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FIRST TEE-GREATER WASHINGTON DC TEEN INVITED TO PLAY PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS’ PURE INSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP IMPACTING FIRST TEE AT PEBBLE BEACH

Washington, DC (September 16, 2024) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Champions have announced that Samantha Nguyen will represent First Tee-Greater Washington DC at the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee. The event will bring teens from First Tee chapters to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course for the PGA TOUR Champions tournament, Sept. 17-22. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, is televised nationally on Golf Channel.

Samantha, 16, or “Sammi” as her family and friends refer to her, is a junior at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, VA and has been a First Tee participant for nine years. She plays on her high school golf team where she’s been a team captain the past two seasons and also competes in US Kids Golf, Middle Atlantic PGA Section and Peggy Kirk Bell Golf Tour tournaments. In addition to playing golf, Sammi is also involved with STEM Exploration for Youth Club, LPGA*USGA/First Tee-GWDC Girls Golf and is part of both the National Honors Society and the National Art Honors Society.

“We’re very proud of Sammi’s accomplishments both on and off the golf course,” said Clint Sanchez, Executive Director of First Tee-Greater Washington DC. “She’s following in her sister Joey’s footsteps by competing in the PURE Insurance Championship and making her own positive impact on our chapter, participants and families.”

Sammi’s sister, Josephine or “Joey”, competed in the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship and was a First Tee-Greater Washington DC participant for 10 years.

Sammi has also taken the reins as president of G.I.R.Ls Club (Girls in Roles of Leadership), which is the organization that Joey founded a few years ago. The group hosts a professional women’s leadership conference each year and develops several different service projects as well.

“I am really excited about competing at the PURE Insurance Championship. I watched my sister have a great time at the event, playing with the Pros at such nice golf courses and making new friends. It’s something that I knew I wanted to strive for as well,” said Sammi. “I am grateful for the impact First Tee has had on my life and the lasting lessons it has instilled in me.”

Sammi will showcase the skills and values she learned at First Tee during a week of competition and mentorship, during which they’ll be paired with a PGA TOUR Champions pro and amateurs from the business world. She will join 80 total teens from First Tee chapters across the country and – for the fourth year in a row – a participant from First Tee — Morocco.

Participants were selected by a national panel of judges based on their personal growth and development through First Tee’s programs, as well as their playing ability. The full junior field was revealed live on Golf Channel’s “Golf Today.”

This year’s field of PGA TOUR Champions players will feature legends including Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, as well as three-time PURE Insurance Championship winner Kirk Triplett and Thongchai Jaidee, who will defend his title. Last year, Diego DeJesus from First Tee-Greater Washington DC participated in the PURE Insurance Championship and was paired with Jaidee and had a wonderful experience playing with the eventual champion. Clint Eastwood serves as chairman of the PURE Insurance Championship.

Play will be conducted on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Friday and Saturday. The final round will be contested solely at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Sunday, where 24 First Tee juniors will compete based on their 36-hole performance. The tournament will crown one male and one female First Tee junior champion on Sunday.

More than 1,000 teens from First Tee have played in the PURE Insurance Championship, experiencing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet, play and be mentored by PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs in the field.

First Tee is a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The PURE Insurance Championship is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee Headquarters to encourage and motivate participants as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.

The junior field for 2024 PURE Insurance Championshipcan be viewed here.

For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com. To learn more about First Tee, visit FirstTee.org.

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About First Tee — Greater Washington DC

First Tee — Greater Washington DC is one of 150 First Tee chapters across the U.S. and select international locations. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. First Tee — GWDC reaches kids and teens through programs delivered at 22 program locations, 260 schools and several youth centers. Learn more at www.firstteedc.org.

About Monterey Peninsula Foundation

Surpassing nearly $250 million in total donations, Monterey Peninsula Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that donates funds from the proceeds of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA TOUR and the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach, a PGA TOUR Champions tournament. The Foundation focuses on improving the quality of life in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties.

www.montereypeninsulafoundation.org

www.attpbgolf.com

www.pureinsurancechampionship.org

About PURE Insurance

Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) Insurance is a property and casualty insurance company designed exclusively for successful, responsible families. We opened for business nearly 20 years ago with the goal of offering something different in the insurance space: a company focused on doing what’s right for our membership (policyholders), one that promotes transparency and alignment of interests, and delivers greater value. Today, with a membership of more than 100,000 individuals and families, we are the most awarded insurer in our category, offer coverage in all 50 states that includes high value homeowners, automobile, collections, watercraft, personal excess liability, fraud & cyber and flood. pureinsurance.com | 888.813.7873

About PGA TOUR Champions

PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 34 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, at facebook.com/PGATOURChampions, on Twitter @ChampionsTour and on Instagram @pgatourchampions.

