Tag: national mentor month

National Mentor Month – Be a Coach… Be a Mentor

(National Mentor Month – Be a Coach… Be a Mentor Published 01/16/2026) January is National Mentor Month with #ThankYouMentorDay on January 21st. Mentorship underlies everything we do here at First Tee – Silicon Valley. For the past 25 years, our coaches have been making a difference in the lives of kids and teens, helping them integrate life skills into their lives and be amazing people.

Thank you to the incredible mentors who are the FTSV family! This past year we had 215 volunteer mentor coaches delivering over 9,500 hours of their time. Your hard work, care and dedication are what make all the difference!

This past year, we’ve featured some of our outstanding mentors and coaches. Here is what they are saying about why they chose to mentor youth.

Meet Austin

Austin graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo majoring in Sports Management from the Department of Recreation Parks, and Tourism industry. He has previous experience as a Program Coordinator and Youth Soccer League Director. Austin says, “I’m determined to build communities and influence the culture within them in order to create positive and unforgettable experiences that help people be their best.”

Sports have played a big role in Austin’s life and he fully believes in the power that sports has to make a positive difference. “There are so many role models in sports. Sports are full of metaphors for life, full of adversity and triumph. You have to learn how to be humble and respectful of others when you succeed, and how to shake things off and learn when things get hard. It’s a great place to practice one’s individual development, while also working with others either in competition or on a team.”

Meet Ysabelle

Ysabelle Lam started with FTSV in 2023. She began working with our participants at Baylands Golf Links and coaches with us every season. In her classes she successfully bonds with students over shared interests like art, gaming, and travel. Ysabelle knows how to break the ice, an important step to building a positive, trusting relationship that allows our coaches to effectively deliver our life skills curriculum in a safe, fun environment.

“When I started at First Tee – Silicon Valley, I was still in my first year of learning golf. My personal golf journey was extremely frustrating at times, so it became a great way for me to grow my character as well. I love using golf to teach life skills, because if you can stay respectful, confident, and truly persevere through an off day in golf, it prepares you to face and conquer challenging times in any aspect of life.”

Meet Sean

Sean graduated from California State University of Fresno where he majored in Communication and played on the football team. When he graduated, he became an NCAA Football Recruiting Lead and Weight Strength Coach, where he led fitness and weight training for over 150 athletes and where his joy for coaching developed. “I enjoy coaching because it allows me to see others succeed, foster deep connections, and help others grow and unlock their potential.”

Now he is excited to be part of “a unique opportunity to learn from participants, gain new perspectives on the human experience, and make a profound difference in people’s lives. This is a mission-driven career that offers the satisfaction of helping others and gaining new skills in the process.” Sean believes the most valuable lesson he can teach kids & teens in the program is “to love and respect yourself. Life is not coming at you; it comes from you.”

If you are interested in joining our coaching staff, working as a mentor and making a difference in your community, visit our VOLUNTEER PAGE to learn more. No golf experience necessary. Everyone has life experience! Hope to see you out on the course.

Mentor Spotlight: National Mentor Month

(Mentor Spotlight: National Mentor Month) Mentorship is the most important part of First Tee – Silicon Valley. For the past 25 years, our coaches have been making a difference in the lives of kids, helping them to learn important life skills and become amazing people. Thank you to the incredible mentors who are the FTSV family.  This past year we had over 200 volunteer mentor coaches. Your hard work, care and dedication are what make all the difference!

Let’s meet some of the longtime mentors at FTSV….

Coach John has been coaching for almost 10 years, passing on what he learned as a participant to the next generation of FTSV participants.  “As a former participant, it feels like I get to give back what I was taught, just like coaches did for me years ago. Specifically, a lesson that really stuck with me was about dealing with conflicts. Instead of a “I am always right” mentality, FTSV coaches taught me how to work with others to resolve an issue and find win – win solutions using the CARE model.”

CARE = Communicate, Actively Listen, Review Options, End with a Win-Win

For Coach John, it’s the people that make FTSV so special. “FTSV has developed a really good community of people, including the coaches, volunteers and full-time staff. The people are what makes you want to keep coming back. I get to work alongside people who really care about what we do and mentoring kids, and it makes even the challenging days fun and rewarding.”

Coach Tracy started volunteering with FTSV in 2019. As a former Division 1 college golfer and LPGA player, Coach Tracy has plenty of elite golf experience, making her an incredible asset to FTSV. “First Tee – Silicon Valley means that I can share my lifelong passion for golf with the upcoming generation of golfers,” says Tracy. “And while it’s great to see their golf skills improve over the season, it’s even more rewarding to help them learn and apply the life skills in their daily lives.” Coach Tracy is fantastic at turning golf instruction into memorable life lessons, helping participants to thrive both on and off the golf course. On top of coaching with FTSV, Coach Tracy is currently the Mountain View High School girls’ golf coach, and the team took the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division title this year. Congrats Coach Tracy and the Mountain View High School girls!

Since 2017, Coach Jeffy, who has had two of his children in FTSV, has been working with FTSV to make a positive impact in the lives of young people. With clear expectations and thoughtful questions, Jeffy helps our high schoolers think about their goals, make effective plans, and learn how to effectively communicate with peers and in the workplace. He contributes to the positive, supportive environment that exists within FTSV. He’s a living example of what a mentor should be.

“There are parents that think we need to just teach kids golf, but all of our Life Skill behaviors/tips are things that should start at home; FTSV coaches just reinforce them. I encourage parents, if they aren’t going to volunteer, to please be involved in what we are trying to help their kids learn. It’s going to be that much more effective if you can talk with your kids at home about what they are working on in class and help continue that learning.”

Join us!

If you are interested in joining our coaching staff, working as a mentor and making a difference in your community, please visit our website to learn more, or fill out this form to get started. No golf experience necessary. Training is provided. Everyone has life experience! Hope to see you out on the course.

Published: 01-10-2025