September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. Alex Yang from First Tee – Coachella Valley shared his story of how the chapter has supported him through his diagnosis and treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
“I joined First Tee about 3 years ago, right after the COVID-19 pandemic. I played soccer for nine years and never played golf before, but I wanted to try a new sport outside of my comfort zone. As soon as I joined the program, I immediately fell in love with it. Before joining First Tee, I assumed it was just about learning golf and nothing else. I had no idea about the incredible life lessons they taught or the value of them. As a beginner golfer, I was very nervous and anxious about my lack of golf knowledge and was unsure how I would fit in. However, the environment at First Tee – Coachella Valley was astonishing.
It was a place where everybody was welcome, regardless of their background or skill level. All of the coaches and other participants were extremely supportive and encouraging to each other. As we learned about skills to use both on and off the course, it opened my eyes to how golf is more than just the sport. The lessons I learned through the core values and other curriculums helped me grow as a person and became a part of my identity.
As I continued with First Tee, I participated in many of their programs besides just their teen group classes such as the Divots and Diversity class, Evans Scholar Caddie Program, PGA TOUR Superstore Leadership Class, standard bearing at the American Express, giving speeches at First Tee events, and even being selected to go to the PGATSS Leadership Academy in Atlanta in 2023. Throughout all of these experiences, I was exposed to remarkable people as well as countless opportunities. This helped me to build my own self confidence and learn how to pursue the goals that I set for myself. As I expanded my horizons, I looked towards the many national opportunities that First Tee provides over the summer. Unfortunately, there were unexpected developments that prevented me from participating.
Starting in October of 2023, I noticed some signs that something was out of the ordinary. I experienced extreme fatigue, which caused me to fall asleep in almost every single one of my classes each day, even with eight to nine hours of sleep a day. I had just assumed that schoolwork and my activities were taking a toll on me. In December and January, I got sick very easily and multiple times in a short period of time. Starting in February, I developed a cough that I believed was a seasonal cold. As the coughing got worse, I took three trips to urgent cares, which only provided antibiotics and inhalers as they believed it was just bronchitis or a common cold. My mother requested a chest X-ray each time but was turned down all three times. As the condition worsened, I started to have difficulty breathing. This was when my mother rushed me to the ER on March 1, 2024.
The doctors there immediately noticed my right lung sounded diminished and ordered a chest X-ray. They were surprised that none of the urgent care doctors offered an X-ray to us. The results from the X-ray showed that my right lung collapsed due to excessive amounts of fluid. They immediately took me to the procedure room and drained two liters of fluid. I was then admitted to the hospital for further monitoring of my condition, which at the time they assumed was pneumonia. The doctors scheduled a surgery to drain the rest of the fluid as well as install a chest tube. The night before the surgery, the doctors changed the preliminary scan from an X-ray to a CT scan. With this scan, they found a 12 cm mediastinal mass on top of my heart which was blocking my airways. During the surgery they installed a chest tube and took a biopsy of the mass. A few days later, the results came back which showed that it was positive for blood cancer.
I began chemotherapy treatment to start eliminating the mass. We stayed in the Loma Linda area for six weeks before finally returning home. Once we returned home, we spent the rest of our time going back and forth to the clinic with occasional hospitalizations. I was never aware of the severe side effects that come with chemotherapy and how scary they can be.
As my doctor went over my treatment plan, she recommended that I take a year off of school because of the countless side effects and intensive treatment. However, I did not want to postpone my education and fall behind in my goal of becoming an engineer. I finished my 10th grade year through the online Home and Hospital program. Throughout the summer, I continued my education by completing an online class through my local community college as well as homework for the next year. Although things were extremely tough and painful, I did not want to give up and pushed myself to reach my goals.
Although treatment has not concluded yet, I cannot wait to return to First Tee and continue my journey with them. First Tee – Coachella Valley has continuously reached out to me and checked up on my condition. They try to help me in any way that they can, even starting a lemonade stand to raise funds for my treatments. Without the immense support that I received from coaches and fellow participants, it would’ve been a much harder journey. I had never realized how much support from loved ones and a strong community could make such an impact. It gave me the strength to push through the hardest times of my life.
Going through all of this, I have learned the importance of having a strong and supportive community with people to help you. This is truly one of the most precious gifts that you could ever have. First Tee has created a community unlike any other, and I am honored to be a part of it. Once I am able to, I hope to return the kindness and hope that I have been given back to my community and help others who are going through their own struggles. I am so thankful for everything I learned and have received from First Tee.”
This September two participants from First Tee – San Joaquin will make their way to Pebble Beach, California, to play in the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship, and they happen to be siblings.
Julian and Elle Gianelli have been First Tee participants for six years. After being introduced to golf 11 years ago by their grandpa, they both found a love for the sport: getting to learn from him, spend quality time together and even show off a little bit.
Julian is a junior in high school and is involved with Model UN, Key Club, Campus Ministry, Link Crew, the California Scholarship Federation, the varsity golf team and completed over 200 hours of community service in 2023. He’s also a 3rd degree blackbelt in Taekwondo, with the curriculum of First Tee reminding him of the curriculum taught in Taekwondo.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of my journey with First Tee has been the opportunity to give back to the community by coaching and mentoring younger participants,” he said. “Serving as a positive role model for these children has been an honor, allowing me to share the values and lessons instilled in me by First Tee and inspire the next generation of leaders.”