All events are televised in the United States, with most receiving complete coverage on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Tournament programming is available via 25+ TV linear partners in 145+ countries and territories, with 25 channels carrying long-form and/or highlights coverage, and 200+ hours of live coverage distributed in 135+ countries and territories. Programming is also available via the OTT platform GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR in every market outside of the United States, excluding China and Korea, with live coverage distributed in 130+ countries and territories.

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Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month: Alex Yang reflects on the importance of community

September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. Alex Yang from First Tee – Coachella Valley shared his story of how the chapter has supported him through his diagnosis and treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“I joined First Tee about 3 years ago, right after the COVID-19 pandemic. I played soccer for nine years and never played golf before, but I wanted to try a new sport outside of my comfort zone. As soon as I joined the program, I immediately fell in love with it. Before joining First Tee, I assumed it was just about learning golf and nothing else. I had no idea about the incredible life lessons they taught or the value of them. As a beginner golfer, I was very nervous and anxious about my lack of golf knowledge and was unsure how I would fit in. However, the environment at First Tee – Coachella Valley was astonishing.

It was a place where everybody was welcome, regardless of their background or skill level. All of the coaches and other participants were extremely supportive and encouraging to each other. As we learned about skills to use both on and off the course, it opened my eyes to how golf is more than just the sport. The lessons I learned through the core values and other curriculums helped me grow as a person and became a part of my identity.

As I continued with First Tee, I participated in many of their programs besides just their teen group classes such as the Divots and Diversity class, Evans Scholar Caddie Program, PGA TOUR Superstore Leadership Class, standard bearing at the American Express, giving speeches at First Tee events, and even being selected to go to the PGATSS Leadership Academy in Atlanta in 2023. Throughout all of these experiences, I was exposed to remarkable people as well as countless opportunities. This helped me to build my own self confidence and learn how to pursue the goals that I set for myself. As I expanded my horizons, I looked towards the many national opportunities that First Tee provides over the summer. Unfortunately, there were unexpected developments that prevented me from participating.

Starting in October of 2023, I noticed some signs that something was out of the ordinary. I experienced extreme fatigue, which caused me to fall asleep in almost every single one of my classes each day, even with eight to nine hours of sleep a day. I had just assumed that schoolwork and my activities were taking a toll on me. In December and January, I got sick very easily and multiple times in a short period of time. Starting in February, I developed a cough that I believed was a seasonal cold. As the coughing got worse, I took three trips to urgent cares, which only provided antibiotics and inhalers as they believed it was just bronchitis or a common cold. My mother requested a chest X-ray each time but was turned down all three times. As the condition worsened, I started to have difficulty breathing. This was when my mother rushed me to the ER on March 1, 2024.

The doctors there immediately noticed my right lung sounded diminished and ordered a chest X-ray. They were surprised that none of the urgent care doctors offered an X-ray to us. The results from the X-ray showed that my right lung collapsed due to excessive amounts of fluid. They immediately took me to the procedure room and drained two liters of fluid. I was then admitted to the hospital for further monitoring of my condition, which at the time they assumed was pneumonia. The doctors scheduled a surgery to drain the rest of the fluid as well as install a chest tube. The night before the surgery, the doctors changed the preliminary scan from an X-ray to a CT scan. With this scan, they found a 12 cm mediastinal mass on top of my heart which was blocking my airways. During the surgery they installed a chest tube and took a biopsy of the mass. A few days later, the results came back which showed that it was positive for blood cancer.

I began chemotherapy treatment to start eliminating the mass. We stayed in the Loma Linda area for six weeks before finally returning home. Once we returned home, we spent the rest of our time going back and forth to the clinic with occasional hospitalizations. I was never aware of the severe side effects that come with chemotherapy and how scary they can be.

As my doctor went over my treatment plan, she recommended that I take a year off of school because of the countless side effects and intensive treatment. However, I did not want to postpone my education and fall behind in my goal of becoming an engineer. I finished my 10th grade year through the online Home and Hospital program. Throughout the summer, I continued my education by completing an online class through my local community college as well as homework for the next year. Although things were extremely tough and painful, I did not want to give up and pushed myself to reach my goals.

Although treatment has not concluded yet, I cannot wait to return to First Tee and continue my journey with them. First Tee – Coachella Valley has continuously reached out to me and checked up on my condition. They try to help me in any way that they can, even starting a lemonade stand to raise funds for my treatments. Without the immense support that I received from coaches and fellow participants, it would’ve been a much harder journey. I had never realized how much support from loved ones and a strong community could make such an impact. It gave me the strength to push through the hardest times of my life.

Going through all of this, I have learned the importance of having a strong and supportive community with people to help you. This is truly one of the most precious gifts that you could ever have. First Tee has created a community unlike any other, and I am honored to be a part of it. Once I am able to, I hope to return the kindness and hope that I have been given back to my community and help others who are going through their own struggles. I am so thankful for everything I learned and have received from First Tee.”

