Newsletter Archives - Page 2 of 51 - First Tee

Benefits of Extracurricular Activities on Youth Development

(Benefits of Extracurricular Activities on Youth Development – July 11, 2025) According to numerous published studies, students who participate in Extracurricular Activities outside the classroom experience notable gains in academic success, character building, social development and community involvement.

1. Academic Success

“Students who participate frequently in extracurricular activities tend to have higher grades, better test scores, and more positive educational experiences in general” (Claudette Christison The Benefits of Participating in Extracurricular Activities https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1230758.pdf – Fredricks, 2011). Christison continues… “students involved in activities have a 10% increase in their expectations of attaining a college degree, as compared to non-participants” (Lipscomb, 2007, p. 470).

2. Character Building

“Students who participate in extracurricular activities report higher levels of self-concept and self-worth (Claudette Christison – Blomfield & Barber, 2009).” Christison goes on to explain that “they also have opportunities to develop personal interests and discover their strengths and weaknesses (Claudette Christison – Fredricks & Eccles, 2008), which is especially important during the adolescent stage of self-exploration.”

3. Social Development

Adolescents that participate in after-school sports and/or activities, are likely to experience a greater sense of belonging. “Group activities provide opportunities for students to build connections with others who have similar interests and goals, which will increase their motivation to commit long term to an activity that also increases enjoyment.” (Claudette Christison The Benefits of Participating in Extracurricular Activities https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1230758.pdf).

4. Community Involvement

By participating in extracurricular sports and activities, students are exposed to communities outside the normal school networks, which can be diverse. Claudette Christison explains, … “participating in extracurricular activities creates a network between individuals and their community, including the elderly and the working class (Gatto, 2005). Students can learn the importance of giving back to the community and helping those in need. Students are also more likely to volunteer in their community after high school if they participate in extracurricular activities during adolescence (Barber, Mueller, & Ogata, 2013). These activities generate a sense of belonging to the community as a whole (Barber et al., 2013), which inspires them to be contributing members of society.”

Why Youth Development and Our Program Matters

Our kids are facing challenges beyond life’s expected growing pains. They experience pressures within their communities, online, and the world. It is important for all kids and teens to engage in safe opportunities and programs that foster a culture of acceptance and provide mentorship.

Our program addresses all four benefits.

100% of our teens that have been with us for more than 3 years graduate high school and our Fall Ace class demystifies the college exploration and application process.
Character building is at the core of who we are and what our mission is all about. Of our 6 Life Skills, we have 4 lessons centered around how to build a positive self-identity, 4 lessons designed to help a participant overcome challenges, and 4 lessons focused on how to make informed decisions and work well with others.
When our long-standing participants give speeches or reflect on their time with us, many point to how they have developed socially, and feel First Tee – Silicon Valley is a safe and supportive community. Shaking hands, introducing oneself, and asking questions are behaviors and actions that we encourage and try to develop for all participants in our program.
Last year we had over 120 junior volunteer coaches give back and help mentor our youth. Of the 127 junior volunteers more than 75% were or are active participants in our program. Many of them said they remembered their junior coach when they were young and wanted to give back as soon as they were eligible.

2025 School Year is coming fast!

Many extracurricular sports and activities require try-outs, signups and/or fees weeks in advance. Make sure you’re keeping up with groups and organizations’ communications. Learn more about First Tee – Silicon Valley’s youth programs.

The First Tee – Silicon Valley FALL 2025 Classes begin September 9^th

Registration for our Fall 2025 Classes opens here on Wednesday, August 13th at 11am. Register for an 8-week set of classes at one of our three locations:

Rancho del Pueblo (San Jose)
Baylands Golf Links (Palo Alto)
Gavilan College Golf Course (Gilroy)

Classes are open to all youth from 2nd to 12^th grade. Equipment Provided. Registration Fee is $250 for our Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course and Gavilan College Golf Course classes and $300 for our Baylands Golf Links classes. Financial aid is available on a sliding scale and can reduce the fee to $20-$180.

If you’re interested in registering your child or want to ask a question, please fill out the inquiry form below.

