Type Archives - Page 2 of 49 - First Tee

Adult-Junior Tournament

(Adult-Junior Tournament) On Saturday, March 1st, 19 FTSV participants teamed up with adult mentors to compete in our annual 9-hole Adult-Junior Tournament. Many participants paired up with their guardians, while others joined forces with FTSV coaches and board members. A heartfelt thank you to all the adults who played alongside our participants. Golf is a fantastic opportunity for growth, self-reflection, and teamwork.

The teams competed in a 2-person alternate shot format, which challenged them to collaborate, communicate, and strategize together. It was inspiring to watch each team bond and support one another throughout the tournament.

Our Board member, Shawn Fox, shared about his experience playing with his partner. “It was a pleasure playing alongside Asher in the alternate shot tournament. We had a great time navigating the course together. While Asher’s golf game is already impressive, especially considering he’s only recently taken up the sport, his wide range of hobbies and extracurricular involvements are even more remarkable.”

The event wrapped up with families gathering for pizza and awards. Thank you Pizza Presidente for the lunch! It was wonderful to see families connecting, and our FTSV participants forming new friendships. Congratulations to all our participants for competing with respect, integrity, and sportsmanship. We owe a special thank you to our coaches who stepped in as playing partners for participants in need!

Each division was competitive as seen in the scores below!

12 & Under

1. James V. and Carlo V. – 37

2. Siwat P. and Vinai P. – 38

3. Ben H and Brent H – 40

13 & Over

1. Asher A. and Derek A. – 34

2. Austin A. and Eric W. – 34

3. Nicolas H. and Ramon H. – 35

Closest to the Pin (Hole #1)

Benito F. – 7’11”

Nicolas H. – 7’ 6”

To learn more about FTSV’s pre-season tournaments, please contact Manny Gallardo – [email protected] or 408-508-4887.

Published: 03-07-25

Girls Golf Carnival Games

FTSV’s pre-spring Girls Golf Carnival Games gathering on Saturday, March 1^st kicked off at the driving range where 19 participants were tasked with hitting golf balls through circus hoops. The sound of balls hitting their mark was met with cheers as players kept track of how many hoops they could hit. Each successful shot earned them tickets that the kids could redeem for prizes later.

The players then moved to the putting green where they were tasked with chipping and putting. Cardboard cutouts of clowns and colorful balloons were strategically placed. The challenge for golfers was to knock down every clown and balloon with precise shots. Players had to work together as some targets were close while others were placed on top of boxes encouraging high trajectory chips.

Let the Girls Golf Carnival Games

After a few rounds of driving range and green fun, the golfers moved to the warm-up area, which had been set up with a variety of carnival-style games. Here, they played ring toss, stacked canned throw, fishbowl ping pong, plinko, and a goofy chipping game. This was all designed to test their agility, focus, and luck. As they earned tickets with each game, the sense of camaraderie and excitement grew, with players encouraging one another and celebrating each little victory.

With their tickets in hand, it was time to head to the prize station. There, they could redeem their hard-earned tickets for a variety of fun prizes. Squishmallows were definitely the hot ticket item!

The event concluded with pizza. Special thanks to Pizza Presidente, which is just a few block from Rancho, for donating lunch for our girls!

Events like these aren’t just about golf; they’re about creating memories, building friendships, and enjoying the camaraderie that comes with the enjoyment of playing golf. Thanks to all our participants and coaches who attended our Girls Golf Carnival Games!

Special thanks to our Junior Council: Dahlia, Natalie, Jennifer, Zoe, Sahara, and Julia for planning such an amazing day for our participants!

To learn more about FTSV’s Girls Golf, please contact Manny Gallardo – [email protected] or 408-508-4887.

Published: 03-07-25

Family Clinic at Rancho Del Pueblo

(Family Clinic at Rancho Del Pueblo) In 2024, First Tee – Silicon Valley was awarded a $16,000 NCGA Reach Grant to help grow participation within our community. Many of FTSV’s participants have very limited access to golf and receive financial assistance from FTSV, so we work hard to provide affordable opportunities for everyone to enjoy the game and grow through our programs.

With this grant, FTSV launched a subsidized private lesson program in Summer 2024 led by FTSV Coach Felix, helping break down the barrier to entry that low-income families face when introducing their children to the game of golf. Only participants who are active FTSV participants that receive financial aid, have participated in at least 2 seasons over the last 2 years, and are in the 3^rd grade or higher are eligible for this program. This spring will be our 4^th season offering these lessons.

