Last week, during the U.S. Women’s Open, six of The First Tee’s participants had the opportunity of a lifetime to serve as junior course reporters during championship Saturday. Led by the USGA, they visited all media locations at the Country Club of Charleston, including the Fox television set, USGA Live set, media center, and even spent time inside the ropes at the practice facility! Participants wrote about their experiences, and you can read about this amazing day from each perspective below:
AVERY – Advanced PLAYer level, age 11
Hi, My name is Avery and I’m from Ladson,SC and I have been playing golf for about 9 years! I am involved in private golf lessons, First Tee, LPGA Girls Golf, PGA Jr League, Drive Chip and Putt, and Competitive Tournaments. One day my goal is to be an LPGA player. Now, I would like to tell you about my experience today as a junior reporter!
It was a beautiful day in Charleston,SC it was 91 degrees when I got to the Country Club of Charleston. I was greeted by the Assistant Director of Marketing Kelly Grant. She was very nice and professional. She walked us all up hole #1, the first thing I saw were the plush green fairways! This is the best course I have ever been on. Ms. Grant explained all the media stuff that was going on around the fairways, Greens, and other parts of the golf course.
Then we made our way over to the media center where we were introduced to Mr. Dave who was the Director of Media/Broadcasting for the USGA. He explained all the jobs and all the hard work that it takes to be in the golf media department. He also explained how many engineers it takes to set up all the fiber optics around the course, and that the engineers are the most important job position. There are over 200 engineers on the course setting up for the tournament. Then he explained that they must be very careful setting up all the fiber optics due to the players safety and for the safety of the spectators also. Lastly, while we were in the media center, I got to sit in the players conference chair where they do interviews!
Then finally, we went over to the practice driving range where we got to meet an LPGA pro-golfer, Amanda Hollandsworth! She was very polite and told us about her experience on the golf course. But what I thought was amazing, is that she only turned pro 5 DAYS AGO! After that I asked her a few questions, I asked her who or what made her want to start playing golf, she said that her older sister played golf and always wanted to follow in her older sister’s foot steps. Then I asked her who her favorite PGA or LPGA golfer was, she said she always loved Stacy Lewis because she was a good role model to younger and older generations. Lastly I got to take a photo with her! I hope to see her at more golf events in the future!
Finally, we went back to the junior tent, and our guide Ms. Grant gave all the juniors vouchers for free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream! I had so much fun and I would most certainly do it again! I also recommend this to any junior who are interested!
CADE – Birdie level, age 12
My experience being a Junior Reporter at the US Women’s Open Championship was awesome! A few reasons why are: I got to have an inside look at how all the action is broadcast into homes around the world; I got to see how the reporters and announcers/analysts cover the entire golf course and report breaking news; and finally, I got to go inside the ropes at the driving range and meet pro golfer, Amanda Hollingsworth.
A golf course is a big place. Some can be up to 7,000 yards long! Covering the entire course is a massive job for reporters and camera crews. There is a huge team of reporters, camera crew, spotters, announcers and analysts that cover the entire course which requires over 6 miles of cable. To enhance the television viewer experience, reporters and spotters work together to track the action. Each hole has its own spotter that sits in the tall stand. The spotters’ job is to track shots and record where golf balls land. If the ball lands in a place where the cameras could not track it, the spotter will look and find where it is and report it to the camera crew, announcers and analysts who are then able to pull it all together into the broadcast viewers see on their television. The reporter’s job is to inform the crew of any breaking news on the course. They also interview the golfers
one-on-one after their round and during their post-round press conference in the media center. The golf action is captured in two different ways; one with English commentary and one with no commentary. The one with English commentary is broadcast in the US. The other is transmitted to a satellite and television networks in other countries can retrieve the broadcast and add commentary in their native language to broadcast to their citizens.
Going inside the ropes at the driving range was a great experience! I got to see first-hand how the golfers warm up before playing. It was fascinating to see the different strategies used by the players to warm up before entering a round. Some players go to the driving range first, some go to the putting green. Some hit their irons first, some hit their woods and drivers. Regardless of how players choose to warm up, the USGA makes sure players have available to them the same type of golf ball the players will use during their round. While visiting the driving range, I got to meet and take photos with Amanda Hollingsworth, a new LPGA golfer who went to school and played golf at Virginia Tech.
In conclusion, being part of the Junior Reporter Tour at the 2019 Women’s US Open was an all-around great experience.
Seeing how the broadcast team captures and records all the action from around the course was fascinating! As well, going inside the ropes at the driving range was incredible. I am glad I was a part of this awesome experience. Thank you for allowing me to participate!
CATE – Par level, age 14
On Saturday, June 1, I went to the USGA Women’s Open at the Country Club of Charleston. For me and a few other lucky juniors it was an opportunity to get a “behind the scenes” tour of the USGA experience. Our group included two special guests, Ella Drew and Elodie, both winners of the junior competition for the U.S. Women’s Open ticket design!