FALL 2025 Class Inquiry

(This is an INQUIRY FORM ONLY. This does not guarantee your kid’s place in our program for the Fall 2025 class season.)

Name(Required)

(Nombre)

First Last

Email(Required)

(Correo electrónico)

Preferred Language(Required)

(Idioma preferido)

English

Español (Spanish)

What grade will your kid(s) be entering Fall 2025

If multiple kids, select all that apply

2nd – 4th

5th – 6th

7th – 8th

9th – 12th

Let us know your level of interest in registering your kid in FTSV Classes this Fall

Somewhat Interested

Very Interested

Extremely Interested (Where do I sign?)

Do you have any questions?

How did you hear about First Tee – Silicon Valley?

2025 Summer of Opportunity!

(2025 Summer of Opportunity!) Summer is here, and with it, another round of First Tee National Opportunities. Every year, First Tee – Silicon Valley participants who have been long standing and highly engaged are selected to apply for these unique, once in a lifetime experiences. FTSV has submitted their applications, and many participants have been selected to attend these opportunities and represent their chapter. Congratulations!

Qualifications to apply for Opportunities

Every year, participants from First Tee chapters worldwide apply for one of the limited spots at these limited opportunities. To apply, our chapter looks for FTSV participants who have a minimum of 3 years with First Tee and have been highly engaged in the chapter over the years (e.g., volunteer coach, participant at least 2 seasons per year each year, active in tournaments/Girls Golf, etc.). Applicants are selected to apply based on their time spent in the program, amount of volunteer hours, engagement in FTSV extracurriculars, and other accomplishments. Once selected to apply, applicants must meet the requirements set forth by First Tee National, write several short essays, listing their accomplishments in and out of the classroom, and include letters of recommendation.

Good work to all participants who were able to submit applications this year!

So far, this year FTSV has submitted 24 applications for 4 different National Opportunities, including the College Scholar Program.

First Tee College Scholarship – Class of 2025

Two participants, Isabella Herrera and Li An Panfil, accepted into the College Scholar Program, provided them with financial support, career mentorship and internship opportunities. Congratulations and good luck with this next chapter of your life!

First Tee National Championship – Notre Dame June 22-26

Participant Brian Yu was selected this year as our representative to the FT National Championship tournament. Unfortunately, he will not be able to attend, but it was an honor to be selected.

First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. July 8-12

Participants Li An Panfil and Nicolas Hernandez Lopez were selected to attend the Game Changers Academy.

First Tee Leadership Academy with PGA Tour Superstore, June 16-21

Participants Edwin Sanchez, Vian Tran and Marissa Wei have been selected to attend the FT Leadership Academy held in Atlanta, GA.

First Tee Leadership Summit with PGA Tour Superstore, August 4-8 or August 11-15

Participants Joshua Joo and Vikrant Bhende have been selected to attend the FT Leadership Summit taking place at the West Creek Ranch in Emigrant, Montana.

Applications are being filled out for the Innovators Forum and the Drive Your Future Academy and selections will be made in August and September respectively. Selected participants for the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach will be announced early next month.

Published: 06-16-2025

Girls Golf: Teen Clinic

(Girls Golf: Teen Clinic) On Saturday, May 31^st, First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) hosted our very first Girl’s Golf Teen Clinic at Rancho Del Pueblo Golf Course.

During this clinic, eighteen participants were able to experience 3 advanced lessons on the putting, chipping, and range areas. They were able to practice as much as they liked while our FTSV coaches provided feedback and advanced tips.

Our putting lesson was led by Coach Angelina and Coach Annie; two accomplished golfers who understand the importance of staying cool during fierce competition. They discussed the importance of keeping a cool head when frustrated. Our teens were taught how to prepare for a long putt and the importance of leaving it in an area known as your “comfort zone.” An imaginary circle where a golfer knows they’ll make the putt 80% of the time.

Girls Golf: Teen Clinic – On the range…

our lesson was led by Coach Tracy, a former professional golfer on the LPGA Future’s Tour as well as Norah, our First Tee National Champion. While giving advanced tips on the full swing, our coaches also discussed the importance of nutrition and hydration during a golf round and how hunger affects the mental state.

