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The FTSV 11th Annual OPEN full-shotgun tournament on June 9th was a huge success. The weather couldn’t have been better at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club for the 160 golfers including 16 sponsors that came together for a great cause, raising a total of $145,000. Proceeds benefit First Tee – Silicon Valley financial aid program. Our unique approach to youth development transforms lives and gives kids and teens a brighter future. 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. Our teen participants Salma, Camille and Franky were in attendance to share their personal stories about the impact our program has had on them.

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We would like to recognize all the individuals behind our sponsorships listed below: 

Presenting – Reception & Tee Prize Sponsor:  EmmaLily Vineyards – Steve Petersen

Hosting Dinner Sponsors: PGA TOUR Superstore – Brad Hanson GM Cupertino and Nicholas Kendall GM East Palo Alto Store and PwC – Sarah Beelaard, DJ Wheeler, Patrick Young and Jeff Mollenhauer;

Contributing Lunch Sponsors: Hallagan Huston Family Foundation – Ron & Ann Hallagan, Bill Powar, Guerrero Properties – Intero – Steve & Lisa Guerrero

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FTSV 11th Annual OPEN Winners

Want to see your FOURSOME photo? CLICK HERE

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Thank you to our MC & Auctioneer Dan Rusanowsky – voice of the Shark’s Radio Network and recent recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster.

Live Action Supporters:

1. CordeValle Resort Getaway – Theresa Ludvigson
2. VIP 49er Game Experience Package for 4 – Andrea Brenholz
3. 49er 2 Game Package for 2 Plus Tailgate Parking – Jim Cilker
4. EmmaLily Winemakers Dinner for 10 (3) – Ron Hallagan and Dean Munro
5. PGATSS Fitting Van Experience Plus New Driver and Putter – Ron Hallagan
6. Dan Rusanowsky Go Teal Experience – Jim Cilker
7. Warriors 4 Courtside Lounge Tickets plus merch – Eric Arnold

Raffle Prize Winners: Foursome plus Carts  

1. Cinnabar Hills Golf Club – Joe Calhoun

2. Los Lagos Golf Course – Manny San Agustin

3. Callippe Preserve Golf Course – Ron Hallagan

4. Los Positas Golf Course-Dan Pereyra

5. Foxtail Golf Club – Norma Kinser

6. Boundary Oak Golf Course – Ron Ramies

7. Crystal Springs Golf Course – Dan Rusanowsky

8. Metropolitan Golf Links – Brett Dodge

9. Laguna Seca – David Spinelli

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Thank you to our Board Members for their support, especially Open Co-Chairs: Steve Guerrero and Steve Petersen along with Open Committee Members: Alex Wrobel, Pam Schramm, Roger Crockett, Jim Pieper, Albert Gonzales.

Other Supportive Board Members: Sarah Beelaard, Steve Almassy, Lucas Watson, Victor Arranaga, Ron Hallagan, DJ Wheeler, Dick Budelli, Don DeLorenzo, Mike Kenyon, Dave Kinser, and Andrea Brenholz

Thank you to our Staff:  President & CEO George Maxe, Development Director Judy Dixon Deaton, Marketing Coordinator Nicole Woodson, Program Director Chris Moreno-Hunt, Operations Coordinator Julie Donnellan, Program Coordinators: Manny Gallardo, Phoenix Jarrell-Desch, Joe Stuban, Operations Analyst Carlos Herrera and Operations Coordinator Victor Manrique

Thank you to our Volunteers:  Nestor Arivizu, Roni Castro, Kathy Hausler, Teri Kent, Julie Dubbs, Isabella Herrera, Karen Barrett, Varnika Arun, NancyRivera, and Salma Rivera.

Thank you to Cinnabar Hills Golf Club: Nick Starr, Tournament Director and Adam Schiro, GM 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 building programs that are accessible, welcoming and as impactful as they are fun.  

