2025 Archives - First Tee - Silicon Valley

PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee

(PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee – Published 10/03/25) FTSV participants, Alexis Chu, Brian Yu and Walton Li were selected and competed in the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at historic Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Everyone played very well, including a 6^th place finish for Alexis and 3^rd place finish for Brian. More importantly, all players conducted themselves with respect and kindness, building lasting relationships while playing golf in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Fantastic work!

For more than 20 years, the PURE Insurance Championship has provided selected First Tee participants from around the country with the unique opportunity to showcase the skills and values they’ve gained through their respective First Tee Chapters. The tournament pairs 80 standout teens from First Tee Chapters nationwide with PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs from the business community. The teens were selected by a national panel of judges who evaluated their essays, letters of recommendations, and golf resume. Throughout the week, our three participants competed in the prestigious tournament, got to eat meals with the professional golfers, and were able to network with their peers and tournament golfers. The annual event was broadcast internationally on Golf Channel and took place September 19^th – 21^st.

In addition to our participating teens, our chapter organized a field trip and brought 30 FTSV teen participants to cheer on Alexis, Walton, and Brian. Thanks to the generous grant by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, our field trip teens rode to Monterey in style with a charter bus. While there, they enjoyed their time walking the course, watching the pro’s and supporting dedicated young First Tee players. They made sure to get autographs and soak in this unique experience.

Congratulations to all the athletes and thank you to the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for hosting First Tee – Silicon Valley!

FTSV Participant Tristan Hipolito Awarded ACE Certification Status!

(FTSV Participant Tristan Hipolito Awarded ACE Certification Status! – Published 10/03/25) First Tee – Silicon Valley is excited to share that Tristan Hipolito was recently awarded the distinguished honor of being Ace-Certified!

Ace is the highest level of certification at First Tee and less than 1% of First Tee participants from across the country achieve Ace certification. Tristan will receive local and national recognition from First Tee for completing his Ace classes and the post-class documents. More importantly, his work in our Ace classes helped him apply the First Tee Life Skills to college and career exploration, and to his give-back volunteer opportunities. The Ace classes also assisted in developing transferable skills that will aid him in his professional development.

Tristan is beginning his first year at UC Riverside where he is pursuing an Engineering degree. Tristan’s First Tee story began over 10 years ago with First Tee – East Bay. When that chapter unfortunately closed in 2017, he and his family made the long drive to join our chapter in San Jose. Ever since, he has been one of the most active and respected participants at FTSV taking at least 2 classes every season for all 4 seasons throughout his middle and high school years, and was a volunteer coach every season for the last 4 years. Additionally, he was appointed to Committee Chair by his peers in our Junior Council and led his team in event coordination, fundraising, and video production. In 2024 he was selected to represent First Tee participants from around the country in the National Junior Advisory Council, and in 2025 he was selected for the Dennis Kettmann College Scholarship.

“Here, I made friends who I was able to hang out with outside classes,” said Tristan. “I met mentors who were not only able to help me with my golf game, but also give me advice for college and future career paths related to the major I want to pursue. I also gained and practiced skills, such as communication, delegation, being responsible for others, and teamwork.”

Tristan took all 4 of our Ace 8-week classes 2-3 times throughout high school.

“Ace classes taught me many beneficial skills, but I most appreciate the ones I learned during the career project. In class we learned how to prepare for an interview, conduct an informational interview, reach out and perform job shadows, and write resumes and cover letters. As I pursued Ace Certification, I was able to use those skills I learned in class. I performed three informational interviews where I learned about the responsibilities and career paths of people I saw as mentors. They even helped me format my resume so I could send it out to engineering related opportunities. I never would have learned these skills and the others I learned in Ace if I was not in Ace.”

Ace includes (4) 8-week sessions, each with post-class projects.