Lastly, on the chipping green led by Coach Phoenix, a dedicated Program Coordinator for FTSV, as well as Coach Joey, a nationally nominated participant for the First Tee PURE Insurance Tournament. They discussed importance of making smart choices and how to select the right golf club for specific chipping conditions. Our participants were excited to learn how to hit a flop shot!

One of our participants, Natalia, shared her thoughts on the event: “I really enjoyed the teen clinic. Coach Norah explained things to me in a way that my private coaches couldn’t. Norah’s instructions were easy to understand, and I started to hit the ball better because of it. She’s my favorite coach!”

Speaking of Norah, she was proud to see the success of the event, “Thank you so much for inviting me to coach! It’s amazing to see so many female teens together. You really don’t see that too often on the golf course!”

Golf can be a challenging sport as it takes deliberate practice, patience, and a growth mindset. It can be even more challenging for a female teen since 66% of girls drop out of golf by the time they are 12 years old. We’re proud to be able to host an event where our girls can feel empowered, seen, and heard.

Many thanks to Coach Phoenix, Joey, Norah, Tracy, Annie, and Angelina! Thank you for being great mentors!

For future events, visit our Our Opportunities page or contact Manny Gallardo – [email protected].

Published: 06-12-2025

Congrats, FTSV High School Grads!

(Congrats, FTSV High School Grads!) First Tee – Silicon Valley extends the warmest of congratulations to our Class of 2025 High School Graduates. We are so proud of their accomplishments and all of the hard work these students have put in on their journeys toward graduation. You earned this!

Many of our seniors have been in our program taking classes each year for the past 7-10 years. They have also been junior volunteer coaches and taken part in our Junior Council. They have all played a significant role in building and shaping a supportive and inclusive community that future teens can enjoy. We are going to miss them, but we are excited for their futures! At FTSV, we believe every kid and teen deserves the chance to build inner strength before the world demands it, to find the joy that comes with feeling confident in their own skin before the world makes it feel difficult, and to access experiences and spaces where leadership and personal growth happens. We strive to equip our participants with tools to be people of high character. We are thrilled to have been able to coach these seniors and are proud of their character.

Congrats, FTSV High School Grads!

Juan Hernandez Sacramento State

Norah Yang Georgetown University

Tristan Hipolito UC Riverside

Dylan Chang UC Riverside

Martin Fu University of Pennsylvania

Isabella Herrera USC

Ashley Pang Pacific University

Eliane Juang University of Pennsylvania

Li An Panfil UCLA

Sophia Tang Loyola Marymount University

Leo Villegas West Valley

Giselle Gutierrez Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

Ian Choe Purdue University

Elise Njogu California State Bakersfield

Taylene Leigh UC Riverside

Nathan Truong San Jose State

Natalie Kiatsupaibul UC Santa Barbara

Mason Sweeley West Valley

Join the First Tee Alumni and be connected with First Tee graduates around the country.

Join the Alumni Group

Published: 06-12-2025

FTSV Team Stableford Tournament

(FTSV Team Stableford Tournament)On May 31^st at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course, 22 players played in a Team Stableford format. This format focuses on earning points for your score. On each hole teams get 1 point for making triple bogey, and all the way up to 6 points for scoring an eagle.

While every seasonal tournament is played in a different, sometimes fun and wacky format, the Stableford format was a new to many FTSV participants. Participants can score lots of points on each hole so one bad hole won’t take you out of the game.

These tournaments are always a blast, and a great way to let participants refine their golf skills and their life skills. Teamwork, perseverance, and goal setting are all needed to excel in this format. Additionally, these tournaments give participants the opportunity to apply their weekly class lessons in a competitive environment without direct coaching.

Team Stableford Tournament

These 22 players, ages 11 to 17, teamed up to earn the best score possible, with two chances at individual awards along the way – a Closest to the Pin contest on hole 1 and a Long Drive contest on hole 4.

