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During First Tee Week, we celebrate the coaches who make First Tee a safe and special place for kids to learn golf and life skills.  

As vice president of programs, Ryan Graff meets First Tee coaches from across the globe. He knows they’re the beating heart of First Tee but finds they don’t always take credit for their incredible impact.  

According to research from First Tee and The Harris Poll, parents believe coaches can impact their child’s ability to work well with others (89%), respect others (89%) and show resilience in the face of challenges (88%). 

Ryan shared his perspective on the power of coaches after attending a coach training in Denver: 

As I travel and meet with the amazing people who volunteer and work at First Tee chapters, our conversation leads to me asking, “So what do you do at your chapter?” A common response is, “Oh I am just a coach.”  While I rarely correct people on the role they serve – because what do I know? – in these cases, I have to respond with, “You are not JUST a coach … you are a COACH.” 

So many thoughts fire off in my brain: Do you know the power you have in the lives of participants?  Do you understand the impact of your engagement and interactions with these kids and teens?  Do you realize they are watching and listening to how you carry yourself? 

When observing a First Tee class, it may look like play, fun and learning a lifelong sport. But there is serious work going on underneath the game.  

• There are decisions being made on which club to select or shot to play (using good judgment) 

• Participants are selecting targets (pursuing goals) 

• They’re learning to navigate obstacles on the course (growing through challenge) 

• They’re having moments of success and connecting their actions to outcomes (building positive self-identity) 

• They’re learning how to cooperate and show respect to others in their class (collaborating with others) 

At best, a golfer left to their own devices has a 50/50 chance for these skills to transfer and apply to their life off the course. But with a trained coach guiding them through the process, this will increase those odds to 80% or higher. While I am not a gambling man, I like those odds.  

The word “coach” is derived from an old English term for a horse-drawn carriage. Coaches took important people where they wanted to go. It’s no different today; kids and teens are important people and coaches assist them to get where they want to go in life.   

I get it: As coaches, we often do not see the fruits of our labor. Sometimes, we never know the impact we had. But you are not JUST a coach; you are playing a critical role in the development of a human being – the development of their character, their moral compass, and assisting to shape their values.   

Coaches are role models, and the actions they display imprint and affect how kids and teens show up in this world, carry themselves, and interact with others.   

So, let’s drop the JUST. Being a coach is the highest honor and position one can have in the life of a kid or teen. Coaches leave lasting lessons and shape the character of participants lives, long into the future. If you are a coach, be proud and know you are making an impact on your participants.  Future generations depend on you!   

Interested in getting involved? 

You don’t have to be a great golfer to become an impactful First Tee coach. We train all of our coaches to deliver our proven curriculum.  

Find a chapter near you. 

Maria Ramos tried her hand at several sports before fate intervened. Her grandfather was a talented golfer and caddie. Though they never met, his legacy helped shape the path she walks today. With his memory in mind, Maria’s mom encouraged her to try golf.

Watching tournaments on TV, Maria noticed there weren’t many players who looked like her. Still, the presence of trailblazing players like Lorena Ochoa and Maria Fassi helped her envision a place for herself in the sport. “One day, we went to First Tee – Greater Philadelphia, and there was this overwhelming sense of kindness and care for students,” Maria said.

She quickly discovered that First Tee offered more than golf instruction. One lesson that left a lasting impression is the importance of using good judgment, Maria said. On the course, this means evaluating your shot from every angle, making a decision and executing with confidence, Maria explained. Off the course, it’s the mindset Maria brings to solving computer algorithms — thinking critically and acting with clarity.

College, community and continued growth

Maria now studies artificial intelligence at the University of Pennsylvania. She’s a member of the First Tee College Scholarship Program, which provides financial support, professional development opportunities and mentorship to standout First Tee alumni.

The program has helped Maria sharpen her networking skills, and she’s built strong bonds with her fellow Scholars, she said. “Now, as an adult I represent the future of First Tee,” she said. “I have no doubt we will all be friends for the rest of our lives and maintain involvement.”

Maria’s commitment to making a difference was recently rewarded by First Tee Trustee, Accenture. Maria teamed up with classmates to win Accenture’s 2025 Innovation Challenge an opportunity she learned about through Accenture’s partnership with First Tee.  During the competition, Maria and her teammates consulted for the Special Olympics, integrating technology and social impact.