In celebration, FTSV offered a Family Clinic at Rancho Del Pueblo

So far, we’ve had over 30 participants, well on the way to our goal of 65 for the calendar year. To celebrate the success of the program, and welcome participants’ families to the course to build community, we hosted a Family Clinic on Saturday, February 22nd, at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. Participants and members of their family came out for an afternoon in the sunshine, receiving golf instruction and playing games on the driving range and practice green. Participants jumped for joy watching their parents and loved ones do what they’ve been doing in their golf lessons over the past several months.

More than just a day around the practice area, the Family Clinic offered parents and their children a chance to build bonds together and hopefully become inspired to play golf as a family. At the end of the clinic, we passed out a “how-to” guide on playing golf, helping educate our community on how to play the game and access golf on their own. This guide included everything from making tee times, to a list of courses, available discounts, and the basics of course etiquette. Families who know about and understand the game of golf, and who participate with their kids, can better support them during their development through programs at FTSV. With this kind of encouragement, and the improvements found through private lessons, participants will develop the confidence and ability to improve as golfers, compete on school teams and in tournaments, and pursue opportunities on and off the course. By supporting our community in this way, we believe golf can be a game that families can share together for many years to come.

Thank you to the over 40 participants and family members who joined us at the Family Clinic and continue to be long-standing and engaged members of our organization!

To learn more about FTSV’s Private Lessons, please contact Felix Jasso – felix @ftsv.org or 650-887-7141.

Published: 03-07-2025

Join Us as a Volunteer Coach this Summer!

(Join Us as a Volunteer Coach this Summer) We are looking for additional coaches to start this summer. The summer season runs the week of 6/10 and will end 8/9 with 7/1 – 7/5 off due to 4^th of July. Onboarding for the summer has started and needs to be completed before mid-May. Please consider joining our team by clicking here.

What does a volunteer coach do?

FTSV Coaches work together in our classes to deliver our structured life and golf skill program to participants ages 7 to 17 (training is provided). As a result, coaches help participants build character, and a form a process-focused learning foundation that will help them succeed in life.

Coaching with FTSV is not only an opportunity to help others, it is also an opportunity to improve your transferable skills. Throughout the season, coaches learn different coaching strategies and receive feedback on their leadership and communication approaches. We also deliver a coach training once before each season on research-backed coaching topics.

All of our classes have multiple coaches, so coaches are never on their own. We teach collaboration skills to the participants and so the expectation is that our coaches also exhibit the same collaboration techniques with each other, all in the spirit of self-improvement and support.

If this sound like a good fit, please consider joining us as volunteer coach and mentor! Please visit our volunteer page to apply. Email [email protected] if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you on the course!

Published: 03-07-2025

Mentor Spotlight: Meet Austin

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

Originally from Santa Rosa, Coach Austin grew up playing golf in high school, where he fell in love with the game. “I really like the individual aspect of it; it’s you against the course. You have to navigate the environment while also navigating your own internal environment, and that’s really cool to me.”

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.”

Other than sports, Austin spends his free time being outdoors with his girlfriend and his dog, Otto, and also plays the guitar. He has played since he was 14 and used to perform at open mics back in Santa Rosa. His favorite musician is Jack Johnson. Like FTSV and Coach Austin, we are all better together!

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

Published: 03-07-2025

2025 First Tee Leadership Series

The 2025 First Tee Leadership Series in partnership with the PGA TOUR Superstore finished this week. Thank you to the 12 FTSV participants that attended, and a huge thank you to General Manager Kate Nielsen and her team at PGA TOUR Superstore Cupertino for leading the class!

What is the Leadership Series?

The First Tee Leadership Series is one of the exciting educational opportunities available to our high school participants. During a five-week period, 12 FTSV high school participants came together to learn about their values and strengths, to identify potential career paths, and to set goals that put them on the path towards success. Near the end of the series, the participants presented their chosen career, explained how their values and strengths fit within that career and illustrated what steps they plan to take in order to make it all happen. All participants received feedback on their presentation skills, and the series concluded with an informational panel hosted by First Tee Alumni from across the country. Of the 12 participants, we were allowed to select 5 that may apply for the upcoming Leadership Summit in Montana and the Leadership Academy in Atlanta.

In addition to their work and presentations in class, we were proud of how they listened and learned from each other, which are both tips for demonstrating our first life skill, Respect.

