(Join Us as a Volunteer Coach!) First Tee – Silicon Valley is looking for adult coaches interested in transforming lives through youth development and giving kids and teens a brighter future. By becoming a coach or volunteer, you will contribute to the development of the life skills and character of our participants, helping to set them up for the future.
It is Fun!
We believe in having fun while learning and coaches play a large role in making the classes enjoyable. We utilize creative games to reinforce the life and golf skills, and our class framework is structured to keep the participants active. Coaches and participants learn from each other while having a good time.
Have an Impact!
People find themselves growing the most when they take on new challenges. You can be an important part in that growth, helping to challenge and support our participants as they work on their life and golf skills. At the same time, our coaches are also taking on challenges, learning how to teach in different ways, and all the time improving their communication, mentorship and leadership skills.
Join Us as a Volunteer!
As a nonprofit organization, we rely on community members determined to make a difference to work with us, delivering our fun life skill curriculum to the participants. If volunteering as a coach sounds like a good fit for you, please visit our volunteer page where you can apply. Please also consider inviting a friend, or a work colleague.
The US AM TOUR has conducted a 50/50 Raffle at each of their Northern California tournaments raising $8,000 for FTSV. Tournament Director, Dan Cacho, reached out to us in May to create a beneficiary partnership. He generously designated our chapter to receive half the funds raised. These funds will enable us to provide financial aid to low-income kids to have access to our youth development program. Our goal is to develop life-long golfers of all levels while teaching life skills.
What we like most about the US AM TOUR is that there is a flight for everyone. This encourages golfers of all levels to become part of a golf community that is steeped in passion for the game of golf while providing access to top golf courses.
Dan Cacho, the U.S. Am Tour’s Western Regional Director said, “That’s the ultimate mission for the tour, to try to give golfers a platform to improve their games and test themselves on the tournament level.”
The US AM TOUR is the largest and most trusted amateur golf tour in the country. There are six flights for each tournament, and each also has a respective senior flight, meaning there are 12 different winners at the 700 events across the United States. Members are eligible to play anywhere they wish, they do not have to play solely on their designated home tour. During the year there are 30 tournaments that are labeled as majors, which are 36-hole events. Points and performance rankings are accrued for each local tour and the top players in each division will qualify for the national championship, which this year is September 8-17 at Innisbrook Resort, home pf the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship.
The Ameriprise Financial Associate and Client Tournament on June 27th at Cinnabar Hills Golf Club benefited FTSV. Fifty golfers raised close to $4K to help us provide financial aid so low-income kids can have access to our youth development program. Our goal is to teach life skills and develop life-long golfers.
A special thank you to Chi Kim, Gabe Wang and Kenneth Lee for hosting and for your partnership. Thank you for helping us mentor MORE kids!
To conclude the festivities, First Tee – Silicon Valley’s Natalie Chen spoke about how overcoming her challenges and being in FTSV helped her gain more confidence.
If you have an upcoming tournament and would like to make First Tee – Silicon Valley the beneficiary, please click here.
Celebrating 130 Years, Ameriprise Financial putting clients first since 1894. Generations of clients have entrusted Ameriprise Financial with their futures. Reaching beyond standard financial and retirement plans to provide a personalized financial advice strategy that is right for you. Banking, investments or insurance, find out how Ameriprise compares to other financial services companies, CLICK HERE.
NCGA Reach Grant Funds Affordable Private Instruction for Low Income Kids. First Tee – Silicon Valley was awarded a $16,000 NCGA Reach Grant specifically for programs to grow participation in golf from under-represented groups. We are excited to have launched a private instruction opportunity during the current Summer season under the direction of FTSV Coach Felix. Part of the criteria for participating is they must be receiving financial assistance in our normal programming.
Some of the low-income kids in FTSV’s course program have limited access to golf. Golf rates are challenging to afford, or they do not have adults in their lives who play golf, or transportation to a golf course in an obstacle. FTSV works very hard to make our classes affordable (i.e., $20 or less for an otherwise $240 class), accessible throughout Saturdays in East San Jose when many parents/guardians are off work, and welcoming with caring mentors/coaches of diverse backgrounds.
Private instruction is the purview of the golf course operator and its instructors. While FTSV provides coaching in golf skills, we place a lot of emphasis on life skills, and we are not private instructors. CourseCo, which operates our main program location, Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course in East San Jose, supports FTSV’s limited, coordinated entry into private instruction.