“Partnering with the Special Olympics for this year’s Accenture Innovation Challenge was a delight,” said Christy Sovereign, senior managing director at Accenture and president and CEO of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. “Being able to witness how the next generation of leaders applied technology and teamwork to make a real difference in the lives of athletes and their communities was truly inspiring. Congrats to Maria and team for launching their Impact Passport program that empowers individuals with IDD to build social connections, track progress and engage with Special Olympics communities.”

Maria also explored her passion for making a difference through technology while studying abroad in Costa Rica. “I saw that some rural farmers had engineered amazing technologies that would likely never make it to market,” she said. “With my engineering background, eventually I hope to work in impact investing, focusing on technologies made by or for marginalized communities.”

Maria has big plans for this summer as a USGA Pathways Intern, which means she’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 U.S. Open.

The First Tee Alumni Network is your resource for job listings, networking and access to First Tee alumni meetups. Learn more.

First Tee-Indiana Alumni Zoe Brock was recently award the Louis E Ingelhart Excellence in Strategic Communication Award. It honors a student in Ball State’s School of Strategic Communication and Journalism who has demonstrated outstanding skill in advertising or public relations by effectively promoting brand awareness, understanding the target audience, and achieving specific goals of clients. Brock’s award stemmed from her work with the Richmond location this past summer. She served both as lead coach and social media manager. She submitted a portfolio of the social media promotional work she did for First Tee-Indiana in Richmond. Zoe was Indiana’s second participant to excel to ACE status in 2023. Congrats Zoe!

First Tee-Indiana welcomes Kiselya Salcedo to our team as the Director of Outreach & Women’s Golf. She will be focusing on the development of women’s golf initiatives as well as serving as the administrator for our School and Community Program partners.

Born and raised in Colorado, Kiselya has been an avid golfer for most of her life. She grew up playing any sport she could and ended up loving golf the most. She played college golf at Weber State University, where she met her husband Daniel. They have a dog named Monti and love all things sports and outdoors. Throughout her career she has worked running junior golf tournaments with the Utah Section PGA, organizing amateur events with Washington Golf, being a teaching professional and serving as an assistant college golf coach. She loves the game of golf and is excited to give back to it through the wonderful program at First Tee-Indiana. 

Lauryn Nguyen received her first set of clubs at age 5 and her lifelong love of golf began shortly after. Her mother, a golfer herself, enrolled Lauryn in classes with First Tee – Greater Seattle while she was in kindergarten and Lauryn quickly picked up the game as well as found a golfing community. 

“It was a great introduction to the sport and a great way to be surrounded by other people who were interested in golf,” Lauryn said about her early years in First Tee.  

As her love for golf grew, so did her passion for giving back to her community. As Lauryn began to make the transition to playing competitive golf, she continued to stay involved with First Tee as a junior coach to share the knowledge she had learned and mentor other participants growing up through the program.  

Through her time involved with First Tee, Lauryn not only learned golf, but also found a community of like-minded individuals. While junior coaching, Lauryn met and began mentoring a group of young women who shared her last name. Although the girls are not related, they share similar life experiences as first-generation Americans who found their community through the game of golf. They all became fast friends and together they founded the Nguyen Junior Am, a golf tournament that gives back to First Tee – Greater Seattle and the Washington Junior Golf Association.  

“They’ve done so much for us and our upbringing. We wanted to give back to the organizations that gave so much to us,” Lauryn said.  

Lauryn continues to excel both on and off the golf course.  She is currently a senior at Northwestern University where she is studying marketing and communications and playing on their Division I golf team.  

This year, for the second year in a row, Lauryn has been invited to compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, a tournament that highlights the top talents in amateur women’s golf and takes place at Augusta National Golf Club the week before the Masters Tournament.  

As she continues to prepare for the week ahead, her community at home is never far from her mind. Lauryn recognizes that each time she tees it up, she’s representing everyone who has played a part in getting her there, all the way back to her first class at First Tee at age 5.  

“I’m playing for myself, but I’m also playing for something so much bigger,” Nguyen reflected.  

Lisa Longino has over 30 years of experience in education with a focus on health, physical education and wellness. As the physical education specialist for the East Cleveland City School District, she is responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive physical education and intramural programs for Pre-K through sixth grade students. 

At the beginning of this school year, Lisa inquired with First Tee about implementing the School Program into the five Title I schools where she teaches. She was first introduced to First Tee through her interest in incorporating diverse programs into her curriculum.  

