Category: Newsletter

Parent University is a Success!

On Saturday, May 19th, The First Tee of Silicon Valley collaborated with Sports for Learning and Alum Rock Union School District (ARUSD) for their Parent University Family Fun Day.  Rancho del Pueblo golf course was transformed into a community center with multiple stations where parents and children were able to play games using golf basics.  They played foot golf, putting games, target games with balloons, pools, hoops, etc.  Carnival games, soccer, face painting and a resource fair were also part of the fun. More than 400 parents, children, and community members from ARUSD came to the event.  Many of them had never been to the golf course before.  “It was such a pleasure to see so many kids on the golf course having fun” said Chris Moreno-Hunt, TFTSV Program Manager Norma Flores, ARUSD’s organizer of the event, said “…A heartfelt special thanks to the entire The First Tee of Silicon Valley team for a job well done Saturday at our Spring Parent University. Kids, Parents and Community members had fun with all golf, soccer and carnival games. It is such a joy to work with such a dedicated team!  Yes, we deliver excellence! A total of 422 in attendance!

Open Houses held at San Jose & Silver Creek Valley Country Clubs

Open House at San Jose Country Club On April 27, 2018 two members of The First Tee of Silicon Valley Board of Directors, J. Ernesto Moreno and Ben Heben, hosted friends at an Open House to promote and introduce The First Tee of Silicon Valley.  Ryan Rankin and Robby Keith spoke about the impact The First Tee has had on their lives as participants.  Robby continues to be involved as a current Life Skills coach.
Ryan Rankin, Ernie Moreno, Robby Keith & Ben Heben
Open House at Silver Creek Valley Country Club On May 3, 2018 four members of The First Tee of Silicon Valley Board of Directors & Ambassadors, Greg Staszko, John Ritchie, Thao Dang, and Baiba Scott hosted friends at an Open House to promote and introduce The First Tee of Silicon Valley.  Robby Keith and Isabel Suizo spoke about the impact The First Tee has had on their lives as current and past participants.  Isabel Suizo was recently named a The First Tee Scholar.
Robby Keith, Isabel Suizo & George Maxe
Open Houses are designed to further educate people about The First Tee of Silicon Valley and encourage support through advocating, volunteering, or donating.   In addition to hearing testimonials, guests enjoyed a video overview and had an opportunity for a Q&A with Executive Director, George Maxe.  If you would like to host an Open Houses of your own, please contact our Development Director, Judy Dixon, at [email protected].  

DCP Alum Rock Golf Team Attend LPGA Mediheal Championship

On Sunday, April 29th Coach Alan and his DCP Alum Rock golfstars, who also take class at The First Tee of Silicon Valley, attended the LPGA Mediheal Championship at Lake Merced Golf Club.  For Coach Alan and his golfers this was the first time they had seen professional golf in action and the experience was chalked full of teachable moments. Watching these elite golfers served as reminder that even pros still embrace the concepts of sportsmanship, judgment, perseverance, along with courtesy.  Coach Alan was very pleased to see his golfstars pick up on these lessons being played out in front of them during the tournament.  One of their favorite moments throughout the day was watching the golfers and caddies talk over their current shot and what strategies they would employ.  This was a living example of judgment being played out. Alex enjoyed the tournament for how it showed him the numerous career options that are associated to the game of golf.  He saw that he didn’t necessarily have to be a professional golfer to work in a tournament.  He could become a caddie, a marshall, a scorekeeper, and even a greenskeeper.  All of these positions are integral to golf tournaments happening. It was a great experience to see these top golfers compete against each other in a respectful way. Coach Alan and his golfers look forward to enjoying other local professional tournaments and classes at The First Tee of Silicon Valley in the near future.

Varsha Nekkanti From The First Tee Of Silicon Valley Awarded John Deere Power For Good Scholarship

