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 25th 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.
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.
Golf Digest will provide $175,000 in grants to support the winning chapters.
PHOENIX, AZ (Nov. 25, 2024) – Recipients of the annual First Tee Awards presented in partnership with Golf Digest were celebrated last week at First Tee’s 2024 Network Summit, a biennial gathering of more than 800 chapter leaders and partners from across the globe. The following individuals were recognized at the event in Phoenix for their dedication to the nonprofit youth development organization, which uses golf to teach life skills and build character.
Tim Finchem Leadership Award Winner: Gary Koch of First Tee – Tampa Bay In 2021, the former professional golfer and NBC Sports broadcaster spearheaded the construction of a short course at First Tee – Tampa Bay’s home site of Rogers Park, providing the community with a new youth-accessible playing facility. The award recognizes an individual’s service and commitment to the mission of First Tee.
Coach of the Year:Manny Gallardo of First Tee – Silicon Valley Over the last decade, Gallardo has become a beloved coach at the chapter, personally developing more than 200 games and activities to further engage First Tee participants. He is responsible for the development of the girls’ program at the chapter and is named as a mentor to participants, coaches and staff alike. Gallardo received First Tee’s inaugural Coach of the Year award.
George H.W. Bush Volunteer of the Year: Leslie Kleinman of First Tee – Cleveland In 2008, Kleinman launched a culinary program that brings the life skills and values taught at First Tee into the kitchen, educating kids about diverse cuisines, healthy eating and the value of service through cooking for the Cleveland Food Bank.
Teacher of the Year: Layne Frazier of First Tee – Four Corners (NW New Mexico) Frazier has been teaching at Eva B. Stokely Elementary School in Shiprock, New Mexico, for the last 16 years, 10 of which included First Tee School Program curriculum. He has introduced the game of golf to students from the Navajo Reservation both at the school where he teaches and by introducing other local schools to First Tee.
First Tee chapters in Tampa Bay, Silicon Valley and Cleveland will each receive $25,000 from Golf Digest, while First Tee – Four Corners and Frazier’s elementary school will split $25,000.
First Tee also honored three chapters with the Barbara A. Douglas & Dr. William J. Powell Diversity Award, which began in 2013 to recognize chapters that demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to expanding access and inclusivity in their community. Golf Digest will make donations totaling $75,000 to these chapters:
First Tee – Central Coast ($35,000 recipient): Through a collaboration with People’s Self-Help Housing, the longest-serving nonprofit housing organization on California’s Central Coast, the chapter has engaged nearly 100 new participants from these families. Building off this success, First Tee – Central Coast connected with other organizations in the area to impact an additional 1000+ underserved youth through First Tee programming.
First Tee – Florida Gold Coast ($25,000 recipient): In 2023, the chapter’s participants were 63% ethnically diverse and 41% female, and the chapter was able to serve nearly 1,000 kids with special needs through partnerships with Boys & Girls Club, Police Athletics League, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the YMCA as well as other local organizations like Martin County Parks & Rec.
First Tee – Central Carolina ($15,000 recipient): Unique to the chapter is an HBCU Summer Golf Internship, where 10 HBCU golfers are given access to practice facilities while also gaining practical nonprofit experience. The chapter offers programming at Gillespie Golf Course and recently commissioned a mural that celebrates the sacrifices and impact of the “Greensboro Six.”
As a network, 47% of First Tee participants are ethnically diverse and 38% are female. More than 90% of chapters are serving young people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and nearly a quarter of participants (24%) come from at-risk or distressed communities, based on the Economic Innovation Group’s Distressed Communities Index.
“The award winners represent the true heroes of First Tee,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “They wake up each day with the intention of making a difference in young people’s lives. Congratulations to all the winners. Also, we are incredibly grateful to Golf Digest, for their longtime support of First Tee.”
“We are proud to honor all the First Tee individuals and chapters who are so dedicated to sharing golf with kids from all backgrounds, helping them learn life skills that go beyond the course,” said Golf Digest general manager Chris Reynolds. “Their inspiring stories remind us of what makes this game so special.”
PHOENIX (Nov. 21, 2024) – First Tee honored several of its most dedicated supporters Wednesday evening during a celebration dinner at the youth organization’s biennial Network Summit, where more than 800 chapter representatives and partners were gathered. Paul Fireman joined Tim Finchem as a recipient of First Tee’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Charles Schwab and PURE Insurance received the Founders Award, recognizing their longtime support of First Tee’s mission.
