April 1, 2026 | Program Update
Our team is thrilled to be expanding our In-School Program to three middle schools this spring! This pilot initiative will adapt golf and life skills curriculum, currently available in 48 Charleston Area elementary schools, for grades 6-8. Students will learn fundamental golf skills through game-based curriculum that emphasizes collaboration, judgment, awareness, and good decision-making.
In addition to revised curriculum, middle school pilot partners will also receive adapted sets of golf/life skills equipment, which feature longer clubs for taller students and enough flag targets for schools to design a full golf course.
Coach Johnson pictured with Coach Steven McLaren and Charleston County School of the Arts students trying out their First Tee equipment.
Middle school pilot partners include Sedgefield Middle School (Berkeley County School District), Charleston County School of the Arts Middle (Charleston County School District), and Oakbrook Middle (Dorchester School District 2). Oakbrook is our first school partner in DD2, and with expanded curriculum/equipment offerings, we’re optimistic about adding more schools in Dorchester County soon.
Coach Jensen pictured with Coach Frasier at Oakbrook Middle and Coach Johnson pictured with Coach Mitchum at Sedgefield Middle.
Many thanks to the Physical Educators who are championing middle school golf curriculum: Cole Mitchum, Pablo Mena-Morales, and Tamara Washington of Sedgefield Middle; Steven McLaren of Charleston County School of the Arts; and Jessica Frasier and Andrew Bishop of Oakbrook Middle.
Advocacy plays a critical role in launching all school programs, and we would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Ezra Cowan and Coach McLaren for waving the First Tee flag over and over again in multiple schools. Dr. Cowan, who is now the Interim Principal at Sedgefield Middle, helped launch our partnership with Charleston Progressive Academy as a PE Coach back in 2011, and Coach McLaren, who is now teaching at Charleston County School of the Arts, formerly taught First Tee curriculum at Westview Primary and Midland Park Primary, dating back to 2014.
All In-School Programs are made possible by generous community support. Donate today to help us reach more students, or email [email protected] to recommend a Berkeley, Charleston, or Dorchester county school.