Please contact our Development Director, Judy Dixon Deaton 408-508-4881 – [email protected]  to discuss sponsorship or underwriting opportunities for our Classic Tournament on October 9, 2022 or next year’s Open on June 7, 2024.   

On April 29th, our First Tee Staff attended Hoover Elementary’s annual Dia del Niños celebration alongside PAL of Redwood City. Sporting a wide variety of activities, games, delicious food, and kind people, the event was a wonderful experience full of laughter and joy. Over 200 families participated in the event and experienced the festivities to their fullest by moving around from booth to booth to engage with each program that was present.

Throughout the event the First Tee booth had a line of students waiting to participate in our staple activity, hitting Program Coordinator and Coach Joe Stuban with tennis balls as he wore the Velcro SNAG Suit. The activity drew participants new and old to our booth as many students recognized Coach Joe from previous classes they had taken with him and promptly tried to hit him as hard as they could, perhaps as payback for all of the corny jokes they had to put up with during his class.

Meet Victor Manrique!

While the games were ongoing, new team member and Operations Coordinator Victor Manrique chatted with new families about the opportunities our program presents, and mentioned that “they were eager to find out how to get involved with our program as they realized how fun golf can be.” Victor made sure to prepare each participant in line and teach them the basics from our Golf Cues so they knew how to aim, how to hold the club, and how to swing so that they had the best chance of claiming victory in the activity. When asked about the students, Victor mentioned that “they were very respectful by following our safety guidelines and sharing clubs with one another” as they played the game, and created a fun environment for everyone. Victor’s presence was invaluable at the event as a Spanish speaker, energetic member of the team, and a welcoming representative as he continued to push forward First Tee’s mission of breaking down the barriers that keep these families from getting involved with our program.

As Victor joins the team full time to assist in the recruitment of new families and bolster community events, we look forward to incorporating him as “this event was just a small glimpse as to what kind of joy [First Tee and our] partners can bring to children.”

Learn more about our School Program and outreach.

First Tee — Silicon Valley is looking for high quality, caring people that are interested in guiding kids and teens. Be a coach, be a mentor so they become even better people and leaders of tomorrow.

Growing Program Requires a Growing Team

Beginning this summer season, our Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course will have expanded course access. This means we can serve more participants, but only if we have the staffing and coaching to match. Our team believes it is important to keep the coach-to-participant ratio low so more guidance and feedback can be offered, and so each participant feels cared for.

Our team of coaches take part in training before each season to learn coaching techniques and learn how to implement our curriculum. While we are all expected to deliver our life skill and golf skill curriculum through games, some of the most impactful lessons are delivered through individual conversations in between games, which happen best with low ratios.

Interested in developing adaptive, transferable skills? Get started today!

• Visit our volunteer page and click on the volunteer form.
• Or contact Julie Donnellan at 408-508-4882 or [email protected]
• Click here for our volunteer tri-fold for more information.
• Click here to view our video and hear from our coaches and participants.
• Click here to view a video on what it means to be a coach from other First Tee coaches and alumni from around the country.

What if I am not an expert coach or golfer?

Our coaches come from all walks of life with different life and golf experiences. We provide life and golf skill training as well as training on coach strategies, on techniques, and on our coach philosophy. Our goal is to make sure every coach feels supported. Additionally, we have created lesson plans to help everyone work together and encourage one another in the content and delivery. There will always be a paid, lead coach for each class coordinating the group of coaches.

What is the time requirement?

• Volunteer coaches can choose from several class options by location, day of the week, and time.
• Time commitment is 2.5 hours a day, once a week for an 8-week season. The 2.5 hours include a 30-minute pre-class meeting, 1.5-hour class, and a 30-minute post-class debrief.

Join our team, learn & develop coaching skills, make a difference in youth, and give back to the community! Please help us spread the word. The more positive and dedicated coaches, the better the program, and the more impactful it is for our kids and teens.  

