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School Skills Challenges

Our First Tee-Indiana leaders developed a special program for our First Tee School Program partners. This unique event gives students, many who have never been to a golf course, an opportunity to visit one of our green grass programming sites and experience golf on a real course using real golf clubs. Ten attending students from each school are selected by their P.E. teachers. On challenge day, the students will compete in a 9-hole skills event. Students answer First Tee core value questions at each of the nine stations that include putting, chipping/pitching, irons and wood shots. T-shirts are provided to the students and teachers and are color coordinated with their respective school colors. Lunch is also provided before students and teachers board their buses and return to school with the winners carrying a traveling trophy to present to their principal.

On May 19th, 11 Fort Wayne Community Schools gathered at Brookwood Golf Course and McMillan Park Golf Course to participate in the first events in their area. “I had the privilege of spending a few hours at McMillen with our students and staff. There were six schools at McMillen and Brookwood hosted 5 schools. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to be exposed to the game of golf, at a golf course, on a beautiful spring day. Laughter and excitement filled the air as our students enjoyed the day,” Jennifer Matthias, FWCS Board of Trustees.

In order to facilitate the School Skills Challenge days, First Tee-Indiana provides funding for .5 day substitutes for the P.E. teachers and pays for the use of the school corporation buses and drivers. All participating students receive an invitation to attend a local green grass program free of charge via scholarship opportunities.

All together, First Tee reached 260 kids this May through five School Skills Challenge days. “It’s great to see kids utilizing the skills they worked on at school come alive on the golf course. Their excitement for trying something new is very encouraging. We hope to see many of these students in our green grass programs this summer,” said Ali Beam, Senior Director of Programming.

Along with the Fort Wayne Challenges, Klondike Elementary from the Tippecanoe School Corporation piloted a Challenge day at West Lafayette Golf & Country Club. With school administrators present, we are sure to expand the program in the greater Lafayette area next year. Our longest running challenge site at Cascades Golf Course in Bloomington welcomed seven teams from Monroe County Community Schools. Both Franklin & Greenwood Community Schools competed at Otte Golf Center in early May with Webb Elementary taking home this year’s prize. “My students had a blast and all the schools had such great kindness and sportsmanship! Can not wait until next year.” Ryan Macy, Greenwood Community Schools.

First Tee alumni share the advice they’d give their younger selves

With graduation in the books, many kids and teens are looking ahead to the future. But we asked First Tee alumni to look back and consider the advice they’d share with their 18-year-old self.

David Singh
First Tee – Tampa Bay
Recently earned his Master in Healthcare Administration at the University of Pittsburgh

“Life is not always gonna stick to the script you’ve got in your head. Sometimes, it’ll throw you curveballs you never saw coming. Roll with the punches, stay flexible, and remember, there’s always a silver lining in every setback. Keep your chin up, ’cause even when things don’t go as planned, there’s still a world of amazing possibilities out there waiting for you.”

Savannah Mansueti
First Tee – Florida Gold Coast
Manager of operations at First Tee – Florida Gold Coast

“If I could advise my 18-year-old self, I’d emphasize embracing failure as a key part of learning and growth, seeing setbacks as opportunities to refine skills. I’d also stress the importance of building strong relationships with family, friends, mentors and colleagues for support and guidance. Lastly, I’d recommend prioritizing financial literacy early on, mastering budgeting, saving and investing for long-term stability and success.”

Haili Moore
First Tee – Greater Dallas
Student at Texas Christian University and entry-level staff accountant

“Do not allow yourself to settle in relationships, careers, friendships, education, etc. You are worth what you allow to infiltrate your time, peace and space. The thing is though, is that you are worth more than you’ll ever know.”

Jamie Rush
First Tee – Pittsburgh
Methodist University marketing student with a concentration in professional golf management

“My advice would be to live in the moment. We are always wishing for the next big moment and forget to treasure the times that we are currently in. I’m still trying to learn this lesson today. Enjoy every aspect of the here and now, slow down and don’t wish your life away.”

