Type Archives - First Tee - Silicon Valley

National Mentor Month – Be a Coach… Be a Mentor

(National Mentor Month – Be a Coach… Be a Mentor Published 01/16/2026) January is National Mentor Month with #ThankYouMentorDay on January 21^st. Mentorship underlies everything we do here at First Tee – Silicon Valley. For the past 25 years, our coaches have been making a difference in the lives of kids and teens, helping them integrate life skills into their lives and be amazing people.

Thank you to the incredible mentors who are the FTSV family! This past year we had 215 volunteer mentor coaches delivering over 9,500 hours of their time. Your hard work, care and dedication are what make all the difference!

This past year, we’ve featured some of our outstanding mentors and coaches. Here is what they are saying about why they chose to mentor youth.

Meet Austin

Austin graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majoring in Sports Management from the Department of Recreation Parks, and Tourism industry. He has previous experience as a Program Coordinator and Youth Soccer League Director. Austin says, “I’m determined to build communities and influence the culture within them in order to create positive and unforgettable experiences that help people be their best.”

Sports have played a big role in Austin’s life and he fully believes in the power that sports has to make a positive difference. “There are so many role models in sports. Sports are full of metaphors for life, full of adversity and triumph. You have to learn how to be humble and respectful of others when you succeed, and how to shake things off and learn when things get hard. It’s a great place to practice one’s individual development, while also working with others either in competition or on a team.”

Meet Ysabelle

Ysabelle Lam started with FTSV in 2023. She began working with our participants at Baylands Golf Links and coaches with us every season. In her classes she successfully bonds with students over shared interests like art, gaming, and travel. Ysabelle knows how to break the ice, an important step to building a positive, trusting relationship that allows our coaches to effectively deliver our life skills curriculum in a safe, fun environment.

“When I started at First Tee – Silicon Valley, I was still in my first year of learning golf. My personal golf journey was extremely frustrating at times, so it became a great way for me to grow my character as well. I love using golf to teach life skills, because if you can stay respectful, confident, and truly persevere through an off day in golf, it prepares you to face and conquer challenging times in any aspect of life.”

Meet Sean

Sean graduated from California State University of Fresno where he majored in Communication and played on the football team. When he graduated, he became an NCAA Football Recruiting Lead and Weight Strength Coach, where he led fitness and weight training for over 150 athletes and where his joy for coaching developed. “I enjoy coaching because it allows me to see others succeed, foster deep connections, and help others grow and unlock their potential.”

Now he is excited to be part of “a unique opportunity to learn from participants, gain new perspectives on the human experience, and make a profound difference in people’s lives. This is a mission-driven career that offers the satisfaction of helping others and gaining new skills in the process.” Sean believes the most valuable lesson he can teach kids & teens in the program is “to love and respect yourself. Life is not coming at you; it comes from you.”

If you are interested in joining our coaching staff, working as a mentor and making a difference in your community, visit our VOLUNTEER PAGE to learn more. No golf experience necessary. Everyone has life experience! Hope to see you out on the course.

FTSV 2026 Spring Season Sneak Peek

(FTSV 2026 Spring Season Sneak Peek Published 01/16/2026) This Spring, our classes will go far beyond the golf swing. Participants build essential life skills like showing respect, collaborating with others, setting meaningful goals, and making smart choices—on and off the course. Through every lesson, we help kids grow confidence, learn effective communication strategies, develop a positive sense of self, and learn how to navigate challenges with resilience, all while having fun and learning the game of golf.

“Being a high school student can be challenging. It is easy to feel insecure and overlook your own strengths while comparing yourself to others. I did not realize that joining First Tee – Silicon Valley would be exactly what I needed to grow into a more confident and strong young woman.”

“My FTSV coach once told me ‘you are stronger than you think you are, and I know you can handle more than you realize.’ He believed in me before I believed in myself.” – Varnika Arun

Registration Coming Soon

Registration for our spring season opens on Wednesday, February 11^th at 11am and closes on Thursday, February 26^th at 11:59pm.