Another way Julian gives back to his community is through his passion project “Crop Kindness Connect,” where he collects excess fruits and vegetables from local growers and provides them to those in need and local lower income schools of Stockton.
His older sister, Elle, is a senior in high school and is involved in the chess club, Kids Connect Global and has earned the President’s Service Award with over 250 hours of community service in 2023. She is also a 3rd degree blackbelt in taekwondo and has been involved in several First Tee national opportunities, including the First Tee Innovators Forum, where teens develop a community service project to implement in their hometown.
Elle created a nonprofit called Socks4Seniors, which has provided over 6,500 pairs of silly socks and notes to over 100 nursing/assisted living facilities nationwide.
“I’ve been able to envision the impossible and am proud of what I have established and achieved through my nonprofit,” she said.
Julian and Elle are just two examples of the impressive 80 participants selected to play in the PURE Insurance Championship from September 17 – 22 This opportunity pairs each First Tee participant with a PGA TOUR Champions’ player and amateurs from the business world.
Good luck to all 80 participants as they continue their preparations for Pebble Beach!
By Kristin Westberg, Senior Director of Curriculum and Education
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”― Theodore Roosevelt
At First Tee, coaching involves far more than just teaching golf skills and life skills in a class; it’s about cultivating relationships that foster growth, build confidence and demonstrate resilience. But how can coaches create a foundation of trust that cultivates legitimate relationships with participants? Empowering Youth, one of the First Tee Coach Building Blocks, focuses on this aspect of development and is one key to building relationships that create impact.
Trust is the foundation
Eighty-three percent of parents wish their child had more access to trustworthy coaches. Trust forms the bedrock of any enduring coach-athlete relationship. It’s the glue that holds everything together, facilitates effective communication, skill development and overall progress. All First Tee coaches are background checked and formally trained to connect with participants, whether they’re passionate golfers or just trying something new. They prioritize building trust early on to establish a strong foundation that can lead to a lasting connection.
Positive role modeling
Ninety-two percent of parents say they hope their child has a coach who they would consider a role model. First Tee coaches serve as mentors and role models for participants. They lead by example and demonstrate the values they expect from participants. Kids are far more likely to do what you do, rather than what you say, and coaches recognize this as an opportunity to positively model both golf skills and life skills that can be applied on and off the course. Coaches are committed to Building Game Changers, work hard to embody the Key Commitments, set a positive example of pursuing goals, grow through challenge, collaborate with others, build positive self-identity and use good judgment. These behaviors help to build trust and foster connections with participants of all ages.
Continuous improvement
Fifty-three percent of parents say having a trustworthy sports coach or mentor would increase their likelihood to commit long-term to the activity. First Tee coaches understand that building meaningful connections with participants is an ongoing process, and the First Tee curriculum exists to support them through that. First Tee offers a variety of eLearning courses and supplemental resources, as well as HQ led trainings to deepen their knowledge and develop new skills, such as understanding the stages of youth development or tips and tricks for tackling skill disparities. These practices improve the learning environment in a class and create opportunities to develop relationships and strengthen connections with participants.
Ninety percent of parents believe that coaches are the unsung heroes of youth development. A coach’s influence extends beyond the course and long after the round ends. Genuine connection matters when building the coach-participant relationship and even more when building game changers. At First Tee, we recognize that when participants know you care, they’ll care what you know and that’s when true learning and growth happens.
The statistics used throughout this story are from a new study between First Tee and Harris Poll. Visit the Character Gap research to learn more.
Q&A with a Coach
Sterling Simmons III is a First Tee alumnus and the player development instructor at First Tee – Greater Richmond. In that role, Sterling leads First Tee – Greater Richmond’s Player Development Academy, First Tee matches and oversees the organizations PGA Jr. League teams.
How did you get involved with First Tee?
My father took me to the First Tee Greater Richmond driving range when I was younger, and I met my first golf coach Craig Wood. I’ve stayed involved ever since.
Why do you continue to coach?
I enjoy being able to be a part of the development process for our participants, both on and off the golf course.
What have you learned from coaching at First Tee?
First Tee has taught me that each participant is unique in their own way and as a coach, you have to be able to adapt how you teach to match the participant.
What do you think new First Tee students should know?
The course of life and the golf course are very similar. You will be presented with obstacles and challenges along the way, but the ability to navigate and overcome adversity will help you in the future on both of these “courses.”
What do you think new/inquiring coaches should know?
You don’t have to be a great golfer to make an impact on a participant’s life.
Parents rely on sports – and trained coaches – to help their children build character and learn life skills, including working with others.
CHICAGO, Ill. & PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 19, 2024) – While 93% of parents agree that kids can learn important life skills from playing sports, four out of five parents also believe there is a shortage of high-caliber coaches today.
That is from a new survey by global consulting and market research firm, The Harris Poll, and youth development organization, First Tee. The U.S.-based survey was conducted online in April 2024 with feedback from 2,049 adults.
The survey captured data on youth involvement in extracurricular activities and sports. The data was also analyzed by gender, age, race, education, and income, among other characteristics.
“Since our mission is centered on positive youth development, we think it is important to seek parents’ perspectives as the world around them continues to change and their kids face new challenges,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “It helps us better understand and serve youth, and in the case of this study, it reinforces the importance of our investment in training our coaches.”
