Category: Newsletter

Outreach Participants Head Out to the Course

Shepherded out by their First Tee coaches, outreach participants from San Antonio Elementary, Cesar Chavez Elementary, and Clyde Arbuckle Elementary made their way out on to the driving range at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. Being the first time many of the students had set foot on an actual course, they were thrilled to finally be able to hit real balls with real clubs. This was evident in the ecstatic way the participants carried themselves. While still remaining courteous and respectful to their surroundings, the students cheered on their classmates and exchanged high fives after successful shots. They giddily took as many turns as possible in their allotted time frame, attempting to outperform each other at every opportunity. Needless to say, they’re hooked on golf! Thank you to Rancho del Pueblo for allowing the students this opportunity!

TFTSV Congratulates Alexia Gutiérrez & Latinx Golf

Congratulations are in order for Alexia Gutiérrez, Founder and Executive Director, and Latinx Golf for their Commendation from the San Jose City Council on Monday, November 19th. Alexia has combined her passions for STEM, tutoring and golf to help the Latinx community including encouraging her students to also register for TFTSV classes. Alexia received the Commendation from Mayor Liccardo and Councilmembers Magdalena Carrasco and Johnny Khamis.

Thank You for Naming TFTSV as your Beneficiary!

The First Tee of Silicon Valley is 100% locally supported and relies on community funding to provide our youth development programs, which are making a big difference! We are very fortunate that various golf organizations and golf tournaments name us as their charitable beneficiary. They believe in funding the future of our organization and the next generation of golfers and good citizens. The Villages Golf & Country Club 9-Hole Ladies Group hosted their Invitational on June 11th.  They conducted a raffle to raise funds and donated $900 to TFTSV. This was our second year being named as their beneficiary. The Almaden Golf & Country Club 9-Hole Ladies Group hosted their Invitational on September 5th. They conducted a raffle that raised $2,332 of which half was donated to TFTSV and half to Corina Green. This was our first year being named as their beneficiary. The Silicon Valley Business Travel Association (SVBTA) hosted their industry Golf Classic at Silver Creek Valley Golf & Country Club on September 23rd.  They conducted a silent auction and donated $2,000 to TFTSV. This was the fifth year being named as their beneficiary for a cumulative total of $6,465.  They also invited us to provide a video, participant speaker and branded centerpieces at their dinner for added exposure. A sincere thank you to these organizations for thinking of TFTSV and for giving back to the community. Keep us in mind if you are affiliated with a golf tournament or event that’s gives to non-profits. Contact Judy Dixon Deaton [email protected] for additional information.

Coach Chris, Our New Program Director!

Hearty congratulations are in order for Chris Moreno-Hunt, who was recently promoted to Program Director. Chris has over 8 years of experience as a Program Manager working for The First Tee, originally with the former chapter in Oakland/East Bay and then with us at TFTSV over the past 18 months. Chris has been a welcome, valued addition to our staff working closely with Coach Matt, who recently switched to being a part-time Program Instructor to pursue other interests. Chris brings a nice blend of empathy, intelligence and golf skill to his work with TFTSV. First, He’s caring… He epitomizes what it means to be a mentor, walking alongside our participants — with empathy — in their development. Second, He’s smart… His approach to the business side of his work, including problem solving and decision making, is thoughtful, thorough and analytical. Third, He’s good… Chris is a scratch golfer, who really knows the game and how to play it well. He played on the teams at Berkeley HS and Pitzer College. We’re excited to see Chris further apply these strengths as he steps up to get TFTSV to the next level of programming. Chris will be building on the 19 years of program management foundation laid by Coach John Jasso from 2000 to 2007 when we were the Eagles at Rancho Junior Golf Program then The First Tee of San Jose, by Coach Molly from 2007 to 2017, and most recently by Coach Matt from 2012 to 2019. Having Chris as the single point person for all programming is essential as TFTSV continues to expand overall, but especially on the Mid-Peninsula. His responsibilities will include coordination and development of instruction, curriculum, outreach and opportunities. In time, we envision TFTSV having a Program Manager at each of our three main locations in San Jose, Palo Alto, and Gilroy. Coach Manny has been the closest to such a Program Manager role working at Gavilan College Golf Course in Gilroy since 2014.  