The 8-week spring season begins the week of March 17th and ends May 9^th.

Take part in engaging and fun life skill and golf skill classes at either Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course in San Jose, Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto, or Gavilan College Golf Course in Gilroy.

Classes are broken down by grade groups, so feel free to invite a friend and take part in our spring classes together. Please spread the word. For more information visit our Course Program Page.

Financial Assistance Offered

No one is turned away. Need financial assistance to register? Please request financial aid when registering. We make our programs accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives, and affordable to families in need.

In 2025, we had a record number of registrations, so please mark your calendar for February 11th to make sure you secure your spot.

Download Schedule

Mentor Spotlight: Thank You Judy Deaton

(Mentor Spotlight: Thank You Judy Deaton Published 01/15/2026) First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) has positively impacted over 100,000 kids and teens throughout our 25-year history. That success is largely built on the passion, hard work, and commitment of our hundreds of mentors and staff. For this month’s Mentor Spotlight, we feature and thank Judy Deaton for her 8 impactful and influential years of FTSV leadership.

Judy Deaton came to First Tee – Silicon Valley in 2017 from the ever-fluctuating radio advertising world and became FTSV’s Development Director. At the time, FTSV needed to secure and sustain significantly more funding to support the high demand for our programs. Simply, we needed more money to help more kids and teens. Judy dove right in and fully owned FTSV’s fundraising efforts in partnership with our Board of Directors and Ambassadors. Her leadership and hard work helped FTSV grow to a whole new level financially. As a result, FTSV now serves thousands more participants.

Judy is retiring at the end of the month but will continue to be a mentor to FTSV Youth as an instructor at Rancho del Pueblo in San Jose and at Gavilan Golf Course in Gilroy. She also plans to continue advocating for FTSV as a Board Ambassador by being the main point person for the Caddy Club Majors in the Spring and FTSV partnership with the KRTY Writer’s Cup Tournament in the Fall.

What we’re saying about Judy?

“I cannot emphasize enough how important Judy has been to FTSV and our staff these eight years. As Development Director, she built a successful development infrastructure that has enable us to grow our revenues significantly. As a member of FTSV’s management team along with me and Chris, our Program Director, she was a valued thought partner and grounding force with our entire staff. Personally, she tirelessly advocated for our kids and teens, supported our character-building mission, and drove many of our key business processes to success. We are grateful to Judy for her many contributions to FTSV!” – George Maxe, President & CEO, FTSV

“Judy’s passion towards helping others is contagious and we are better at our jobs because of her. I respect her dedication to going above and beyond and her ability to rally teams around challenging initiatives. She is professional, motivating, and caring, all qualities that have made her successful as a Development Director and as a coach. I’m so glad she has been on our team and I’m looking forward to her continuing to coach and lead our youth.” – Chris Moreno-Hunt, FTSV Program Director

“I thank Judy for her dedication, heart and professionalism she’s poured into First Tee – Silicon Valley. Her leadership in development has strengthened our organization and opened doors for countless young people. Judy’s impact will be felt for years to come, and we are truly grateful for all she has built. I wish her joy, health and fulfillment in her retirement.” – Victor M. Arrañaga, Jr., Board Chair, FTSV

“I’ve walked alongside Judy through different chapters of my professional life—from our time in radio advertising to her role as a mentor, coach, and development director at First Tee – Silicon Valley. Her passion, empathy, and ability to truly listen make her an extraordinary leader. Judy has a way of seeing people, encouraging them, and helping them believe in their own potential. She is directly responsible for helping shape my career, and I’m proud to call her a mentor I never anticipated finding later in life. I’m thankful that she will continue her work at FTSV, guiding and mentoring kids with the same generosity and heart she has always shown me.” – Nicole Woodson, FTSV Marketing

Thank you, Judy, for your many years of mentoring, advocating and hard work!

If you are interested in joining our coaching staff, working as a mentor and making a difference in your community like Judy has, please visit our VOLUNTEER PAGE to learn more. No golf experience necessary. Everyone has life experience! Hope to see you out on the course.