FIRST TEE KIDS SELECTED TO SERVE AS STANDARD-BEARERS AT 2024 SOLHEIM CUP

13 Participants from First Tee-Greater Washington DC and First Tee Prince William County Chapters Earned the Inside-the-Ropes Roles

Washington, D.C. – September 9, 2024 – Thirteen participants from the First Tee-Greater Washington, DC and First Tee Prince William County chapters were selected to be standard-bearers at the 2024 Solheim Cup, which will be contested Sept. 13-15 at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va.

“We are so excited for these participants,” said Clint Sanchez, executive director of First Tee-Greater Washington, DC. “This is a wonderful opportunity for young people who are interested in the sport to get an inside-the-ropes look at the competition and see firsthand how these professional golfers prepare, play and compete.”

“The Solheim Cup is honored to partner with our local First Tee chapters to provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these First Tee participants to be standard-bearers. They will receive an exciting up-close experience at this premiere international women’s golf competition,” said Matt Hoover, tournament director of the 2024 Solheim Cup.

The Solheim Cup combines the tradition and prestige of the game of golf with the passion for one’s country and continent. This biennial, transatlantic team match-play competition features the 12 best European players from the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the 12 best U.S. players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.

Following is a list of the 13 First Tee standard-bearers, their First Tee chapter affiliation and some background information about each person.

Joelle Barksdale

Age: 17

Hometown: Washington, DC

School: School Without Walls High School

Chapter: First Tee-Greater Washington DC

First Tee class location: Langston Golf Course and East Potomac Golf Links

Favorite part of First Tee: learning the life skills that have aided me thus far and will carry me through life

Standard-bearer excitement: watching how the players strategize and play each hole, the sportsmanship, and the dynamic environment created by the spectators and players

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Mariah Stackhouse

Favorite local golf course: Columbia Country Club

Dream foursome: Ben Hogan, Oprah Winfrey, my Dad and me

Grace Burrell

Age: 13

Hometown: Manassas, VA

School: Parkside Middle School

Chapter: First Tee Prince William County

First Tee class location: Lake Ridge Golf Course

Favorite part of First Tee: Getting to meet new people and play golf

Standard-bearer excitement: Getting a great view of action and seeing players up close

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Nelly Korda

Favorite local golf course: Stonewall Golf Club

Dream foursome: Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson, my Dad and me

Andrew David

Age: 16

Hometown: Alexandria, VA

School: Saint Paul the Great Catholic High School

Chapter: First Tee-Greater Washington DC

First Tee class location: Ft. Belvoir Golf Club

Favorite part of First Tee: Being around others who love the game and all of the support and opportunities the First Tee family offers me

Standard-bearer excitement: walk along the course with the best female golfers in the game and observe the high-intensity matches right in front of me

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Nelly Korda

Favorite local golf course: The Club at Creighton Farms

Dream foursome: Steph Curry, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and me

Philip Gray

Age: 14

Hometown: Kingstowne, VA

School: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Chapter: First Tee-Greater Washington DC

First Tee class location: Ft. Belvoir Golf Club

Favorite part of First Tee: the values I have learned and the various playing opportunities

Standard-bearer excitement: to try something new and be so close to the players

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Nelly Korda

Favorite local golf course: Burke Lake Golf Course

Dream foursome: Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, my Dad and me

Malaika Jha

Age: 18

Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA

School: Muhlenburg College

Chapter: First Tee Prince William County, chapter employee/assistant

First Tee class location: Forest Greens Golf Course, PWC Golf Course, Lake Ridge Golf Course

Favorite part of First Tee: the kids I meet and get to work with

Standard-bearer excitement: meeting the players

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Lexi Thompson

Favorite local golf course: Shenandoah Valley Golf Course

Dream foursome: Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, Rose Zhang and me

Rosangela Le

Age: 17

Hometown: Woodbridge, VA

School: Osbourn Park High School

Chapter: First Tee Prince William County

First Tee class location: Lake Ridge Golf Course and Forest Green Golf Course

Favorite part of First Tee: meet new people while golfing and hit bomb shots

Standard-bearer excitement: walk the course with the players

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Nelly Korda

Favorite local golf course: Caves Valley Golf Club

Dream foursome: current high school golf team teammates – we’d make a fire foursome!