Former chairman of Reebok, chairman of Fireman Capital Partners and co-founder of Liberty National Golf Club, Fireman became a First Tee Trustee in 2012. He and his family have invested $8 million in First Tee nationally and in the four chapters in New Jersey – Essex County, Jersey Shore, Raritan Valley and Trenton – supporting their efforts to reach more than 500,000 youth in the last several years.
First Tee also announced the winners of its Founders Award, which it has presented since 2002, as a measure of sincere gratitude to the individuals and organizations whose generosity enables First Tee to impact millions of kids. This year, First Tee honored Charles Schwab and PURE Insurance for their ongoing commitment to First Tee.
“First Tee would not be where it is today without the vision and ongoing commitment of supporters like Paul Fireman, Charles Schwab and the PURE Insurance company,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “When you look back on the organization’s success, it is the individuals, foundations and companies who believe in the mission that fuel the work. We are deeply grateful for their longstanding commitment to First Tee at both the national and local levels of the organization.”
Paul Fireman is just the third person to be recognized with the First Tee Lifetime Achievement Award, following former PGA TOUR commissioner and founder of First Tee, Tim Finchem, who was honored this past October, and retired First Tee CEO Joe Louis Barrow Jr., who was honored in 2022.
Charles Schwab not only provides financial support to First Tee chapters, having established a $25-million dollar matching grant, but the business executive also founded First Tee – San Francisco alongside Sandy Tatum in 2004 and was integral to the redevelopment of Harding Park, one of the chapter’s signature program locations.
Since 2016, PURE Insurance has been the title sponsor of an annual PGA TOUR Champions event that pairs First Tee juniors with golf legends at Pebble Beach. In 2021, the firm expanded its impact on First Tee, becoming a Trustee and committing $1 million to the First Tee College Scholarship Program, which has helped nearly 100 First Tee alumni advance their education by providing financial support, mentorship and professional development opportunities. First Tee is a nonprofit youth development organization that empowers young people through the game of golf, helping them develop their inner strength, confidence and life skills that they use on and off the course.
With nearly half of First Tee chapters celebrating 20+ years of service, the youth development organization is looking to the future at its biennial Network Summit.
PHOENIX (Nov. 18, 2024) – First Tee is prioritizing teen and alumni engagement, innovative gamification strategies and ongoing education for adults in the network, the youth development organization will announce to more than 800 stakeholders in attendance at its biennial Network Summit. It will also share plans for the inaugural First Tee Week, an awareness campaign slated for May 19-25, 2025, that will coincide with the PGA TOUR’s Charles Schwab Challenge and celebrate the contributions of First Tee sports coaches.
“For more than 27 years First Tee has continued to strengthen and evolve while remaining committed to the kids, families and communities we serve,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We look forward to coming together to learn, grow and align around our priorities at this Network Summit. I am deeply proud of the work of our chapters and thank the sponsors who have made the gathering possible.”
Highlights discussed at this week’s Network Summit will include:
Placing a greater emphasis on serving participants through their teenage years, which is a critical time of development. To reinforce this, First Tee added technology and gamification to the experience and continues to offer impactful national teen opportunities, which serve nearly 350 participants a year.
Launch of the First Tee Alumni Network, where former participants can stay connected to each other and the organization for continued professional development and opportunities to serve as volunteers and coaches at its chapters.
Roll out of First Tee University, an enrichment program for the 10,000 adults involved in the network, providing access to year-round professional development and continuing education.
Continued investment in academic research and coach training. According to recent research from First Tee and Harris Poll, 93% of parents believe their kids can learn important life skills through sports, however, four out of five see a shortage of high caliber coaches in youth sports today.
These will be among the key topics more than 800 First Tee Chapter leaders from across the U.S. and select international locations will discuss this week in Phoenix during the youth development organization’s 2024 Network Summit. The continuing education event for the First Tee network takes place Nov. 18-21 and features networking opportunities, professional development classes and inspiring general sessions.
Mayo Clinic, Next Round and the Rockefeller Global Family Office are supporting sponsors of the 2024 First Tee Network Summit.
This week in Phoenix, First Tee is also hosting the First Tee Alumni Summit presented by Gallagher, the First Tee Partner Summit supported by CapTech and the Innovators Forum, a leadership event that brings together 32 teens from across the country to develop service projects they will implement in their communities. Past projects have been featured in People and Forbes.
First Tee is a nonprofit youth development organization that uses golf to help young people build character and life skills. With 150 Chapters around the globe, First Tee serves more than 3.3 million kids with the help of more than 10,000 adults, including volunteers, staff members, coaches and board members.