FTSV Participant Tristan Hipolito Awarded 2025 Make Your Mark Grant!

(FTSV Participant Tristan Hipolito Awarded 2025 Make Your Mark Grant! Published 01/07/2026) Congratulations to FTSV Ace-Certified Participant, Tristan Hipolito, for being awarded First Tee’s 2025 Make Your Mark Grant! Tristan was one of 6 First Tee Ace-Certified participants selected nation-wide for the $3,000 grant based on his work in the community.

To be eligible for the grant, one must have completed the Ace Give Back Project, which requires 24 hours of community service, and then submit a detailed report of their project/service. Upon submission, the selection committee evaluates whether the community service or initiative made an impact on a cause or organization in the participant’s community and highlights the impact First Tee has had on their learning and preparation to succeed in this initiative.

His service projects included volunteering with the Alameda County Community Food Bank and with Second Harvest. For both projects Tristan wrote extensive self-reflection journals and game plan steps as a part of his FTSV Ace Give Back class. Our Ace Give Back class also helps participants like Tristan learn what it means to go above and beyond, be professional, and gain transferable work skills. Tristan demonstrated all of these learnings in his projects to help him earn the grant.

“Sorting and handing out food for those in need was deeply rewarding, as I saw the immediate impact of my efforts, whether personally handing groceries to families or helping sort food to be handed out. Furthermore, the work I did not only provided access to food for the community but also helped me grow through honing my communication skills for efficient coordination when giving out food.”

Congratulations Tristan! Your work in the community shows high character, empathy, and a desire to make the world a better place. Thank you!

If you are interested in joining our program like Tristan did years ago, please click here or contact us at [email protected] or 408-508-4880 for more information. Click here to learn about our Ace classes.

Avi Desai – Alumni Spotlight & AWS re:Invent Conference Recap

(Avi Desai – Alumni Spotlight & AWS re:Invent Conference Recap Published 12/19/25) Throughout 2025, and into the new year, First Tee HQ is helping chapters across the country lead an initiative to get Alumni more involved in what’s happening at the local and national level. Through meetups, advisory positions, and conferences and networking events, First Tee Alumni have more opportunities than ever to stay involved with First Tee.

Avi Desai, First Tee – Silicon Valley Alum, was recently selected to attend the AWS re:Invent conference, an industry-leading cloud computing and AI professional development and networking event, which took place in Las Vegas earlier this month. This amazing opportunity is part of an ongoing partnership between Amazon Web Services (AWS) and First Tee, and we’re so proud that Avi could represent FTSV as one of eighteen First Tee national alumni in attendance.

Avi started his FTSV journey in elementary school with his sister, Sapna. “[We] had never played golf before, and our dad took us to Rancho for the first time around 6^th grade. We saw a bunch of kids in a golf class and learned about FTSV. We signed up for class the next season.” They were immediately hooked, citing their enjoyment learning the game and the life skills that accompanied it, along with the many amazing peers and mentors they met along the way. Avi particularly remembered Coach John Jasso, an integral part of FTSV’s early years, then known as the Eagles at Rancho, and later as First Tee – San Jose. “Coach Jasso was an amazing mentor to us – he was so easy going and knew exactly what to say to keep you motivated on your golf journey. He gave us so much guidance and he really shaped us.”

After graduating and leaving the FTSV program, Avi attended Oregon State, earning his B.S. in Computer Science, in 2023 and is now pursuing his Masters in AI Engineering at UT Austin. His goal is to combine his passion for helping others with the near-limitless potential of STEM and AI to help create innovative solutions to everyday problems.

Avi’s introduction to STEM, an integral part of much of the industry and culture around Silicon Valley, started at a young age. Both his parents were engineers, but Avi soon realized that not all kids had access to the information and technology that he and his sister did. Avi reflected…

“…where we grew up, in a different school district only a half mile away, kids maybe only had 2 computers at their library, didn’t have a computer at home, didn’t have access to things that were so important to the dominant industry here. My sister and I decided we wanted to help change that, so we set out to create STEM learning opportunities for kids at local libraries.”