Registration for our summer season opens here on Wednesday, May 17^th at 11am. The 8-week summer season begins the week of June 6th and ends August 5^th with no classes July 4^th through July 8^th. Register on the 17^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.

Whats New?

We are excited to announce our expanded golf course access at the San Jose location, Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. We look forward to serving even more participants that we have before. Classes are broken down by grade group so feel free to invite a friend and take part in our summer classes.

Each week our participants will experience one of our 6 life skills and 6 golf cues. Our life skills cover everything from collaborating with others, to goal setting, to making good choices.

The game of golf requires us to make choices, not just about what shots to hit, or how to hit them, but more importantly, how to act before and after our golf shot. At First Tee Silicon Valley we equip our participants with tools on how to make informed decisions externally and internally. For the 2^nd to 4^th graders, they learn about using integrity when making choices, even when no one else is watching. Grades 5-6 explore techniques to relax and be a position to make informed decisions. 7^th to 8^th graders learn how to rely on and build a go-to team to assist with making choices. Lastly, our 9^th-12^th graders explore problem solving techniques and learn what it means to be someone else’s go-to person through their challenges and difficult choices.

This summer we look forward to having another fun season of games and activities that help participants build character and make positive decisions.

Join Us!

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

See you at the course!

FTSV and Fit Kids combat childhood obesity. First Tee – Silicon Valley and Fit Kids have partnered since 2019, bringing Fit Kids exercise curriculum and equipment into FTSV’s warm up activities. Fit Kids mission is to provide structured physical activity programs for underserved children to build the foundation for a healthy, active life.

On February 4^th, FTSV hosted the Fit Kids video team at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. The team recorded videos of class exercises and interviews of coaches and participants that help tell the story of our partnership and collaboration. The video was showcased at the Fit Kids’ fundraiser at Sharon Heights Country Club on Wednesday, April 26^th.

What we’re saying about the Fit Kids

“(Pun intended,) I think that Fit Kids’ curriculum and equipment are a perfect fit for FTSV’s class warm-ups,” says George Maxe, FTSV President & CEO. “FTSV’s core competency is character building and Fit Kids’ is physical activity programs making what we each do very complementary. What’s more, we both work hard to bring our programs to low-income kids. Together, we’re making a big difference.” (FTSV Curriculum)

“Fit Kids curriculum and equipment elevates our warm up activities,” says Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “The activities and equipment help make exercising fun, but also help our coaches with games that break the ice and lead to an increase peer-to-peer communication and collaboration.”

First Tee – Silicon Valley featured at the Fit Kids Celebration & Concert

” Nearly 200 Fit Kids supporters gathered for a beautiful night of music, fun, and fundraising/friendraising for our cause, April 26 at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club.Two of the more emotional presentations came from Fit Kids Founder Ashley Hunter and long-time Board Member Andy Logan, who emphasized the mental health challenges faced by our nation’s youth and how physical activity can help prevent and cure mental health struggles.Programming also included two video presentations — one covering the accomplishments of Fit Kids over its 12 years of existence, and another highlighting the unique partnership between Fit Kids and First Tee of Silicon Valley. Then, First Tee executives George Maxe and Chris Moreno-Hunt spoke from the podium to explain how Fit Kids and First Tee together bring opportunity to underserved youth.The crowd also enjoyed the Dryvebox mobile golf simulator, where they got to match shots at a virtual Pebble Beach 7th hole with members of the Stanford University Men’s Golf Team. The evening capped off with a concert by Alex Jordan and waves of warmth and goodwill among our communities.Thanks to all who donated and attended!”

FitKids E-Newsletter May 10, 2023

Childhood Obesity

According to the Center for Disease Control, “The prevalence of obesity was 19.7% and affected about 14.7 million children and adolescents.” Also noted on the CDC website, ” Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile of the CDC sex-specific”.

Obesity is a common problem in the United States. Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are the conditions in which we live, learn, work and play. “Differences in SDOH affect chronic disease outcomes and risks, including obesity, among racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups as well as in different geographies and among people with different physical abilities.”