“First Tee’s focus on integrating life skills into golf education is more than just an innovative approach,” said Lisa. “It’s a transformative opportunity for my students.” 

Through a grant, Lisa was provided with training, golf equipment and lessons plans that integrate life skills and values with the game of golf at no cost to herself or the district. She will now be able to introduce First Tee programming to students at all five schools.  

“I’m truly excited to bring this program into our schools because it goes beyond teaching a sport,” said Lisa. “By providing equipment designed specifically for youth, I can create a safe and engaging environment where students can develop fundamental skills, both in golf and in life.” 

As Lisa begins to integrate First Tee programming into her classes, she will have the support of First Tee – Cleveland as well as an online community for teachers and youth leaders that deliver First Tee programming across the country. She looks forward to seeing how these activities will help students overcome barriers, develop resilience and build social and emotional strength that extends into their academic lives and beyond.  

“For many of our students, this will be their first introduction to golf, and I’m confident that it will open doors to new opportunities, build confidence, and inspire a love for golf that can stay with them throughout their lives,” Lisa said.  

Since 2004, First Tee has been integrating its curriculum into PE classes in schools in the United States and Canada. We’ve trained educators at nearly 12,000 schools to teach our program and in 2024, we reached more than 2.4 million kids at these schools.  

Youth sports participation can be a game changer for kids and families. Sports can help kids develop healthy habits and strong motor skills, but the benefits aren’t just physical.  

Parents agree that sports create opportunities for teamwork, improve children’s mental health and provide supportive adults to strengthen character development, according to research from First Tee and Harris Poll. 

But opportunities to participate in sports can be more limited for girls. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to play high school sports compared to boys. 

Enhancing access to sports is one of the aims on National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which celebrates the accomplishments of female athletes and highlights the benefits that come with playing sports, both on and off the field. 

Lauren Kyaw manages the coach program at First Tee. As a collegiate athlete now working in youth sports, she’s seen and experienced its benefits firsthand. In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, she shared her thoughts on how sports have changed her life. 

FT: What have you personally gained from playing sports? 

LK: Playing sports has given me the confidence to try new things and fail. I used to feel like I always had to be “perfect” in school and in life. Playing golf, perfection doesn’t exist. 

Playing golf also gave me the opportunity to stay active while doing what I love and connecting with people. I love meeting new people and being able to network, especially with the women in my community.  

Playing golf has developed my self-efficacy and grit, where I feel comfortable setting goals and going after them. It helps me stick to something, even when it gets hard and to fight for what I want to achieve.  

FT: Do girls face additional barriers when it comes to playing golf? 

LK: I have been playing golf for over 10 years and am still intimidated when I’m the only women on the range, practice area or in my group. It sometimes feels like I don’t belong, but I push past that and want to be a role model for other girls who play. 

After playing collegiate golf, I have seen so many of my friends and teammates give up the game entirely. It can be very difficult to make time for golf and the things you love, but I think it’s so important to continue to invest in your happiness.  

FT: The benefits of playing sports extend beyond physical health. What lessons from sports can girls carry into adulthood? 

LK: From my experience, sports help so much with mental health and provide a great way to invest in my overall happiness. I am so grateful when I’m out on the course and love to look at nature, focus on my breathing and disconnect. It gives me the time and space I need to refocus and serves as a restart for me.  

Golf has also helped me so much with my body confidence, which is especially important for girls, who can feel pressure to look a certain way. I feel strong when wearing golf attire, especially hot pink! 

And on top of that, playing sports has helped so much with my time management. I play a lot of golf, and it takes a lot of time. To be able to do this, I must maximize my time at work and home so I can do what I love. This is so important as a student-athlete, as playing sports can feel like a full-time job. Our college coaches always said, “Good Human- Good Student- Good Athlete,” and it is something I live by.  

FT: How do sports serve as a platform for girls to challenge stereotypes and break through societal expectations? 

LK: When I play golf, I have often faced pressure to play the “women’s tee” or get looks on the first tee. It takes a lot of courage for me to stand up for myself and ability. I hope new golfers feel the confidence to do the same. 

As girls play sports, they showcase their strength and talent. It is amazing to see what our bodies and minds can do and overcome what people think we should be able to do. I always go back to you “swing like a girl”, “hit like a girl”, or “throw like a girl”. From the athletes I know, I would love to play like a girl and win as much as they do. 