First Tee’s network of 150 chapters engages more than 5,000 active, trained coaches who deliver a curriculum designed with input from youth development experts using golf as the platform. The training system is built on research-proven methods of positive youth development, providing coaches with the tools to make kids feel safe, included and empowered. As part of First Tee’s onboarding, each coach is background-checked and completes training from the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
The key findings from the survey include:
89% of parents feel character is a lost value that should be more emphasized in today’s society – an increase of +4 percentage points from the 2023survey. Today’s kids and teens are facing new challenges, and strength of character is essential for overcoming obstacles. Parents understand that need, as nine out of 10parents seek opportunities for their kids to build character.
Parents believe sports can help close the character gap. Parents put their kids in extracurricular activities – with sports being most popular – for socialization and to build confidence. According to 93% of parents, children learn important life skills from playing sports.
Parents believe coaches are essential to youth development. Parents turn to coaches to help teach their kids character, self-confidence, determination and leadership. 91% of parents agree that sports coaching should inspire children to excel both on and off the field.
Safety is critically important to parents. They prefer coaches who have been background checked, with 94% of parents citing it as a priority in today’s world and 83% wishing their child had more access to well-trained coaches.
“While every generation confronts their own unique challenges, kids are facing new barriers to character development,” said Harris Poll CEO Will Johnson. “Our research findings make it clear: Parents, when registering your kids for the upcoming school year, don’t forget the critical development that comes outside the classroom.”
This is the second annual research collaboration between The Harris Poll and First Tee.
For the results of the 2023 parent survey, click here.
***
About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”) First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA TOUR. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of kids annually through its network of 150 chapters, 11,000 schools and 1,900 youth centers. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, programs are delivered in all 50 United States and select international locations. President George W. Bush serves as Honorary Chair.
About The Harris Poll The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.
### MEDIA CONTACTS: Annika Mayers, First Tee [email protected] 904-273-3513
There was a viral moment at the 2024 U.S. Open, when in a news conference, First Tee – Sandhills participant Tytus Solt asked World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler about staying calm after a recent triple bogie.
“I think that’s something you just learn playing more and more golf, that bad breaks are going to come, but it’s more about your response to those things,” Scheffler answered.
Everyone has highs and lows on the golf course, but the most successful players have strategies to control their emotions. And the important thing is, those strategies can be useful in tough moments off the course too.
At First Tee, we teach the 4 Rs.
Relax: “This can look a few different ways,” explained AnnaLeis Caldwell, from the Programs team at First Tee. “You might hum a song while walking to your next shot. You might close your eyes for a moment or visualize your next shot.” The former collegiate golfer said she uses breathing patterns to calm down while walking to her ball. “Every player may find something a little different works best for them,” she said.
Replay: This technique is not just useful when you hit a poor shot, Caldwell explained. It is most effective when you use the 4 Rs to keep your emotions level, so you do not get too excited or upset. Replaying a good shot can help boost your confidence. Meanwhile, Bobby Jones famously said, “I never learned anything from a match I won.” Replaying a poor shot and considering what went wrong can be enlightening too.
Ready: This is when you choose your target and club before completing your pre-shot routine, Caldwell said. Consistency and rhythm are important in golf, which explains why research shows that having a pre-shot routine can help you play better.
Re-do: In this step, you put everything together, hit your next shot and start the process over again. “This is your opportunity to start fresh,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell still uses the 4 Rs when she is playing golf but acknowledged there can be off-the-course applications too. “It could be helpful for kids during testing, maybe after receiving a poor grade or even while playing other sports,” Caldwell said.
Actors Michael Peña and Kathryn Newton will headlinethe two weeklong retreats focused on sharpening leadership skills.
WEST CREEK RANCH, Mont. (August 5, 2024) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore are set to host 40 teens from across the country at West Creek Ranch, an intimate setting in Montana for leadership development, community building and connection. Owned by PGA TOUR Superstore chairman and First Tee board member Arthur M. Blank, the picturesque ranch is the perfect setting for a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these teens to explore leadership development, community building and problem solving. Students spend much of the time in outdoor interactions including whitewater rafting, horseback riding and archery, based on the belief that connections made in nature provide benefits that cannot be replicated in the classroom.
Each week will tee off with keynote speakers who will discuss their individual leadership, share life experiences and examine how they have grown through opportunities and challenges. The first week will feature actor Michael Peña, while actor and First Tee alumnus Kathryn Newton will be the featured speaker during the second week.
The First Tee Leadership Summit is designed to help teens grow their leadership skills through hands-on activities that require teamwork and personal strength. Daily leadership themes include pursuing goals, growing through challenges and building positive self-identity.
This is the fourth consecutive year that nonprofit youth development organization First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore will hold this event at West Creek Ranch. This year’s group comes from 25 cities across the country, with 20 teens attending each week. West Creek Ranch is a 6,600-acre working ranch in Emigrant, Montana, that is bordered by the Yellowstone River and Gallatin National Forest.
“We are excited to host these 40 impressive teens for an unforgettable week of personal growth and relationship building,” said Dick Sullivan, Executive Chairman & CEO, PGA TOUR Superstore. “So many lessons from golf can be applied to life, and we truly believe in the positive impact sports can have on kids and teens, which is why we’re proud to support this event and partner with First Tee chapters across the country.”