“Places such as childcare centers, schools, or communities affect eating patterns and activity through the foods and drinks they offer and the physical activity opportunities they provide. Other community factors that influence obesity include the affordability of healthy food options, peer and social supports, marketing and promotion, and policies that determine community design.”

First Tee – Silicon Valley and Fit Kids are committed to providing programs to the underserved communities that are effected by the growing obesity epidemic.

Every year, First Tee – Silicon Valley high school participants are selected to apply for First Tee National opportunities. To be eligible to apply, participants must have been in our program for a minimum of 3 years, taken part in at least 2 seasons each year, demonstrated our Life Skills, and met the requirements set forth by First Tee Headquarters. 

Competition for the opportunities is high and spaces are limited. To be selected, applicants must write several short essays, add in their accomplishments in and out of the classroom, and include letters of recommendation. Applicants from across the country apply for the limited spaces and recipients get to experience opportunities of a lifetime. 

Opportunities offered:

• First Tee College Scholarship Program – This program awards participants who excel in academics, leadership, character development, and chapter and community involvement with an up to $20,000 college scholarship.
• First Tee Future Entrepreneurs presented by Wells Fargo – This opportunity celebrates promising First Tee alumni currently attending or who have graduated from an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and provides them an opportunity for mentorship, networking, and personal and professional development.
• First Tee Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore – This leadership development program teaches students how to build a successful team, empower others through authentic relationships, and assess team needs while developing solutions. 
• First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. – The Game Changers Academy is a five-day learning and empowerment academy addressing issues of identity, racism, diversity, equity and inclusion. 
• Participant Advisory Council (PAC) – The PAC provides an important forum for youth to express themselves, voice their ideas, and provide input for projects or programs that impact the experience of all First Tee participants.
• First Tee Drive Your Future Academy presented by John Deere – The Drive Your Future Academy is a female empowerment event recognizing young women who are motivated to influence positive impact at their chapters, schools and communities.
• First Tee Innovators Forum – This forum equips and empowers First Tee teens to develop a meaningful service project in their communities focused on education, health, human rights, or environmental sustainability, learning from industry leaders through interactive workshops and small group breakout sessions.
• First Tee National Championship – First Tee’s top players showcase their golf skills and strength of character needed to play under pressure at the collegiate and/or next level. First Tee National Championship is played at acclaimed college campuses, including Clemson University, Notre Dame and Stanford University, and is the only national event that is purely tournament golf.
• PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee – 81 FT participants get paired with a Senior Champions Tour player and take part in a nationally televised professional golf tournament at Pebble Beach Golf links. Juniors are measured on their playing ability as well as their personal growth and life skills learned through First Tee’s programs. 

Students are asked to fill out an application form including short answers with prompts like:

• “Have you experienced or witnessed a situation that was not inclusive, and how did it make you feel?”
• “What accomplishments are you most proud of on and off the golf course? How did First Tee help you with those accomplishments?”
• “Reflecting on the activities completed in the local leadership series, how do your values and strengths guide you as a leader?”

Program Coordinator Phoenix Jarrell-Desch has been working directly with students on their short answer responses, helping to provide feedback as they complete their final drafts. “It has been so cool to learn more about what our participants are doing outside of the program and how the tools taught in FTSV classes have translated to their school and life experiences. I am more than impressed with the accomplishments and achievements our students have done, and I have high hopes for them to be accepted to these opportunities and to continue to grow in amazing ways.”

To find out more regarding our local, regional, and national opportunities please visit our youth opportunity page. 

On March 11^th, First Tee — Silicon Valley hosted a coach training led by Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) trainer, Peter Wood. The training is the 2^nd time that our two organizations came together to deliver a coach training. The first instance occurred in 2020, and was the pilot training/collaboration that led to a national partnership between First Tee and PCA.