Stableford Tournament Winners

On hole 1, James took the age 11-13 individual prize with a beautiful shot hit to 6’9”. Great job, James!

On hole 4, Arjun hit the longest drive in the 11-13 age group, and Diego did so in the 14-17 age group. Great drives, guys!

Many teams scored well and earned plenty of Stableford points. Congratulations everyone!

Third Place: Ade, Arjun and Antonio – scored 28 points.

Second Place: Allen, Riley and Diego – scored 32 points.

First Place: James, Siwat, Asher, and Ella – scored 33 points.

After 9 holes on a hot day at Rancho, everyone deserved recognition for staying in the game and being great teammates to one another. Thank you to everyone who came out to play, and to all our staff and volunteers for helping run a successful event.

To the parents, your continued dedication, week after week, bringing your children to our events and classes means the world to us. And to our amazing participants, we are inspired by the growth you’ve already shown and are excited to watch you continue to thrive. We look forward to seeing each of you in our upcoming seasons!

Special thanks to Pizza Presidente for the Lunch Donation!

Published: 06-12-2025

FTSV Participant Awarded Ace Certification!

(FTSV Participant Awarded Ace Certification!) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to share that Evan Santoso was awarded the distinguished honor of being Ace-Certified!

What does it mean to be awarded Ace Certification?

Ace is the highest level of certification at First Tee and less than 1% of First Tee participants from across the country achieve Ace certification. Evan will receive local and national recognition from First Tee for completing his Ace classes and the post-class documents. More importantly, his work in our Ace classes helped him apply the First Tee Life Skills to college and career exploration, and to his give-back volunteer opportunities. The Ace classes also assisted in developing transferable skills that will aid him in his professional development.

About Evan Santoso

Evan is a rising senior at King’s Academy in San Jose. He began our program as a participant in 2017 and volunteered as a coach since 2023. Additionally, he was selected to be in a leadership position on our Junior Council where he has spent upwards of 50 of his own hours creating a few highlight videos that we used for our Family Fest and Coach Appreciation events.

Going the extra step is something that Evan takes pride in. Part of his Ace Give Back project requires participants to volunteer in addition to FTSV. Evan chose to volunteer for his Church who, when they observed his skill set, made him their Video Director & Camera Operator. There he created an official handbook for future video directors to live stream and broadcast. This handbook was not requested by his boss, but Evan thought it could help provide more clarity for the next person that takes on the role.

“Taking the Ace classes not once but twice has really opened my eyes to a world of academic and professional opportunities I didn’t realize was available,” says Evan. “Not only have I been able to practice using researched tools and networking skills to explore different colleges and potential career choices, I feel like I have been able to find out more of who I am as a person in the process!”

“The valuable life and work skills I’ve learned at FTSV like how to communicate and collaborate well with others has given me confidence to talk to adults from all walks of life and network with professionals from different fields.”

As mentioned above, Evan edited and helped direct a First Tee – Silicon Valley Promo video as part of a Junior Council Project. (See below)

There are (4) 8-week Ace sessions, each with post-class projects.

Education – financial planning for college (budgeting, saving, grants, scholarships), college application process, school identification and exploration strategies.
Career – resume-building, interview skills, transferable, adaptive and content skill development, and professional correspondence.
Golf – golf psychology, optimal practice habits.
Volunteer – going above and beyond, learning transferable skills, networking, professionalism

FTSV Participants Awarded Ace Certification, participant must be:

14 years old
Be in our program for a minimum of 3 years; and attend a minimum of 2 seasons per year.
Attend our 4 Ace-Future Planning Classes (Career, Golf, Education, Give-Back)
Complete the 4 Ace-Future Planning post class documents
Submit a letter of recommendation
Be selected by a panel of First Tee National judges

“Congratulations Evan for your outstanding work” says Program Director Chris Moreno-Hunt. “We are proud of how you look out for others and your desire to go above and beyond. You are hardworking and lift others up in class. I have no doubt you will continue to be successful and utilize the tools learned in Ace to achieve your goals.”

