Frequently Asked Questions - First Tee

Our purpose is to develop youth throughout Silicon Valley, build character and help them succeed in life. This coincides with First Tee’s mission to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values, and promote healthy choices through golf.

The cost for a full 8-week season (12 hours of instruction) is $230 (Full cost $300 — $70 subsidy by FTSV).
Financial aid is available on a sliding scale and can reduce the fee to $20-$180 (apply during registration).

Participants range from 2nd grade to 12^th. Previous golf knowledge is not required.

All FTSV participants begin in the PLAYer or PLAYer Teens (6^th grade & above) level, regardless of golf ability.
Participants progress through the levels based on ongoing assessments and a certification process during weeks 6 and 7, where they are evaluated on their retention of life skills and golf fundamentals.

Convey all Nine Core Values during class
Exhibit core life lessons during class
Complete post class assignments
Complete certification of golf and life skills assessments
Be grade eligible (3^rd grade for Par, 5^th for Birdie, 7^th for Eagle, 9^th for Ace

Reinforce and reward the life lesson each week. We will have the lesson posted at the golf course and sent in our weekly email. Please feel free to also check in with the coach to learn more about what was covered in the class.
Be supportive, and active listener, and ask questions. Encourage and reward effort and treat mistakes as opportunities to learn. Please refer to the Positive Coach Alliance’s “Second Goal Parent” resource on our Participant Private Page for more information on how to motivate, support, and empower your child in a youth sport setting.
Encourage students to practice/play outside of class.

You may watch your participant practice, but you must be 25 yards away.
We want the participant not to be distracted by their parent/guardian during class.

We kindly ask that parents do not coach during the class.
We have a coaching framework and philosophy that our coaches are delivering and parent instruction can complicate the lesson for the participants.
However, if you would like to volunteer and be a trained FTSV coach, we are always looking for help! Please visit the link to get started, https://www.firstteesiliconvalley.org/ways-to-give/volunteer/

You may purchase new golf clubs at any of our golf locations, or online at https://uskidsgolf.com/#
If you are looking into used clubs, please contact [email protected] once you are at the Par level.
If you are receiving financial aid and need clubs please contact [email protected] for a discounted set of clubs (when and if available).

When students are Par level and above (usually Par Part 2 and above) and your participant has demonstrated an interest in the game.

Every active participant will receive a discount card during their first season of each calendar year.
The card offers participants discounted 9-hole play fees at $5 for Gavilan College Golf Course, Rancho Del Pueblo Golf Course, Los Lagos Golf Course, and Baylands Golf Course.
Discounts for practice driving range balls are also available with the card.
The card is to be used only by the participant.

Similar to a golf tee time, everyone is encouraged to show up 5-10 minutes early.
For class safety and responsibility purposes we will turn anyone away who is more than 1 minute late.

Please notify your coach so he/she can work with you to catch up.
Unfortunately, we do not offer makeup classes.
A participant is allowed to miss two classes and still be eligible for the next level.
If a participant misses more than two classes, he or she can still attend the season, but he or she will not be eligible to move up.

To keep our coach-to-student ratio low, and for logistical reasons we do not allow students to cross over to another class.

We will cancel class if the weather is below 50 degrees AND severe weather conditions exist.
Please email [email protected] to receive an update on the day’s class status (up to 1 hour before class).

We offer local, regional, and national opportunities for participants as they advance through our program.
Local opportunities involve Girls Golf events, pre-season tournaments, scholarships. Both are available for Par level and above.
Regional opportunities include NCGA Youth on Course card which provides participants with a card that affords $5 green fees at hundreds of golf courses all over the Bay Area. There are also NCGA summer internships, scholarships, and summer caddie work experiences.
National opportunities are available for Ace level participants and it includes the Pure Insurance First Tee Open, FT National Championship, Life Skills and Leadership Academy, and FT Scholars Program to name a few.