Each year, a group of exceptional First Tee teens gather at the First Tee Innovators Forum, where they develop a meaningful service project to bring home to their community focused on education, health, human rights or environmental sustainability. By bringing together passionate participants from across the chapter network, the Innovators Forum provides a distinctive enrichment experience, engaging teens who share a similar desire for learning and generating changes in their communities.
Sophia Waddell from First Tee – Central Coast attended the 2023 Innovators Forum in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, home of the PGA TOUR. At her chapter she works as a junior coach and noticed that there were very few participants with special needs. Sophia’s sister, Ava, was born with a chromosome abnormality that impacts her daily life, so Sophia was aware that golf is a good sport for someone with special needs to pursue as it is quiet and relies less on balance or mobility than other sports.
When Sophia was tasked with creating a meaningful service project, she knew immediately that she wanted to create a special needs golf program that would operate free of charge at First Tee – Central Coast. As soon as she returned home from Innovators Forum she began working with her coach, Darren Avrit, to get the program off the ground.
Together, coach Darren and Sophia found multiple community partners to put the project in motion. They worked with the North County Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program to identify participants, and after having the program approved by their board, invited a group to participate.
Additionally, they worked with coach Darren’s kinesiology class at California Polytechnic University to help provide additional volunteer support so that there was at least one support person for each class participant. Dairy Creek Golf Course, the host site of First Tee – Central Coast, was happy to host the program. With this central and consistent programming location, Sophia was able to utilize a local rideshare program for adults with disabilities to provide the participants with transportation to and from the golf course at no cost due to a NCASARP grant.
The class ran the second Saturday of every month from February to June 2024. They were able to use an adapted version of the First Tee curriculum to provide fun but appropriately challenging activities for the participants. Sophia and the team at First Tee – Central Coast hope to continue this program into the spring of 2025 and beyond.
“As an Innovators Forum member, I was able to use the skills I learned of networking and building the relationships that were needed so that we could get this project going quickly,” said Sophia. “Being able to bring groups together as partners in a goal allowed each group to increase their own effort in helping people with disabilities in the community.”
The 2024 First Tee Innovators Forum will take place next week in Phoenix.
Learn more about First Tee’s national participant opportunities.
Pursuing a career in golf doesn’t always mean playing professionally. The golf industry is rich with opportunity, and many First Tee alumni have gone on to find roles in golf. We asked First Tee alumni and partners about the traits that have contributed most to their success:
Brittany Gill First Tee – Greater Richmond alumna Corporate Partnerships Representative, PGA TOUR – Dominion Energy Charity Classic
One quality that has contributed to my success in the industry is my ability to network within the community through the game of golf. Golf has been a platform for me to meet others, connect with prospective clients by playing a round of golf, and building relationships with many others. Being confident in my own golf game and walking into a crowd of strangers on a golf course has contributed to much of my success in my role this year. Another quality that I believe has contributed to my success is my ability to empathize with others. Being able to understand different viewpoints and empathize has led to many resolutions, agreements, and working together towards a common goal with the various constituents in the golf industry.
Callie O’Neill First Tee – Northern Michigan Assistant Golf Professional, Pebble Beach Golf Links
I have no doubt that through my experience at the First Tee – Northern Michigan, I gained the confidence to make the move across the country to start a job in the PGA of America at Pebble Beach Golf Links. One of my strongest traits of perseverance has played a large role in my success at Pebble Beach and I look forward to a long career here.
Dave Pangraze VP, Business Development Next Round Golf
Finding a career in golf is no different from other careers; it helps to have a passion for what you do! I made the leap into the golf business from traditional sales and marketing, applying the skills I had in one industry to that in golf. If you are having trouble figuring out how to break into the golf business, apply yourself in school and early jobs to make yourself more marketable for a career in the great game of golf!
Janine Fellows, PGA Director of Golf Topgolf
My curiosity has fueled a constant pursuit of learning, sharpening my problem-solving abilities, and inspiring innovative approaches that expand my impact on both my team and the game of golf. This mindset has also opened me to new perspectives and solutions, enabling more creative and effective strategies.
Sara Scarlett First Tee – Greater Sacramento alumna Brand Manager, Dick’s Sporting Goods (Walter Hagen & Maxfli)
I’ve always been an excellent communicator and that has allowed me to thrive in my roles to-date, but my underlying passion for golf is what sets me apart in my current role. The passion propels me to think creatively and work hard, while also having so much fun throughout the process.
Gavin Parker First Tee – Greater Richmond alumnus PGA Professional and golf influencer
For First Tee, the number one quality that comes to mind is respect. I have respected what it takes to be successful. All that is, is not missing a day. Staying consistent day by day to get better than who I was yesterday. The ultimate form of self-respect is to stay disciplined.