Maeve McGuire

Age: 15

Hometown: Alexandria, VA

School: Bishop Ireton High School

Chapter: First Tee-Greater Washington DC

First Tee class location: Ft. Belvoir Golf Club

Favorite part of First Tee: meeting so many welcoming and encouraging people

Standard-bearer excitement: watch the players navigate the course and play tough shots

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Lexi Thompson

Favorite local golf course: Belle Haven Country Club

Dream foursome: Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, Leona Maguire and me

Rory McGuire

Age: 17

Hometown: Alexandria, VA

School: Bishop Ireton High School

Chapter: First Tee-Greater Washington DC

First Tee class location: Ft. Belvoir Golf Club

Favorite part of First Tee: improving and perfecting aspects of my game and the satisfaction of seeing it pay off in my results

Standard-bearer excitement: view the match from a first-person perspective, gaining insight into what it might feel like to play at the highest level of competition

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Nelly Korda

Favorite local golf course: Belmont Country Club

Dream foursome: Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, Caroline Hedwall and me

Josephine Sanchez

Age: 16

Hometown: Alexandria, VA

School: Hayfield High School

Chapter: First Tee-Greater Washington DC

First Tee class location: Ft. Belvoir Golf Club

Favorite part of First Tee: Improving my game while having fun and building relationships

Standard-bearer excitement: getting to see the Solheim Cup competition up close

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Rose Zhang

Favorite local golf course: Pohick Bay Golf Course

Dream foursome: Rose Zhang, Hideki Matsuyama, my grandfather and me

Jack Schimler

Age: 17

Hometown: Gainesville, VA

School: Gainesville High School

Chapter: First Tee Prince William County

First Tee class location: Prince William Golf Course

Favorite part of First Tee: opportunity to increase my knowledge of the game by competing

Standard-bearer excitement: walking with players and getting an up-close view of play

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Lexi Thompson

Favorite local golf courses: Prince William Golf Course and Stonewall Golf Club

Dream foursome: Ludvig Aberg, Lexi Thompson, Luka Doncic and me

Aaliyah Shabazz

Age: 15

Hometown: Herndon, VA

School: Westfield High School

Chapter: First Tee-Greater Washington DC

First Tee class location: East Potomac Golf Course

Favorite part of First Tee: development of one’s comfort level and self-esteem

Standard-bearer excitement: walking inside the ropes with these great female players

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Lydia Ko

Favorite local golf course: Oak Creek Golf Club

Dream foursome: Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, Tiger Woods and me

Claire Varughese

Age: 16

Hometown: Alexandria, VA

School: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Chapter: First Tee-Greater Washington DC

First Tee class location: Ft. Belvoir Golf Course

Favorite part of First Tee: start with any skill level and you can still succeed

Standard-bearer excitement: seeing how players adjust when they don’t hit a great shot

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Nelly Korda

Favorite local golf course: Pohick Bay Golf Course

Dream foursome: Nelly Korda, Tom Holland, my older sister Grace and me

Skyler Xue

Age: 16

Hometown: Bethesda, MD

School: Montgomery Blair High School

Chapter: First Tee-Greater Washington DC

First Tee class location: Needwood Golf Course

Favorite part of First Tee: Learning about golf and life skills that

Standard-bearer excitement: walking with some of the best female golfers in the world

Favorite LPGA Tour player: Nelly Korda

Favorite local golf course: East Potomac Golf Links

Dream foursome: Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and me

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About First Tee-Greater Washington, DC

First Tee-Greater Washington, DC is one of 150 First Tee chapters across the U.S. and select international locations. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. First Tee-Greater Washington, DC impacts more than 200,000 young people each year through programs delivered at 23 program locations, 300 schools and 30 community partners throughout Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, Montgomery County, MD and Prince George’s County, MD. Learn more at firstteedc.org.

About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)

First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA TOUR. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. In 2022, First Tee celebrated its 25^th anniversary and has reached millions of youth through its network of 150 chapters, 10,000 schools and 1,700 youth centers. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, programs are delivered in all 50 United States and select international locations. President George W. Bush serves as Honorary Chair. Learn more at firsttee.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Palmer Moody

Sr. Director of Communications and Advancement

First Tee-Greater Washington DC

847.804.2721 mobile

[email protected]

Elle, Julian Gianelli to compete in the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship

This September two participants from First Tee – San Joaquin will make their way to Pebble Beach, California, to play in the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship, and they happen to be siblings.

Julian and Elle Gianelli have been First Tee participants for six years. After being introduced to golf 11 years ago by their grandpa, they both found a love for the sport: getting to learn from him, spend quality time together and even show off a little bit.

Julian is a junior in high school and is involved with Model UN, Key Club, Campus Ministry, Link Crew, the California Scholarship Federation, the varsity golf team and completed over 200 hours of community service in 2023. He’s also a 3^rd degree blackbelt in Taekwondo, with the curriculum of First Tee reminding him of the curriculum taught in Taekwondo.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my journey with First Tee has been the opportunity to give back to the community by coaching and mentoring younger participants,” he said. “Serving as a positive role model for these children has been an honor, allowing me to share the values and lessons instilled in me by First Tee and inspire the next generation of leaders.”

Another way Julian gives back to his community is through his passion project “Crop Kindness Connect,” where he collects excess fruits and vegetables from local growers and provides them to those in need and local lower income schools of Stockton.

His older sister, Elle, is a senior in high school and is involved in the chess club, Kids Connect Global and has earned the President’s Service Award with over 250 hours of community service in 2023. She is also a 3^rd degree blackbelt in taekwondo and has been involved in several First Tee national opportunities, including the First Tee Innovators Forum, where teens develop a community service project to implement in their hometown.