“Thank you to Arthur Blank and PGA TOUR Superstore for their continued generosity in supporting this event,” added Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “The lessons these young leaders will take away from Montana will shape their futures in remarkable ways.”
At the conclusion of the Summit, four students will be selected for the First Tee College Scholarship Program and will receive financial support as well as access to mentorship and professional development opportunities throughout college.
To be eligible for the Summit, teens completed a five-week Leadership Series that was hosted at PGA TOUR Superstore locations across the country, before completing applications that outlined their leadership experience and goals. For more than a decade, PGA TOUR Superstore and Arthur Blank have championed First Tee’s mission through donations and by supporting participant events, including the Leadership Summit and the Leadership Academy, which is held in Atlanta.
The Leadership Summit is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee to expose teens to new challenges and inspire them as they prepare to embark on life after high school.
First Tee – Metropolitan New York alumna and 2022 First Tee Scholar, Srishti Dhurandhar, has been involved with First Tee for more than 10 years. She made the most out of her experience by completing the First Tee Leadership Series, attending Leadership Summit and going on to work at her local PGA TOUR Superstore.
During her junior year of high school, Srishti completed five Leadership Series sessions, where she learned about personal values, leadership skills and exploring career fields. “The series planted little seeds of these ideas and then Montana really grew those ideas,” she said.
Following the Series, she was accepted to Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore in Montana. Participants at the annual event are encouraged to try new things like horseback riding and whitewater rafting. They learn about their own strengths and weaknesses, how to work as part of a team and how to build authentic relationships.
“Summit was a life changing week for me. I came back feeling like a whole new person,” she said. Srishti spent the week reflecting on and learning about herself.
The week allowed her to get comfortable being uncomfortable, with Srishti saying that she did things that she would normally never do thanks to the event’s focus on positive risk taking,. “The environment was so safe and supportive that I felt comfortable enough to do that,” she said.
Session 1 of the 2024 Leadership Summit will be from August 5 – 9 and session 2 will be from August 12 – 16 at West Creek Ranch in Montana.
Leadership Summit provided Srishti with the opportunity to talk to PGA TOUR Superstore executives and eventually go on to work as a club fitter at the store in East Hanover, New Jersey. There she learned a lot about customer service, clubs, shafts and how to use statistics to get people the clubs that fit them best.
Now as an alumna, Srishti jumped at the chance to go back to Montana as a chaperone.
“It was a full circle moment for me, standing in the same place that those participants were in and feeling the same emotions that they were going through,” she said. “Now becoming a mentor to those participants was emotional for me also.”
Not only did chaperoning provide Srishti with a valuable experience as a mentor but it opened doors for networking opportunities that made her aware of the First Tee headquarters internship that she is completing now.
“Working here has shown me how it starts at the root. You can tell that people are here because they want to be here, and they want to help the participants,” she said.
Both the Leadership Series and Leadership Summit culminate with final presentations in which Srishti talked about her desire to work in the golf industry and combine her passion of technology and data with her passion for sports.
“Going from the speeches I gave at the end of Series and Summit, to now living out those aspirations in this internship has been so rewarding and I absolutely love what I am doing,” she said.
Srishti will complete her internship in August and begin her junior year at New York University, majoring in business and technology management and member of the collegiate golf team.
For Mackenzie Mack, the impact of First Tee goes beyond the golf course. The skills, access and values she learned play an integral part in her life to this day.
With her mom looking for opportunities to help her gain college scholarships, Mackenzie began taking golf lessons. Little did she know she’d end up working in the industry.
The golf course became a safe place where she would hang out, create a family atmosphere and build a community while growing up, as an alumna of former chapter First Tee – Southern Nevada.
First Tee gave Mackenzie her first job, the opportunity to play different courses and her current network and friends, crediting a lot of her achievements and her impact to the program.
“Had I not had such a good program director and such a good program, I would not have felt inclined to pass it forward,” she said. “All of that came from my experience and time with First Tee.”
Through her current role as the director of DE&I and engagement at Topgolf Callaway Brands, Mackenzie follows her passions by working with employees – an aspect of her job that comes naturally after years coaching with First Tee, she said – as well as the larger golf community.
Topgolf Callaway Brand has become a major supporter of First Tee, and when talking about the relationship between her employer and First Tee she said, “I am happy and lucky to be at a company that is just as passionate about the program as I am.”
Now as a First Tee alumna representing her company as a Trustee of First Tee, she provides unique insights based on her own experience.
Inclusivity is baked into First Tee’s DNA, and First Tee and Topgolf Callaway Brands are partnering on the Game Changers Academy this July. The weeklong event brings together 72 First Tee teens from across the country to facilitate important conversations around issues of identity, diversity and equity. Mackenzie sat on the opening night panel with NFL legends John Randle and Eric Enron, Dr. Shelby Johnson of Mayo Clinic and Ebony Taylor or AWS.
“The world is changing,” said Mackenzie. “We are a leader in changing with it, especially in the golf industry, and as the global leader in modern golf we strive to make golf more welcoming and providing options so that everyone can enjoy the game in the way they choose to enjoy it.”
She included that there is much more to golf than the competition. This sport gives individuals valuable networking opportunities, physical and health benefits, and can help you navigate career paths in the future.
Mackenzie will be a panelist at the Game Changers Academy. Learn more about the event.