Varsha Nekkanti from The First Tee of Silicon Valley has been awarded a John Deere Power for Good Scholarship. In addition to earning a $5,000 college scholarship, Nekkanti has won the opportunity to be a VIP guest and play in the pro-am at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., July 9–15. Nekkanti is one of three teens from The First Tee who have earned the scholarship and experience at the John Deere Classic. She was selected from a national pool of applicants based on an essay about how she is a ‘Power for Good’ through service in her community. Her essay included a summary of the impact of her efforts and how her work is connected to the Nine Core Values learned through The First Tee and the game of golf. Nekkanti is a junior at Notre Dame High School and is captain of her school’s varsity golf team. She has been a participant with The First Tee of Silicon Valley since 2008, and is currently working to certify at the Ace Level, our highest level. Along with this, she is a junior coach and leads after-class “Dig Deeper” sessions to provide participants with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the golf and life skill curriculum. Aside from her work at The First Tee of Silicon Valley, Nekkanti aims to be a power for good through her work as President of the Model United Nations club in her school community, where she increases awareness around the underlying causes of societal problems to better equip her peers to address them in the future. To deepen her community service impact and that of those around her, Nekkanti has served as the Service Committee Head of the National Honors Society branch at her school to encourage the practice of giving back to the community and having a tangible impact on the lives of others. She currently leads this organization as President. Currently, Nekkanti combines her passions for education, service, and working with children through the maintenance of her nonprofit, AidAware, that aims to bridge the educational divide by increasing the financial literacy of students and parents in her local community.
As someone who strives to make an impact on my community with my actions, I am very honored to be awarded this John Deere Power for Good Scholarship! Along with this, I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to attend the John Deere classic and play in the pro-am with a PGA Tour professional! Varsha Nekkanti
This is a well-deserved honor for Varsha given her high academic standing and achievements. We have been very impressed by Varsha’s efforts to have a positive impact on the lives of others and so are very pleased to see her recognized by others. George Maxe, Executive Director of The First Tee of Silicon Valley  
The First Tee is a youth sports organization that introduces kids to the game of golf and its inherent values, and positively impacts their lives.  

Alumni Succeeding As Student Athletes

We are so proud of our alumni, Michelle Xie, Nancy Xu, and Anna Zhou, who are playing collegiate golf.  They all compete in The Ivy League, part of NCAA Division 1 Womens Golf.  Michelle and Anna are on the women’s team at Harvard and Nancy Xu is on the women’s team at Columbia. The Ivy League Womens Championship was played at the Metedeconk National Golf Club in Jackson, New Jersey on April 20-22.  Michelle finished first, Nancy finished tied for 7th and Anna finished 22nd. The Ivy League Womens Championship included teams from Harvard, Yale, Brown, Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, Princeton & Columbia.  Princeton will represent the league at the Women’s Regional to be played May 7-9 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.
I am very impressed with the performance of three of our alumni at the 2018 Ivy League Championship. Kudos to Michelle for her first individual tournament win, Nancy for finishing out her senior season on such a high note, and Anna for a great comeback and a great year. I am increasingly proud of these ladies for both their golf achievements and their overall character, as they continue to embody The First Tee values. Congratulations to Anna, Michelle and Nancy!

Molly Springmann, LPGA T&CP Class A Teaching Professional & The First Tee Recognized Coach

The Ivy Championship is always such a great tournament to compete in, and I’m so honored to have had the opportunity to do so for the third time this year at Metedeconk. I wouldn’t have played so well without the support of my coaches and teammates, who all motivate me and keep me focused on reaching my goals. The core value of perseverance and the confidence I gained from the First Tee of Silicon Valley still help me in big moments like the playoff my team faced against Princeton and in smaller ones every day. Michelle Xie
Michelle and Anna were junior assistants when we started the program at Palo Alto. They were unbelievable to work with and did a great job with the kids. Their commitment to service went far beyond just doing it for the hours, their enthusiasm was inspiring and the key to the success of the new program at Palo Alto. Scot Hathaway, PGA, General Manager of Los Lagos Golf Course