More Opportunities

This Leadership Series is one of many opportunities available to our participants through First Tee. From tournaments to workshops to academies, First Tee shows respect for the hardworking participants going above and beyond, and works to support growth and development. With the number of sessions taken, volunteer hours and by getting involved in other First Tee activities, driven participants set themselves apart and become eligible for these awesome opportunities. Please visit our website to learn more about what First Tee – Silicon Valley has to offer and reach out to Coach Phoenix at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Published: 03-07-25

Participant Spotlight: Meet Juan Hernandez

(Participant Spotlight: Meet Juan Hernandez) Juan Hernandez first came to First Tee – Silicon Valley as a 6^th grader. He was exposed to our program by our long-time youth partner, Redwood City Pal Center. Over the next seven years he took classes at Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto with the help of the Pal Center and then participated in our Saturday classes at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course in San Jose. Now he is preparing to graduate high school and continue to college where he has been accepted to four schools so far with plans to study Civil Engineering.

Juan’s journey began in the Redwood City Pal Center which is a resource program that co-creates solutions with the community and builds brighter futures for youth and families. They do a fantastic job at exposing their participants to many different experiences like our Life and Golf Skill classes. Participants grades 2-6 are transported from the Pal Center to Baylands Golf Links every Friday in each of our four 8-week seasons. Thanks to the SAGA Foundation’s support of both organizations, we are able to have a successful partnership, which includes covering the cost of their registrations and providing Pal Center with a van that is designated for transportation to our program.

Juan is one of hundreds of Pal Center participants who have had the opportunity to join our classes since 2017 because of our partnership, SAGA Foundation’s support, and Pal Center’s commitment to broadening opportunities for youth. Pal Center’s Executive Director, Ivan Martinez, says, “This partnership exemplifies our mission to connect young people with enriching experiences that might not have been on their radar otherwise. Juan’s journey is just one of many success stories we’ve seen through our partnership with First Tee. By creating access to experiences beyond their immediate environment, we empower our youth to dream bigger and step into new opportunities.” The Pal Center is an important community building organization, and FTSV is proud to be able to offer Golf and Life Skill development to Juan and their other members.

When asked about his experience, Juan said, “I didn’t know anything about First Tee. I never thought I’d play golf or enjoy it. Now, I like it. It’s good exercise, and it’s a good way to socialize and destress yourself. In the beginning, my brother and I were nervous, having never played golf and not knowing anyone there. Coach Matt was the first person I met at the course. He introduced himself and had everyone else introduce themselves with a handshake. Before these classes I wasn’t confident speaking up in front of the group, but Coach Matt helped me to speak up and build that confidence.”

Seven years later he is now one of the leaders in his Grades 9-12 class at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. He lifts others up and has earned the respect of his peers and coaches. “At First Tee – Silicon Valley you have people helping you, and then you make friends,” Juan says. “Including others and being more outgoing are some of my biggest take aways from FTSV. I sometimes see people at school that are by themselves or don’t have many friends, and I invite them to hang out with me and my friends. First Tee has helped me to be a Go-To person for others and realize who my Go-To people are. I have different Go-To people for different situations, people like my brother, my friends, and my coaches.”

“For other kids starting out, I’d say keep going. It’s good to keep an open mind, in the end, it’s worth it. The program will help you a lot. It will help you clear your vision and help you to learn important life skills that will help you right now and for the rest of your life. Don’t knock it until you try it!”

From all of us here at FTSV, congratulations Juan on all your hard work! We are proud of you!

If you are interested in joining the Spring season, registration opens here on February 19^th, at 11am. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Coach Phoenix via email ([email protected]) or phone (650-887-7104).

Published: 02-07-2025

CYGF $15K Grant Supports Our Mission

(CYGF $15K Grant Supports Our Mission) First Tee – Silicon Valley recently received a generous $15,000 grant from CordeValle Youth Golf Foundation (CVYGF). This will underwrite our 2025 Volunteer and Instructor Uniforms (hats & shirts) and a portion of our paid lead Instructor compensation. We are a growing chapter that relies heavily on golf enthusiasts and youth development foundations like CVYGF to support our mission.

About CordeValle Youth Golf Foundation

The non-profit CordeValle Youth Golf Foundation was founded in 2004. The foundation’s mission is to expand access to the sport of golf for children of all income levels by directly supporting successful youth golf programs throughout the Santa Clara County. The goal is to provide youth with the opportunity to learn the sport, receive lessons and equipment. Additionally, have access to practice space, and compete, and build positive life skills.

The Foundation annually awards approximately $100,000 in grants to deserving programs. This foundation is funded through a $50,000 annual contribution from CordeValle Golf Club. Also, they raise an additional $50,000 per year through CordeValle’s public charity tournaments.