For Mackenzie Mack, the impact of First Tee goes beyond the golf course. The skills, access and values she learned play an integral part in her life to this day.
With her mom looking for opportunities to help her gain college scholarships, Mackenzie began taking golf lessons. Little did she know she’d end up working in the industry.
The golf course became a safe place where she would hang out, create a family atmosphere and build a community while growing up, as an alumna of former chapter First Tee – Southern Nevada.
First Tee gave Mackenzie her first job, the opportunity to play different courses and her current network and friends, crediting a lot of her achievements and her impact to the program.
“Had I not had such a good program director and such a good program, I would not have felt inclined to pass it forward,” she said. “All of that came from my experience and time with First Tee.”
Through her current role as the director of DE&I and engagement at Topgolf Callaway Brands, Mackenzie follows her passions by working with employees – an aspect of her job that comes naturally after years coaching with First Tee, she said – as well as the larger golf community.
Topgolf Callaway Brand has become a major supporter of First Tee, and when talking about the relationship between her employer and First Tee she said, “I am happy and lucky to be at a company that is just as passionate about the program as I am.”
Now as a First Tee alumna representing her company as a Trustee of First Tee, she provides unique insights based on her own experience.
Inclusivity is baked into First Tee’s DNA, and First Tee and Topgolf Callaway Brands are partnering on the Game Changers Academy this July. The weeklong event brings together 72 First Tee teens from across the country to facilitate important conversations around issues of identity, diversity and equity. Mackenzie sat on the opening night panel with NFL legends John Randle and Eric Enron, Dr. Shelby Johnson of Mayo Clinic and Ebony Taylor or AWS.
“The world is changing,” said Mackenzie. “We are a leader in changing with it, especially in the golf industry, and as the global leader in modern golf we strive to make golf more welcoming and providing options so that everyone can enjoy the game in the way they choose to enjoy it.”
She included that there is much more to golf than the competition. This sport gives individuals valuable networking opportunities, physical and health benefits, and can help you navigate career paths in the future.
Mackenzie will be a panelist at the Game Changers Academy. Learn more about the event.
“To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.” Dr. Seuss
Written by Chris Biehl
For the past ten years, if you asked my son Matthew who is his favorite golfer, his response may surprise you. Not Tiger. Not Rickie. Not Rory or Scottie. From the day he became a true golf fan, his favorite golfer has always been and will forever be Brian Davis.
Brian Davis? If the name sounds vaguely familiar to you, it should. Considered to be one of the greatest examples of golf’s “journeyman,” Davis’s career has spanned twenty-five years. The London-born precision-swinger has certainly made his mark with twenty-eight Top 20 finishes on the Tour, including five runner-ups.
Davis was a sixth place finisher in the 2003 British Open, and he was in contention at the 2009 Players Championship (5th place), but he is best remembered by golf enthusiasts for not winning the 2010 Verizon Heritage. At that tournament, Brian Davis found himself in a playoff against one of the more accomplished golfers of our generation, Jim Furyk. On the first hole of a playoff, Davis’s approach shot came up short and left of the 18th green at Harbour Town Golf Links, and he was forced to shoot his third shot from the hazard. Within seconds after hitting his third shot onto the green, Davis called longtime PGA Tour rules official Slugger White over to him and called a two-shot penalty on himself for barely making contact with an unattached reed in the hazard, something that may not have been noticed by anyone else if not reported by Davis.
In a moment, Brian Davis earned the respect of all who were watching or heard of his actions, and Davis became the poster-child for integrity in the only sport where one calls a penalty on him or herself. At the time when Brian Davis was making a positive name for himself in the world of sports, my son Matt never took notice. Matt was only five, but his knowledge of sports, particularly football and basketball far outweighed that of the typical five-year-old. He was a sports enthusiast at a very young age, but he had zero interest in golf.
About three years later, I received the call that no parent ever wants to receive from his child’s school. I am a teacher, and I was called from my classroom and told that Matt had an accident while at school. Although it was not deemed an emergency, I was asked to come to get him from school immediately.
When I arrived, my heart sank. Matt had fallen face-first onto the asphalt after slipping from monkey bars on the playground. The skin from the tip of his nose up to the area between his eyebrows had been rolled up and exposed a raw, oozing wound. Luckily, he had not broken any bones in his face. I remember a sad look on his face, one that was typically jubilant, when his eyes met mine. I brought him home, and he seemed miserable. So, I made a decision that was probably not the best parental decision, but it became a life-changing decision. That afternoon, I took him to the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic.
None of my four children had ever been to the Zurich Classic, but I had been attending the tournament annually for about ten years at that point of my life.
We arrived at the lot for general admission parking about thirty minutes after leaving the house. I had spent most of the ride telling him how cool the tournament was going to be. We parked and walked to the short line to board a charter bus that would take us to TPC Louisiana. He loved the bus ride – his first on a charter bus.
Next, we arrived at the course, and he chose to bypass watching the players practice their putting and chipping. So, we took the long walk along the 18th fairway and found a seat next to the Par 3 17th green. By the time we arrived at our seat, both he and I were sweating profusely due to the abnormally warm, humid, late-April day. It did not take long for the sweat to get into Matt’s wound, and he complained from the sting. I tried to quiet his suffering by distracting him and urging him to watch the chips of a couple of golfers. It seemed to work briefly, but by the time the first grouping had putted out, he was asking to leave.