Development Director Judy Dixon Accepted as Member of Rotary Club of San Jose

The Rotary Club of San Jose inducted The First Tee of Silicon Valley Development Director, Judy Dixon, during the April new member induction ceremony (bulletin here).  Judy’s sponsor and husband, Nate Deaton, General Manager of 95.3 KRTY, introduced her to the club membership.  Judy thanked the club for their vote of confidence to be an active member and serve the community.  She announced that she has already joined the Golf Committee and Senior Service Committee. The Rotary Club of San Jose holds formal meetings with networking opportunities every Wednesday featuring local, national and global influential business, civic, political and cultural speakers.  The club was established in 1914, and is the most active and well-known service organization in the community.  Rotary is a leadership organization working together to make a difference. Their members include local business, professional and civic leaders.  They form lasting friendships through their shared Rotary experiences including committee meetings and projects, social events and group service projects within our community and internationally. Judy is a life-long golfer, she is passionate about sharing how The First Tee educational programs have impacted over 60,000 youth by building character, instilling life-enhancing values, and promoting healthy choices through the game of golf. Her job is to connect individuals and companies with the opportunity to help transform the lives of youth and give them a brighter future. Judy has come full circle in her career starting in the non-profit sector at the United Way, March of Dimes and Santa Clara County Fair Association then spent 20 years in media. Her time in media as Director of Sales spanned TV, Print and Radio working for KNTV-11, Silicon Valley Biz Ink and 15 years at 94.5 KBAY and Mix 106.5. She graduated from Bradley University then headed west where she met her husband of 30 years, Nate Deaton, a fellow Rotarian. Judy and Nate have a son Drew, a Bellermine grad, who will graduate from University of Arizona this May. When Judy isn’t working, you will find her golfing at Almaden Country Club, at country concerts or volunteering at Holy Spirit Parish.  

Teen From San Jose To Attend The First Tee National Par-3 Championship

One of 32 selected to attend the annual event held in Richmond, Va. June 12-17 Thai Hoang from The First Tee of Silicon Valley has been selected to attend The First Tee National Par-3 Championship held at The Kanawha Club in Richmond, VA, June 12–17. Hoang was selected for The First Tee National Par-3 Championship through a national application process. Applicants that met the participation criteria were reviewed by a national committee that scored based on essays, involvement with The First Tee and letters of recommendation.
Thai Hoang
  Hoang is one of 32 teen participants—16 boys and 16 girls—from The First Tee selected to play in the 36-hole individual stroke play competition. At the conclusion of the 36 holes, a male and female Par-3 Champion will be determined. In addition to the golf experience, kids will participate in fun activities that incorporate The First Tee’s Nine Core Values, and other life skills learned through its programs and the game. Teens will also experience dorm living during their stay on campus at the University of Richmond. Thai is a Junior at Willow Glen High School in San Jose.  He has been an active member of The First Tee of Silicon Valley since 2010 and recently received Ace certification, which is the highest level of achievement in the program. Thai gives back by coaching younger participants.
I am very excited that I got selected for the Par 3 Championship in Virginia! I am grateful for being able to represent The First Tee of Silicon Valley there. – Thai Hoang
 
We are so pleased that Thai has this opportunity to attend The First Tee’s prestigious Par 3 Championship. I am personally very proud of him for all the hard work that he has put into progressing through our class levels to become Ace Certified. Thai is a fine young man with a wonderful spirit and energy, who will make the Par 3 Championship better for all 32 attendees. – George Maxe, Executive Director

Three Volunteers Recognized by the Junior League of San Jose

April 17, 2018 – Campbell, Calif.  Three volunteers with The First Tee of Silicon Valley were given certificates of appreciation during the 49th annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon by the Junior League of San Jose. In a program emceed by Laura Garcia and Marcus Washington of NBC Bay Area many volunteers and organizations were recognized for Giving Back and Paying Forward during 2017. Ten volunteers received the Crystal Bowl award, one of whom went on to be awarded the Voluntarism of the year award. We are very proud of all of our volunteers and wanted to acknowledge Lionel Hunt, Nicholas Ngai and Santad Kiatsupaibul for their commitment to the program during 2017. Lionel began volunteering with us shortly after moving to the area.  He brought in his son, who moved quickly through our program.  His son is now off to college, yet that has not wavered Lionel’s commitment to our program.  He can be counted on to volunteer consistently and with integrity.  He is an excellent role model for our participants and works to engage them in the program and to have a personal connection with them. Nicholas is that volunteer who can be relied on to carry out our standards while providing the best customer service.  His work ethic is strong, if he is not actively working on a project, he is thinking of ways to improve our process so that it is running as efficient as possible.  He knows all of the participants and their parents and greets them by name.  He is a pleasure to work with and we find ourselves counting on him to go above and beyond every week.
Santad
Santad began volunteering shortly after both of his children advanced out of the beginning level of our program.  Often times parents volunteer with a mind to stay with their child or to help their child advance, not the case with Santad.  He not only volunteers at the entry level, but he has encouraged his children to give back to the program as well.  As soon as his son was age-eligible, he began volunteering. Santad is that always smiling, constant presence who helps our participants feel comfortable and confident.

