Category: Newsletter

Everyday your body uses loads of energy to help you manage your busy life. While eating, working, studying for a class, and even playing a round of golf, you’re using energy which is equipped through the calories in your diet. Energy fuels your body’s internal functions, repairs, builds and maintains cells and body tissues, and supports the external activities that enable you to interact with the physical world.[1] This is why it is so important to make sure you are eating enough nutritious food to support a healthy lifestyle and especially to fill your body with useful energy. Children need energy because they are growing quickly and are continually becoming more active. Energy is also needed for mentally challenging endeavors such as reading, doing homework, listening and learning in class and more! Creating a healthy diet that is high in vitamins and minerals and includes a good supply of protein, carbohydrates and fats will ensure your children with enough energy to make it through the day. Families should try and limit the intake of sugar they give to their children as it can cause bad eating habits at such a young age. Sugar has no nutrients, therefore eating too much can result in negative effects on your energy levels and can increase the risk for obesity. Because children are still developing, it is significant they do not eat big portions, but instead eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day so they are able to conserve energy. Their stomachs are still growing hence the need to eat more than adults. The First Tee of Silicon Valley encourages youth to stay active, eat right, and develop a healthy lifestyle so they have the energy they need to live life to the fullest. Our goal is to help youth by not only staying active on the golf course but by providing positive learning environments as well. Consider registering your child in a class, becoming a volunteer or supporting our non-profit youth development organization. This post was written by Morgan McGwire, a student athlete at Santa Clara University and volunteer with TFTSV. [1] http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/five-reasons-body-needs-energy-4673.htm

Isabelle and Isabel are Seniors at Evergreen Valley High School and have been participants at The First Tee of Silicon Valley since 2007.  Both are currently Ace Certified participants, the highest level class, and demonstrate the Nine Core Values every day.  Isabelle has been able to participate in the 2016 Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. Isabel has been able to participate in the 2017 The First Tee Life Skills Leadership Academy.  They embody the leadership skills and characteristics that define The First Tee Scholars.  Isabelle and Isabel are not just participants, they have given back as volunteer coaches as well.  While serving as volunteer coaches they model the Nine Healthy Habits and golf etiquette to our younger participants.   The First Tee introduces children to the game of golf and its inherent values, recognizes participants for exceptional achievement in academics, leadership, character development, and chapter and community involvement through The First Tee Scholars Program. More than $7 million in college scholarship has been awarded to participants nation-wide by chapters and the home office since launching the Scholars program in 2003.

Respect is one of the most important virtues a child can have. Teaching your child how to respect others will ensure they develop positive relationships with their family, friends, teachers and mentors throughout their life. Respect can be taught in many ways, but ultimately it is about ensuring your children lead a happy life and treat other people kindly. The First Tee has established Nine Core Values that represent some of the many inherently positive values connected with the game of golf.   Respect is one of the cornerstone core values. By participating in The First Tee of Silicon Valley, young people are introduced to these core values which are incorporated throughout the program and they are encouraged to reinforce these behaviors at school and at home. In the game of golf, it is important to show respect for oneself, playing partners, fellow competitors, the golf course, and for the honor and traditions of the game. Have you ever noticed at the beginning and end of a round of golf, players shake hands? The sport of golf was built on the long-standing tradition respect between players. Consider registering your child in a class, becoming a volunteer or supporting our non-profit youth development organization.

The First Tee of Silicon Valley hosted its quarterly Girl’s Golf Play Day on March 3^rd at Rancho del Pueblo with a Winter Olympic theme. Led by LPGA Coach Molly Springmann and Program Coordinator/Coach Manny Gallardo, girls 3^rd through 8^th grade enjoyed an afternoon of lunch, inspiration, games and activities. The favorites in the game category were the cross patio skiing on paper plates and the noodle throw.  In the spirit of the First Tee Nine Core Values, the girls listened to Olympian speeches and discussed the key qualities that make a medalist. They also sported their creativity by making marshmallow snowmen and decorated cookie medals.  The day of fun and building friendships concluded with closing ceremonies and anticipation for the next Play Day scheduled on May 12^th.

The First Tee of Silicon Valley would like to thank San Jose Country Club for their welcoming hospitality in hosting one of our Treks. Participants, Rishi and Kelly, were able to play a fun round of golf with Board Director Ben Heben (CFO at Chronicle, an independent company within Alphabet) and Board Ambassador Nicole Hayashi (Investor Relations at Google). The First Tee of Silicon Valley is grateful to be a beneficiary of the Ernie Pieper Santa Clara County Championship held annually at San Jose Country Club.