Private instruction is expensive so there is a significant barrier to entry for low-income families who are predominantly new to the game. FTSV wants to break down this barrier. With this grant, FTSV will subsidize Rancho for private instruction for low-income kids who are FTSV participants. To be eligible, kids must be Youth On Course members, active FTSV participants in the year of the private lessons, achieved a minimum number of classes prior to the lessons, and in 3rd grade or higher. In addition, they must have already received financial assistance from FTSV, which determines need using total household income, number of household members, financial hardship, and enrollment in their schools’ free/reduced lunch program.
FTSV’s Program Director will present kids with a special invitation each season to ensure that they are eligible and committed. The program will consist of five weeks of a mix of private lessons and practice lessons. All five weeks of the private lessons will fall within FTSV’s 8-week season. The private lessons are 45 minutes in length and limited to two kids. The total cost for a private lesson set would be $120. However, FTSV will only charge kids $20 as a sign of commitment, then subsidize the balance of $100 with this grant. We will limit the kids to two lesson sets per year. Our goal is for 100 kids to take two sets of private lessons.
FTSV expects the Affordable Private Instruction for Low-Income Kids program will strengthen participants’ commitment to golf, continue their enrollment in FTSV classes, and provide golf skills improvement. FTSV will be selecting the kids that have the most potential and are demonstrating the most interest.
Private Instruction will allow these kids to 1) Improve faster with customized instruction; 2) Fix bad habits and establish consistency; 3) Learn at their own pace and comfort level; and 4) Get focused, real-time feedback. On a broader spectrum, the program will develop more low-income kids to have the confidence and ability to enter competitive tournaments, play for their high school teams, and apply for golf scholarships and national First Tee opportunities.
Finally, our hope is participating kids and their families will receive significant inspiration from FTSV’s investment in and validation of them. They will feel more connected to the game of golf as a sport they will continue to play as an adult. In addition, families will likely become more open to golf and more likely to play themselves.
FTSV strongly believes that private golf instruction for low-income kids has been a gap in the golf industry. The NCGA Reach grant will give us the opportunity to see if a program requiring collaboration between key parties like FTSV and an operator like CourseCo is viable for the long-term.
FTSV was chosen for the grant for these reasons:
Innovation (proposal is something that has not been done before)
Soundness (the program is well thought out, staffed, and properly budgeted)
Feasibility (it seems like the program will work, builds on successful programs)
Impact (many people will be reached, it helps bring in new players)
Longevity (the program is multi-year – not a one-time event)
Repeatability (if successful, it can be scaled up and brought elsewhere)
Completeness (proposal is thoughtful and complete)
Jacobs has been the Contract Operator for the South County Regional Wastewater Authority (SCRWA) plant in Gilroy since 1984. Under a long-term service agreement, Jacobs maintains the integrity of the wastewater system. It is the goal of SCRWA to protect public health and the environment and ensure economic vitality of the Gilroy-Morgan Hill region. The plant operator’s objective is to provide the best quality recycled water at a superior value to the residents.
This plant has won numerous awards, including Plant of the Year Award for the past 5 years, while many of their employees have also won individual awards, winning Laboratory Person of the Year numerous times, with the most recent in 2022.
Community involvement is an extension of the Jacobs’ and the SCRWA culture. They care about their surrounding communities. Which is why Jacobs’ felt compelled to sponsor the 4th Annual Fund the Kids Golf Tournament, benefiting First Tee – Silicon Valley.
Congratulations to Tristan Hipolito from First Tee – Silicon Valley for being selected as 1 of 8 participants from across the nation to represent their peers and chapters at the Participant Advisory Council (PAC). This group of First Tee participants will be working together virtually and in person to discuss issues and ideas that impact all First Tee participants. It is critical for youth to be heard, and the PAC provides an important forum for youth to express themselves, voice their ideas, and provide input for projects or programs that would be implemented nationwide. The participants represent their chapter and others at PAC meetings and give honest and professional counsel to HQ on various program and strategic agenda topics.
Let’s get to know Tristan Hipolito
Tristan has been a wonderful part of our program since he transferred from the First Tee East Bay chapter 9 years ago. As a participant, he is one of the most active participants in our program, taking multiple classes every season, participating in all of our off-season events, and coaching on Saturdays. He is an empathetic and thoughtful individual who leads by example and is committed to self-improvement.
Tristan was recently invited to be the guest speaker at our Open fundraiser. In his speech he described how First Tee – Silicon Valley helped him develop into a proactive individual and caring communicator, and how FTSV provided him with opportunities to apply these leadership skills in real life situations like interviewing executives from Amazon Web Services and leading the fundraising committee in our Junior Council.
We are so proud to have Tristan representing our chapter and his peers at the PAC. We know that he is going to make us all very proud.