Thank you, Coach Matt!

As our fall 2019 season comes to a close, so too will Matt Sheppard’s time as a member of TFTSV’s full-time staff. While we are sad to see him go, we are happy that we’ll still have him on our team as a part-time Program Instructor and that he’ll have more time to pursue his other interests. Matt joined TFTSV’s staff about 8 years ago when he switched from the role of Volunteer Coach to Program Coordinator. He worked closely with Coach Molly, our Program Manager for 10 years, and was promoted to Program Manager himself in 2017. Together, Matt and Molly expanded and grew our programs at Baylands Golf Links and the Golf Club at Moffett Field. Most recently, Matt has worked closely with Coach Chris as Co-Program Managers.
Mentors walk alongside others in their development. To be most effective, they must create a safe, caring and nurturing climate in their relationship with their mentees. Matt has demonstrated such effectiveness as a mentor more times that we could count. Many of TFTSV’s participants have enjoyed him as a coach, confidant and friend because of his supportive spirit and intentional instruction.

Please join me in thanking Coach Matt for his years of full-time work for and contributions to TFTSV.

Thank you, Matt! — George Maxe, President & CEO

Dear The First Tee of Silicon Valley Participants & Families, It is with mixed emotions that I share with you all that in the coming weeks, I will be leaving my position as Program Manager to pursue a career in music but will still be an instructor with TFTSV. It is a fitting time for me and the organization, this being my eighth year with the company and The First Tee of Silicon Valley at a point where it is thriving. I want to thank each of you for making The First Tee a wonderful place to work and for all of the fond memories and relationships that we’ve created together over the years. I feel blessed and thankful to be part of such a wonderful community of good people. I am very proud of all that our organization has accomplished. I would like to thank TFTSV staff, volunteers, and instructors. All of which have helped me grow as a person and have been integral in the success of the program. A special thank you goes out to Chris Moreno-Hunt, who I have learned so much from. You have been an inspirational person to work side-by-side with everyday. I appreciate your continuous support and admire who you are as a person. Another special thank you goes out to George Maxe, who has been my biggest supporter and mentor for me during the past 8 years. I appreciate your tireless efforts in helping me reach my full potential. I am forever grateful for your support.  I really cannot adequately express in words how much I appreciate all who are involved in TFTSV. Please know that I am grateful and thankful to you all. I am happy to say that the organization is in great hands with Chris Moreno-Hunt taking on most of my responsibilities along with the assistance of our hard working staff, Lina, Carlos, Joe, Gabby, Julie, Judy, and Manny. In the future you may see me out coaching a couple of classes or doing some behind the scenes work for The First Tee, but my last day as Program Manager will be on Saturday, November 2nd. I hope to continue to see and chat with many of you periodically! Thank you, Matt
 