Our experience included touring the Fox set, Media Center, USGA live set, walking inside the ropes at the practice range and a meet and greet with Amanda Hollandsworth. She told us about how she got started as a young girl, golf life and how she has only been pro for a few weeks!
We learned many fascinating facts that I am not sure many know. In the media center, we learned that the Women’s Open Championship is broadcasted in 150-200 countries around the world and in 25 languages. They have 50 engineers making sure that the golf gets from the camera to your tv smoothly. The producer watches 100 monitors the size of iPads making sure that the most intriguing shots gets to your tv. They like to show amazing shots and the leaders as well as make sure they are always telling a story. This is what makes viewing golf at home interesting The producer, assistant producers and their teams work together to create a story that goes beyond players driving, chipping and putting balls. Stories include information about the venue, special interests or the USGA. It takes all members to work together at a feverish pace to make the broadcast look flawless for us at home. The media team also need to plan in advance for when there may be delays. Since the broadcast is shown live, footage is always on hand and carefully planned to fill the voids. While we have a drought here and Charleston and it has been a heat wave, as luck would have it we had a big storm on Friday afternoon. The USGA has their own meteorologist on site who is always watching the weather and preparing the staff on site for any unexpected changes. As the weather system approached on Friday, he was called into action. As some staff worked to get players to safety and clear the course of spectators, the camera crew are told to leave there cameras on the course set to the widest setting and seek shelter. As they watched from their trailers, that now famous lightning bolt hit the big oak on the first green. When they went back later and looked at the cameras, the crew was able to find a cool picture and video of lightning striking a tree.
The U.S. Women’s Championship is commercial free and there is a team working up to 5 hrs making sure there is content on all the time. There are 70 camera positions and roughly 40 cameras. Filming this takes teamwork. Whenever players are is done with the first hole they will move the camera to a later hole and so forth. There are approximately 6 miles of camera wire as well as wireless. Spotters work with the cameramen to tell the cameramen where something juicy is happening, which keeps viewing exciting for us!
The USGA has a team that comes to the tournament location 2 years prior to the open. Additional staff begins to filter in closer to the tournament date. 1,700 volunteers help throughout the week. The Open is a family friendly event. There is a junior experience tent which has crafts and games for juniors, many food trucks and concessions and a junior fan zone so kids can get autographs!
I really enjoyed watching Lexi Thompson. She drives the ball incredibly far and I look up to her. She’s been playing in the open since she was 12. She was one of the youngest players to ever qualify for that event. She finished the day at -6 and in the top 5. She said in her interview that she was able to go home for two days before the tournament and got to spend the time with her dad. They practiced for 5-7 hours per day and played many holes so she could build her confidence.
The Junior Reporter experience was one I will not forget anytime soon. It was an opportunity to learn as well as experience the USGA up close and watch great women grind it out on the course!
MADISON – Birdie level, age 11
On June 1st, 2019 I got the opportunity to attend the U.S Women’s open championship. While attending the event I learned lots of facts and information about the event. I got to meet some of the players and I got to see different parts of the course and the media center. I also met a lot of competitors from the tournament.
The Tournament had a lot of interactive games that people could play and try. One of the things they had there was a screen where you could have your picture taken and it would send it to your phone. Right behind that was a putting game where you could put four balls and see if you cold make the shots like the pros can. This was a good way for people to practice putting and to have fun.
They had player memorials along the course. The memorials were life size pictures of past winners. It was very cool to just be walking to see players playing and you see past winners and make you think that one of these players will be on one of these one day. They also had signs on the course of the future courses for future women’s opens.
The women’s open had a Junior Center. The Junior Center had many activities that Children could interact with. Games in Included decorating golf balls, miniature put-put, hula hooping, and many more. They also had a face painter and a wheel you could spin to win a prize.
The ponds and wildlife on the course were beautiful. As I was walking, I saw pelicans and other birds. There were turtles in the pond. They were very beautiful in their habitat. The food at the event was also very good. They had a large variety to choose from. They had food trucks and concession stands.
The sponsor of the event was Lexus. Lexus had a booth at the event. In the booth they had a car simulator for eighteen-year old’s and older. They also had an activity called “Put Like a Pro” where you try to make a put that most pros can. The Booth also had the trophy inside along with one of the cars that Lexus sells.
They also sold merchandise at the event. Some of the Items they sold were hats, shirts, jackets, posters, pins, and more. The items are very high-quality. It was very jam-packed full of people. The customer service was very good.
The children’s tour was very interesting when we go to the media center. We got to learn about all of the cameras and filming information about the event. They have over six miles of cords to record all of the action. They have about 300 people working on the event. The event is one of their A-list events which means it is one of their more successful events in sports. The group I was with go to see where they do the end of game interviews and their reports on the event. We got to take pictures at these places.