Avi and Sapna founded their own non-profit, SV Kids, and over the next couple of years began hosting their own STEM classes for underserved youth at libraries around Silicon Valley.

So, Avi was a perfect fit to be selected to attend the AWS re:Invent conference.

“It was so exciting and rewarding to be selected,” said Avi. “We played some golf, networked, and met First Tee Alums from across the country. It was great to hear everyone’s story and see how their First Tee experience has shaped them… There were seminars about different topics, and I spoke to so many bright individuals from different backgrounds, from high-tech to government…. It was awesome to hear the challenges and concerns that other industry leaders have about AI.”

After returning from AWS re:Invent, Avi joined current Ace participants and other FTSV alumni at PGA TOUR Superstore in Cupertino on Friday, December 12^th for a special, local event. READ THE FULL RECAP STORY

“FTSV is so proud of Avi for representing us at this national First Tee Alumni event! I cannot think of a better FTSV Ambassador and Alum for AWS re:Invent.” said George Maxe, FTSV President & CEO, who has know Avi since he first started as a participant. When asked why he’s staying involved in FTSV as an alunni, Avi said, “I definitely want to give back. When I was a participant, hearing from leaders in different industries and how they apply life skills in their careers… inspired me and I want to be a mentor to kids now and further into my career.”

Keep it up Avi! We’re excited to see you continue your career in AI and hope you stay involved in FTSV for years to come. If you’re an alum and want to get re-involved in First Tee events and opportunities, click here.

PGA TOUR Superstore – Cupertino Hosts AWS & FTSV Event

(PGA TOUR Superstore – Cupertino Hosts AWS & FTSV Event Published: 12/19/25) On 12/12 First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) collaborated on an event for 21 FTSV high school Ace participants and 4 FTSV alumni. The event was hosted by PGA TOUR Superstore in Cupertino.

AWS employees gave participants an overview of AWS, cloud technology, and examples of cloud technology being used across different sports. Then AWS held a career panel, shared their professional journey, and provided guidance. Our alumni brought their resumes and received feedback from the panel throughout the event. From there the participants used the Trackman technology and played closest-to-the-pin contests in the golf simulator hitting bays. AWS also brought pizza and drinks to celebrate the event.

AWS joined First Tee Headquarters as a Trustee in 2021. Their investment supports First Tee’s initiatives on teen retention, supporting FT alumni with career opportunities and furthering First Tee’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts. Lastly, AWS are committed to the success of First Tee Chapters nationwide by having their employees to volunteer with programs in their local communities. Here locally, they have helped FTSV clean Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course and assisted our Ace Career class with informational interviews and career exploration.

“Our team is committed to working with First Tee and expanding mindsets for participants on careers in STEM,” says Michael Murphy, Sr. Customer and Community Engagement Leader.” “At Beyond the Tee: Sports Tech Lab with AWS, we bring teens to golf simulators where technology meets the tee. Here we help transform curiosity into innovation, showing teens that their passion for sports can drive groundbreaking careers in cloud computing, data analytics, and digital transformation.”

The PGA TOUR Superstore has been a big supporter of First Tee both locally and nationally. They donate $15,000 from the Cupertino store and $15,000 from the East Palo Alto store to FTSV every year. Each spring, they host and deliver a leadership and career class series to our participants and contribute to the Leadership Summit in Montana where several of our participants have had the experience of a life time.

“With our Cupertino PGA TOUR Superstore team being located in the heart of the Silicon Valley, we were fortunate to be able to support Michael and his Amazon Team’s presentation,” says Kate Nielson, General Manager. “It was the perfect location to discuss how the game of golf and technology go hand-in-hand, as well as the outlook for future opportunities. Big thanks to Chris (FTSV’s Program Director) for an awesome turnout. We look forward to hosting the next event.”

Thank you to both AWS and the PGA TOUR Superstore for hosting this event for our teen participants and for continuing to support FTSV.

