On August 24th 2024, First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) hosted its highly anticipated annual Chapter Championship at the scenic Rancho Del Pueblo Golf Course. The 9-hole tournament brought together 36 enthusiastic participants in an individual stroke format, each competing according to their respective skill levels.
This annual event holds significant value for our students, offering a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the competitive world of golf. For our younger players, it’s a chance to experience the nuances of tournament play, including understanding golf rules and managing their pace of play. These experiences are crucial as they lay the groundwork for future competition.
For our more seasoned participants, the tournament provides a platform to test their skills against other highly skilled players. The format of the event, which is intentionally designed to be low-pressure, helps players of all ages practice good judgment, set realistic expectations, and manage their emotions under competitive conditions.
The highlight of the day happened right from the start! On the very first swing, James Carlo Vergara from grades 5-6 stepped up to Hole #1 for our closest-to-the-pin contest and delivered an unbelievable hole-in-one!
The Chapter Championship is not just about honing technical skills; it’s also about fostering personal growth and confidence. Participants are encouraged to build relationships with fellow players they might not have met before, thereby creating new bonds and learning from one another. This aspect of the tournament is integral to our mission of using golf as a vehicle for personal development and community building.
Overall, the Chapter Championship was a resounding success, offering valuable lessons and experiences to all who participated. We look forward to seeing our students continue to grow and apply the skills they’ve learned as they advance in their golfing journeys.
While score is absolutely not the most important thing, it is good to celebrate the winners of this event to recognize all of the effort they have been putting in working to develop their golf skills.
Rancho del Pueblo was filled with energy and excitement this summer as it hosted its first ever FTSV Summer Games Tournament, featuring a creative spin on Olympic-themed events across the scenic course’s Holes #3 to #7. Competitors of all ages came together for a day filled with unique challenges and friendly competition.
Here’s a recap of the unforgettable day:
The tournament kicked off with a twist on a classic sport. Hole #3 was transformed into soccer Golf, where participants traded their clubs for soccer balls. (Rancho’s design includes FootGolf with its own greens and larger holes adjacent to the traditional greens.) The goal was to kick the ball into the hole with as few attempts as possible. The strategy involved careful control and precision, with competitors learning quickly that a well-placed kick could make all the difference.
At Hole #4, it was all about raw power and technique. This traditional golf hole was the setting for the Longest Drive competition. Players took their best swings, aiming to send the ball soaring as far as possible. The event showcased some incredible drives, with participants using every ounce of skill to gain those extra few yards. We had a winner from each level. Congratulations to Yoodahm Ko from grades 2-4, and Victor Kotlyar from grades 5-6.
Hole #5 brought a new level of creativity with the Javelin Throw event. Instead of traditional javelins, participants used a specially designed launcher to hurl a tennis ball onto the green. The objective was to land the ball as close to the hole as possible. Contestants displayed a range of techniques and strategies, from aiming high to maximizing distance.
Hole #6 was a test of versatility and skill in the One Club Challenge. Competitors were required to complete the hole using only one golf club of their choice. The challenge forced players to think strategically about club selection and shot execution. Some opted for irons, while others chose drivers for a more aggressive approach.
The final event at Hole #7 was perhaps the most unique: the Archery Shot. Here, participants took their tee shots with a foam-tipped bow & arrow. The unusual setup added an extra layer of challenge, requiring steady hands and keen focus. Players had to balance the intricacies of archery with the precision of golf, aiming to hit the fairway or green with a well-placed shot.
The Summer Games Tournament at Rancho del Pueblo was a resounding success, blending traditional golf with imaginative Olympic-themed events. Each hole offered a distinctive challenge, pushing competitors to adapt and showcase a wide range of skills. The camaraderie among participants made the event an even more memorable occasion.
Congratulations to all our participants for making this such a wonderful tournament! And congratulations to all of our winners!
1st Place (Gold Medal) – Yoli Lin and Alanna Grigsby
2nd Place (Silver Medal) – Odin Lopez and Yoodahm Ko
3rd Place (Bronze Medal) – Yao Yan, Kai Brunner / Yuan Lin, Landon Fang
Next Tournament will be November 9, 2025. For information about these tournaments and more, visit Our Opportunities page or contact Tanner Riley – [email protected].
Girls Golf Summer Play Day – a day of fun and friendship on the green! What a fantastic day we had at our Summer 2024 Girls Golf event! We kicked off the morning with some essential range practice, where everyone had the chance to sharpen their skills before diving into the day’s activities. To break the ice and set a positive tone, we engaged in some fun icebreakers, helping everyone get comfortable and excited for the day ahead.