PCA’s content, training, and resources are now shared nationwide, throughout First Tee ‘s network. Both First Tee – Silicon Valley and PCA share common coach philosophies centered around process-focused coaching, participant empowerment, and a positive and supportive team culture. The latter was the focus of our most recent joint training.

Golf is usually seen as an individual sport — ‘you versus the course.’ However, in our First Tee classes we strive to help participants feel like their class is more of a team. We believe participants become a better version of themselves when they have the space to be who they are, surrounded by supportive people, and part of a cohesive team. Building a team culture is not easy and can’t be forced, but it must be intentional goal. To that point, we are grateful that PCA shared their resources and worked with our coaching team on techniques to establish a team-first culture.

Feeling supportive and connected is especially important given our change from a level-based program to a grade-based program. Being together by grade helps with friendship, but also can result in a class with varying skill levels. However, when a strong team culture is established, participants work together to support one another and lift each other up. It is easier to collectively grow through challenges when you are supported by a team.

What PCA is saying about FTSV

Working with PCA has been a shining example of teamwork. “Chris and I work quite seamlessly together in putting together curriculum for FTSV coaches’ training,” says Senior PCA Trainer, Peter Wood. “That is a testament to Chris’ proficiency, as well as the common visions and values that both PCA and FTSV share in our respective work. Much of that shared vision and set of values manifest itself in our focus on helping young kids develop into great older kids, and adults. We care a lot about the kids acquiring a good set of technical skills to be able to enjoy and play golf, but way more important than that is to help kids absorb invaluable life lessons in their athletic pursuit. This is the charge of youth serving organizations coaches around the country, and it’s a very cool thing when two large national organizations like PCA and First Tee join forces to try to make this all happen- a worthy pursuit if there ever was one.”

“I want to acknowledge how fantastic it was to work with the coaches of FTSV this past month. Their love of what they do, their collegiality, and their patience are a tribute to themselves as coaches and individuals, as well as to the Program Director, Chris.  There are a lot of things being done right at FTSV, and not only could I witness it, I could feel it.  Hats off to the coaches and everyone at FTSV!  I hope I get a chance to work with everyone there again.”

First Tee — Silicon Valley is looking for high quality, caring people that are interested in showing up and guiding others, so they become even better people and leaders of tomorrow. Our volunteer coaches work together to teach our Life and Golf Skill curriculum by finding and using coachable moments and by making the sessions fun and engaging. One of the 6 life skills that our coaches are responsible for teaching is Growing through Challenges. Coaches use our games to deliver impactful tools and tips needed to develop grit and build a growth mindset.

Transferable Life Skills

As coaches we have the opportunity to positively impact others. We guide, we ask questions, we model the skills that build character. However, the learning process is never a one-way street. Participants assist and teach us the very transferable skills that we set out to deliver. When teaching Growing though Challenges, we encourage our participants to see mistakes as information and opportunities to learn. We teach them productive methods of brushing off mistakes. We also teach them to see progression as a journey, and not as a straight line. The reality with coaching is every participant is different. They, like anyone else, have their own way of handling adversity and are in different stages of understanding adversity. Coaches must develop their ability to adapt and adjust based on the individual and group. If a class does not go to plan, coaches end up using the same tips and tools we ask of the participants. They learn when to ask for help and how to see mistakes as information that lead to opportunities for growth.

Our team of coaches take part in training before each season to learn coaching techniques, but some of the most impactful teaching lessons are the ones experienced in class and discussed after class as a coaching team.

Interested in getting started and developing transferable skills?

• Visit our volunteer page and click on the volunteer form.
• Or contact Julie Donnellan at 408-508-4882 or [email protected]
• Click here for our volunteer tri-fold for more information.
• Click here to view our video and hear from our coaches and participants.

What if I am not an expert coach or golfer?

Our coaches come from all walks of life with different life and golf experiences. We provide life and golf skill training as well as training on coach strategies, on techniques, and on our coach philosophy. Our goal is to make sure every coach feels supported. Additionally, we have created lesson plans to help everyone work together and encourage one another in the content and delivery. There will always be a paid, lead coach for each class coordinating the group of coaches.