Spencer McIntosh
First Tee – Tampa Bay
Director of business intelligence and analytics at First Tee

“I would encourage my 18-year-old self to be continuously educating yourself whether that be reading more books, taking additional courses or seeking mentorship. I’d also recommend that he build a strong network and surround himself with supportive and knowledgeable people so you can apply those lessons to his passions. Then finally, I’d tell him to pay those gifts forward to the next generation of game changers!”

Srishti Dhurandhar
First Tee – Metropolitan New York
Business and technology management student and collegiate golfer at NYU

“Some advice for my younger self would be to be less afraid to ask for help and make mistakes. I learned the most when things didn’t go according to plan and wish I had spent less time worrying about doing everything perfectly because everything will work out in the end as long as you surround yourself with people you can lean on. “

Are you a First Tee alumna? Learn more about the First Tee Alumni Network.

Two Chosen for National Opps

Chapman and Tellez chosen for National Opportunities

We’re proud to announce that Jacob Tellez from our Michiana location was selected for the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr this July in Minneapolis, Minnesota! During this event teens will participate in important conversations embracing topics of self-awareness, inclusivity, and community building.

Indianapolis’s Blayze Chapman had been selected to participate in the First Tee Leadership Academy in Montana in August. The Academy is designed for teens to explore leadership concepts including (1) building authentic relationships by developing awareness, (2) growing through challenges 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, Chapman will participate in activity-based workshops facilitated by leaders from PGA TOUR Superstore headquarters, West Creek Ranch, and First Tee headquarters.

Jacob Tellez

Blayze Chapman

On-line Auction Now Live

Support the Indiana Golf Foundation and First Tee-Indiana with our Online Auction going live this Monday May 20th at 8:00 AM EST. You don’t want to miss out on these one-of-a-kind items!

Click the link below to check out our auction items!

https://event.gives/firstteeauction24

Learn more about First Tee: http://ow.ly/rw5o50J7Eg5

Donate: http://ow.ly/8oNI50J7Eg1

Where are they now: First Tee National Championship winners

First Tee returns to Clemson University this year for its 4^th annual National Championship. This year’s field includes 24 boys and 24 girls from First Tee chapters across the country to experience what golf looks like at the next level.

In addition to showcasing their skills and perseverance on the course, players will also attend a golf careers panel and a keynote address from First Tee alumnus Gavin Parker.

This year’s tournament will be streamed on Gamecast, and you can follow scoring on Golf Genius.

Before we head to Clemson, we caught up with our past winners to see what they’re up to.

Ashton Harper
First Tee — Roanoke Valley

Ashton won the inaugural First Tee National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and is now a member of the golf team at Virginia Tech, where he is majoring in business. Ashton said his experience with First Tee taught him valuable lessons in perseverance. “Golf is not a game of perfect, and there will always be ups and downs when playing this game, but they are magnified in tournaments due to the high stakes. I was able to use perseverance to fight these ups and downs,” he said.

Ashton aims to become an All-ACC player by the end of his tenure at Virginia Tech before going on to play professionally.

Symran Shah
First Tee — Greater Dallas

Like Ashton, Symran won the First Tee National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and now plays golf at Virginia Tech. She studies business and plans to have a career in healthcare administration.

Hannah Lydic
First Tee — Delaware

Hannah won the 2022 First Tee National Championship held at Notre Dame and is now a member of the golf team at the University of Richmond, majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing. Her experience in the First Tee National Championship taught her patience and perseverance in both herself and her game, she said.

As a Spider, she’s won awards for golf and academics. “What’s cool about the game of golf is that if you play calm and treat your playing partners with kindness, you will ultimately have a better experience on the course which will allow you to play at a higher level,” she said. Because of her experience with First Tee coaches, she fell in love with golf and now has the goal to become a collegiate golf coach.

Hunter Swanson
First Tee — Green Valley Ranch

Hunter won the First Tee National Championship at Notre Dame in 2022 and is now a business student and member of the golf team at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Hunter lost to Ashton in a playoff at the 2021 First Tee National Championship, which inspired him to have the perseverance to come back and win at Notre Dame and taught him how to be more comfortable in high stress situations, he said.

