carter is dedicated to growing the sport of golf and showing that anyone can play. Carter and his mom were drawn to First Tee’s values, and he’s been participating with the Florida Gold Coast chapter in Fort Lauderdale for about a year. 

“It’s been super awesome,” Carter said. 

Isabella Curtis found a new passion at First Tee summer camp 

First Tee – Central Arkansas participant Isabella Curtis understands the importance of setting goals. The 14-year-old does it every year for school and sports. She aims to shoot even par in a golf tournament this year. Ultimately, she’d like to play college golf, she said. 

Curtis, who also plays volleyball, has only been golfing for a few years. She took part in a First Tee summer camp after an older girl from her church recommended the program. “I really had no interest or experience in golf, but I thought, ‘This could be fun,’” Curtis said. 

She loves the challenges that golf presents, she said. “I like anything with competition. We did a drive, chip and putt competition at the end, and it was fun,” Curtis said. 

Her advice for new golfers: “Just have fun and don’t take a bad shot too seriously because the most important shot in golf is the next one.” 

Curtis’ golf career has taken off quickly. She’s been named the South Central PGA Player of the Year for her age group and won dozens of tournaments.  

“It’s kind of like the beginning of a book,” said her father, Jonathan Curtis. “The story at the beginning is so important, and we’re so grateful for the staff and volunteers at First Tee who make a really complex game one that’s fun for kids.” 

Curtis competed at the Notah Begay III Girls Golf National Championship in Louisiana last year, and she said she’s looking forward to seeing where else golf takes her – even if the sport wasn’t always on her radar. 

“It has been a joy to watch Isabella grow not only into a competitive golfer but more importantly into a very impressive young lady,” said First Tee – Central Arkansas Executive Director Monica Blake. “Isabella first came to our chapter through our summer golf camps which provide the space to explore the game of golf while creating opportunities for personal growth. We take pride in knowing that First Tee is the place where Isabella developed her love and passion for the game.”  

In addition to sports, Curtis also likes reading and volunteering with her church, where her dad is the pastor. 

Find a First Tee summer program near you.

Coach Bonnie on sharing her love of golf: ‘Golf will make them better people’

It feels like fate played a role in bringing Bonnie Bunch Glover to golf 20 years ago. “I had a set of old clubs in my garage. Someone gave them to me, but I had no place to play and didn’t even know how,” she said. Then a colleague heard about the Lady Drivers, a group of Black women golfers in Jackson, Mississippi.  

Glover dusted off her hand-me-down clubs and attended a beginners clinic hosted by the group. “I was voted most likely to succeed at the clinic, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” she joked. 

For the last few years, Glover has been volunteering full-time with First Tee – Central Mississippi. 

“Sportsmanship is one of the things I enjoy teaching the kids,” she said. “Golf will make them better people later in life. They’re learning to share, patience – golf promotes a lot of things,” she said. 

With support from Morgan Stanley’s Eagles for Impact program, Glover attended a Level 2 Coach Training in New Orleans last year. “Getting that formal training just motivates you. You know you’re getting something solid to take forward,” she said. 

“Bonnie is eager to help our chapter in any way she can. She loves working in our girls’ classes, and she’s a great person to recruit new volunteers and coaches,” said Margo Coleman, executive director of First Tee – Central Mississippi. 

Morgan Stanley’s support will continue this year. For every eagle made during this month’s PLAYERS tournament, the firm will donate $5,000 to First Tee in support of the development and retention of diverse golf coaches, like Glover, to mentor the next generation of game changing leaders. 

As a self-taught golfer, Glover said she feels more comfortable passing along her skills after attending a First Tee coach training. “I just try to tell my kids that you don’t have to be the best. You just have to do the best you can, and it will pay off,” she said.  

“Coach Bonnie brings positive energy to each class. She is helpful to all of the students, taking the time to help them, no matter their level of golf,” Coleman said. 