Please join me in thanking Coach Ashley for her hard work and dedication to The First Tee of Silicon Valley and our youth as our Operations Coordinator for Marketing and Program Coordinator.  Her last day on our staff was Thursday, February 22^nd.  Ashley coordinated many of our events, including Girls Golf, community events and the Family Fiesta. She made a big impact on the participants she coached and events that she coordinated. Thank you, Ashley! — George Maxe, Executive Director

Please join The First Tee of Silicon Valley in welcoming Chris & Lina! Chris Moreno-Hunt joins us as Program Manager.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Pitzer College where he played on the golf team for four years, earning awards for First-Team All-League and the Jesse Clark Sportsmanship award. Prior to joining TFTSV, Chris was the Program Manager at the The First Tee of the East Bay for six years. He was also the Head Golf Coach for the Albany High School men’s and women’s teams coaching the men to their first league title in 45 years. Chris also taught golf at Tilden Park Golf Course as a lead instructor for their Nike Jr. Golf Camp, and Jr. Golf Academies. Learn more about Chris from the Q&A below. Q: Why did you get involved with The First Tee of Silicon Valley? A: In my six years with The First Tee I have enjoyed working with coaches, volunteers, and schools to deliver a unique program that promotes positive character development in ways that few other programs do. I am excited for the opportunity to continue delivering the First Tee curriculum and getting to know the Silicon Valley community. Q: What is your favorite Core Value and why? A: Courtesy.  Being polite and considerate of others should be something we do not have to think about–it should be an impulse. When we operate with inherent courtesy we create an environment of empathy.  Empathy will in turn help us understand each other and through understanding comes positive change. Q: What do you look forward most about your new role as Program Manager? A:  I look forward to building relationships and strengthening our partnerships with the Silicon Valley community. I have heard wonderful things about the community and I am excited to find new ways to expand our reach, particularly in underserved areas. Q: Do you have any hobbies? A: I play league soccer, indoor badminton, and enjoy plucking away at the Ukulele. Q: Is there anything else you’d like The First Tee of Silicon Valley community to know about you? A: When I was first introduced to golf I had no idea how much it would shape me as a person. I believe in the 9 Core Values and I try to live by them every day of my life. I care about others and would like nothing more than to help others experience the joy and the life lessons this game has offered me.   Lina Peña-Herrera joined our team as Operations Assistant in February. Lina habla Español.  She will be working closely with our outreach program and the Latino community. Learn more about Lina from the Q&A below. Q: Why did you get involved with The First Tee of Silicon Valley? A: Because we wanted our children to be involved in a youth program that combines not only sports practice but also the teaching of core values. After a long time asking for info on different sport programs, we found that TFTSV had just what we were looking for. Today, after being involved in this wonderful program for more than four and half years, we can state TFTSV was our best decision ever. Q: What have you learned about yourself while being a volunteer with our chapter? A: I found out that is very rewarding helping other participant families in TFTSV to fulfill their expectations of the program and, at the same time, get involved in my children’s activities. All of that makes me feel happier and more productive. Q: What is your favorite Core Value and why? A: Perseverance. Because I never stop working to achieve my goals and dreams. No matter what how difficult it is, I just keep moving. Q: What do you look forward most about your new role as Operations Assistant? A: I want to let my community know that through golf we can help our children develop their sport and life skills. Also, I want more children to come to our program, take advantage of the opportunity to share with other children, and understand through the game each value applied. Q: Do you have any hobbies? A: Crafting and travel to new places with my family. Q: Is there anything else you’d like The First Tee of Silicon Valley community to know about you? A: I enjoy teaching Spanish, volunteering at my church and working with the staff, couches and volunteers at TFTSV.  

We’re so proud of our alumnus, Jack Jaffe, who gives back to the community as the Founder of Recycled Golf Gear by Jack. He is Ace-certified in our program and currently attends Santa Clara University. Bring your used clubs to the PGA TOUR Superstore in East Palo Alto on Saturday, March 31st from 11am to 3pm. Collecting used clubs enables Jack and Recycled Golf Gear to continue to contribute to supporting junior golf organizations in Northern California.  Bring your used clubs to the PGA TOUR Superstore (1751 East Bayshore Road, East Palo Alto, CA  94303) on Saturday, March 31^st from 11AM to 3PM and receive a raffle ticket + a $20 off/$60 PGATSS coupon.  Putting contests and Power clinics will be held throughout the event.