Dakota Chang and Ashely Pang from First Tee – Silicon Valley are 2 of 48 participants selected from across the country to the First Tee Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore. The Leadership Academy is set in Atlanta Georgia and provides selected teens insight on how successful teams perform. The curriculum explores leadership concepts focusing on (1) building a successful team by recognizing values and identifying strengths/weaknesses, (2) leading a team by developing authentic relationships and empowering others, (3) supporting the team by developing awareness and acting with humility, and (4) assessing based on comprehending and identifying the team’s need and supporting through innovation and advocacy. The academy provides an opportunity for teens to explore team dynamics that enhance their future performance as they collaborate with peers and adult mentors. Activity- based workshops are facilitated by leaders from the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes Benz Stadium, and Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
And here is how the First Tee Leadership Academy went!
Both Ashely and Dakota had a fun and memorable experience during this national opportunity. Over the course of the week, they participated in different teambuilding and self-reflective activities, learning what it means to be an effective leader and team player. One activity that stood out to them was a game of telephone where teams tried to assemble building blocks all without being able to see what they were building. When reflecting on this, Ashely said “everyone needs to see the full picture and understand the end goal to best be able to collaborate and support one another.” They learned the importance of strong communication when working on accomplishing a difficult task. In addition to the team building activities, participants were able to learn directly from many different leaders, including Garth Lagerwey, the President & CEO of Atlanta United FC. These speakers shared their experiences working with different types of teams, from sports to the corporate world, and their keys to effective leadership. For Dakota, hearing from Lagerwey was especially impactful because she was able to ask questions about potential future careers and hear about his real-world experiences.
When asked about their biggest takeaways, here is what the FTSV participants had to say:
“A lot of good leaders don’t get caught up on failures. Instead, they take it as a lesson and learn from it, asking ‘What could I have done differently to improve the results.’ This kind of mindset allows for more diversity and for constant improvement through reflection.”
– Dakota
“In a team, communication and relationship building are the fundamental basis for making a team work. Trust is really important in communication, and being able to apply these values with people I didn’t even know was really special. By the end, we had formed teams and life-long friends.”
– Ashely
Thank you to Dakota and Ashely for representing FTSV in such a positive way!
Meet our Leadership Academy Participants!
Dakota Chang is a rising Sophomore at Carlmont High School in Belmont. She has been an engaged participant for roughly 10 years, and continues to become more involved as time goes on. She takes classes every season and spends the entirety of her Saturday volunteering for FTSV at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. She does everything from assisting at the admin table, coaching multiple classes during the day, participating in the high school FTSV class, and helping us clean up at the end of the day. Through her actions she demonstrates what it means to give back and to be there for others. We are very proud to have her represent FTSV at the Leadership Academy!
Ashely Pang is a rising senior, a long-time active participant, a junior coach, and a member of our Junior Council. She is someone who always raises her hand to volunteer whenever something needs to get done, helping out with a smile on her face. In her application, she said “Volunteering itself is a pleasure to participate in since I have the opportunity to shape young minds–both in their character and in golf. In short, First Tee – Silicon Valley has strengthened my leadership skills and has influenced my willingness to engage and give back to my community.” Outside of FTSV, Ashely is the media officer for her hip-hop performance group.
We are very proud of both Dakota and Ashely and we are excited for them to experience this academy!
Isabella Herrera and Marissa Wei from First Tee — Silicon Valley have been selected to attend the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. in Philadelphia. They are 2 of 72 teens from the First Tee network who have been selected for the five-day learning and empowerment academy and will participate in important conversations around issues of identity, racism, diversity, equity, empathy and inclusion. RISE, a national leader in the sports community championing social justice and working to improve race relations, will facilitate engaging and interactive workshops paired with introspective activities and reflections led by our nationally trained First Tee coaches. The experience is designed to enlighten, inspire, encourage, and position the teens to be advocates for justice and social change in their current and future communities.
Meet our Game Changers Participants
Isabella is a rising senior and has been a highly engaged participant since 2013. She has taken multiple classes each year, participated in our Girls Golf program, represented our chapter at PGA TOUR Superstore events, has volunteered at our community outreach events, and coached classes. Isabella is also an Ace program participant, taking on the extra challenge as she works to become Ace certified. According to Isabella, “A game changer is someone who is constantly pushing personal and societal boundaries in order to create a lasting impact on the world around them.” She does so consistently in her role as a junior coach, leading and teaching by example. She also pushes herself as a member of the Youth On Course Leadership Council, advocating for her peers on a national level. We are excited to have Isabella represent out chapter at this event.