To find out more about our Ace-Future Planning classes and how to be Ace-Certified, please reach out to [email protected] or 408-508-4884.

**LEFT** – Tristan Hipolito **RIGHT** – Evan Santoso

Published: 06-11-2025

FTSV 13th Annual OPEN Supporters & Winners

(FTSV 13th Annual OPEN Supporters & Winners) FTSV’s 13th Annual OPEN tournament on June 6th was a great day for all. The weather couldn’t have been better at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club for the 124 golfers including 10 top sponsors who came together for a great cause, raising a total of $140,000. Proceeds benefit First Tee – Silicon Valley’s financial aid program. We teach life skills and golf skills on-course, in-school, and after-school. Our programs are accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship.

One of our teen participants, Juan Hernandez, shared the impact our program has had on him and his brother saying “I graduated from Highschool today and I will be going to Sacramento State to study Civil Engineering. I am going to be the first in my family to attend college. I know the skills I have been developing in First Tee – Silicon Valley will help me to make the most of it. Skills such as goal setting, collaborative communication and building a go-to-team full of people who challenge me and support me are going to make me successful.”.

We would like to recognize all the individuals behind our Sponsorships.

Presenting Sponsor: SAGA Foundation (David Bartoshuk)

Hosting PLUS Sponsors: PGA TOUR Superstores in Cupertino & East Palo Alto (Kate Nielsen & Brad Hanson)

Hosting Sponsors: Gallagher (Mike Gallagher)

Contributing Sponsors: Hallagan Huston Family Foundation (Ron Hallagan), PwC (Sarah Beelaard), Panera Bread (Jeff Burrill), Pinnacle Bank (Doug Moffat), Bill Powar, Ajinomoto (Max von Poelnitz), Luna Mexican Kitchen (John Lopez)

View your Foursome Photo

FTSV 13th Annual OPEN Scramble Tournament Winners

First Place – Score 56

Joe Dermer, Jake Dermer, Eric Arnold, Dom Nicoli

Second Place – Score 57

Kolbey, Kennedy, Ernesto & Kyleigh Moreno

Contest Winners

Dryvebox Closest-to-the-Hole

Alexis Chu 2’6”

Jackson Burrill 13’6”

Closest-to-the-Hole

Lake #8 – Jeff McCrea 3’10”

Mountain #2 – JJ Jovellanos 11’

PGATSS Putting Contest:

3 players made 1 putt

Steve Almassy, Justin Hook, Rick Austin

DGDG Car Hole-in-One – no winners but special thanks to Jeremy Beaver for their sponsorship.

Thank you to our Raffle Donors and Winners

La Rinconada Country Club – Derek Anderson
Almaden Golf & Country Club – Kevin Kelly
Silver Creek Valley Country Club – Alan Eustace
Boulder Ridge Golf Club - Tom Tate
San Jose Country Club – Bill Powar
The Peninsula Golf & Country Club – Lucas Wendt
Callaway Elyte Driver & Hyperlight Zero Stand Bag- Kathy Kwan
Scotty Cameron Putter – Steve Almassy
The Clubhouse in Fremont – John Turner
Total Wine Private Wine Class for 20 – Steve Baroni
Daytrip in Tesla Cybertruck – Rod Wade

Thank you to our Live Auction Donors & Supporters:

Eden Rift Vineyards ATV Tour & Tasting for 8 with Christian Pillsbury & Michelle Wei – Ken Miller
49ers 2-Game Package Plus Tailgate Parking x 2 – Gareth Hunt & Robert Carrillo/Mathew Turner
Special Day at Mayacama Golf Club with Mike Blach – Ron Hallagan
An Evening with San Jose Sharks with Randy Hahn – Steve Almassy
Spectacular Golf for 8 at CordeValle Golf Club x 2 – Ron Hallagan & Rod Wade
SF Giants Experience + Memorabilia – Steve Almassy
Warriors VIP Sandisk Courtside Lounge Experience x 2 – Steve Baroni & Ron Hallagan
Special Day at Olympic Club with Kolbey Moreno – Eric Arnold

Thank you to our MC & Auctioneer Randy Hahn – Emmy Award winning Sharks television broadcaster

Thank you to Board of Directors and Ambassadors who participated or helped with sponsors: Victor Arrañaga, Sarah Beelaard, Steve Almassy, Max von Poelnitz, Shawn Fox, Steve Guerrero, Andrea Brenholz , Dick Budelli, Don DeLorenzo, Ron Hallagan, Doug Moffat, Kunal Shalia, Alex Worbel.