CordeValle Youth Golf Foundation and First Tee – Silicon Valley are equally committed to expanding opportunities for youth of all income levels to access to the game of golf. Through the discipline and challenge of golf, youth in the Santa Clara County are provided a community with a safe environment and positive life alternatives that build confidence and character, ultimately helping them succeed in our community and in life.

CordeValle has been the location for our annual FTSV Invitational since 2005.

Published: 02-07-2025

FTSV Spring Season – Register on February 19th

(FTSV Spring Season – Register on February 19th) Registration for our spring season opens here on Wednesday, February 19^th at 11am and closes on Thursday, February 27^th at 11:59pm. The 8-week spring season begins the week of March 18th and ends May 10^th. Register on February 19^th and 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.

Financial aid is available. We make our programs accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship.

Growing through Challenges

Each week our participants experience one of our 6 Life Skills and 6 Golf Cues. Our life skills cover everything from showing respect, to collaborating with others, setting goals, making good choices, building a positive self-identity, and growing through challenges. Golf, like life, can be filled with challenges. Through our games, participants learn tips to persevere, make adjustments and develop a growth mindset. Our coaches stress that mistakes are not seen as detrimental, but rather as informative and opportunities to learn. Each class is an opportunity to learn and develop the grit necessary to improve. What’s important to us is that our participants learn those skills while having fun.

In 2024, we had a record number of registrations, so please mark your calendar for February 19th to make sure you secure your spot. Click here to see our 2025 spring class schedule.

We encourage youth 2^nd grade and above to join our program and ask that you help spread the word. For more information click here. Click here to view our program video and learn more from our participants, parents, and coaches!

See you at the course!

Published: 2-6-2025

Mentor Spotlight: National Mentor Month

(Mentor Spotlight: National Mentor Month) Mentorship is the most important part of First Tee – Silicon Valley. For the past 25 years, our coaches have been making a difference in the lives of kids, helping them to learn important life skills and become amazing people. Thank you to the incredible mentors who are the FTSV family. This past year we had over 200 volunteer mentor coaches. Your hard work, care and dedication are what make all the difference!

Let’s meet some of the longtime mentors at FTSV….

Coach John has been coaching for almost 10 years, passing on what he learned as a participant to the next generation of FTSV participants. “As a former participant, it feels like I get to give back what I was taught, just like coaches did for me years ago. Specifically, a lesson that really stuck with me was about dealing with conflicts. Instead of a “I am always right” mentality, FTSV coaches taught me how to work with others to resolve an issue and find win – win solutions using the CARE model.”

CARE = Communicate, Actively Listen, Review Options, End with a Win-Win

For Coach John, it’s the people that make FTSV so special. “FTSV has developed a really good community of people, including the coaches, volunteers and full-time staff. The people are what makes you want to keep coming back. I get to work alongside people who really care about what we do and mentoring kids, and it makes even the challenging days fun and rewarding.”

Coach Tracy started volunteering with FTSV in 2019. As a former Division 1 college golfer and LPGA player, Coach Tracy has plenty of elite golf experience, making her an incredible asset to FTSV. “First Tee – Silicon Valley means that I can share my lifelong passion for golf with the upcoming generation of golfers,” says Tracy. “And while it’s great to see their golf skills improve over the season, it’s even more rewarding to help them learn and apply the life skills in their daily lives.” Coach Tracy is fantastic at turning golf instruction into memorable life lessons, helping participants to thrive both on and off the golf course. On top of coaching with FTSV, Coach Tracy is currently the Mountain View High School girls’ golf coach, and the team took the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division title this year. Congrats Coach Tracy and the Mountain View High School girls!

Since 2017, Coach Jeffy, who has had two of his children in FTSV, has been working with FTSV to make a positive impact in the lives of young people. With clear expectations and thoughtful questions, Jeffy helps our high schoolers think about their goals, make effective plans, and learn how to effectively communicate with peers and in the workplace. He contributes to the positive, supportive environment that exists within FTSV. He’s a living example of what a mentor should be.

“There are parents that think we need to just teach kids golf, but all of our Life Skill behaviors/tips are things that should start at home; FTSV coaches just reinforce them. I encourage parents, if they aren’t going to volunteer, to please be involved in what we are trying to help their kids learn. It’s going to be that much more effective if you can talk with your kids at home about what they are working on in class and help continue that learning.”

Join us!

If you are interested in joining our coaching staff, working as a mentor and making a difference in your community, please visit our website to learn more, or fill out this form to get started. No golf experience necessary. Training is provided. Everyone has life experience! Hope to see you out on the course.

Published: 01-10-2025