Marissa has been a dedicated FTSV participant for the last 9 years, taking both regular and now Ace classes. She stands out as a participant who really embodies the Life Skills taught in First Tee, demonstrating her understanding of what it means to be a Game Changer through her actions. On and off the golf course, Marissa is inclusive, kind and resilient. In her application, she wrote that “Integrity is the foundation of a game changer. To be a game changer means to do the right thing because it is valued in your heart and not to just do what is easy.” Let’s go Marissa!
The event will be held at Villanova University, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Selected participants will be housed at the Good Counsel Hall dormitory at Villanova and golf programming will take place at Walnut Lane Golf Club and Merion Golf Club.
First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters designed to inspire and encourage high school students on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. The Academy honors First Tee’s former CEO, Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., who led the organization from 2000 until his retirement in 2017.
Two First Tee – Silicon Valley participants Norah Yang and Eduardo Tapper compete at the fourth annual First Tee National Championships in Clemson, South Carolina on June 23rd to 27th. The First Tee National Championship brings together First Tee’s elite players for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped them build the strength of character needed to play at the collegiate or next level.
The field includes 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience.
Read the FULL RECAP STORY and how Norah Yang won the female division.
The winners of each male and female division are awarded the Tattersall Cup named after First Tee Trustee, Fred Tattersall. Each winner earns an exemption into the PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach Golf Links (click here to learn more about last year’s tournament).
Meet Norah
Norah is a leader and role model in her classes as a FTSV participant and as a volunteer coach. She has been active as a participant since 2015 and began volunteering as a FTSV coach in 2022. She is also a member of our Junior Council. She led her high school golf team to a league championship as a freshman and was awarded MVP of the league in 2021. She has qualified for the US Kids World Championship twice and the IMG Junior World at Torrey Pines. Additionally, Norah has placed high in several AGJA tournaments. Last year, Norah represented FTSV at both the First Tee National Championship at Stanford University and the PURE Insurance Championship held at Pebble Beach. Good luck Norah!
Meet Eduardo
Eduardo was a participant in our program years ago and is now back as a junior coach and member of our Junior Council. As a coach, Eduardo is enthusiastic and kind, helping his participants to develop their FTSV life skills. Wanting to go above and beyond, Eduardo started a fundraiser and club drive through his school golf team, and has been able to raise thousands of dollars for FTSV in just a few weeks. This money will help fund school programs within our service area, bringing the FTSV experience to even more kids. As a golfer, Eduardo takes his game very seriously and has been hard at work to make himself as competitive as possible. We are excited to have him represent our chapter on the national level. Let’s go Eduardo!
It’s another Summer of Opportunity and the competition is fierce! Every year, First Tee – Silicon Valley participants who have been long standing and highly engaged are selected to apply for First Tee National opportunities.
Qualifications to apply for Opportunities
Competition for the opportunities is high and spaces are very limited. To apply, our chapter looks for FTSV participants who have a minimum of 3 years with First Tee and have been highly engaged in the chapter over the years (e.g., volunteer coach, participant at least 2 seasons per year each year, active in tournaments/Girls Golf, etc.). Applicants are selected based on their time spent in the program, amount of volunteer hours, engagement in FTSV extracurriculars, and other accomplishments. Once selected to apply, applicants must meet the requirements set forth by First Tee National, write several short essays, list their accomplishments in and out of the classroom, and include letters of recommendation. Applicants from across the country apply for the limited spaces. Selected recipients get to experience opportunities of a life time.
So far this year, we have been able to submit 21 applications for 17 unique participants. We hope to have 8 more applications submitted in the near future to bring the total to 29.
We are thrilled by the acceptance of 9 of our participants…
Hopefully more in the coming months! Norah Yang, Eduardo Tapper, Isabella Herrera, Marissa Wei, Tristan Hipolito, Alexandra Varo, Natalie Chen, Dakota Chang, and Ashely Pang (pictures shown left to right below) have all been selected to attend various First Tee National opportunities.
Norah Yang & Eduardo Tapper were accepted to the First Tee National Championship to be held at the Walker Course at Clemson University in South Carolina, June 23rd – June 27th. Joey Jang was selected as an alternate. Click here to learn more about Norah and Eduardo and the National Championship.
Isabella Herrera & Marissa Wei were accepted to the Game Changers Academy in Minneapolis, MN, July 9th– 13th. Click here to learn more about Isabell and Marissa and what the Game Changers Academy is all about.
Natalie Chen & Alexandra Varo were accepted to the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore in Emigrant, Montana, August 5th – August 9th and August 12th – August 16th. Click hereto learn more about Natalie and Alexandra and what the Leadership Summit is all about.