Education – financial planning for college (budgeting, saving, grants, scholarships), college application process, school identification and exploration strategies.
Career – resume-building, interview skills, transferable, adaptive and content skill development, and professional correspondence.
Golf – golf psychology, optimal practice habits.
Volunteer – going above and beyond, learning transferable skills, networking, professionalism

To be an Ace-certified, participants must:

Be at least 14 years old
Be in our program for a minimum of 3 years; and attend a minimum of 2 seasons per year.
Attend our 4 Ace Classes (Career, Golf, Education, Give-Back)
Complete the 4 Ace-Future Planning post class documents
Submit a letter of recommendation
Be selected by a panel of First Tee National judges

“Congratulations, Tristan, for your outstanding work” says Program Director Chris Moreno-Hunt. “I remember coaching him when he was 7 years old in the East Bay Chapter. To see his development into a leader and a high character individual is what this is all about. It has been a real honor to coach him over the years, and I am very thankful to have gotten to know him and his wonderful family. He is a true representation of respect and hard work. It is no wonder his peers, fellow coaches, and our staff all respect and value him as a person. Best of luck in college, Tristan!

To find out more about our Ace classes and how to be Ace-Certified, please click here or email/call Chris at [email protected] or 408-508-4884.

Boulder Ridge Ladies Group Supports FTSV’s Girls Golf

(Boulder Ridge Ladies Group Supports FTSV’s Girls Golf – Published 10/03/25) Boulder Ridge Ladies Golf Club held its 4th Annual Member-Guest Tournament on September 26th. They celebrated with “Talk Birdie to Me” as their theme and chose First Tee – Silicon Valley’s Girls Golf program as the beneficiary. Varnika Arun, FTSV Participant, Junior Council member, and Junior Coach, spoke at the lunch program to share the impact FTSV has had on her self-confidence, and how she is driven to show other girls that they belong. Development Director, Judy Deaton was also in attendance and spoke to the ladies about getting involved as volunteer coaches so the girls have female role models and mentors. Speaking to the group, Varnika talked about her experiences at First Tee – Silicon Valley.

Thank you!

We would like to thank the very generous Presenting Sponsor: Hsing Family Foundation, Boulder Ridge Ladies Group Raffle Donors, and all the Hole Sponsors who donated a total of $10,000 directly to FTSV.

Hsing Family Foundation
Jillian & Timothy Conroy
Applied Materials
Fields In Motion Physical Therapy
Sobrato Charitable Fund
Meadow Outdoor Advertising
SBG
Material Motion
Kelly Family
Mintz
Colonial Life
Ken’s Solar and Pool
The Wilshire Group
Fremont Fire Department
HELO Energy

Special thanks to Tournament Chair Candace Caballero and Co-Chair Jillian Conroy for her continued support!

First Tee – Silicon Valley’s Girls Golf Program is an opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the game of golf while empowering participants to feel confident, build self-esteem and make new friends in an all-girl environment. Girls Golf seasonal events are open to all FTSV Participants – click here for more info.

KRTY Writers Cup Benefits FTSV!

(KRTY Writers Cup Benefits FTSV! – Published 10/03/25) The 2^nd Annual KRTY Writers Cup benefitted FTSV in a BIG WAY by raising $40K! 124 golfers, including 6 Nashville Songwriters, came out to Cinnabar Hills Golf Club on a cloudy Wednesday for a day of golf, guitars and giving back!

“We are very proud to be able to produce this event for the benefit of First Tee – Silicon Valley” said Nate Deaton, KRTY.com General Manager. “We are lucky to have 6 amazing songwriters with us this year, Trent Tomlinson, Luke Dick, Ben Williams, Casey Brown, Chris Bandi, and the last-minute entry, Matt Stell. One night at the end of last year, I mentioned to Cole Taylor that I had an idea to do a Charity Golf Event with Songwriters. He looked at me and said, we could call it the Writers Cup! And here we are.”

After a full day, players and sponsors were treated to dinner and a show. The songwriters told stories, played guitar, and sang some hit country songs. Smack dab in the middle, First Tee – Silicon Valley participant and junior coach, Adam Rosa, spoke about his experiences. Adam shared how FTSV helped him set his own goals and grow at his own pace instead of comparing himself to others, which gave him a new positive perspective about his self-worth and his accomplishments.