As a college golfer, Hunter said the most important lesson he learned from First Tee is confidence. “I find I play more relaxed and have a better game when I practice enough to believe in my abilities,” he said. Since winning the First Tee National Championship, Hunter has made the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, been a Pac-12 Men’s Golfer of the Week and the Nevada State Amateur runner up.

Megan Meng
First Tee — Greater Trenton

Megan won the 2023 First Tee National Championship at Stanford and is preparing to begin her college golf career at Northwestern, where she’ll study economics. Her experience playing in the First Tee National Championship challenged her to be hardworking and patient. She said she continues to use other First Tee lessons. “I find that it is important to always apply respect, sportsmanship and courtesy to those you are playing with,” said Megan, who also won the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship.

Recently, Megan was a member of Team USA at the 2023 Junior Solheim Cup and a 2023 Rolex Scholastic Junior All-American. She’s currently in the Top 10 of the AJGA Rankings and plans to pursue professional golf.

Cooper Groshart
First Tee — Central Coast

Cooper won the 2023 First Tee National Championship at Stanford and now attends California State East Bay, as a business administration major and a member of the golf team. Confidence is a First Tee lesson that Cooper keeps with him today while playing competitive golf. His experience in the First Tee National Championship was inspiring, as he saw so many people from different places share the same drive to compete and succeed in golf, he said.

Cooper played in the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur in Charleston. As a freshman, he competed in 12 tournaments with his college team and has been on the dean’s list both semesters. He said his goal is to continue to improve as a player and a person.

Learn more about the First Tee National Championship.

First Tee College Scholarship Program celebrates first graduating class

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – (May 14, 2024) – Four years ago, President George W. Bush had a big surprise for seven exemplary First Tee participants. First Tee’s honorary chair told the teens they were selected as inaugural members of the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Now the organization is thrilled to celebrate their graduation.

“Congratulations to the first graduating class of First Tee College Scholarship Program,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We are very proud of your hard work and commitment, and we look forward to watching you move into the next stages of your journey. First Tee is proud to have played a role in your development.”

“First Tee is family,” said Ricky Lam, a First Tee Scholar who is graduating from Harvard University and pursuing a career in insurance. “Ultimately First Tee is a place where you have such a strong support system to be able to pursue your passions, ask for help, expand your horizons and network so you can be the person you strive to be.”

The First Tee College Scholarship Program is a need- and merit-based scholarship program through which Scholars receive financial support and access to a wide range of professional development opportunities. Each Scholar is paired with an adult mentor to ensure they are equipped with the tools they need to be successful in college and beyond.

“The First Tee College Scholarship Program really helped me find connections, especially with my mentor,” said Malisone Chanthanpanya, now a graduate student and member of the golf team at Texas Wesleyan University. Mali is one of three Scholars who graduated early to bring the total number of graduated First Tee Scholars to 10. “She was a great resource who I could talk to about not just college and my career but about life. I got to meet a lot of people through the scholarship program.”

The First Tee College Scholarship Program was launched in 2020, and it recognizes First Tee participants who have shown dedication to academics, community service and their First Tee chapters. It has since grown to include 70 Scholars, with the 2024 class slated to be announced next month.

Meet the graduates:

Luke Boldt
First Tee – Coastal Carolina / East Carolina University
He has accepted a position as a medical missionary for two years and plans to apply to medical school.

Malisone Chanthanpanya
First Tee – Fort Worth / Texas Wesleyan University
She’s in graduate school and prepping for LPGA Q-school in the fall.

Jessica Jiao
First Tee – Metropolitan New York / Georgetown University
She has accepted a position with BNP Paribas Bank in its equity capital markets department in New York.

Ricky Lam
First Tee–Tri-Valley / Harvard University
He has accepted a position with Sompo as a commercial underwriter.

Kelly Low
First Tee – Fort Worth / University of Texas at Dallas
She has accepted an offer with Amazon Web Services as an associate solutions architect in Austin.

