PGA Archives - First Tee - Silicon Valley

FTSV Awarded PGA TOUR Superstore $31K Grant

As part of First Tee National’s partnership with PGA TOUR Superstores, First Tee – Silicon Valley (FTSV) was awarded a $31K Grant – $16,000 in support of our upcoming teen retention initiatives and $15,000 in support of our DE&I initiatives.

FTSV Teen Retention Initiatives

Our greatest teen recruitment challenge is teens’ lack awareness that golf is an option. Teens stop exploring new sports at this age and if they do explore, sadly golf is not always seen as “cool.”

FTSV believes strongly in and is committed to longitudinal mentoring and character development. The longer that we have to walk alongside kids, the broader and deeper their personal growth. Forming high quality developmental relationships with our experienced coaches is the most important element in the transfer of life skills to teen participants. We strive to maximize mentoring time (e.g., purposeful Q&A with participants about a class’s lessons and life skills) and minimize the “noise” of so many moving parts required to conduct quality programming. We draw from Positive Coaching Alliance and The Search Institute to deliver coach training that equips our staff with proven and effective relationship-building strategies.

The PGATSS $16K grant will support the coaching required for our existing and expanding teen initiatives. More specifically, this grant ensures experienced program coordination, which includes coaching delivery that is essential to maintain and improve our teen support.

FTSV DE&I Retention Initiatives

Our programs are accessible to youth of different backgrounds and perspectives and affordable to families experiencing financial hardship. Appreciating diversity, respect, integrity, active listening, and empathy are at the core of what we teach the youth we serve.

FTSV’s greatest challenge in reaching underserved/underrepresented youth is convincing parents that golf, in general, and our program, in particular, are a good opportunity and an affordable option for their kids and teens. A disproportionate percentage of the low-income youth in our service area are Latino. Many parents speak only Spanish and most believe that golf is too expensive and unwelcoming.

To overcome this challenge, FTSV intentionally partners with Title 1 schools near our on-course golf locations, which are located in lower income areas. Our School Program equips educators to successfully deliver FTSV’s curriculum of life skills through golf. It includes equipment on loan, training, support, coordination and a field trip to FTSV course locations. In addition, FTSV staff collaborates with the schools to attend on-site parent information and community events, where we can promote transition opportunities to our on-course golf program and connect with parents. Our staff uses this opportunity to break down stereotypes of golf, connect with parents, and provide information on the life skills curriculum, scholarships and future opportunities afforded to FTSV participants.

The PGATSS $15K grant will underwrite annual school partner fees for a total of 8 Title 1 Schools to ensure we are reaching underserved youth with the goal of transitioning them to our on-course program utilizing our financial aid program.

FTSV is very grateful that PGA TOUR Superstores chose our chapter to be a recipient of their generous grants to further these important initiatives.

Published: 09-12-2024

Dakota Chang and Ashely Pang at First Tee Leadership Academy

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!

If you want to learn more about the National Opportunities available to FTSV participants, please visit our website or email [email protected]

Published: 06-14-2024 Edited: 07-12-2024

Natalie Chen and Alexandra Varo Selected to First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore

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.

Click here to read the participant spotlight on Natalie.

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.”

Click here to read the participant spotlight on Alexandra.

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!”

Published: 06-12-2024

2024 First Tee Leadership Series

The 2024 First Tee Leadership Series in partnership with the PGA Tour Superstore finished this week. Thank you to the 12 FTSV participants that attended, and a huge thank you to General Manager Brad Hanson and his team at PGATSS Cupertino for leading the class!

What is the Leadership Series?

The First Tee Leadership Series is one of the exciting educational opportunities available to our high school participants. During a five-week period, 12 FTSV high school participants came together to learn about their values and strengths, to identify potential career paths, and to set goals that put them on the path towards success. Near the end of the series, the participants presented their chosen career and how their values and strengths fit within that career and illustrated what steps they plan to take in order to make it all happen. All participants received feedback on their presentation skills, and the series concluded with an informational panel hosted by First Tee Alumni from across the country. Of the 12 participants, we were allowed to select 5 that can apply for the upcoming Leadership Summit in Montana and the Leadership Academy in Atlanta.

In addition to their work and presentations in class, we were proud of how they listened and learned from each other, which are both tips for demonstrating our first life skill, Respect.

More Opportunities

This Leadership Series is one of many opportunities available to our participants through First Tee. From tournaments to workshops to academies, First Tee shows respect for the hardworking participants going above and beyond, and works to support growth and development. With the number of sessions taken, volunteer hours and by getting involved in other First Tee activities, driven participants set themselves apart and become eligible for these awesome opportunities. Please visit our website to learn more about what First Tee Silicon Valley has to offer, or reach out to Coach Phoenix at [email protected].

Thank you to everyone involved for making this opportunity a success!

PUBLISHED: 04-14-2024