Kho’s Amazing Pure Insurance Experience

Ralph Kho had an amazing experience being paired with Bernhard Langer as he represented The First Tee of Silicon Valley at the 2019 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee. The 16th annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, is an official PGA TOUR Champions event contested at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California, that took place September 24-29. “Playing at one of the best courses in the world with the legend himself, Bernard Langer, knowing that you are on TV is just a once in a life time experience. Being surrounded by such an elite group of people, celebrities, and golfers inspired me to be the best version of myself and carry the First Tee values wherever I go. The moments I had at the Pure Insurance is something that I’ll never forget and will always look back to. I’m very grateful for Coach Matt, Coach George, Coach Chris, and Julie for guiding me through the application process and supporting me.” said Ralph Kho Kho’s mother shared, “We are very grateful to The First Tee of Silicon Valley, … the coaches and the staff that Ralph was selected to participate to the PURE Insurance Championship and to be paired with Bernhard Langer, who has 40 PGA TOUR Champion victories, was a big bonus. We will forever be grateful to The First Tee for this great opportunity and all other that Ralph has received and participated in throughout his time with The First Tee of Silicon Valley. Special thank you to Matt for guiding and supporting Ralph all throughout the application process and for everything he has helped Ralph with from the day he started – mentoring him not just in golf but as a person. Thank you very much to all of you.” Kho is a long-time participant in The First Tee of Silicon Valley’s program. He has been dedicated to progressing through several class levels and generous by giving back to younger participants as a Junior Coach. Kho is truly a fine young man with a very bright future. He is a senior at Junipero Serra High School beginning this fall. Kho’s selection for the event was very timely given his pioneering, class history at Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course which is now Baylands Golf Links. He was one of The First Tee of Silicon Valley’s first participants there as the chapter expanded its classes to the mid-peninsula. The First Tee of Silicon Valley is endeavoring to make an investment to the facility in the form of a learning center and improvements to the range and practice areas. “Ralph should be extremely proud (and excited!) not only by his selection to play in this tournament, but also by his dedication to The First Tee of Silicon Valley. I cannot think of a more deserving participant to represent our chapter,” said George Maxe, President and CEO of The First Tee of Silicon Valley. The PURE Insurance Championship Impacting the First Tee is the only event of its kind where 78 First Tee teenagers from across the country are paired up with 78 PGA TOUR Champions players and 156 amateurs during an official PGA TOUR Champions tournament. There were 78 participants from First Tee chapters across the country compete for the Pro-Junior Team title. Participants are selected by a national panel of judges based on their understanding and application of the values and life skills learned through First Tee’s programs, as well as their playing ability. Nearly 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. “We are proud to continue our involvement with this prestigious event and help support the great work of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and The First Tee,” said Katherine Frattarola, Chief Marketing Officer of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. “The impact this event has on the incredible young men and women from the First Tee makes this sponsorship tremendously rewarding for our entire team. First Tee is a youth development organization dedicated to helping young people build character through the game of golf. The First Tee of Silicon Valley is one of 150 chapters around the world introducing the sport of golf and First Tee’s Core Values to kids, positively impacting their lives. Serving the greater Silicon Valley community since 2005, more than 78,000 kids have been impacted through The First Tee of Silicon Valley’s programs. To learn more about The First Tee of Silicon Valley, visit www.firstteesiliconvalley.org. For more information on the 2019 PURE Insurance Championship, visit www.pureinsurancechampionship.com.

2019 Pure Insurance Field Trip

The First Tee of Silicon Valley brought 36 class participants from Rancho Del Pueblo on a field trip to the final round of the 2019 Pure Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee at Pebble Beach Golf Course. While at Pebble Beach, the students watched the best senior professional golfers in the world play together with some of the top TFT players in the country.  The purpose of our field trip is to inspire our participants and expose them to opportunities available to them as they progress through our program. The First Tee of Silicon Valley also coordinates field trips to foster and strengthen mentoring with our participants in a different setting. Lastly, it allows our under-served participants with 98% diversity the opportunity to see the ocean and a beautiful part of the Monterey coast that many have not experienced. TFTSV sends a special thank you to the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for providing the grant which allowed us to cover transportation to and from Pebble Beach. “We are grateful for the Monterey Peninsula Foundation which allows us provide our participants an opportunity to visit a world-famous golf course and learn from some of the best golfers in the world”, said Chris Moreno-Hunt, Program Manager.

95.3 KRTY $5,000 Check Presentation at the Justin Moore Concert

95.3 KRTY presented a generous $5,000 donation to The First Tee of Silicon Valley as the beneficiary of the sold-out Justin Moore concert at Clos La Chance Winery on September 26th.  It was an amazing evening as over 700 people sat under the stars to enjoy an intimate music performance. Justin, who is a golfer himself, and played that morning next door at CordeValle said to the audience, “I am so happy to be a part of this charity night in support of The First Tee of Silicon Valley – they are doing great work teaching kids core values through the game of golf.” A special thanks to General Manager, Nate Deaton and the KRTY staff for supporting us. TFTSV Board Director, Frank Wilde and TFTSV Development Director, Judy Dixon (pictured below) were in attendance for the check presentation.