I convinced Matt to stay to watch one more group come through. The group had two golfers – Greg Owen and Brian Davis. Neither hit a memorable shot, but Matt seemed more interested in watching the approach shots of the two golfers. After they completed #17, we walked with the duo to the 18th tee and watched as they both teed off. We walked just outside the ropes up the fairway and watched both finish their rounds. At that point, Matt was relieved that we would be leaving. We stopped at the concession stand to buy a drink for the ride back, and I realized how red Matt’s wound had become. I knew it hurt him.
In a last ditch effort to cheer Matt up, I suggested that we walk over to the autograph area to get a few players’ signatures. Surprisingly, he said “yes”. There were only a handful of people there, and it would be relatively simple to get an autograph; however, he had nothing nice for the golfers to sign. I pulled out his admission ticket, and all three golfers who were there signed his ticket. Just as we were about to leave, both Greg Owen and Brian Davis emerged from the scorers’ tent and approached. There were six children in line for an autograph, so the wait would not be too bad. Greg Owen quietly signed each child’s memorabilia. I realized I also had an extremely small notebook in my pocket that he could use instead of his ticket, so Matt used that for Greg to sign. Brian Davis also had begun giving autographs to the kids, but at the exact moment that he had reached my son, another golfer called his attention, and he turned his back to Matt. When he turned back around, he inadvertently skipped Matt and signed the last girl’s hat.
Matt was too shy to speak up, so I approached my son and asked if he was ready to leave, and he nodded. I grabbed his hand, and we began the walk back to the line for the bus, likely leaving a golf course for the last time of his life. We had walked a good bit when a random lady ran up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Sir, that man over there is calling for you.”
I spun around and saw one of the caddies waving to me. I turned Matt around, and we went back to the autograph area, and Brian Davis and his caddie, Steve “Hulk” Hulka waited for Matt. Fortunately for us, Steve had seen that Matt was skipped and wanted to make sure that Matt was not disappointed. Matt walked up to the two of them with his pocket notebook in hand, and Brian asked Matt if he wanted him to sign it. Matt nodded, and Brian looked right at him and said, “No. I am not signing that.” My first thought was not good, but Brian put his glove on his hand, signed it, took it off, and handed it to Matt. My boy grinned from ear to ear and thanked him. Brian even signed his little note pad too. Matt had a favorite golfer, and now, I did too.
That afternoon, when I arrived home, I decided to go on Brian’s website to send him an email of appreciation.
On 2 May 2012, at 17:12, Christopher Biehl wrote:
Mr. Davis,
I would like to thank you for taking the time to not only sign my six-year-old’s “autograph book” (a 25 cent notebook!), but you also signed your golf glove and signed it for him. My son, Matt began to cry from excitement. Matt had never been to a PGA event, and you have made him a fan (particularly, of yours), for life! He has been self-conscious due to an accident to his face, but he was smiling from ear-to-ear because of you. As his father, I just wanted to say “Thank you!” Best of luck!
-Chris Biehl
New Orleans, LA
To my surprise, within thirty minutes I received an email back:
Dear Chris,
Thank you for taking the time to drop me a line and I am delighted Matt had a fun time. That’s what it’s all about. Also, you can tell him from me, it’s not just about what’s on the outside that defines you, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Best wishes
Brian
Throughout the rest of that PGA season, Matt would check out the leaderboard in the newspaper to find Brian’s name. It was after that encounter when Matt joined the First Tee of Greater New Orleans, a program that has made a tremendous, positive impact on my son. The following year, when he heard that the Zurich Classic was approaching, he asked if he could attend. I purchased tickets, and he and I went to the tournament. I was hoping that I could either bring him to the driving range, the practice green, or on the course to go “watch” golf, but he insisted that we go to the autograph area to see Brian. We arrived about the time that Brian and his playing partners were making the turn, so I told him that it would be a two-hour wait, and we would be better served going to watch some golf. Matt asked politely that we stay, and he collected autographs from various golfers (this time I had a sketch book tablet for autographs).
There were not too many children in the autograph area, and a particular security guard struck up a conversation with Matt. “So, whose autograph are you looking to get…Rickie Fowler’s? Ernie Els’? Justin Rose’s?” Matt smiled politely and said, “Brian Davis.” The security guard smiled politely, but clearly did not expect that answer. Since we had a lot of time to kill, I explained Matt’s answer to him.
After collecting dozens of autographs, the time had come when Brian Davis had finished his round. Matt really lit up when he saw him, and I explained to Matt that he needed to sign his scorecard before he could come over to give autographs. By this time, there about two dozen boys and girls who were waiting for autographs. Brian took time to speak with most of them, and Matt waited patiently for his turn. When Brian reached Matt, Matt asked him to sign his sketch book, and Brian did. He was elated. The security guard came over a few seconds later and told Brian that Matt had waited over two hours just to get his autograph and that Brian was Matt’s favorite player in the world. At that point, the unexpected happened. Brian asked Matt, “Is that true? I am your favorite golfer?” Matt responded, “Yes, Sir,” and before I knew it, Brian reached over the barricades and pulled Matt over, and he asked his caddie Steve “Hulk” Hulka to snap a picture. Steve and I spoke briefly and explained why Matt was such a big fan, and I mentioned to Steve that it was actually his intervening the previous year that began this fandom.