Our first highlight was capturing a fantastic group picture—an essential keepsake to remember this special day. With smiles all around, the girls were then divided into groups and set off to tackle the uniquely themed golf holes.
Each hole on the 4-hole course (i.e., Holes #1, #2, #8 & #9) presented a new and quirky challenge. One-hole featured beach balls where the participants had to chip over them, adding a playful twist to the game. Another hole was creatively designed with noodles as seaweed obstacles, making the experience both entertaining and memorable. Our goal was to make each hole engaging and different, ensuring that the day was full of surprises and laughter.
After making their way through all four holes, the girls returned to the patio area where arts and crafts awaited them. This creative segment provided a perfect opportunity for the girls to relax and bond with each other while expressing their artistic talents.
Overall, Girls Golf Summer Play Day was a tremendous success
Coach Gracie said, “It was heartwarming to see the girls interacting, laughing, and getting to know each other better.” The energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and the smiles on everyone’s faces said it all. We couldn’t have asked for a more enjoyable day and can’t wait for our next Girls Golf event. Until then, keep swinging and smiling!
Thank you to Coach Gracie and all of our volunteer coaches for making this Girls Golf Event so memorable!
Next Girls Golf will be November 9, 2024. For information about these tournaments and more, visit Our Opportunities page or contact Manny Gallardo – [email protected].
(Appreciation Day – August 10, 2024) – This past Saturday First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) celebrated our families for their continued participation in our classes. As an organization that relies heavily on the commitment from participants, coaches, and instructors, we wanted to show how appreciative we are of their efforts to make our classes what they are – an inviting environment and community centered around building character and golf. Families and coaches came together from the Mid-Peninsula, greater San Jose, and South County to play games, meet other families, and have a good time.
Over 100 people attended the event at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. The games included Giant Jenga, tug-a-war, football toss, water ballon archery, corn hole, ball toss, driving range games, and a mission ImPuttable game. The event concluded with everyone enjoying pizza and hanging out together. We were fortunate enough to end this wonderful season with an event that formulated new connections, smiles, and most importantly a feeling of togetherness.
Special Appreciation to…
We owe a special shout out to our coaches who helped out: Elora, Katelyn, Isaiah, and Felix. Your help made it possible to host the wonderful families of FTSV. We would also like to thank the families that showed up. We know it’s not easy to find free time on a weekend, so we are very happy you all chose to spend your Saturday with us. Lastly, we would like to thank Coach Victor for putting the event together.
We hope to see you all again later in the year!
We love what we do and are so grateful for everyone in our program.
( FTSV Community Day – August 10, 2024) – One of the major components that helps our organization grow is the community that we all share and enjoy. First Tee – Silicon Valley has been developing relationships all over the Alum Rock District, greater San Jose, and Silicon Valley to not only help our organization reach new heights, but also to have the impact with those we work with and for – our kids and teens.
As a way to celebrate those relationships and in an effort to build new ones, we hosted a Community Day this past Saturday, August 10th, at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course. This event was meant to both introduce new families to our program, and help build a sense of welcome at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course.
FTSV Classes on display at Community Day
We were able to host families and show them what our classes are like, having them go through a format of what our Practice Class does. We started on the practice range where Coaches Phoenix and Michael led a fun target game where pairs of participants faced off against each other. This was followed by Coach Manny’s Hungry Hippo’s Chipping Game where the kids beat their parents. The day ended with a 9-hole game of Mission ImPuttable led by Coach Tanner, who showed participants how to properly keep track of their score as a duo on a score card. In all three games families learned and experienced different ways to show respect to others, themselves, and their surroundings. Respect is a core Life Skill that all grade groups in our program learn and practice.
We would like to thank the families who showed up to this event and made it such a fun event. Once again, we would not be where we are today without the help and support from the wonderful people in the San Jose community.
(National Opportunity Recap) – This summer, four fantastic First Tee – Silicon Valley participants returned from across the country after participating in First Tee National Opportunities. Isabella Herrera and Marrisa Wei attended the Game Changers Academy held in Minneapolis, MN while Dakota Chang and Ashely Pang represented FTSV at the Leadership Academy in Atlanta, GA. Both of the events provided a unique opportunity for participants to learn from industry leaders, engage in leadership-building activities, meet participants from across the county, and build lifelong memories. If you would like to learn more about the National Opportunities and how to qualify and apply please visit click here or reach out to Coach Phoenix ([email protected]).
First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow Jr. July 9th – 13th
First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. is a five-day learning and empowerment academy. Attending participants participate in important conversations embracing topics of self-awareness, inclusivity, and community building. First Tee invites its partner, RISE, a national leader in the sports community championing social justice, to 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 our teens to be Game Changers in their current and future communities. The academy is the ultimate tribute to Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., a fearless champion of change.