The KRTY Writers Cup raffle, live and silent auctions raised an astounding $40K for First Tee – Silicon Valley’s financial aid program. FTSV would like to thank the Writers Cup sponsors, players, and the staff at Legendary KRTY.COM for their support. Without such support, FTSV could not continue to help MORE Kids!

Writer’s Cup Results Recap:

Songwriter Trent Tomlinson’s Winning Team = Score 679

Tony Damore, Jeff Athens, Rigo Gutierrez, Justin Moles, Ben White, Geno Gingery, Robby Zipp, Shone Freeman, Hayden Freemen, Tom Holt, Kurt Klein, Mark Chiavetta, Lucas Chiavetta, Jeff Narduzzi, Sean Narduzzi, Cathy Smith, Tak Taoyama, Keven Want, Tomoaki Kumagai

Foursome Winners = Score 125

Justin Moles, Ben White, Geno Gingery, Robby Zipp

Putting Contest = Avery Cook

Closest to the Holes = Matt Leslie Lake #2, Matt Moore Lake #8, Adam Craig Mtn #2, Shelley Carr Mtn #8

If you have an upcoming tournament and would like to partner with and make First Tee – Silicon Valley the beneficiary, please click here.

We’ll see y’all next year!

KRTY Writers Cup Benefits FTSV – Photo Gallery

Change the Game for MORE Kids in 2026!

(Change the Game for MORE Kids in 2026! – Published 10/03/25) First Tee – Silicon Valley invites you to make a monthly pledge (beginning now or starting in this coming year) to help us Change the Game for MORE Kids & Teens!

Make your monthly pledge today—and help us Change the Game for MORE Kids & Teens tomorrow.

Make the Pledge!

Help us grow our impact and the number of kids & teens we serve!

Our youth development programs are accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship. We care for kids with safe spaces, quality coaches, character curriculum, and a culture of respect.

Course Program — ensure high quality classes that are affordable and accessible to all (full cost for one participant to take an 8-week class = $500 – or pledge $40 per month)
School Program — equip teachers to deliver our curriculum in their setting (cost of equipment, training, and curriculum per school = $2,000 – or pledge $165 per month)
Opportunities — provide our kids with special experiences outside of our classes (cost of quarterly tournaments or scholarship = $5,000 – or pledge $415 per month)

FTSV is Celebrating our 25th Anniversary in 2025! Be a $5K for 5 years $25K Grand Champion supporter helping us raise $2.5M! Make your recurring pledge here and look to the right to learn about ways you can donate.

We Have the Space. Now We Need Your Support.

Thanks to our 25-year agreement for expanded access at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course, our capacity has doubled. That means we now have the ability to reach 10,000 kids & teens annually—but growing our impact requires the financial support of people like you. Your monthly pledge makes it possible for us to deliver on this opportunity.

Mentoring is Priceless.

Think about the mentor who made a difference in your life. That kind of guidance—listening, encouragement, and wisdom—shapes kids forever. Over the years, First Tee – Silicon Valley has provided this transformative mentorship to more than 100,000 young people. Your steady monthly support ensures every child in our program has a mentor by their side.

Long-Term Impact That Lasts a Lifetime.

We’re proud of the results our youth development program delivers:

100% of our long-term participants graduate high school.
100% go on to college.
100% gain life skills that make them caring, responsible citizens.
75% of our high school participants give back as junior mentors.

This kind of consistency is possible only when our supporters are consistent too. That’s why monthly pledges are so vital.

Kids Need Us Now More Than Ever.

Social pressures, loneliness, mental health challenges, family struggles, and inequities across Silicon Valley weigh heavily on today’s youth. At FTSV, we provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive community where kids are free to be themselves and discover their inner strength.

A National Leader with Local Heart.

Among the 140 First Tee chapters nationwide, First Tee – Silicon Valley leads the way:

85% participant diversity
48% from low-income households
55% retention rate
75% Teen retention
1:4 mentor-to-kid ratio

These numbers reflect our commitment to making sure every kid & teen has access to caring mentors and meaningful opportunities.

Be Part of the Change and Change the Game for MORE Kids in 2026!