Good Judgment Requires Consideration

You’ve heard the phrase “use your best judgment” before, but have you thought about the process to make a “best judgment” decision? Judgment is defined as “the ability to make a decision or form an opinion; reached after consideration”. Judgment is one of The Nine Core Values that we emphasize in our programming here at The First Tee of Silicon Valley. Using good judgment is very important in golf. It comes into play when deciding on strategy, club selection, when to play safe and when to take a chance, and the type of shot players consider executing.  The First Tee of Silicon Valley classes include fun and educational games that are activity-based with continuous learning where our coaches intentionally bridge what they learn in class to life experiences.  Our curriculum teaches participants that they should take into consideration the consequences of their decisions or opinions. We train them to begin by gathering information from multiple sources. Then deliberate the information by weighing the pros and cons. Finally, make their decision or form their opinion based on what they have learned through the information gathering and deliberation process. The First Tee of Silicon Valley provides a unique youth development program providing high quality educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values, and promote healthy choices seamlessly through the game of golf. Consider registering your child in a class, becoming a volunteer or supporting our non-profit youth development organization.    

PGA TOUR Superstore Club Drive November 9th

Did you get a new set of clubs? Bring your used clubs to the PGA TOUR Superstore in East Palo Alto on Saturday, November 9th from 1pm to 5pm. Collecting used clubs enables The First Tee of Silicon Valley to pursue our mission to impact the lives of under-served youth by providing education programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.  These donations allow us to provide the necessary equipment for those on financial assistance to participate. Bring your used clubs in good condition and less than 10 years old to the PGA TOUR Superstore (1751 East Bayshore Road, East Palo Alto, CA  94303) on Saturday, November 9th from 1PM to 5PM. We are collecting:
  • Clubs: full sets, usable drivers/putters/fairway metals, and iron sets (Junior sets preferred)
  • New bags, balls, towels, tees and ball markers
We are not able to collect clothing (hats, shoes, socks, jackets) or equipment (pull/push cards, training aids, travel bags, used bags).

Winter Class Registration Opens October 9th for New Participants

The First Tee of Silicon Valley online registration for new participants opens on Oct. 9th at 10am and for returning participants on November 6th. Classes are 1.5 hours in duration for 8-weeks beginning the week of December 2nd (2 weeks break 12/23-1/4). Classes are offered at Rancho Del Pueblo Golf Course in San Jose, Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto, SportsHouse in Redwood City, and Gavilan Golf Course in Gilroy. In each certifying class (PLAYer, Par, Birdie, Eagle) participant will learn a life core lesson and a golf fundamental through games and activities. In addition to our certifying classes, we are excited to offer our skills advancement classes including STEM, Golf Play, Golf Rounds, and Golf Practice which are designed to help golf skill progression. We encourage participants to take both a skills advancement class and certifying class to maximize golf and life skills development in a season!

Sign up to Volunteer Coach

Do you want to mentor youth? Do you enjoy golf and want to give back? Join our team as a Volunteer Coach! Complete steps 1-9 on our volunteer page by 11/15 and attend our in-person training on 11/23 to volunteer for our Winter Season (12/3 – 2/8). Why Volunteer?
  • Make a positive impact on participants
  • Assist in establishing a supportive environment for a child’s success
  • Be a role model and mentor
  • Assist in developing leadership, interpersonal, and resiliency skills
  • Give back to your community
  • Meet and join other like-minded coaches in Silicon Valley
  • Learn and develop coaching techniques
“Community is a living organism that must be fed. I look forward to every opportunity to interact with participants and their families as we all grow together through the program.” Coach Jeffy “Coaching is wonderful way to spend time. It combines some of my favorite things – teaching golf, being outdoors, and inspiring youngsters to be their best.”  Coach Molly