After that day, Matt would follow every event that Brian played in by using the ShotTracker on the PGA website. He would literally watch four hours of shots on the tracker since Brian was rarely shown on the television broadcast. He occasionally messaged Brian and always received a response. At the same time, Matt began to take up the game of golf himself. He was repeatedly asked by his First Tee coaches and by other golfers who his favorite golfer was, and the answer was always the same – Brian Davis.
By his third Zurich Classic, Matt, Brian, and “Hulk” (Davis’s longtime caddie) had become friendly, talking to each other before and during the round. In fact, for Christmas, I received a call from Steve Hulka asking me to measure Matt’s height. He and Brian gifted Matt Brian’s Tour-used Scotty Cameron putter and cut it down to Matt’s size. They both also sent Brian’s sand wedge as a gift as well. Matt and I were following the pair, but in the middle of his round, when he was farthest from the clubhouse, the weather horn went off, and the golfers and caddies were carted back to the clubhouse. Brian’s cart stopped next to the two of us as we were hustling back towards the entrance gate, and he asked me if it would be okay to bring Matt with him to the clubhouse. Matt was beaming, and I obliged. I walked through the rain back to the area outside of the clubhouse and stood near a concession stand overhang to avoid the rain. About an hour later, my son emerged dry from the doors to the clubhouse, and Brian walked him out to me. It was literally the happiest I had ever seen him. He told stories of sitting next to K.J. Choi, and he rattled off the names of all of the golfers whom he had met. He was now hooked for life.
Shortly after that season, Brian sustained a season-ending neck injury. Ironically, the injury occurred during his flight from Texas to New Orleans to attend the Zurich Classic. It was even more disappointing because the entire family was planning on meeting Brian for the first time. During his absence from the Tour, which extended for a couple of years, “Hulk” began to communicate with us, and we followed his golfers when they came to the Sanderson Farms (in Jackson, Mississippi) and the Korn Ferry’s Chitamacha Louisana Open (in Lafayette). In fact, one year, “Hulk” took time out of his busy schedule to play a round of golf with Matt (picture below). Over the two year span, we followed Chad Collins, Charlie Danielson, and Dylan Meyer with “Hulk” on their bags. In fact, one patron at the Sanderson Farms asked if Matt was actually Dylan Meyer’s brother due to their very similar facial appearances. All the while, it just was not the same as seeing Brian.
Matt and I drove to see Brian play at the Sanderson Farms, the Chitamacha, and the Nashville Open, but those would be the last events that he attended. None the less, Brian remained Matt’s favorite golfer.
Throughout it all, Matt’s golf game continued to develop. During his time as a member of the First Tee of Greater New Orleans, Matt received multiple awards. One year, he received an award for responsibility. However, I think Brian Davis would be most pleased with the fact that Matt also received awards for honesty and sportsmanship. I would like to think that Matt learned these core values not only through the First Tee program but also from Brian’s actions on the Tour, particularly during the fateful Heritage with Jim Furyk. He additionally earned a spot on his successful high school team, and he won the team’s Coach’s Award after his senior year. Lastly, Matthew was named the First Tee of Greater New Orleans’ Male Particpant of the Year in 2022. There is no doubt in my mind that my son’s success in golf, and more importantly, in life has been enhanced by his relationship with Brian Davis and Steve Hulka. As a father, I could not ask for two better role models for my son.
Matthew graduated high school this past May. My wife Lauren and I pondered what would be an appropriate graduation gift for our son. As a private school teacher with four children, money is always tight, but this year, in particular, we were struggling to find a nice gift that was financially reasonable. On a whim, I reached out to “Hulk” and asked him if I thought it would be appropriate to ask Brian if he would be willing to play an 18-hole round with Matt. Not only did he like the idea, he said that he was willing to come join in.
A few days later, I called Brian and asked about the possibility of Matt playing a round of golf as a graduation present. Unsurprisingly, he said “yes”. About three weeks after graduation, Matt and I drove to Winter Garden, Florida, and met with Brian. Unfortunately, “Hulk” could not make the trip due to an impending orthopedic surgery, but he certainly was there in spirit.
Brian Davis met up with Matt, gave him a 90-minute lesson, and offered Matt and me lunch. He gave Matt two dozen new balls, three new wedges, a new putter grip (for Matt’s Scotty Cameron putter that was once in Brian’s bag), and four hats. More importantly, for the four hours that followed lunch, he offered Matt a memory that he will never forget – an opportunity to play 18 holes of golf with his hero.
Relationships between children and their sports heroes usually do not happen. Often, professional athletes are either too busy, too absorbed in themselves, or too focused on their own circle of friends and family to become actively involved in a young fan’s life. But, Brian Davis and Steve Hulka took time out for my son. They included him in their small circle of team. They went beyond the call of duty, and today, I look at the positive ripple effect it has made not only on my son, but our entire family. My youngest child, Ashley is an extremely talented golfer. Her team won a state championship during her 8th grade year when she was a starter. My other two children, Emily and Andy, do not care for the sport quite like Matt and Ashley, but they are big fans of Brian Davis.
