(Mentor Spotlight: Meet Craig Hanlon Published 11/6/2026) Coach Craig has been a First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) coach since 2025, accumulating over 100 hours with our youth of all ages. Since he completed his HR on-boarding steps, he has coached with us every season showing the consistency and care that has made him one of our go-to coaches.
According to our surveys, kids and teens learn best through doing and seeing. Coaches need to “walk the walk,” which is what Craig does. He is reliable, prepares, collaborates with his fellow coaches, exudes positivity, and shows genuine interest in others. He offers his life experience when needed and understands when to step back and listen. As a result, the participants gravitate to him, and he is well-respected and liked by his fellow coaches.
When Craig isn’t coaching, he works as a Response Engineer/Product Manager for Apple and can be found playing hockey, attending live music, and playing golf.
We are grateful to have Coach Craig leading our youth!
Why FTSV?
“As a kid I found golf to be a place of belonging, lifelong friends, and a sport I truly enjoyed. I want future generations to get to experience even just a little bit of the good golf has done for me in my life. I appreciate that we teach kids about how we treat ourselves and the people around us, alongside golf. The skills learned here apply directly to life, even if the student never picks up a golf club again.”
How has coaching with FTSV impacted you?
“A big impact has been making me a better listener and communicator. I’ve learned that what sounds like one thing to a student can be heard entirely differently by someone else. When I ask questions and hear how students describe something in their own words, I can explain things in a way that makes sense to them. That skill helps well beyond just working with our students.”
Thanks, Coach Craig, for being on our team!
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