Elle created a nonprofit called Socks4Seniors, which has provided over 6,500 pairs of silly socks and notes to over 100 nursing/assisted living facilities nationwide.

“I’ve been able to envision the impossible and am proud of what I have established and achieved through my nonprofit,” she said.

Julian and Elle are just two examples of the impressive 80 participants selected to play in the PURE Insurance Championship from September 17 – 22 This opportunity pairs each First Tee participant with a PGA TOUR Champions’ player and amateurs from the business world.

Good luck to all 80 participants as they continue their preparations for Pebble Beach!

The Power of Connection: Building the Coach-Participant Relationship

By Kristin Westberg, Senior Director of Curriculum and Education

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

At First Tee, coaching involves far more than just teaching golf skills and life skills in a class; it’s about cultivating relationships that foster growth, build confidence and demonstrate resilience. But how can coaches create a foundation of trust that cultivates legitimate relationships with participants? Empowering Youth, one of the First Tee Coach Building Blocks, focuses on this aspect of development and is one key to building relationships that create impact.

Trust is the foundation

Eighty-three percent of parents wish their child had more access to trustworthy coaches. Trust forms the bedrock of any enduring coach-athlete relationship. It’s the glue that holds everything together, facilitates effective communication, skill development and overall progress. All First Tee coaches are background checked and formally trained to connect with participants, whether they’re passionate golfers or just trying something new. They prioritize building trust early on to establish a strong foundation that can lead to a lasting connection.

Positive role modeling

Ninety-two percent of parents say they hope their child has a coach who they would consider a role model. First Tee coaches serve as mentors and role models for participants. They lead by example and demonstrate the values they expect from participants. Kids are far more likely to do what you do, rather than what you say, and coaches recognize this as an opportunity to positively model both golf skills and life skills that can be applied on and off the course. Coaches are committed to Building Game Changers, work hard to embody the Key Commitments, set a positive example of pursuing goals, grow through challenge, collaborate with others, build positive self-identity and use good judgment. These behaviors help to build trust and foster connections with participants of all ages.

Continuous improvement

Fifty-three percent of parents say having a trustworthy sports coach or mentor would increase their likelihood to commit long-term to the activity. First Tee coaches understand that building meaningful connections with participants is an ongoing process, and the First Tee curriculum exists to support them through that. First Tee offers a variety of eLearning courses and supplemental resources, as well as HQ led trainings to deepen their knowledge and develop new skills, such as understanding the stages of youth development or tips and tricks for tackling skill disparities. These practices improve the learning environment in a class and create opportunities to develop relationships and strengthen connections with participants.

Ninety percent of parents believe that coaches are the unsung heroes of youth development. A coach’s influence extends beyond the course and long after the round ends. Genuine connection matters when building the coach-participant relationship and even more when building game changers. At First Tee, we recognize that when participants know you care, they’ll care what you know and that’s when true learning and growth happens.

The statistics used throughout this story are from a new study between First Tee and Harris Poll. Visit the Character Gap research to learn more.

Q&A with a Coach

Sterling Simmons III is a First Tee alumnus and the player development instructor at First Tee – Greater Richmond. In that role, Sterling leads First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Player Development Academy, First Tee matches and oversees the organizations PGA Jr. League teams.

How did you get involved with First Tee?

My father took me to the First Tee Greater Richmond driving range when I was younger, and I met my first golf coach Craig Wood. I’ve stayed involved ever since.

Why do you continue to coach?

I enjoy being able to be a part of the development process for our participants, both on and off the golf course.

What have you learned from coaching at First Tee?

First Tee has taught me that each participant is unique in their own way and as a coach, you have to be able to adapt how you teach to match the participant.

What do you think new First Tee students should know?

The course of life and the golf course are very similar. You will be presented with obstacles and challenges along the way, but the ability to navigate and overcome adversity will help you in the future on both of these “courses.”

What do you think new/inquiring coaches should know?

You don’t have to be a great golfer to make an impact on a participant’s life.

New Study from The Harris Poll and First Tee: Coaches are the unsung heroes of youth development

Parents rely on sports – and trained coaches – to help their children build character and learn life skills, including working with others.

CHICAGO, Ill. & PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2024) – While 93% of parents agree that kids can learn important life skills from playing sports, four out of five parents also believe there is a shortage of high-caliber coaches today.

That is from a new survey by global consulting and market research firm, The Harris Poll, and youth development organization, First Tee. The U.S.-based survey was conducted online in April 2024 with feedback from 2,049 adults.

The survey captured data on youth involvement in extracurricular activities and sports. The data was also analyzed by gender, age, race, education, and income, among other characteristics.

“Since our mission is centered on positive youth development, we think it is important to seek parents’ perspectives as the world around them continues to change and their kids face new challenges,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “It helps us better understand and serve youth, and in the case of this study, it reinforces the importance of our investment in training our coaches.”