Today, Brian is prepping for his 50th birthday and an opportunity to compete on the PGA Champions Tour. In addition, Brian runs the Brian Davis Golf Academy at Stoneybrook West Golf Course in Winter Garden, Florida. Steve Hulka is still preparing for his upcoming surgery and hopes to come out of retirement and return to caddying, ideally for Brian, a few more years. Matthew is preparing for his first semester at the University of Alabama, where he will not be on the team, but he plans to play the game that he loves when time allows. Lastly, my wife and I are just thankful. We are thankful that two men found it in their hearts to be kind to our son. And to us, they mean the world.
Clemson, South Carolina (June 27, 2024) – Norah Yang of Los Altos, California, and Trent Mierl of Austin, Texas, won the girls’ and boys’ divisions of the 4th annual First Tee National Championship at the Walker Course at Clemson University. The event brought together First Tee’s elite golfers for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped build the confidence, perseverance and skills needed to play at the next level.
Yang finished the tournament 6-under-par and shot a final round 69 to clench the victory on the girls’ side. She is a rising high school senior with a 4.0 GPA. She’s been a volunteer coach at First Tee – Silicon Valley for three years and finished 3rd at the 2023 PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event that pairs First Tee juniors with professional players for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach.
“It has been amazing playing at Clemson this week,” Yang said. “I have met so many amazing players from all the other chapters and had so many great experiences. Getting here and winning would not have been possible without First Tee and all the skills they have taught me.”
Mierl, who will play golf at the University of Missouri next year, shot a blistering 65 in the final round to finish 9-under for the tournament. He’s been a member of First Tee for nine years and is a volunteer coach at his chapter. He’s the only player to compete in all four First Tee National Championships, with the inaugural event taking place in 2021, and said it was special to win in his final attempt.
“I came up one shot short of the playoffs in the first National Championship,” he said. “I’ve met great people here and made so many great memories. This is my favorite junior golf event, and it feels like I came full circle in my final chance to win at the same golf course where I fell just short.”
Both winners were awarded with the Tattersall Cup in honor of event chairman Fred Tattersall.
Two players were also awarded exemptions to the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship. As First Tee juniors can only play in the PURE Insurance Championship once, this year’s exemptions went to Gianna Singh from First Tee – Greater Sacramento and Spencer Ives from First Tee – Naples/Collier. The tournament will be broadcast on Golf Channel, Sept. 20-22.
Based on their play at the First Tee National Championship, two players will also earn spots in the PGA TOUR’s Pathways to Progression program, which aims to support talented golfers from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in the sport. The PGA TOUR will announce the full roster for its Pathways program, including the two players who earned their spots at the First Tee National Championship, in the coming days.
“Congratulations to all of our participants in the field and especially to Trent and Norah for an outstanding performance in becoming the 2024 First Tee National Champions,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “This event plays an important role in helping these young people prepare for the next level. We are extremely proud of this event and of the teens who work hard on their game all year preparing. Thank you to Clemson University for hosting for the second time, we look forward to coming back again.”
The First Tee National Championship is held annually at various college golf courses around the nation, providing First Tee participants the opportunity to network with others from across the country. Next year’s event will take place at Notre Dame University.
The field included 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. A full list of results is available here.
The National Championship is one of more than 10 national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to empower and motivate teens as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.
For the first time, this year’s tournament will be streamed on Gamekast with live scoring available on Golf Genius.
Clemson, South Carolina – (June 21, 2024) – The Walker Course at Clemson Universitywill host the First Tee National Championship next week, June 25-27, 2024, bringing together 48 of the organization’s top golfers for a 54-hole event designed to showcase how the program has helped them build the skills, positive attitude and perseverance needed to play collegiate golf.
The field includes 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. Fourteen players in the field have already committed to college golf teams. First Tee held its inaugural National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and all six of the past winners are members of college golf teams. That includes 2023 winner Megan Meng of First Tee – Greater Trenton, who’s in the Top 10 in the AJGA Rankings and will begin her collegiate career at Northwestern this fall.
In advance of this year’s competition, the event will feature a keynote address by First Tee – Greater Richmond alumnus Gavin Parker, PGA, who shares his love for the sport on his popular social media channels. Participants will also attend a careers in golf panel to learn more about working in the industry.
“First Tee continues to play an important role in the development of teens, both on and off the course,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Our National Championship is an opportunity for participants who want to take their game to the next level to showcase their skills. The week provides them with competition and an enriching opportunity to get them ready for playing in college and beyond.”
For the first time, viewers can stream the First Tee National Championship on Gamekast. Scoring will also be available on Golf Genius.
In addition to crowning a male and female tournament winner, one boy and one girl from the field will be awarded spots in the PGA TOUR’s Pathways to Progression program, a player development program that aims to achieve greater diversity in golf through an increased focus on developing talent from diverse and historically underrepresented groups.
First Tee – Greater Austin’s Danica Lundgren earned a spot in the Pathways program at last year’s National Championship, held at Stanford University. She’s back in the tournament field this year before joining the Nebraska Cornhuskers women’s golf team this fall.
Two exemptions to this year’s PURE Insurance Championship will also be up for grabs. The PGA TOUR Champions event pairs pro and junior players for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach each September.
The First Tee National Championship is held annually at various college campuses around the nation, providing First Tee participants the opportunity to network with others from across the country and take in the college experience. Next year’s event will take place at the University of Notre Dame.
The Championship is one of more than 10 national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters to empower and motivate teens as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. For more information on the tournament and First Tee, visit www.firsttee.org.