FT: What role do sports play in promoting gender equality, both on and off the field? 

LK: In golf specifically, there are important conversations happening during rounds surrounding business, relationship building and networking. When women feel confident and empowered to play, it brings them into these important conversations and positions them as leaders and decision makers.  

When more women play sports, it grows representation and shows girls that they can do it to. I think of women like Ilona Maher, Caitlin Clark and Simone Biles who showcase their strength and ability and are advocates for women in sports. They spark tough conversations, stand up for what is right and push societal expectations so that women are equally recognized in their accomplishments. 

First Tee’s commitment to fostering life-long learning and providing continued support for its alumni expanded this year as two First Tee alumni were named to the national Board of Governors. Sydney Burlison, an alumna of First Tee – Monterey County, and Rayshon J. Payton, an alumnus of First Tee – Metropolitan Oklahoma City, were announced as the newest members of the Board of Governors in October.

Sydney Burlison grew up in Salinas, California and participated at First Tee – Monterey County before beginning her collegiate golf career at Stanford University. While at Stanford, Sydney completed a double major in Communication and Film Studies and was a four-time NCAA Academic All-American. When asked her greatest athletic moment, Sydney named winning the First Tee Open with Fuzzy Zoeller (now PURE Insurance Championship) and qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open as her shining moments.

Upon graduation from Stanford University, Sydney spent a year at the University of Cambridge where she received her Master of Philosophy in Management. After bouncing around the world for a few more years working for companies like Nike and Sky Sports, Sydney ultimately made her way back to her home of Monterey County and quickly became involved with the community once again. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors at First Tee – Monterey County and on the Grant Committee of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. On a national level, Sydney mentors a First Tee Scholar and will now serve on the Board of Governors for a two-year term.

Rayshon J. Payton grew up in Oklahoma City and joined First Tee – Metropolitan Oklahoma City when the chapter opened in 2004. Throughout his time as a First Tee participant, he attended many of the national opportunities including the First Tee Open (now PURE Insurance Championship) where he played with fellow Oklahoma native Gil Morgan.

Rayshon went on to play collegiate golf at Oklahoma City University where he studied political science. He then received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2013. Shortly after his graduation from law school, Rayshon relocated to the Washington D.C. area, where he now serves as Special Counsel in the Office of Legislative Affairs. Rayshon continues to be active within First Tee through his relationship with First Tee – Greater Washington D.C. and most recently by attending a First Tee Alumni Network meet-up where he had the opportunity to hear from other First Tee alumni. Rayshon describes the experience of joining the Board of Governors as a “full circle moment.”

“Not only has being a part of the Board been a high honor, but it’s always been a goal of mine,” said Rayshon. “I hope to contribute my passion for mentorship and leadership [to First Tee]. I am here today because so many people took the time to mentor me and answer questions when I needed it.”

To learn more about First Tee’s commitment to their alumni, or to join the Alumni Network, visit here.

With nearly half of First Tee chapters celebrating more than 20 years of service in their communities, First Tee continues to pride itself on the stability of the network.

 “Our network is strong because of the incredible leaders who serve on our chapter boards and the staff and coaches who are the face of First Tee in their communities. We are grateful for each of them,” said Jennifer Weiler, senior vice president of network relations at First Tee.

As 2024 comes to a close, we take the time to recognize the chapters that celebrated their 25^th anniversaries this year.

First Tee – Connecticut serves the state of Connecticut. First Tee – Connecticut continues to expand its reach in the underserved and underrepresented communities through its school programs, specifically in Bridgeport schools where it’s delivered golf-based life lessons for almost 15 years. In 2024 it gave out 33 continuing education scholarships to participants including to Selam Olson, who was also a recipient of the national First Tee College Scholarship.

First Tee – Greater Akron serves Summit County in Ohio. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the chapter hosted The Game Changers Dinner with keynote speaker Coach Jim Tressel. At the dinner, the chapter presented awards including 25th Anniversary Game Balls to First Tee – Greater Akron co-founders Tom Knoll and Kevin Harris and the Moment of the Year Award to participant Jackson Young for his unforgettable hole-in-one.

First Tee – Greater Dallas serves Dallas, Collin, portions of Denton, Ellis, Rockwall and Kaufman counties. In addition to running programming, First Tee – Greater Dallas also hosts multiple special events including a golf marathon, the Forvis Mazars Golf Invitational and a Festival of Golf.