First Tee’s network of 150 chapters engages more than 5,000 active, trained coaches who deliver a curriculum designed with input from youth development experts using golf as the platform. The training system is built on research-proven methods of positive youth development, providing coaches with the tools to make kids feel safe, included and empowered. As part of First Tee’s onboarding, each coach is background-checked and completes training from the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

The key findings from the survey include:

89% of parents feel character is a lost value that should be more emphasized in today’s society – an increase of +4 percentage points from the 2023 survey. Today’s kids and teens are facing new challenges, and strength of character is essential for overcoming obstacles. Parents understand that need, as nine out of 10 parents seek opportunities for their kids to build character.

Parents believe sports can help close the character gap. Parents put their kids in extracurricular activities – with sports being most popular – for socialization and to build confidence. According to 93% of parents, children learn important life skills from playing sports.

Parents believe coaches are essential to youth development. Parents turn to coaches to help teach their kids character, self-confidence, determination and leadership. 91% of parents agree that sports coaching should inspire children to excel both on and off the field.

Safety is critically important to parents. They prefer coaches who have been background checked, with 94% of parents citing it as a priority in today’s world and 83% wishing their child had more access to well-trained coaches.

“While every generation confronts their own unique challenges, kids are facing new barriers to character development,” said Harris Poll CEO Will Johnson. “Our research findings make it clear: Parents, when registering your kids for the upcoming school year, don’t forget the critical development that comes outside the classroom.”

This is the second annual research collaboration between The Harris Poll and First Tee.

Download the full 2024 Report.

For the results of the 2023 parent survey, click here.

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About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)  
First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA TOUR. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of kids annually through its network of 150 chapters, 11,000 schools and 1,900 youth centers. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, programs are delivered in all 50 United States and select international locations. President George W. Bush serves as Honorary Chair.  

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:    
Annika Mayers, First Tee    
[email protected]
904-273-3513

Help your child stay calm with the 4 Rs

There was a viral moment at the 2024 U.S. Open, when in a news conference, First Tee – Sandhills participant Tytus Solt asked World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler about staying calm after a recent triple bogie.

“I think that’s something you just learn playing more and more golf, that bad breaks are going to come, but it’s more about your response to those things,” Scheffler answered.

Everyone has highs and lows on the golf course, but the most successful players have strategies to control their emotions. And the important thing is, those strategies can be useful in tough moments off the course too.

At First Tee, we teach the 4 Rs.

Relax: “This can look a few different ways,” explained AnnaLeis Caldwell, from the Programs team at First Tee. “You might hum a song while walking to your next shot. You might close your eyes for a moment or visualize your next shot.” The former collegiate golfer said she uses breathing patterns to calm down while walking to her ball. “Every player may find something a little different works best for them,” she said.

Replay: This technique is not just useful when you hit a poor shot, Caldwell explained. It is most effective when you use the 4 Rs to keep your emotions level, so you do not get too excited or upset. Replaying a good shot can help boost your confidence. Meanwhile, Bobby Jones famously said, “I never learned anything from a match I won.” Replaying a poor shot and considering what went wrong can be enlightening too.

Ready: This is when you choose your target and club before completing your pre-shot routine, Caldwell said. Consistency and rhythm are important in golf, which explains why research shows that having a pre-shot routine can help you play better.

Re-do: In this step, you put everything together, hit your next shot and start the process over again. “This is your opportunity to start fresh,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell still uses the 4 Rs when she is playing golf but acknowledged there can be off-the-course applications too. “It could be helpful for kids during testing, maybe after receiving a poor grade or even while playing other sports,” Caldwell said.

Find a First Tee location near you.

40 First Tee Teens invited to First Tee Leadership Summit in Partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore

Actors Michael Peña and Kathryn Newton will headline the two weeklong retreats focused on sharpening leadership skills.

WEST CREEK RANCH, Mont. (August 5, 2024) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore are set to host 40 teens from across the country at West Creek Ranch, an intimate setting in Montana for leadership development, community building and connection. Owned by PGA TOUR Superstore chairman and First Tee board member Arthur M. Blank, the picturesque ranch is the perfect setting for a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these teens to explore leadership development, community building and problem solving. Students spend much of the time in outdoor interactions including whitewater rafting, horseback riding and archery, based on the belief that connections made in nature provide benefits that cannot be replicated in the classroom.

Each week will tee off with keynote speakers who will discuss their individual leadership, share life experiences and examine how they have grown through opportunities and challenges. The first week will feature actor Michael Peña, while actor and First Tee alumnus Kathryn Newton will be the featured speaker during the second week.

The First Tee Leadership Summit is designed to help teens grow their leadership skills through hands-on activities that require teamwork and personal strength. Daily leadership themes include pursuing goals, growing through challenges and building positive self-identity.