Volunteer Appreciation Week

The First Tee of Silicon Valley Thanks You for your time and dedication to our participants and program. We are forever grateful for how you have assisted us this year in so many ways. If it’s coming at the crack of dawn to set-up our equipment, chatting with parents of how to improve their participant in life and golf skills, recording waivers or report cards, checking participants in and out each week, and so many things in between, your work is definitely noticed and appreciated. Without you, our staff and instructors are not able to make a difference in the lives of youth throughout Silicon Valley by building their character, instilling life-enhancing skills, and promoting healthy habits. You truly make a difference in the lives of our participants. In honor of National Volunteer Week, we want to say a big THANK YOU! We appreciate all of you and thank you for your continued commitment to The First Tee of Silicon Valley.  We look forward to working with you in the days, weeks, months, and seasons ahead. We hope to see you all volunteering our community events, tournaments and golf play days to come.

Coach Alan & DCP Alum Rock HS Partner for Success

Coach Alan and Downtown College Prep Alum Rock High School Partner for Success Coach Alan is a The First Tee Level 1 Coach, coaching 2 classes this season.  He is also the coach for the Downtown College Prep Alum Rock High School (DCP) golf team. The team began practicing with The First Tee of Silicon Valley, as concurrent enrollees, in the Fall of 2016.  They have taken three classes together which has allowed Coach Alan to incorporate the Nine Core Values and course management (e.g. pace of play) into their practice time. The team competed in their first match in the Spring of 2017 and have competed in two matches so far this year. The team consists of eight regular players, one of whom had swung a golf club before. The other 7 players had no previous exposure to the game. In the 2 years since they began practicing they have persevered through the growing pains that comes with learning the game of golf.  The DCP Lobos have found success and have won both of the matches in which they have competed in the Private School Athletic League this season. The partnership of The First Tee Silicon Valley and DCP began when Coach Alan first began thinking about starting a golf team at DCP.  One of the athletic directors referred him to The First Tee as he had partnered with us in the past with Golf and STEM classes. Coach Alan is really thankful how the TFTSV coaches helped his players become golfers.  They also opened his eyes on how he could become a more effective golf coach and leader.  It’s been a great relationship!

Open Houses This Spring

Open Houses are scheduled in April and May to further educate people about The First Tee of Silicon Valley and encourage support through advocating, volunteering, or donating. Board Members Ernie J. Moreno and Ben Heben will host their Open House at San Jose Country Club on Wednesday, April 25th. The casual wine and cheese gathering will include a couple of testimonial speeches from past participant Ryan Rankin and current Ace instructor Robby Keith in addition to a video and overview of our program. San Jose Country Club and The Ernest Pieper Jr. Santa Clara County Championship have been benefactors to The First Tee of Silicon Valley for a number of years. Board Members Greg Staszko, John Ritchie, Baiba Scott and Thao Dang will host their Open House at Silver Creek Valley Country Club on Thurs., May 3rd. Guests will be served cocktails and snacks while hearing from current Ace instructor Robby Keith and 2018 First Tee Scholar Isabel Suizo. There will also be a special appearance by San Jose Major Sam Liccardo and an overview of our program by Executive Director George Maxe. If you would like to host an Open Houses of your own, please contact our Development Director, Judy Dixon, at [email protected].

Honesty is the Best Policy On and Off the Golf Course

Honesty is a virtue and it can be taught to children. Teaching the value of honesty to children is part of the development of moral and emotional strength. The quality of honesty helps to develop character and solid self-esteem.
  Honesty is an important trait to have in your academic and professional life but also core to the game of golf.  Golf is unique from other sports in that players regularly call penalties on themselves and report their own score. The honesty of players is captured when they follow the rules and etiquette of the game of golf. What would you do in these situations? Your ball is in the rough. You take a full swing intending to hit the ball but miss it completely. You did not touch any part of the ball, nor did you change the ball’s position. Would you pretend the stroke was a practice swing and not count it? You’re preparing to hit out of a bunker but accidentally ground your club in the sand. No one noticed. Do you play the shot without taking a penalty? As one of The First Tee Nine Core Values, honesty has to do with being truthful. Not only when playing golf but in everything a young person engages in throughout life. Our goal is to teach participants honesty through hands-on activities. Games that require them to implement honesty by tallying their own score, determining if their ball stayed within the boundaries of the course and learning what it means to be accessed a penalty stroke. In the words of Tiger Woods, “Achievements on the golf course are not what matters, decency and honesty are what matter.” Consider registering your child in a class, becoming a volunteer or supporting our non-profit youth development organization.