During the week, FTSV participants Isabella and Marissa attended workshops, met inspirational people, and completed group activities all based around building leadership and teamwork skills. For Isabella, one of the most memorable actives was when she played golf with Victoria Arlen. Victoria is a four-time paralympic medalist in swimming, an ESPN sportscaster, and even performed on Dancing with the Stars, all after having to re-learn how to walk after losing the ability to eat, speak, walk and even more. Victoria developed two different rare conditions that completely changed her life, leaving her in a coma for four years. Her recovery journey taught her how important setting progress goals are to staying motivated while working towards something big.
Isabella was able to play with Victoria, and said this…
“It was incredible what she knows about sports. Whenever I talk with a guy about sports outside of FT, I’m not taken seriously, like I don’t know what I am talking about. When I was talking with her, she affirmed me. She knew all about sports, even more than me, and it made me feel so good to talk with her about it.”
For Isabella, her biggest take away was about herself identity. “My self-identity isn’t something casual I brush past, it’s something I should fully embrace and be proud of. The more pride I have, the more connection I have to myself and that strengthens my self-identity. Putting myself out there when I play golf is what makes me special. Golf is traditionally a white male sport, so being able to not only represent girls but also Latinas when I am playing hopefully can help inspire others to do the same, not just in golf but in sports in general. Representation matters!”
Marissa also had an impactful and memorable experience at the Game Changers Academy. For Marissa, one of her biggest takeaways was learning about the different traits that go into a good leader.
Marissa had this to say…
“Being inclusive is a really important part of being a good leader. It not only starts with understanding who you are as a person, but also by taking the time to understand others values and using that to make a stronger team. Making sure you are listening to everyone is really important, along with having the confidence in yourself to go above and beyond to make a difference.”
Marissa says that her experience during this academy will help her to be a better junior coach with FTSV. “It helped me to become a lot more aware of my actions and for me to make sure that I am listening to my participants, making sure they feel like they belong and are being included. This is a good example of how I can be a leader for the younger participants.”
Thank you, Isabella and Marissa, for representing our chapter in such a positive way!
First Tee Leadership Academy, June 17th – 22nd
FTSV participants, Dakota Chang and Ashely Pang recently returned from the PGA TOUR SuperstoreFirst Tee Leadership Academy. The Academy builds on the 5-week local Leadership Series 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 teams 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.
Both of our participants had fun and meaningful experiences that they will remember for a lifetime. During their week, they heard from many guest speakers, including the president of the PGA TOUR Superstore, Jill Spiegel. She spoke about the importance of leadership and a strong work culture, and different strategies for bringing teams together.
They also learned about the important traits of good leaders. For Dakota, her biggest takeaway was “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?’. They aren’t afraid to step back and let others take over, and that allows for more diversity and improvement through reflection.” She knows that constructive leadership comes from always striving to do better without putting yourself down for making mistakes.
When asking Ashely about what she learned during the Leadership Academy, she focused more on teamwork. “In a team, communication and relationship building are the fundamental basis of making a team work. Trust is really important in communication, and being able to apply that value with people I didn’t even know was really special. By the end, we had formed teams and lifelong friends! Remember, challenge breeds innovation.”
The Academy was a great opportunity for Ashely and Dakota to apply the leadership skills they learned in their FTSV Grades 9-12 classes, and in their ACE classes. This Academy and the other National Opportunities are part of what makes First Tee special as they help shape the leaders of tomorrow.
This particular national opportunity became available to participants who excelled during the First Tee Leadership Series that took place at our own local Cupertino PGA TOUR Superstore. If your participant is in high school and is interested in being a part of next year’s Leadership Series, please reach out to Coach Phoenix ([email protected]) or have them tell their coach next time they see them!
Join our Program
Join our program by clicking here. The 4 participants have been in our program since they were in grade school and have been models of consistency throughout the years. It is no wonder they are leaders amongst their peers and we are glad their hard work and dedication paid off.
First Tee – Silicon Valley participant, Tristan Hipolito, was recently awarded the 2024 Dennis Kettman Memorial Scholarship. Each year golfers in the Dennis Kettmann Memorial Tournament raise funds to remember Dennis. Their generosity underwrites this special $5,000 college scholarship for a FTSV chosen participant.
Dennis’s son and co-organizer of the Memorial Tournament, Matt Kettmann, learned the game from his father, Dennis, and knows that he must be smiling knowing that his memory is now helping FTSV’s young people pursue their college dreams.
David Henningsen, who is also a co-organizer shared, “It was so wonderful to have the recipient of the “Big D” scholarship play in our tournament and speak to the supporters about how FTSV has impacted him.”