Nicole Monsalve
First Tee – Miami / Duke University
She has accepted a position with the NFL in its two-year rotation program in New York.

Sara Rintoul
First Tee – Central Florida / University of Florida
She has accepted an offer at Proctor & Gamble as a brand manager in Boston.

Remi Shendell
First Tee – Metropolitan New York / Emory University
She is graduating with a double-major in biology and political science.

Borina Sutiko
First Tee – Silicon Valley / Santa Clara University
She hopes to attend Cal Berkely this fall to earn her master’s in information systems.

Denise Wei
First Tee – San Francisco / University of California, Irvine
She has accepted an offer with PwC in its audit division.

The importance of embracing differences and different experiences

February is Black History Month, an important time to recognize the contributions and remember the hardships endured by generations of African Americans. Appreciating diversity and what makes us each unique remains an integral part of First Tee’s DNA year-round.

“When you bring together people with different perspectives and different experiences, the whole becomes stronger than the sum of its parts,” said Pepper Peete, whose career in golf began more than two decades ago when she established the men’s team at Edward Waters College, an HBCU in Jacksonville, Florida. Peete now helps lead culture and inclusion efforts at First Tee headquarters.

Access for All

First Tee has always been committed to reaching kids from all backgrounds and making sure they feel included in our programming. At First Tee we commit to:

Appreciating what makes us different.

Providing everyone with what they need to succeed, knowing that our needs and challenges may differ.

Creating space that makes every individual feel like they belong and can see themselves reflected.

Collaborating with others – including those who are different from you – is a Key Commitment at First Tee, and it means showing respect, kindness and care for everyone. Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, ability, sexual orientation or lived experience, we’re all unique.

Here are some ways kids can get more comfortable learning about and from others.

A-L-R is a tool for learning about others

First Tee coaches introduce the concept of appreciating diversity by explaining that people differ in many ways and are similar in other ways, and we all have strengths and weaknesses. It is important for kids and teens to understand, accept and appreciate their own strengths and weaknesses, but it is equally important they do the same with others.

Engaging others in conversation doesn’t always come naturally to children, but it can be one of the best ways to form meaningful connections across perceived barriers. A-L-R is a strategy we teach at First Tee.

Ask questions: Invite your child to ask questions to discover more about a person’s background and past experiences, which might provide insight into who they are today and the commonalities they share.
Listen to understand: Introduce active listening by encouraging your child to focus on what others are saying rather than thinking about what to say next.
Reflect and respond: Invite your child to show how they were listening by responding with a thoughtful question or sharing your own thoughts or feelings on the topic at hand.

Through this exercise, kids might learn they share common interests with someone who looks or sounds different to them.

Don’t forget that in addition to learning about others, preteens are often grappling with and discovering their own identities. If your family positions diversity as an asset, your child might feel more comfortable being themself.

Exposing your child to food, music or books from other cultures can help them see the commonalities we share and appreciate that our differences make the world a richer place. You can also discuss the diversity that exists within your own family or community to show that diversity is everywhere, including the golf space.

“Golf has given me an opportunity to go places I never would have been able to go and meet people I never would have been able to meet,” said Peete, who was married to Calvin Peete, one of the most successful Black professional golfers in history. “I think golf can open up unexpected doors.”

A lifelong golfer and mother to two daughters who played golf at HBCUs, Peete has seen the sport become more accessible, especially to women, and she believes the golf course is a perfect place to break down barriers. “You get to meet so many different people through golf,” Peete said.

Jones and Etherington Attend Scholars Weekend

Rebecca Jones and Esther Etherington, both former First Tee-Indiana participants and National Scholarship winners, recently traveled to Jacksonville, Florida for the 2024 First Tee Scholar Winter Workshop. They had weekend filled with fun at a the beach, a Jacksonville Icemen hockey, a little mini golf along with a career fair, workshops and special speakers. The ladies also got to spend some time with Stephen Outlaw, the first ever First Tee scholar and Indiana native.