In addition to coaching, Glover helps organize an equipment drive each spring in partnership with the Jackson Women’s Golf Association. The group has provided shoes, clubs and clothes to many young golfers in Mississippi.  

All her efforts aim to make golf more accessible to all kids, including those from diverse backgrounds, Glover said. “We need more minorities in the game of golf. Our kids need to see them,” she said. 

Research has shown that kids learn better when they identify with their teachers. That’s why First Tee believes it’s important for our coaches to represent the communities they serve. 

“We’re so grateful to Morgan Stanley for supporting this important initiative,” said First Tee CEO Greg McGlaughlin. “Coaches form the backbone of our organization, and we’re committed to bringing in and training coaches from diverse backgrounds because golf – especially with the life skills it teaches – is a game for everyone.” 

New Arnold Palmer Putting Experience is a game changer for First Tee – Central Florida 

Central Florida has some incredible golf courses, but they’re not necessarily accessible to kids growing up in the West Lakes neighborhood near Camping World Stadium. 

That’s why the Arnold Palmer Putting Experience in the recently renovated Lake Lorna Doone Park is even more important for the community. The new 9-hole putting facility is modeled off the greens of the back nine at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club, which is hosting the Arnold Palmer Invitation this week.  

Not only is the putting facility open to the community, but it’s also home to new First Tee – Central Florida programming. 

“The kids have just loved it,” said Julie Steinbauer Leventhal of First Tee – Central Florida. “It was really special for me that first day when a bunch of kids came over from the playground and asked to try golf.” 

Twenty kids from the nearby Northwest Neighborhood Center currently participate in weekly First Tee programming at Lake Lorna Doone Park. The city of Orlando allows the group to practice full swing shots on the park’s football field. “It’s really cool because the kids are getting to experience something new,” said Leventhal. 

Some of the participants experienced another first this week when they attended Kid’s Day at the API on Monday. And the aim is to keep them connected to the sport – all 20 kids who play with First Tee at Lake Lorna Doone received a set of golf clubs which will hopefully encourage them to stick with the game and even get their families involved, Leventhal said. 

Lake Lorna Doone Park recently underwent an $8 million renovation which not only brought golf but also a playground, football fields, basketball courts, a splash pad and the Winnie Palmer Nature Trail to the historically under resourced community. The 12-acre park is one of the oldest in Orlando and hosted the South’s first integrated Little League Baseball game in 1955. 

The project serves as an example of planning and collaboration between many community organizations, including the City of Orlando, Florida Citrus Sports, Lift Orlando and the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation. 

First Tee – Central Florida previously offered programming at community centers in the area, but this marks its first entry into green spaces in the West Lakes neighborhood. After starting small, the chapter

Women’s History Month: How Jayda Dookie is changing the game 

Jayda Dookie didn’t quite know what she was getting into when her high school coach reached out about a caddying opportunity at Seminole Golf Club. 

Ranked the top course in Florida for the last 35 years by Golf Digest, the Club has a rich history of hosting the corporate elite along with a couple of high-profile events in the past. But Jayda was about to make her own history. When Jayda, a First Tee – Florida Gold Coast participant, signed on as caddy, she was unaware that she would become the first female caddy in the history of the storied club. As a freshman, she was also the youngest caddy in the yard when she took the job four years ago. 

“A lot of the caddies were excited to see a girl come and do this job, not only because you have to engage with a lot of important people, but it’s also a physical job,” she explained. “I quicky had to get out my shell. I had to make sure my players were comfortable, and I definitely only succeeded because of the mentors I had in the caddy yard.” 

She said planning ahead is an important part of caddying at Seminole: “First we have to forecaddie. We must get to the ball before the players do to get all the numbers like distance from the hole, wind speed and direction. At Seminole, we really place an emphasis on pace of play, and the only way we’re able to do that is if our caddies are two steps ahead of our players,” she said. 