This is the fourth consecutive year that nonprofit youth development organization First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore will hold this event at West Creek Ranch. This year’s group comes from 25 cities across the country, with 20 teens attending each week. West Creek Ranch is a 6,600-acre working ranch in Emigrant, Montana, that is bordered by the Yellowstone River and Gallatin National Forest.

“We are excited to host these 40 impressive teens for an unforgettable week of personal growth and relationship building,” said Dick Sullivan, Executive Chairman & CEO, PGA TOUR Superstore. “So many lessons from golf can be applied to life, and we truly believe in the positive impact sports can have on kids and teens, which is why we’re proud to support this event and partner with First Tee chapters across the country.”

“Thank you to Arthur Blank and PGA TOUR Superstore for their continued generosity in supporting this event,” added Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “The lessons these young leaders will take away from Montana will shape their futures in remarkable ways.”

At the conclusion of the Summit, four students will be selected for the First Tee College Scholarship Program and will receive financial support as well as access to mentorship and professional development opportunities throughout college.

To be eligible for the Summit, teens completed a five-week Leadership Series that was hosted at PGA TOUR Superstore locations across the country, before completing applications that outlined their leadership experience and goals. For more than a decade, PGA TOUR Superstore and Arthur Blank have championed First Tee’s mission through donations and by supporting participant events, including the Leadership Summit and the Leadership Academy, which is held in Atlanta.

The Leadership Summit is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee to expose teens to new challenges and inspire them as they prepare to embark on life after high school.

See the full field of participants.

Alumna Srishti Dhurandhar reflects on how Leadership Summit has impacted her journey

First Tee – Metropolitan New York alumna and 2022 First Tee Scholar, Srishti Dhurandhar, has been involved with First Tee for more than 10 years. She made the most out of her experience by completing the First Tee Leadership Series, attending Leadership Summit and going on to work at her local PGA TOUR Superstore.

During her junior year of high school, Srishti completed five Leadership Series sessions, where she learned about personal values, leadership skills and exploring career fields. “The series planted little seeds of these ideas and then Montana really grew those ideas,” she said.

Following the Series, she was accepted to Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore in Montana. Participants at the annual event are encouraged to try new things like horseback riding and whitewater rafting. They learn about their own strengths and weaknesses, how to work as part of a team and how to build authentic relationships.

“Summit was a life changing week for me. I came back feeling like a whole new person,” she said. Srishti spent the week reflecting on and learning about herself.

The week allowed her to get comfortable being uncomfortable, with Srishti saying that she did things that she would normally never do thanks to the event’s focus on positive risk taking,. “The environment was so safe and supportive that I felt comfortable enough to do that,” she said.

Session 1 of the 2024 Leadership Summit will be from August 5 – 9 and session 2 will be from August 12 – 16 at West Creek Ranch in Montana.

Leadership Summit provided Srishti with the opportunity to talk to PGA TOUR Superstore executives and eventually go on to work as a club fitter at the store in East Hanover, New Jersey. There she learned a lot about customer service, clubs, shafts and how to use statistics to get people the clubs that fit them best.

Now as an alumna, Srishti jumped at the chance to go back to Montana as a chaperone.

“It was a full circle moment for me, standing in the same place that those participants were in and feeling the same emotions that they were going through,” she said. “Now becoming a mentor to those participants was emotional for me also.”

Not only did chaperoning provide Srishti with a valuable experience as a mentor but it opened doors for networking opportunities that made her aware of the First Tee headquarters internship that she is completing now.

“Working here has shown me how it starts at the root. You can tell that people are here because they want to be here, and they want to help the participants,” she said.

Both the Leadership Series and Leadership Summit culminate with final presentations in which Srishti talked about her desire to work in the golf industry and combine her passion of technology and data with her passion for sports.

“Going from the speeches I gave at the end of Series and Summit, to now living out those aspirations in this internship has been so rewarding and I absolutely love what I am doing,” she said.

Srishti will complete her internship in August and begin her junior year at New York University, majoring in business and technology management and member of the collegiate golf team.

Mackenzie Mack talks about the lasting impact of First Tee

“I wouldn’t be where I am now without First Tee.”

For Mackenzie Mack, the impact of First Tee goes beyond the golf course. The skills, access and values she learned play an integral part in her life to this day.

With her mom looking for opportunities to help her gain college scholarships, Mackenzie began taking golf lessons. Little did she know she’d end up working in the industry.

The golf course became a safe place where she would hang out, create a family atmosphere and build a community while growing up, as an alumna of former chapter First Tee – Southern Nevada.

First Tee gave Mackenzie her first job, the opportunity to play different courses and her current network and friends, crediting a lot of her achievements and her impact to the program.

“Had I not had such a good program director and such a good program, I would not have felt inclined to pass it forward,” she said. “All of that came from my experience and time with First Tee.”