First Tee – Greater Sacramento serves portions of Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and El Dorado counties. In addition to the core First Tee curriculum, the chapter offers Girls Golf, a junior tour and various adaptive golf programs. 

First Tee – Greater Washington, DC serves the District of Columbia and Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia, and Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland. The chapter currently provides green grass programming at 23 locations and has over 1,000 volunteers. In 2024, First Tee – Greater Washington, DC surpassed two million area youth served through its golf and life skills programming over the last 25 years.

First Tee – Hampton Roads serves the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach, as well as Accomack, Northampton, Southampton counties in Virginia and Currituck, Camden and Dare counties in North Carolina. The chapter reaches 1,800 area youth through green-grass programming and an additional 350 families through their Military Voucher Program.  

First Tee – Manhattan serves Clay, Geary, Pottawatomie and Riley counties in Kansas. The chapter serves more than 750 kids and teens annually at their programming location Colbert Hills and an additional 9,000 through partnerships with 25 schools and youth centers.

First Tee – Metro Atlanta serves Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett and Henry counties. The HOPE Tee Shot at the TOUR Championship is one of First Tee – Metro Atlanta’s most cherished traditions, and in 2024, participants Alana Sims and Nigel Youmans were honored during the ceremony.

First Tee – North Florida serves Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties. In 2024 it opened the new Jacksonville Beach Game Changers Clubhouse which will allow the chapter to reach an additional 500 kids each year.

First Tee – Southeast Wisconsin serves Fond du Lac, Washington, Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth, Jefferson, Kenosha, Waukesha and Sheboygan counties. The chapter continues to grow and evolve through various community partnerships including Golf 101 clinics with Big Brother Big Sisters. In 2024, the chapter increased the number of participants reached by 25%.

First Tee – Tennessee serves the entire state with the five service regions being Memphis, Middle Tennessee, Chattanooga, Greater Knoxville and Tri Cities. This year they held three fundraising events with PGA TOUR players Peter Malnati (Knoxville), Stephen Jaeger (Chattanooga) and Loren Roberts (Memphis) to help spread awareness and raise funds to support programs in those regions. 

In 2023, First Tee – Oakland identified a need in their local area to provide additional programming for underserved students. Through a partnership with the Oakland Unified School District, they took off running to make a difference in their community.

The Oakland Unified School District is 90% diverse and 77% economically disadvantaged. For many of its students, First Tee – Oakland is their first introduction to golf. Last year the chapter was able to reach 1,100 students at school and an additional 200 students at Metropolitan Golf Links. Thanks in part to a grant from The Toro Company, First Tee – Oakland provided transportation to and from the golf course and introduced green grass golf programming to local students at no cost.

Shelley Hara, the general manager of Metropolitan Golf Links, grew up through OUSD. She understands first-hand the impact that golf and mentorship can have on students.

“The team at Metro and I take great pride in hosting First Tee along with other junior golf programs, creating opportunities for many kids in Oakland and the greater Bay Area to benefit from quality golf programing,” said Shelley. “It was gratifying to see how these programs could positively impact the youth in our community, introducing them to the game of golf in an engaging and supportive environment.”

According to a recent study by First Tee and The Harris Poll, among parents whose kids play sports, 95% said they’re effective for improving children’s mental health, and 94% said youth sports help connect kids with supportive adults to strengthen character development. Through this programming, participants are given the opportunity to benefit from sports and learn golf from trained and background checked coaches without adding additional financial burdens to families.

“It’s particularly meaningful to me, as a former OUSD student, to see this new iteration of First Tee focusing on Oakland Unified School District kids who may not have had an introduction to golf before adulthood,” said Shelley. “I’ve had the privilege of seeing past First Tee – Oakland participants head off to college, which shows how these programs can positively shape lives and open doors for future success.”

Due to “The Toro Company Grow the Game Through Impact and Inclusion” grants, First Tee – Oakland has continued to be able to provide their programming at no cost to participants and expand their reach in 2024. Over the last 25 years, Toro has donated more than $1.7 million to First Tee, making programming like that at First Tee – Oakland possible at First Tee chapters across the country.

“The growth and development we witness through these programs not only enrich the lives of individual participants, but also strengthens our community,” said Shelley.