Grace Zimmerman First Tee – Greater Detroit alumna Coordinator of Programs, First Tee HQ
I believe the quality that has contributed the most to my success in the golf industry is having courage. As a young adult, it can be very intimidating to be in any working environment, but in my opinion believing in yourself is the best way to be successful. People grow by being uncomfortable and that happens when you put yourself out there and have courage. Being a college golfer, LPGA member and working for First Tee has given so many positive experiences, but I have always had to have courage to try out new possibilities.
With the support of its partners in the golf industry and beyond, First Tee helps participants build the confidence and inner strength they need to pursue their goals, wherever they take them.
The First Tee Alumni Network is a great way for past participants to stay engaged with First Tee and learn about career opportunities and professional and personal development opportunities. Learn more.
Little did Allison Brown know a life-changing gift awaited her when she traveled to Florida to visit family 12 years ago.
“When we arrived, my uncle pulled out three small golf bags – one for me, and one for each of my brothers,” she said. “I was excited about the gift, but I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with them.”
Her uncle taught her the basics at the driving range and told her parents about a program called First Tee. “I remember my first time walking inside and meeting the coaches and the other kids, and the rest is history,” she said
Now a high school junior, Allison has been involved with First Tee – Greater Philadelphia for more than a decade, and she’s making the most of the opportunities it provides.
Last year, she attended the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore, a leadership development event in Montana, where participants learn from pushing their boundaries and trying new things, like whitewater rafting and horseback riding. This summer, she attended the Game Changers Academy, which brought together 72 teens from across the First Tee network in Minneapolis, encouraging them to celebrate their differences and embrace new perspectives.
Allison is also an Ace participant at First Tee – Greater Philadelphia. As part of First Tee’s capstone program, Ace candidates must complete four projects designed to help them prepare for the future. The projects center around academics, career exploration, community service and golf.
“Being a part of First Tee isn’t only about learning to play the game of golf — it’s about learning to become better people,” Allison said. “The Ace Program is what really focuses on that aspect of First Tee. It has given me the tools to fully think about and prepare for my future and, more importantly, helps me enrich my community through various service projects.”
Allison’s interests extend far beyond golf. She plays volleyball, taught herself French and was even cast to play a titular role in a production of Romeo & Juliet. “First Tee taught me to be confident in myself and my abilities which gave me confidence needed to audition for the role,” she said.
While working toward her high school diploma, she’s also earning an associate’s degree through a dual enrollment program with Liberty University.
Learn more about First Tee’s opportunities for teens.
To honor Finchem’s legacy, campaign launched to support 100 additional alumni throughFirst Tee College Scholarship Program
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Oct. 8, 2024 – Former PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem led the launch of First Tee in 1997 and was honored Monday with the youth development organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award, its highest recognition.
PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin presented Finchem with the award at a First Tee event in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“Tim worked alongside other leaders in our sport, both with golf organizations and the greats of the game, to help facilitate the establishment of First Tee, which now reaches 3.4 million young people,” Monahan said.
Finchem led the creation of First Tee, which was originally founded to make golf accessible and affordable to all families. The organization has evolved to teach life skills and strengthen values in young people at 150 chapters, 11,450 schools and 2,000 youth centers across the globe.
“Tim’s leadership in what this organization has become is immeasurable,” McLaughlin said. “The contributions that he has made to the millions of young people and their families around the country and around the world, as well as to the game of golf, will be felt for decades to come.”
Finchem received messages of congratulations from Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, USGA CEO Mike Whan and LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, as well as prominent First Tee supporters like Arthur Blank, Charles Schwab and Casey Wasserman. President Bush served as Honorary Chair of First Tee from 2011 to 2024, succeeding his father, President George H.W. Bush, who was the organization’s Honorary Chair from 1997 to 2011, and was present on the day the organization was announced in New York’s Central Park, alongside Finchem.
First Tee will honor Finchem’s legacy through a $5 million campaign to support an additional 100 First Tee Scholars. First Tee alumni who are selected for the First Tee College Scholarship Program receive financial support, access to professional development opportunities and a dedicated adult mentor throughout up to four years of college. To date the program has served nearly 100 students.
First Tee is an international youth development organization that uses golf to teach life skills and build values that they carry to all aspects of their lives. Finchem is the second recipient of First Tee’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Retired First Tee CEO Joe Louis Barrow Jr. received the honor in 2022.