Through her current role as the director of DE&I and engagement at Topgolf Callaway Brands, Mackenzie follows her passions by working with employees – an aspect of her job that comes naturally after years coaching with First Tee, she said – as well as the larger golf community.

Topgolf Callaway Brand has become a major supporter of First Tee, and when talking about the relationship between her employer and First Tee she said, “I am happy and lucky to be at a company that is just as passionate about the program as I am.”

Now as a First Tee alumna representing her company as a Trustee of First Tee, she provides unique insights based on her own experience.

Inclusivity is baked into First Tee’s DNA, and First Tee and Topgolf Callaway Brands are partnering on the Game Changers Academy this July. The weeklong event brings together 72 First Tee teens from across the country to facilitate important conversations around issues of identity, diversity and equity. Mackenzie sat on the opening night panel with NFL legends John Randle and Eric Enron, Dr. Shelby Johnson of Mayo Clinic and Ebony Taylor or AWS.

“The world is changing,” said Mackenzie. “We are a leader in changing with it, especially in the golf industry, and as the global leader in modern golf we strive to make golf more welcoming and providing options so that everyone can enjoy the game in the way they choose to enjoy it.”

She included that there is much more to golf than the competition. This sport gives individuals valuable networking opportunities, physical and health benefits, and can help you navigate career paths in the future.

Mackenzie will be a panelist at the Game Changers Academy. Learn more about the event.

Mackenzie Mack talks about the lasting impact of First Tee

“I wouldn’t be where I am now without First Tee.”

For Mackenzie Mack, the impact of First Tee goes beyond the golf course. The skills, access and values she learned play an integral part in her life to this day.

With her mom looking for opportunities to help her gain college scholarships, Mackenzie began taking golf lessons. Little did she know she’d end up working in the industry.

The golf course became a safe place where she would hang out, create a family atmosphere and build a community while growing up, as an alumna of former chapter First Tee – Southern Nevada.

First Tee gave Mackenzie her first job, the opportunity to play different courses and her current network and friends, crediting a lot of her achievements and her impact to the program.

Now as a First Tee alumna representing her company as a Trustee of First Tee, she provides unique insights based on her own experience.

Mackenzie will be a panelist at the Game Changers Academy. Learn more about the event.

Yang and Mierl claim 2024 First Tee National Championship

Clemson, South Carolina (June 27, 2024) – Norah Yang of Los Altos, California, and Trent Mierl of Austin, Texas, won the girls’ and boys’ divisions of the 4^th annual First Tee National Championship at the Walker Course at Clemson University. The event brought together First Tee’s elite golfers for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped build the confidence, perseverance and skills needed to play at the next level.

Yang finished the tournament 6-under-par and shot a final round 69 to clench the victory on the girls’ side. She is a rising high school senior with a 4.0 GPA. She’s been a volunteer coach at First Tee – Silicon Valley for three years and finished 3^rd at the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event that pairs First Tee juniors with professional players for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach.

“It has been amazing playing at Clemson this week,” Yang said. “I have met so many amazing players from all the other chapters and had so many great experiences. Getting here and winning would not have been possible without First Tee and all the skills they have taught me.”

Mierl, who will play golf at the University of Missouri next year, shot a blistering 65 in the final round to finish 9-under for the tournament. He’s been a member of First Tee for nine years and is a volunteer coach at his chapter. He’s the only player to compete in all four First Tee National Championships, with the inaugural event taking place in 2021, and said it was special to win in his final attempt.

“I came up one shot short of the playoffs in the first National Championship,” he said. “I’ve met great people here and made so many great memories. This is my favorite junior golf event, and it feels like I came full circle in my final chance to win at the same golf course where I fell just short.”

Both winners were awarded with the Tattersall Cup in honor of event chairman Fred Tattersall.

Two players were also awarded exemptions to the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship. As First Tee juniors can only play in the PURE Insurance Championship once, this year’s exemptions went to Gianna Singh from First Tee – Greater Sacramento and Spencer Ives from First Tee – Naples/Collier. The tournament will be broadcast on Golf Channel, Sept. 20-22.

Based on their play at the First Tee National Championship, two players will also earn spots in the PGA TOUR’s Pathways to Progression program, which aims to support talented golfers from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the sport. The PGA TOUR will announce the full roster for its Pathways program, including the two players who earned their spots at the First Tee National Championship, in the coming days.

“Congratulations to all of our participants in the field and especially to Trent and Norah for an outstanding performance in becoming the 2024 First Tee National Champions,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “This event plays an important role in helping these young people prepare for the next level. We are extremely proud of this event and of the teens who work hard on their game all year preparing. Thank you to Clemson University for hosting for the second time, we look forward to coming back again.”

The First Tee National Championship is held annually at various college golf courses around the nation, providing First Tee participants the opportunity to network with others from across the country. Next year’s event will take place at Notre Dame University.
 
The field included 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. A full list of results is available here.
 
The National Championship is one of more than 10 national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to empower and motivate teens as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.