What is the time requirement?

• Volunteer coaches can choose from several class options by location, day of the week, and time.
• Time commitment is 2.5 hours a day, once a week for an 8-week season. The 2.5 hours include a 30-minute pre-class meeting, 1.5-hour class, and a 30-minute post-class debrief.

Join our team, learn/develop coaching skills, make a difference in the youth, and give back to the community! Please help us spread the word. The more positive and dedicated coaches, the better the program, and the more impactful it is for our youth.  

First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to share one of our 4 Future Planning projects. In the spring of each year, we offer an 8-week Career planning project for participants 10^th grade and above. 

Over the course of 8-weeks, our participants explore:

• Career research – industries + job functions
• Transferable, content, adaptive skills
• Their own interests and values
• Informational interview strategies
• Resume and cover letter options
• Professionalism and interview skills

The goal of the project is to help participants dig deeper into their own interests, skills and abilities, and then provide them the tools to find a match with potential careers. Participants meet as a group every Friday and take part in small group activities. We have guest speakers from different job sectors help participants apply the skills they learn in class and develop the professionalism and networking that is needed in the work place.

The Career project applies many of the skills covered throughout First Tee’s Life Skill Curriculum. They learn in the first few weeks that many of First Tee’s transferable skills — showing respect, goal setting, building a positive self-identity, collaborating with others, making good choices, and growing through challenges — are directly related to success in career identification and longevity.

“It’s been my good fortune to teach our Career class for many years now,” said George Maxe, FTSV President & CEO. “Our teens are usually unaware of the endless career options out there and anxious about entering the world of work. We make a special effort to help them demystify both, become more knowledgeable about careers, and build their confidence and optimism about their futures.”

Questions? Information to other Future Planning Projects?

In addition to the Career project, we have Golf, College, and Give Back projects. For more information on our 4 Future Planning projects please email [email protected] or call 408-508-4884.

First Tee – Silicon Valley would like to express our sincere gratitude to our sponsors for a successful second Battle of the Bays held at TopGolf benefiting our Title 1 School Program (Thank you sponsors!). It was an amazing evening with 14 generous sponsors donating $70,000 to help our kids become better versions of themselves while enriching the nearby communities.

A big sponsor thank you goes out to: Huston Family Foundation, Ron and Ann Hallagan, PwC: Sarah Beelaard, Connall Dempsey, & Justin Denworth, Pangenera, LLC – Jeff Burrill, Jeffrey Fisher, EY: Mark Fernandez and Jared Lauber, Andy & Maria Pecota, Nicholas Moore, Almaden Country Club Members, Anaplan – Steve Guerrero, Andera Brenholz.

An additional thank you goes out to FTSV TopGolf Board Committee for securing our sponsors – Chair Sarah Beelaard, Co-Chair Ron Hallagan, DJ Wheeler, and Andrea Brenholz.

We had 140 guests fill the bays of which 40 were coaches and teen participants underwritten by sponsors. Everyone enjoyed an evening of fun golf games, food and camaraderie! The TopGolf Experience bay raffle winner was EY – Mark Fernandez who gets to bring his guests back for another outing. Congratulations to our raffle winners: 49ers tickets – Nicole Arnold, Original Joe’s – Anne Milligan, and TPC Stonebrae – Justin Denworth. 

How TopGolf Sponsors helped

Your investment in our proven youth development program will help us expand our in-school and after-school program to 8 additional Title 1 schools and maintain our current 20 schools. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, we create active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do. We enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. Together, we are transforming youth throughout Silicon Valley and give so many more kids and teens a brighter future.

This month, First Tee – Silicon Valley continued to expand our impact on students within the Mid-Peninsula. One of our more recent partners, The Primary School in East Palo Alto has been the quickest to warmly welcome us onto campus and forge a strong partnership for their students.