Thank you to our Tournament Coordinators: Development Director Judy Dixon Deaton & Marketing/Events Coordinator Nicole Woodson

Thank you to our Staff: President & CEO George Maxe, Program Director Chris Moreno-Hunt, Operations Coordinator Julie Donnellan, Program Coordinators Manny Gallardo, Phoenix Jarrell-Desch, Tanner Riley, Austin Westly

Thank you to our Volunteers: Michael Freday, Joshua Joo, Diego Garcia, Gabe Garcia, Nico Hernandez, Sahara Huchim, Zoe Huchim, Kai Nishihara, Vian Tran, Norah Yang, Dharini Sitaraman, Jennifer Barrientos, Jerry Moore, Leonardo Villegas, Ben Hsu

Thank you to Cinnabar Hills Golf Club: Tournament Director Nick Starr, General Manager Adam Schiro, and Food & Beverage and Grounds Staff for a perfectly run tournament.

Proceeds from the Open will help us impact the lives of youth by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. We believe that all kids deserve the chance to grow in a supportive environment with mentors guiding them. We are dedicated to growing our program so it is accessible to MORE kids.

Please contact our Development Director, Judy Dixon Deaton 408-508-4881 – [email protected] to discuss sponsorship or underwriting opportunities for next year’s Open in June.

Published: 06-09-2025

7th Annual Parent University – a resounding success!

(7th Annual Parent University – a resounding success!) On Saturday, May 17^th, 2025, Alum Rock Union School District (ARUSD) and First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) once again teamed up to bring the 7^th annual Parent University to Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. The event, which has long been a resounding success, was no different this year, with 705 students and their families coming out for a community day of fun and games at the golf course.

At the practice facility and on several holes throughout the course, FTSV set up a taste of what our programs offer, with fun games and activities all backed up with a specific life skill to focus on. Each station was packed with students and their families, many of whom were trying out golf for the very first time. Each group rotated through the stations before gathering for lunch and live music in the afternoon.

The focus of Parent University has always been on gathering the community and bringing valuable resources to the families of Alum Rock. ARUSD’s Student Services Department helped organize a ton of fantastic experiences for attendees, including several info booths, a great raffle, and even the ARUSD Jazz Band. And in a show of force as to just what this type of event means for the community, we were even joined by two local officials, Santa Clara County Supervisor Betty Duong and State Assemblymember Ash Kalra, who provided their encouraging remarks to kick-off the event.

**From left:** FTSV Board Victor M. Arrañaga Jr., ARUSD Superintendent German Cerda, CA State Rep Ash Kalra, Supervisor Betty Duong, FTSV CEO George Maxe

Here’s what their saying about the 7th Annual Parent University

Each year, FTSV is proud to partner with ARUSD and come together to serve and benefit the residents of our community. “FTSV was so pleased to play host once again at ARUSD’s Parent University at Rancho. The event was a huge success giving so many students and families the opportunity to experience golf and FTSV’s life skills curriculum. Rancho is FTSV’s home program location and East San Jose’s community golf course, so utilizing it in such a way is a perfect pairing for ARUSD and FTSV.” said George Maxe, FTSV President & CEO.

ARUSD Superintendent German Cerda said, “First Tee is a shining example of the powerful impact that school and community partnerships can have. It was truly inspiring to see so many families come together for this special event, where both students and parents were introduced to the game of golf—many for the very first time. Moments like these remind us what meaningful engagement really looks like.”

Interested in having your school or youth development program partner with First Tee – Silicon Valley? Please contact our Program Coordinator, Tanner Riley at (408) 508-4885, [email protected], or visit our outreach page.