As we look to 2026, we need your help to build on this momentum. A monthly pledge is the most powerful way you can support our kids & teens. Your commitment provides the stability and resources necessary to help thousands of youth grow into resilient, confident, and compassionate leaders.

Donate NOW!

FTSV Benefits from the 5th Annual Fund the Kids Tournament

(FTSV Benefits from the 5^th Annual Fund the Kids Tournament – Published 10/2/25) First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) benefits from the 5^th Annual Fund the Kids tournament sponsored by Jacobs. On Saturday, September 27^th, Jacobs hosted 72 golfers at Gilroy Golf Course as they played 18 holes and on-course games, like Cornhole and Connect Four. This tournament was also a special Memorial Tournament Honoring Saeid Vaziry, an Environmental Programs Manager for the City of Gilroy. Saeid’s family was on-hand during the tournament to volunteer and play in a foursome. Players were then treated to lunch, raffle and an inspirational speech from FTSV teen participant and volunteer coach, Julia Villa.

Julia shared her journey with First Tee – Silicon Valley and how their inclusive, family-like community helped her feel like she belonged as a latina woman, instilled self-confidence, and gave her tools to help develop professionally.

FTSV would like to thank Presenting Sponsor Jacobs, all the supporting, hosting, and contest sponsors, and players for raising over $16K which will go to help MORE kids in South County. The funds are a big help to First Tee – Silicon Valley.

Thank you to ALL the Sponsors:

Carollo Engineers – Superior Sanitation – Cintas Inc. – Valley Top Inc. – JE Phillips Co Inc & Hartzell Air – Jess Ranch Trucking – United Rentals – Advance Air Flow Measurement – Energy Experts International – Legion – Skylake Tree Services – Novatech Services – Koffler Electrical Mechanical – True Blue Automation – Control Solutions Inc. – Rexel USA – Pan Pacific Supply – Synagro – Toro Petroleum

Jacobs has been the Contract Operator for the South County Regional Wastewater Authority (SCRWA) plant in Gilroy since 1984. Tournament Coordinator, Kerry Edmonds, said, “Community involvement is an extension of the Jacobs’ and the SCRWA culture. They care about their surrounding communities which is why we felt compelled to sponsor the 5th Annual Fund the Kids Golf Tournament, benefiting First Tee – Silicon Valley and will do it again next year.”

Tournament Results:

First Place: Kerry Edmonds, John Torres, Scott Stephens, Melinda Stephens

Closest to the Hole – Women: Melinda Stephens

Closest to the Hole – Men: Scott Stephens

Long Drive – Womens: Jackie Torres

Long Drive – Mens: Michael IbarraPutting Contest – “Happy Saeid” Putting contest with Hockey Sticks: Grant Kehrig, John Hernandez, Jesus Begines, Arturo Begines.

If you have an upcoming tournament and would like to make First Tee – Silicon Valley the beneficiary, please Contact Nicole Woodson.

US AM TOUR 50/50 Raffle Benefits FTSV

(US AM TOUR 50/50 Raffle Benefits FTSV – Published 9/10/25) We’re incredibly grateful that the US AM TOUR and Tournament Director, Dan Cacho has, once again, conducted a 50/50 Raffle at each of their Northern California 2024-2025 tournaments raising $7,500 for FTSV. 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.

Andrea Brenholz, FTSV Board Member and former US AM TOUR player said, “As both a former US AM TOUR player and a First Tee – Silicon Valley Board Director, I’m truly thankful for this generous gift. Your support strengthens our ability to positively impact young lives through the game of golf.”

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 is 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.

PCA FTSV Training

(PCA FTSV Training – Published 9/9/25) On September 6^th, First Tee — Silicon Valley hosted two coach trainings led by Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) trainer, Peter Wood. This was the 3^rd 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 topic this time around was how to support positive athlete behavior through responsive coaching.