If you are interested in joining our program, taking part in these events, or learning more, please click here or contact us at [email protected] or 408-508-4880.

Click here to learn about our Ace classes. Click here if you want to volunteer.
Click here if you would like to donate.

Mentor Spotlight: Meet Coach Sean

(Mentor Spotlight: Meet Coach Sean Published 12/5/25) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to welcome Coach Sean to our team as our newest Program Coordinator. Sean will be coaching at Baylands Golf Links during the week and at Rancho del Pueblo on Saturdays.

He applied the same coaching principles in his other roles as a Senior Recruiter and a Project Manager. His love for golf came ten years after his football career ended, and he pursued this love by becoming a Callaway Custom Fitter for Callaway Golf.

Other than sports, Sean spends his free time fishing, painting, listening to music and enjoying an outdoor lifestyle.

If you are interested in becoming more involved with FTSV, please visit our website.

FTSV at 2025 Innovators Forum

(FTSV at 2025 Innovators Forum Published 12/3/25) This past October, two First Tee – Silicon Valley participants flew to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to participate in the annual Innovators Forum. The Innovators Forum is part of First Tee’s national opportunities schedule where students from around the country apply to participate in leadership and development events to further their education and experience gained through First Tee. The Innovators Forum equips and empowers teens to develop a meaningful service project in their communities based on education, health, human rights, or environmental sustainability. Selected participants had the chance to learn from industry leaders through interactive workshops and group sessions with their peers.

This year, First Tee – Silicon Valley was proud to be represented by Nicolas Hernandez-Lopez and Sahara Huchim Velazquez.

Both participants have been in our program for more than 5 years and are also junior volunteer coaches. They had an awesome time and relished the chance to meet and get to know fellow First Tee golfers from around the country and learn valuable lessons in time management, networking, and project coordination.

Besides the excellent learning and collaboration opportunities, participants had fun too.

“My highlight was taking a ride on the water taxi to attend a charity golf tournament and seeing a dolphin in the water!”, said Sahara. “While we were on the water taxi we learned that the service started as a non-profit supporting river keepers on the St. John’s River and spreading awareness about their cause.”

Even during their down time, participants were still provided opportunities to see how a service project can be implemented in creative ways.

Nico and Sahara both have excellent ideas of how they can start a project to make a difference in their communities. Nico wants to start a community resource fair in East Palo Alto and has been working with the city’s Vice Mayor to make it happen. “I want this to be bigger than me so hopefully I can pass it off when I leave for college and keep it going forever.” Sahara wants to help bring more Latina’s into FTSV by hosting open house community events and leveraging the power of our Junior Council to create events and fundraising ideas to help spread awareness about our program.

“One thing I learned [from Innovators Forum] was that while FTSV may cover much of the cost of entry to our golf programs for those in need, that doesn’t help solve other problems such as transportation. Families may not choose to participant in golf simply because they can’t get to the golf course at the right time.”

Sahara plans to help address possible solutions to these kinds of logistical issues.

We’re so proud of everything these participants have accomplished, and staff here at FTSV only have this advice to give: keep going!

Nico and Sahara both deserved these opportunities, and we’ll look on with excitement and anticipation to see how their service projects come to fruition.

The 2026 First Tee National Opportunities schedule will be released soon – if your teen is interested in applying, stay tuned! Click here for more information on the National Opportunity process.

FTSV at John Deere Drive Your Future Academy

(FTSV at John Deere Drive Your Future Academy Published 12/3/25) In early November, in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, 36 girls from First Tee chapters from across the country were welcomed to the annual 2025 Drive Your Future Academy, a five-day leadership program specifically for girls, designed to help develop critical skills that will serve students in college and beyond. Kathryn Newton – actress, First Tee – Miami alum, and First Tee Ambassador – headlined the list of mentors on hand to lead a variety of workshops centered around topics such as: advocating for yourself and others, overcoming adversity, cultivating meaningful relationships, roadmap to successful mentorship, and embracing self-awareness.

This year, First Tee – Silicon Valley was honored to be represented by two of our participants and junior volunteers, Alexis Chu and Jennifer Barrientos.