Dakota Chang & Ashely Pang Selected to First Tee Leadership Academy in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore in Atlanta Georgia, June 17th-22nd. Click here to learn more about Dakota & Ashley and the First Tee Leadership Academy.
Tristan Hipolito was accepted to the Participant Advisory Council in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, July 22nd – 24th. Click here to learn more about Tristan and the Participant Advisory Council.
“Our chapter looks forward to having Norah, Eduardo, Isabella, Marissa, Tristan, Alexandra, Dakota and Ashely represent our chapter at these national opportunities. We are grateful to have had them in our program and are thrilled for them to gain these experience around the country. They are great people and have made our program a better place.
– First Tee – Silicon Valley Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt
A special thank you to Coach Phoenix for working with each participant on their application.
Please join us in congratulating Norah, Eduardo, Isabella, Marissa, Tristan, Alexandra, Natalie, Dakota, and Ashely for their outstanding achievement! Acceptance to these opportunities is a product of their character, the work they put in, and the commitment they demonstrated to our program.
To find out more regarding our local, regional, and national opportunities please visit our youth opportunity page or reach out to Coach Phoenix at [email protected].
Natalie Chen and Alexandra Varo from First Tee – Silicon Valley are 2 of 40 participants selected to the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore. The Summit is designed for teens to explore leadership concepts including (1) building authentic relationships by developing awareness, (2) growing through challenge via positive risk-taking, and (3) developing positive self-identity through dynamic outdoor and team-building activities. Set in the unforgettable backdrop of West Creek Ranch in Montana, each teen is challenged to build on their current strengths and values in an intimate setting which provides community building, inspiration and connection with their peers, adult mentors, and the outdoors. Activity-based workshops are facilitated by leaders from PGA TOUR Superstore headquarters, West Creek Ranch, and First Tee Headquarters. Both our participants were selected based on their performance in the First Tee Leadership Series at the PGA TOUR Superstore in Cupertino.
Meet our Leadership Summit Participants!
Natalie Chen is a rising junior at Evergreen Valley Highschool. She has been a stand out First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) participant for over 7 years. Not only does she participate in our course sessions, she has taken both the Ace Career and Ace Education classes. Natalie also started volunteering as an FTSV Junior Coach in 2022, and has accumulated over 130 hours of service. Lastly, Natalie is an active member of our FTSV Junior Council, leading both the marketing and the social media team.
Outside of FTSV, Natalie is the Vice President of her high school golf team. She is a member of the California Youth Symphony and was selected last year as a spokesperson for the organization in a promotional video.
Alexandra Varo is a recent graduate from Willow Glen High School. She will be attending San Jose State University in the fall. She has been an outstanding participant with FTSV since she started in 2021 and quickly started volunteer coaching. As a coach, she has accumulated over 220 hours of service, giving back her time in a meaningful and effective way. Alexandra regularly attends our Girls Golf events as both a participant and a coach and assists at our fundraisers.
“I enjoy volunteering as well as participating in First Tee because it provides an environment where I am able to learn more about myself, learn important life lessons through golf, and gain confidence” says Alexandra. “Throughout the golf seasons, I have learned how to become a better leader and I enjoy assisting in classes to contribute to a positive and fun environment for participants. I look forward to continuing in First Tee as a participant and a volunteer.”
We are grateful for the contributions Natalie and Alexandra have made to our chapter,” says FTSV Program Director, Chris Moreno-Hunt. “They both are outstanding role models for our participants and we are excited for them to continue to develop their leadership skills at the leadership summit. Congratulations to you both!”
Congratulations to our seniors on their accomplishments in high school and on their admission to college! Here is where some of them are going to school next year:
First
Last
College
Alexandra
Varo
San Jose State
Amy
Tran
UC San Diego
Salma
Rivera
De Anza College
Shreyas
Nanjanagud
Carnegie Mellon University
JM
Diaz
University of San Diego
Anjali
Kiran
Georgia Tech
Shivam
Maji
Santa Clara University
Kara
Chou
MIT
Joshua
Jang
USC
We have been fortunate to have many of these teens in our program between 4 and 12 years. While they are leaving us as participants, we are excited for them to continue their journeys in college and be game changers within their communities.
Reach out to Coach Phoenix [email protected] if you are interested in attending the upcoming Bay Area First Tee Alumni Outing at the SF Giants game on Sunday, August 11th.
Well done and good luck, FTSV Graduates!
Interested in starting our program and taking part in what our seniors experienced?