“We had the opportunity to meet Steven Outlaw as he with the keynote speaker at the graduation dinner for the senior class. Steve, a First Tee – Indiana alum from Lake County, was the inaugural First Tee Scholar. After speaking at the 2001 First Tee Network Summit, he was offered a full ride to Georgetown College in Lexington, KY as the president of the college was in attendance. He is a PGA Professional, has travelled the world playing and working in the golf industry, and currently works as the Director of Sales and Marketing at Troon Golf in Arizona,” said Etherington.

Jones’s experience was just as positive. “I had an amazing time at the First Tee Scholars Winter Workshop. I had the opportunity to meet other First Tee alumni, talk to industry professionals, and participate in professional development workshops. I am so thankful for the opportunities The First Tee has given me, they have made me grow personally and professionally.”

The First Tee Scholars program and weekend is one of many National Opportunities that are offered to First Tee participants across country. To see the full schedule of opportunities and their requirements, you can visit the national First Tee website link HERE.

Giving Tuesday & Indiana Golf

On this #givingtuesday we are highlighting two campaign pillars that go beyond the building. Using the link below, you can designate your donation to go towards First Tee Program Locations or scholarships that support First Tee-Indiana participants, a program reaching over 100,000 youth annually with the game of golf! #IndianaGolf has currently raised $4.8 million of our $6.5 million goal. Please consider the Indiana Golf Capital campaign today! Donate: https://charity.pledgeit.org/igcapitalcampaign… Learn More: http://indianagolf.org/capitalcampaign #indianagolf #capitalcampaign #TheFort

Beam Receives Honor From INSHAPE

Indiana Society for Health and Physical Educators recently name Northern Regional Director Ali Beam as its 2023 INSHAPE Recreation Professional/Leisure Educator of the Year Award recipient. The award was given at INSHAPE recent conference held at SportsZone Indy on November 9-10. Educator of the Year means through which INSHAPE recognizes the work of an individual who exhibits outstanding leadership in the recreation profession or as an leisure educator at the college/university level.

First Tee-Indiana partners with over 300 elementary and middle schools throughout Indiana with the First Tee School Program, a physical education curriculum centered around golf skills. Beam is the primary trainer of P.E. teachers and helped write the middle school curriculum with our national headquarters.

Indiana Golf Kicks off Capital Campaign

Located on the grounds of The Fort Golf Resort designed by Pete Dye at Fort Harrison State Park, the new Pete and Alice Dye Golf Center will feature new administrative space for staff, the Indiana Golf Foundation Hall of Fame, a Golf Academy, and an adjacent short game practice area.

DONATE

Indiana Golf has launched a four pillar Capital Campaign with the new Pete and Alice Dye Indiana Golf Center at the forefront. The central location of Fort Harrison will bring Indiana Golf’s homesite closer to our targeted programming population and provide a space for us to tell our story throughout the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame space. The property will include our administrative building, the Indiana PGA Golf Academy and an enhanced short game area. Our additional three pillars to the campaign include the Indiana Golf Trailer, support of our First Tee program locations and Scholarships to support First Tee-Indiana participants. To learn more about our campaign, keep up with progress, and/or speak with someone about a multi year pledge; check out indianagolf.org/capital campaign/.

View our Capital Campaign brochure HERE.

3rd Annual First Tee-Indiana Championship

Congrats to the winners and all players in the 3rd Annual First Tee-Indiana State Championship. Thanks to Eagle Creek Golf Club for being a fabulous host!

Boys Senior High

1st Blayze Chapman

2nd Kellen Eder

3rd Theo Thurmond

Girls Senior High

1st Demi Bolin

2nd Alivia Carlisle

3rd Celia Florkowski

Boys Junior High

1st Edison Armbrester

2nd Levi Simms

3rd Jaxon Brouillette

Girls Junior High

1st Camley Whitfield

2nd Paige Lautenslager

2nd Ashlynn Sessler

3rd Carli Kaminskis

Team Champion

Theo Thurmond

Blayze Chapman

Connor Jarrett

Braxton Dotlich

Liam Lawyer

Elijah Pell

Team runner up

Kellen Eder

Alivia Carlisle

Dane Bolin

Jack Wright

Evan Gann