Successful coaching requires a balance between having high expectations for behavior and providing high support. When challenges present themselves in class it is imperative that a coach have empathy and understanding of where their athletes are coming from, while also having a clear behavioral prevention plan. Coaches should work WITH their athletes instead of being punitive, neglectful, or permissive when faced with behavioral challenges. To this point, we are grateful that PCA shared their resources and worked with our coaching team on behavioral prevention and intervention techniques. Additionally, they provided strategies for coaches to identify participant stressors and practice self-regulation. A great coach is a prepared coach who takes the time to understand their student. We are grateful PCA helped prepare our 19 paid instructors and over 50 returning volunteer coaches this past Saturday.

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 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.”

Click here for more information on joining FTSV as a volunteer coach.

First Tee Leadership Summit

(First Tee Leadership Summit – In partnership with PGA Tour Superstore – Published 9/8/25) This past August, FTSV participants Joshua Joo and Vikrant Bhende attended the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore, held in Emigrant, Montana. First Tee golfers from chapters across the country were selected to attend this unique and rewarding event. Participants engaged in team building activities and challenged themselves by exploring positive risk taking. Over the course of the week, these participants were encouraged to step out of their comfort zone, learn about themselves and what it takes to be an effective leader, all while creating long lasting relationships and memories.

Both Joshua and Vikrant had a wonderful time. Throughout each week, both participants took part in outdoor group activities such as a ropes course, horseback riding, white-water rafting, and, of course, playing golf. In the classroom, participants were guided through different self-reflective activities and heard from several inspirational speakers. Both Joshua and Vikrant felt that they grew as people while there.

From the great food, the beautiful views and the thought-provoking speakers, Vikrant had a memorable and impactful time.

For him, hearing the unique perspectives and personal stories from the speakers was the best part. “The stories I heard from the chaperones and speakers were very surprising and interesting, mostly deep stories about their personal development. We spent a lot of time learning from the experiences of other people and how those experiences shape one’s leadership. It was really eye-opening”

“Going forward, I feel like I have a new perspective on being a leader. My leadership style currently is more about telling, but I can see it changing. I learned all about different ways to lead, including by example and from behind, among others.” Vikrant left Montana feeling more confident in his abilities to support a team and will bring that perspective back home to FTSV.

For Joshua, experiencing team dynamics was the most impactful aspect of the week.

He took part in activities that tested his capacity for teamwork. “The most impactful events were the team-based challenges and the speeches. The tent pole challenge was an opportunity for me to grow as a leader…and taught us to trust ourselves and work as one. An effective leader should allow the team to bond closely and move them as a group with one plan.”

“I enjoyed building strong relationships with other students from around the nation. Coming from a place where competition for academics is very fierce, I have struggled with forming close bonds with others. For me, being honest and open with peers was a challenge. However, the Summit redefined what it meant to me to be a friend or mentor to others. I discovered that even if you are not blood related, you could still be family with another individual. This event provided me with an opportunity to meet people in an open-minded and vulnerable state, where we could discuss our inner thoughts without judgment. Additionally, everyone at the event was extremely encouraging and respectful, which made it easier to form closer bonds with people.”

Both FTSV participant’s had experiences that will stick with them for years, and have returned home with new perspectives, ideas, and attitudes. Thank you to the PGA TOUR Superstore and First Tee HQ for putting on this event! There are many National Opportunities each year with some coming up soon. If you’d like to be considered to apply, please reach out directly to Coach Phoenix ([email protected]).

FTSV – Teens & Alumni Tournament

(FTSV – Teens & Alumni Tournament – Published 8/28/25) On Saturday, August 23^rd, FTSV hosted our quarterly off-season tournaments at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. Three different events were held that day for kids and teens of different ages and skill levels – (1) Girls Golf, (2) Kids & Alumni, and (3) Teens & Alumni.

FTSV – Teens & Alumni Tournament

The Teens & Alumni Tournament capped off the afternoon with 25 players teamed up with 7 FTSV Alumni for a fun scramble format. Each group of 3 participants was joined by 1 alum to lead their team and provide an example of what success looks like for life after FTSV junior golf.

Some of our Alumni are current coaches and volunteers, some are college golfers, and some are professionals, but all of them are successful individuals who carry the life skills and core values they learned from FTSV through their daily lives. It was great to see them all reminisce about their experiences in FTSV and catch up after years apart.