When Alexa Vela began First Tee, her mother hoped that it would help her make friends outside of school. What they didn’t realize at the time is that First Tee would become Alexa’s second home for the next decade.
Alexa found that the community at First Tee – Greater Houston welcomed her immediately with open arms. She quickly made lifelong friends and not only learned how to play golf, but how to become a leader in her community. Throughout her time as a First Tee participant, she served as a mentor and coach to the younger participants at her chapter and attended the 2019 PURE Insurance Championship where she was partnered with Mark O’Meara. In 2022, Alexa was named a First Tee Scholar, a scholarship program that pairs First Tee alumni with dedicated adult mentors and provides professional development opportunities throughout their four years in college.
Alexa’s love for the game of golf and First Tee is clear from her dedication to making it more accessible for kids and families. And there is no clearer example of that than her participation in the panel at The Chevron Championship in 2024 titled Fairway Phenoms: Diversity and Inclusion as Women’s Golf is on the Rise. As part of its support of First Tee, Chevron invited Alexa to speak. Alexa joined Al Williams, the VP of Corporate Affairs at Chevron, and Nellie Borrero, the Managing Director and Sr. Strategic Advisor in Global DE&I at Accenture, to speak on the intersection of innovation, diversity, inclusion and leadership in golf and business.
A proud supporter of First Tee since 2011, Chevron U.S.A. Inc. has worked with First Tee to create a lasting and meaningful impact on the lives of many young people – like Alexa – throughout the country. Last month, Chevron continued its support of First Tee during the PURE Insurance Championship through a closest to the pin contest for the First Tee participants, with the ten winners receiving a $2,000 donation each for their local First Tee chapters and providing $100,000 for First Tee scholarships.
“Scholarships are a big part of what we do. We believe it’s important to provide opportunities whether they ultimately pursue golf or not. Having someone like Alexa share her journey with us brings the scholarship dollars to life, showing the impact on the individual and what they accomplish as a result of this opportunity,” said First Tee Trustee and Chevron Vice President and General Counsel Hewitt Pate.
Since first benefiting from the First Tee College Scholarship Program, Alexa has continued to develop her passion for growing the game. She interned with First Tee headquarters as a network relations intern and most recently with the USGA as a member of its merchandise and licensing team on-site for the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst. Now a junior on the club golf team at Rice University in Houston, Alexa has helped provide her teammates with the opportunity to experience the impact that access to the game can have in their life.
“My journey from a shy and timid young girl, uncertain of her place, to a confident leader with a clear vision for her future has been profoundly shaped by the unwavering support and opportunities provided by First Tee and Chevron,” said Alexa.
Applications for the First Tee College Scholarship Program open in early 2025. Learn more.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 10, 2024) – First Tee is excited to announce that actress and avid golfer Kathryn Newton has signed on as its newest national brand ambassador. Newton, an alumna of First Tee – Miami, is passionate about making golf feel fun and accessible for everyone, and she’s known for featuring the sport on her popular social media channels.
Newton and First Tee have already collaborated at events like the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst and the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore in 2023 and 2024. In her role as ambassador, she’ll continue to engage with First Tee participants and represent the youth development organization at events.
“This is a full-circle moment for me,” Newton said. “Having grown up in First Tee, I’m proud to join the organization as an ambassador because I know the difference it can make for kids and teens. Golf has meant so much to me, and I’m thrilled to share my love for the game, and its inherent values, with the next generation.”
Well known for her roles in Marvel Studios Ant-Man and The Wasp Quantumania, Netflix’s The Society, as well as Legendary Pictures Pokémon Detective Pikachu, this year she stars in the highly anticipated Focus Features Film Lisa Frankenstein and Universal Studios Abigail. Her past work includes Oscar winning films such as Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri and LadyBird, as well as Golden Globe winning Big Little Lies.
Newton started her acting career at the age of 4 and was also an avid golfer. Her nickname in high school was “Kathryn the Golfer,” and as a +2-handicap, she helped her team win championships while simultaneously working as an actress.
“Kathryn embodies First Tee’s mission and our work to use golf as a platform to empower the next generation of game changers,” said CEO Greg McLaughlin. “She brings energy to our work and a commitment to making an impact on the young people with whom she interacts.”
Newton joins professional golfers Austin Smotherman and Alex Smalley, becoming First Tee’s third ambassador. As someone who’s passionate about the game, she brings a new perspective to the organization’s ambassador program.
First Tee has been helping kids and teens build character since 1997. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with its life skills curriculum, First Tee aims to instill values that are important both on and off the golf course, including inner strength, self-confidence and perseverance.
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, 11,450 schools and 2,000 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.
“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.