More About Tristan Hipolito
Tristan has been a participant in our program since 2017, joining FTSV after previously participating in FT East Bay (now FT Oakland). As a participant, he continuously goes above and beyond. He speaks up and contributes to Life Skill discussions, works exceptionally hard on improving his golf game, and actively seeks out other ways where he can be of service. He recently represented First Tee in the national Participant Advisory Council in Florida where he was one of eight selected from around the country. Tristan is also a member of our Junior Council where he leads his subcommittee on raising money and donations for our chapter.
Not only is he an engaged and impactful participant, he is also a reliable and kind volunteer junior coach, passing on the lessons he has been taught to the next generation.
This scholarship will go a long way in helping Tristan pursue his educational goals and beyond. Thank you to the Dennis Kettman Memorial Golf Tournament, and congratulations to Tristan!
Interested in joining the program like Tristan? Please click here
Interested in becoming a volunteer coach like Tristan? Please click here
Interested in making a donation to help participants receive financial aid? Click here
Interested in our local, regional, and national opportunities? Click here
(FTSV Alumni Meetup at SF Giants Game) – This past weekend, First Tee Alumni from across the country came together at the San Francisco Giants game to catch up with old friends, make new ones, and enjoy an afternoon of baseball and fun. Past participants from FTSV, FTSF and other chapters were all in attendance, as well as leaders from First Tee Headquarters, FTSF Program Manager TK Thein, and FTSV President & CEO George Maxe. Even though the Giants were not able to secure a victory, the alumni meet up was a great success. FTSV already looks forward to the next one!
When asked about the event, FTSV Alum Kunal Laroia said, “It was great to see and catch up with everyone at the Giants game. The work FTSV has done over the years has truly shaped all of us, and it’s always inspiring to reflect on how much we’ve grown since our FTSV days.”
First Tee Alumi “All Grown Up”
The biggest take-away from the event was seeing the growth of First Tee alumni after aging out of the program. Where they were once kids, practicing their life skills on the golf course and navigating adolescence, now they are developed, capable and confident young adults. It was exciting and inspiring to see how participants had taken what they have learned and practiced in FTSV out into the world, and to hear all about their accomplishments.
Pursuing Goals Long Term
At the course, coaches stress the importance of short- and long-term Goals and creating Goal Ladders. After hearing about what the Alumni have been up to after leaving FTSV, it is clear how setting goals and planning for the future has helped them achieve whatever it is they are passionate about. Not only is FTSV happy for these ex-participants, FTSV is happy for the entire program, knowing how the lessons being taught now will impact them as adults in the future.
Building our Alumni Network
FTSV is so proud of all the work our alumni are doing, and if you are someone who was once in our program, we would love to hear what you’ve been up to! If you’d like to catch up with George ([email protected]) or just help to inspire current participants with your story, please reach out to Phoenix ([email protected]). Maybe you can even come share some of your knowledge in one of the ACE classes or become a FTSV Ambassador!
If you’d like to become a member of our Alumni Club someday, first you need to register for our program. You are in luck, because registration opens TODAY! Please visit our website to register for a session. We hope to see you out at the course!
(MOCA Foundation $30K Grant for Gilroy) – The Moca Foundation provided a $15K grant to support course sessions for Gilroy youth and $15K to support our School Program at Gilroy Title 1 Schools.
First Tee – Silicon Valley delivers Youth Development to South County
First Tee – Silicon delivers our youth development program at 3 locations throughout Silicon Valley with Gavilan College Golf Course serving South County youth. The Moca Foundation grant will help underwrite mentor training to provide a 1:4 coach:participant ratio coaching, curriculum supplies and golf course access fees especially for the youth in the Gilroy area. FTSV is focused on building relationships, fostering teamwork and inclusion, and creating an engaging activity-based learning environment that makes learning interactive and fun.
Moca Foundation Funds will underwrite 3 Gilroy Title 1 Schools
We are also excited to announce that The Moca Foundation will also be funding 3 Gilroy Title 1 Schools (Mt. Madonna High, Solorsano Middle and South Valley Middle) so they can participate in our School Program utilizing financial aid supported by grants. Our goal is to transition/recruit low-income kids from our School Program to our Course Program at Gavilan Golf Course. The Moca Grant will underwrite golf and games equipment, training and a field trip to Gavilan for 3 new schools.
May van Scherrenburg, The Moca Foundation Associate Director shared…
“We are proud to support First Tee – Silicon Valley’s efforts of character and leadership development for Gilroy youth to foster a culture of acceptance and provide mentorship. 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.”
If you are interested in learning more about how you can support our programs or improvements, please contact Judy Dixon Deaton, Development Director [email protected] or 408-508-4881.