Vida Amanat, the Manager of School Programs & Partnerships at The Primary School, says that “The Primary School has been so grateful to partner with First Tee – Silicon Valley and have our students experience golfing for the first time!” As many of their students have never had the opportunity to golf before, Vida mentions that “it was super special when the First Tee – Silicon Valley came out with their big golf clubs, targets, and Joe dressed up as a running target” in the Snag suit.

When asked about the emotional impact of First Tee – Silicon Valley, Vida added that the team’s “energy and encouragement made our students excited to play a new sport and to push themselves to try something new. We saw our students miss the target a few times, but then felt encouraged to keep trying. Thank you, First Tee – Silicon Valley!” With another large-scale event in the works, a field trip being planned, and The Primary School agreeing to become an active school site for our Community Partner Program, our team will have plenty of opportunities to positively impact their students and strengthen their life skills.

PAL (Police Athletics League)

Another group in the Mid-Peninsula continuing to team up with First Tee – Silicon Valley is long-time partner PAL (Police Athletics League) of Redwood City. This past week PAL hosted First Tee – Silicon Valley in an indoor clinic in order to drum up excitement for our upcoming Spring Season and to get kids registered for new experiences and opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have. Our team worked with 2^nd to 4^th graders and introduced them to fun golf games, all while having the PAL staff play the kids’ favorite music and supervise with safety. With a few of the students in the clinic having been enrolled in First Tee – Silicon Valley classes previously, it created a fun and competitive environment between friends and classmates that resulted in high energy gameplay, and a great opportunity for students to show off all of the good sportsmanship skills they learned in our golf course classes.

Thanks to our partners!

First Tee – Silicon Valley is thankful for our wonderful partners that allow us to have positive impacts on their students and help them build their self-confidence, sportsmanship, and drive to experience something new. With more events on the way, keep an eye out for more school program updates from our team!

If you are interested in having our Community Program at your school/organization please contact Chris Moreno-Hunt and view out page HERE.

Join the Caddy Club as a way to support our Financial Aid Program and meet the needs of providing a nurturing environment for youth in our community.

• All Caddy Club members receive invitations to our free Donor Appreciation events which includes our Caddy Club Majors Competition.  It kicks off with the Masters on April 6^th and also includes PGA Championship May 18-21, US Open June 15-18, and Open Championship July 20-23. 

• Every $240 donation allows FTSV to offer financial aid to a low-income youth participant to attend an 8-week golf skills and life skills on-course session.

• Become a Caddy Club member by making a minimum $20 monthly donation for at least 12 months or a one-time donation of a minimum of $240.Click Here to Join!

Youth Development through Golf

Our unique approach to youth development transforms lives and gives kids and teens a brighter future. 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. Golf provides a powerful vehicle to help kids build the strength of character and life skills that they can use both on and off the golf course. Ultimately, strong character leads to success in life.

Our Kids Face Many Challenges

Our kids and teens are facing challenges above and beyond life’s expected growing pains unlike previous generations. They experience pressures within their communities, online, and because of recent dramatic events in the world. Many lack access to safe opportunities that foster a culture of acceptance and provide mentorship. Our youth feel uncertainty, isolation, confusion, and witness conflict more than ever before.

How We Help Kids Overcome Challenges

We help all youth build good character to cope with challenges and empower them. We believe that ALL kids deserve the chance to grow in a supportive environment with mentors guiding them. We are dedicated to providing life and golf skills programs that are accessible, welcoming, and as impactful as they are fun.  

Our Impact

Our youth development program has now positively transformed the lives of 89,876 youth through proven programs on-course, in-school, and after-school since 2005.

• 100% of long-term course participants graduate high school
• 100% of long-term course participants attend college
• 90% of all course participants reported receiving all A’s and B’s in school
• 98% said Coaches were fun and cared
• 94% Like golf and improved golf skills
• 93% Felt included as part of the group
• 88% Learned new life skills to improve their character
• 88% Want to continue with FTSV sessions