These tournaments are a great way for participants to put our life skill curriculum into practice. Golf tournaments are a unique setting for practicing life skills. The pressure of having just one chance to hit your shot, while your team is depending on you, and as you’re competing against others – all of it adds up to an environment where sportsmanship, integrity, and perseverance are crucial to success.

After the round, Alumni, participants, and their families all enjoyed a pizza lunch and awards ceremony. Shoutout to Pizza Presidente for lunch!

All of our participants should be proud of their performance. And a huge THANK YOU to our Alumni who showed their commitment to our organization by taking the time to play.

FTSV – Teens & Alumni Tournament Results

Closest-to-the-Pin (11-13 year old) – Chloe Hong, 19’11”

Closest-to-the-Pin (14-17 year old) – Nico Hernadez-Lopez, 12’8”

Longest Drive (11-13 year old) – Victor Kotlyar

Longest Drive (14-17 year old) – Leo Villegas-Luiz

3^rd Place – Joshua Jang (Alum), Leo Villegas, Shreyash Avasarala, Adhya Malhotra

2^nd Place – Calvin Kong (Alum), Erik Chavez, Chloe Hong, Amanda Chen

1^st Place – Joey Jang (Almost Alum!), Bryanna Perez, Benjamin Hughes, Victor Kotlyar

ARUSD School Outreach Program Training

(ARUSD School Outreach Program Training – Published 08/21/25) On Friday, August 15^th, 2025, FTSV welcomed over 30 after-school program leaders from all 15 schools in the Alum Rock Union School District (ARUSD) to Boys & Girls Club Smythe Clubhouse for a district-wide training event. Trainings such as this help prepare schools to deliver our School Program curriculum at their facilities.

Each year, schools across the region partner with FTSV for the upcoming academic year to deliver a version of our program and curriculum to their students. Many of the participating schools reside in East San Jose. These partnerships are vital to achieving our mission of serving our community, especially those in low-income areas and Title I schools. Our School Partners are equipped with the equipment, curriculum, and training needed to coach our core life and golf skills to their students, using adaptive lesson plans that make golf fun and accessible to kids no matter their age or skill level.

FTSV is proud to share that for the first time, all 15 schools in the Alum Rock Union School District have partnered with us for the upcoming 2025/26 school year!

“We are thrilled that ARUSD is all-in with FTSV’s School Partner program for all 15 of their schools,” said George Maxe, FTSV President & CEO. “We want to thank Lupe Ruvalcaba, the Coordinator, Expanded Learning at ARUSD and her team, for their collaboration and belief in this partnership. Our team is excited to work together with ARUSD to enrich the lives of all ARUSD students.”

This show of force by ARUSD is a testament to the commitment they have to their students and families. “Our goal will always be to create a safe, supportive space where students can thrive. Working with FTSV allows us to offer our students meaningful experiences that teach life skills through the game of golf, while building confidence and fostering a strong sense of belonging,” said Lupe Ruvalcaba, Coordinator, Expanded Learning at ARUSD. The School Program lessons provide their students with a safe space to learn and grow as people, using the game of golf and all of its teachable moments as the driver of that growth.

Throughout the school year, after-school program leaders from the Boys & Girls Club, Think Together, and YMCA will deliver up to 8 of our lesson plans to ARUSD students, teaching them about core values like Respect, Sportsmanship, Confidence, Integrity, Goal-Setting, and Perseverance, as well as golf skills that will help them develop a proper grip, stance, and swing.

And during their school year, these schools will also have the opportunity to plan a field trip to Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course, where students will be able to try golf using real clubs and balls on the driving range and practice green, with teaching and guidance from FTSV staff and coaches. Given its proximity, Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course is the hub of our programming in the Alum Rock and East San Jose area. We hope the field trips help show these students that this golf course is a great community space for them and their families to hang out and enjoy the game together.

Our School Partner program is vital to our success as an organization, so thank you to ARUSD and all the program leaders who attended our training at Boys & Girls Club Smythe. We’re excited for another great school year and we can’t wait to see you and your students at the golf course!

If you are interested in starting a School Program in your school, please click here and email [email protected]