Jayda said it was intimidating to start her job at Seminole, but now she loves it because of the network she’s forged. 

“I have learned so much through the other caddies and members,” she said. “Many are prominent CEOs and business leaders, and it’s good for me to watch how business deals are negotiated the golf course.” 

That’s especially true since Jayda plans to have a career in international business – even though she’ll be sad to leave Seminole when she attends college in the fall. “I’m definitely going to miss it, but I know there’s an invitation extended for me to come back because they’ve become my second family now,” she said. 

Jayda credits First Tee’s John Deere Drive Your Future Academy with helping her select her future career path. She attended the event in San Francisco last summer. “It was amazing to see girls from all over the country gather to learn about business and leadership and play golf,” she said. “We didn’t know each other at first but by the end we all felt like family.” 

Jayda said First Tee has not only given her lots of impactful opportunities – including a recent behind-the-scenes visit to The Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens – but also a supportive community. 

“I’m probably not going to remember all the stress and heartbreaks of different tournaments but I’m definitely going to remember the people and the family that has gathered around me thanks to golf.” 

Jayda was recently named Participant of the Year by First Tee – Florida Gold Coast. 

She credits the sport with teaching her discipline and giving her confidence and recommends golf for any girls who are looking for a new hobby. “I think they should definitely do it,” she said. “Golf is a sport you can play for life. Golf gives you a community and opportunities and people to lean on if you ever need help.” 

Obando on following his dreams: ‘Not giving up and going the extra mile pays off in the end’

Felipe Obando may now be studying at the Keiser University College of Golf. But it wasn’t always a given that the sport would play an important part in his life. 

Obando has long been a passionate artist, and in fifth grade, he won an art contest that not only awarded him tickets to The Honda Classic – and meet and greets with PGA TOUR players like Russel Henley – but also a lifetime membership to First Tee – Florida Gold Coast. 

It was the first time Obando was exposed to golf, and First Tee introduced him to the coaches who could become important mentors, he said.  

“I could go on all day long about the insane and incredible opportunities that have been given to me by the First Tee,” he said. But one thing stands out from his time in the organization: the values it instilled. 

“Responsibly, honesty, integrity … were all words we learned as kids going to the First Tee which helped pave the way for the rest of my life,” he said. 

During his time as a First Tee participant, Obando attended national events like the Leadership Series in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore, he played at storied courses, including The Breakers and The Bears Club, and he volunteered to help younger kids learn the game. 

Obando was so passionate about the sport that he teamed up with seven other First Tee participants to create the First Tee – Palm Beaches Teen Golf Association, which has evolved into a thriving organization. 

Obando has had to overcome challenges to get where he is today. He was born with a malformed right hand and has developed a golf swing that compliments his disability.  

“Grabbing a cup, throwing a ball, flipping a coin. Those were all things I could do with my normal left hand. But what about a sport that involves your two hands gripping something? Golf was probably the most challenging sport I ever had to learn, and it took me lots of time and practice to be able to get good contact,” he said. 

“I would say the most important thing throughout this process was never giving up, even if it meant putting myself in uncomfortable situations. I always (and still do) finished holes even if I wasn’t playing my best and wanted to pick up,” he explained. “Overcoming challenges for me was difficult, and it still is to this day, but not giving up and going the extra mile pays off in the end.” 

Obando always knew he wanted to attend college, and now his goal has become a reality. He received a four-year scholarship to attend Keiser University College of Golf where’s he’s studying golf management.  

“When it comes to post graduation, all I know is that I want to be involved in the best industry there is, the golf industry, whether it’s a head pro at a club, a coach, working for a company and many more of the thousands of careers there are in the golf world,” he said. 

He recently received his WR4GD pass, which makes him eligible to compete in tournaments like the USGA’s second U.S. Adaptive Open at Pinehurst this summer. Obando said he’s excited for what the future holds. 

“I have been practicing hard, focusing on my classes, focusing on my game and staying healthy,” he said.