• Club donations: full sets, usable drivers/putters/fairway metals, golf bags, and  iron sets
• Club donors will receive 1 raffle ticket/person/donation + $20OFF$60 (PGATSS coupon)
• Raffle prizes: foursomes at several different courses

More information can be found at the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/211013656153650/

How about hosting a Trivia Party?

Board Director, Ron Hallagan, and Development Director, Judy Dixon, hosted friends and neighbors at a The First Tee Trivia Gathering at Almaden Country Club in December. The goal was simple: have some fun while educating people about The First Tee and to perhaps inspire them to support our wonderful organization. The event accomplished both objectives. “Most people had heard of The First Tee but didn’t really understand The First Tee’s mission and history. Our 18-Hole Trivia Contest was a way to both educate and entertain our guests in a very fun and informal environment,” Ron stated. “The First Tee mantra of ‘More Than A Game’ resonated with people and they especially liked the focus on the Nine Core Values and Nine Healthy Habits and hearing a couple testimonials from our participants,” Ron added. The gathering resulted in approximately $15,000 of gifts made to The First Tee of Silicon Valley over the holidays. “The gifts were wonderful, but knowing we helped inform and inspire about 20 more people about The First Tee is what really counts,” Judy noted. “We’d love to see some of these people host their own The First Tee Trivia event sometime this year,” Judy concluded. Our positive youth development programs works! The young people we mentor behave better, get better grades, and are healthier than their peers.  Help us spread the word so we can offer financial aid to more low-income participants that require financial aid. We need your generous support to continue shaping youth into high quality adults and to keep our classes accessible and affordable. If you would like to host a Trivia Gathering of your own, please contact our Development Director, Judy Dixon, at [email protected]

The amount of self-confidence a child possesses will affect every aspect of his or her educational and personal goals. If a child loses confidence in school, his or her grades will ultimately be affected. When self-confidence suffers, a child may give up on his or her hopes, dreams, and plans. They may feel they are unworthy of obtaining their goals or think it is impossible to achieve them. Building confidence in youth can help prevent student dropout rates, ensure kids maintain their love for learning, and help them achieve their dreams and goals by staying in school and going to college. There is no question that the relationship between confidence and educational success is tightly intertwined. One of the best ways to improve confidence is to engage kids in various self-esteem activities. By boosting self-esteem in youth, children who may come from less than desirable home settings can learn skills that foster a sense of community and respect. Parents that have violence in the home, or use negative words when speaking to their children, may not realize the damage that is being inflicted upon a child’s self-esteem. In these situations, it is imperative that children are exposed to educators or other mentors who are a positive influence and help build the child’s confidence. No matter what a child’s home life or personal experiences, it is never too late to begin building confidence in youth. By doing so, you may be influencing a child in more ways than you could ever imagine. The First Tee of Silicon Valley fosters confidence in youth grades 1-12 through our Nine Core Values curriculum. We surround our participants with positive and affirming mentoring that directly impacts their confidence. Confidence plays a key role in the level of play that one achieves. Players can increase confidence in their abilities by being positive and focusing on something they are doing well regardless of the outcome.   Consider registering your child in a class, becoming a volunteer or supporting our non-profit youth development organization.   Source:  http://www.edu-nova.com/articles/student-confidence/

Movies and television depict heroes who have a strong mind. We admire people who push the limits. The reality is we must be strong-minded if we are to overcome the obstacles we meet every day. We know that it takes more than talent or skill to become a top performer. Research studies indicate that intelligence accounts for only 30% of our achievement. What does make a good leader, athlete or student? The answer is a strong mind that pushes through adversity. It is an inner quality that enables youth to work hard and stick to their goals. The good news is that a strong mind is not something you were born with. It is something that can be developed. The secret characteristics heroes with a strong mind possess and embody are Confidence, Persistence, Dedication and Control. If you are strong-minded, you express these attitudes and skills on a daily basis, no matter what is happening in your life.   You aren’t afraid to try new hobbies or place yourself in situations where you might fail.  One of the best ways to develop a strong mind and build your confidence is to learn a different skill-set. The First Tee of Silicon Valley teaches Nine Healthy Habits through the game of golf. We believe the Mind is a powerful tool for health. One’s mind influences his/her emotions and behaviors and can be utilized for self-improvement, building confidence and maintaining perspective.  Consider registering your child in a class, becoming a volunteer or supporting our non-profit youth development organization. Source: https://www.smartbrief.com/original/2017/10/4-secrets-strong-mind