Both participants are long time participants in our program, junior volunteers, and members of our Junior Council. At the event they had a great time learning from their peers and mentors and came away with a ton of valuable life skills they will surely use in their futures.

For Jennifer, it was also a new life experience, being the first time she’s left her home state.

“I really enjoyed the experience overall – everything was brand new for me; it was even my first time on a plane!” she reflected. “The biggest highlight for me was the lesson on mentorship – we can always offer support to people by offering our skills and diversifying the people you surround yourself with. Our coach laid out a timeline of her mentors and taught us that each mentor will lead you to your next.”

The event reinforces First Tee’s commitment to empowering girls through its programs, which are offered through 150 chapters across the country. Most First Tee Chapters, including us here at FTSV, provide dedicated programming for girls, intentionally inviting and engaging them in a variety of opportunities. At our chapter, that is Girls Golf, a quarterly event geared specifically (but not exclusively) to girls, designed with input from our Junior Council and put on with help from junior volunteers like Jennifer and Alexis. When asked to sum up the importance of creating safe spaces for girls in golf and how that was created at Drive Your Future, Jennifer replied,

“Being a group of all girls, we had similar challenges. I’ve had struggles being the only women and Latina in certain spaces, but at Drive Your Future, we were reminded that girls can advocate for themselves and accomplish anything we want. Hearing stories from women that have grown so much through their lives and careers was inspiring.”

Events like these are so valuable for participants to build on the lessons they’re already working on in their First Tee classes back home.

Congratulations to Jennifer and Alexis for being selected for this amazing opportunity. Well deserved!

The 2026 First Tee National Opportunities schedule will be released soon – if your teen is interested in applying, stay tuned! Click here for more information on the National Opportunity process.

3rd Annual Participants vs Parents Tournament

(3rd Annual Participants vs Parents Tournament Published 11/26/25) The 3rd annual Participants vs Parents Tournament delivered everything we hoped for and more—a fun, spirited competition packed with energy, laughter, and just enough friendly rivalry to keep everyone on their toes. Despite stormy forecasts earlier in the week, the golf gods were clearly on our side, holding back the rain for a beautiful, competition-ready day at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course.

The morning kicked off with warmups on the driving range and putting green, where both kids and parents shared smiles and encouragement before stepping into competitive mode. With the Participants holding a 2–0 record over the Parents from the last two tournaments, there was anticipation, determination, and a whole lot of playful pressure.

A New Format for 2025

This year featured a new twist: Stableford scoring, with different point systems for Participants and Parents:

PARTICIPANTS	PARENTS
Eagle = 4	Eagle = 3
Birdie = 3	Birdie = 2
Par = 2	Par = 1
Bogey = 1	Bogey = 0
Double Bogey = 0	Double Bogey = -1

The format added strategy, suspense, and a fresh dynamic to every hole. The fun kicked in right from the start: closest to the pin on hole #2 & longest drive on hole #4. The excitement didn’t stop there—special challenge holes made sure everyone stayed on their game: hole #6: parents spun a wheel to determine a random club for their tee shot. Hole #8: kids could swap their tee shot with one parent’s or guardian’s—strategy at its finest.

This year’s competition brought out some outstanding individual performances from the winners:

Closest to the Pin

Parents: Matt
Participants: AJ

Longest Drive

Parents: Brent
Participants: Johnny

Though the Participants came in as two-time defending champs, the Parents arrived ready to rewrite the story. And rewrite it they did! With impressive teamwork, clutch shots, and maybe a little motivation from that -1 double-bogey penalty, the Parents secured a thrilling 11–8 upset victory—their first win in the tournament’s three-year history. The day wrapped up with an awards ceremony, slices of well-earned pizza, and plenty of smiles across all ages. As always, the real win was the community spirit on display. A huge thank-you goes out to all Participants, Parents, and families who make this annual event something truly special.

SAVE THE DATE

We’re already excited for next year’s showdown.
Mark your calendars: November 14th, 2026!