This was a great experience and if you ever get the chance to go you should definitely go for it.
PLAYer to Advanced PLAYer certified:
Emma B, Noah B, Sheppard B, Charlie C, Clayton C, John Robert D, Hunter E, Layne F, Ruby G, Samuel G, Burns H, Aiden K, Andrew K, Gray L, Emily M, Sophia M, Trig N, Cooper P, Thomas R, Ray S, Andrew T, Asa W, and Kyle W
Rye is one of our most active participants as he is also a volunteer each season with PLAYer and Advanced PLAYer classes at RiverTowne as well as a member of the Teen Advisory Council.
Rye has had some amazing experiences as a junior golfer, including playing in the Beth Daniel Junior Azalea Golf Tournament at the Country Club of Charleston, the St. Augustine Amateur through a First Tee exemption at St. John’s Golf Club in Florida, and helping the United States team defeat Scotland in the inaugural Watson Cup this fall at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island.
One of his most accomplished experiences to date was his selection into the Congaree Global Golf Initiative this summer. He spent a full week living at Congaree Golf Club, learning about life as a college golfer, perfecting his game, and making friendships and mentorships that will last a lifetime.
“From the first moment we entered the gates to Congaree, I knew this was going to be something special. The entrance itself was what I’d image Augusta to be like, trees overhanging and all. Everything was top of the line from our rooms to the food, and, of course, the golf course and practice facility itself. In the first hour of arriving for CGGI, it had already exceeded way beyond my expectations.
The overall experience really gave me a boost of confidence in myself, my studies, and my game. Being able to work with experienced and world-renowned teachers like Mike Harmon, Jason Baile, and Bruce Davidson, as well as working with other experts in their field whether it be fitness, medicine, mental game, education, even table manners made me feel equipped for not only college, but the rest of my future whether that be in golf or something else that I enjoy.
I really enjoyed meeting everyone who made the Congaree Global Golf Initiative such an incredible experience for all of the junior golfers like me who participated. I felt like I was able to step out of my shell a little and make life long connections with not only the kids that we spent the week with, but the coaches, mentors, and ambassadors that were at CGGI and were there to help us and tell us their story.”
Rye says that his favorite core value is perseverance because it helps him not only in golf, but also in his studies. He will graduate from Oceanside Collegiate Academy Charter School in Mount Pleasant this spring and looks forward to playing golf in college next year. Keep up the great work, Rye!
Kharynton was paired with fellow South Carolinian, Jay Haas, who has 33 professional victories. The two played their first round at Poppy Hills on Friday and finished at -4. Saturday’s round was at Pebble Beach, and after two days, the duo were at -1. Unfortunately, they did not make the cut, but their played fantastic golf, and The First Tee of Greater Charleston is so proud to have Kharynton as our first ever representative to this national event.
Kharynton had this to say about the event: “This experience was absolutely nothing like I possibly could have imagined – it was better! From the first day I arrived, I felt so confident and ready for the week, seeing familiar faces from other national opportunities through The First Tee like the Life Skills & Leadership Academy and Perfect Sense Challenge as well as adults like Mr. Dennis Kirwin from Pure Insurance and Mr. Matt Ginella from Golf Channel. I met so many new friends this week and am so grateful to Mr. Jay Haas and his family for their kindness. Mr. Haas even helped me on the range after the first day at Poppy Hills and taught me a lot. It was so cool to even take part in special events like the Train concert on Friday night and meet awesome people like Tom Watson and Alfonso Ribeiro! Thank you to Pure Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Pebble Beach Golf Resort, all the sponsors, and each member of the committee who selected me for this opportunity this week.”
To see even more photos from Kharynton’s week, please visit our 
For the last three summers, The First Tee of Greater Charleston has participated as its own team in the Charleston region, competing against teams from area public and private golf courses. Our team is open to participants at the Advanced PLAYer, Par, and Birdie levels, who are between the ages of 8 and 13. This summer, we had so much demand for the PGA Jr League that we created two teams who each competed in matches at fantastic courses like the Country Club of Charleston and Kiawah’s River Course. Participants earned flags for winning their 3-hole matches as well as showing teamwork, respect, and responsibility.
Thank you to all of families who sent in photos from this season’s matches and practices!
To end the season, PGA Jr League players had the chance to attend a Riverdogs game with their families earlier this month. All players were even down on the field, high-fiving players before the game!
If your child is at the Advanced PLAYer, Par, or Birdie level and interested in joining PGA Jr League, be on the lookout for registration information in the spring of 2019! 
The Young Ambassadors Council, under the project leadership of Tyson Marlow and Brittain Cherry, set a goal of upping their past donation numbers from 30 backpacks to 200. When that goal was reached, they increased the goal again and collected enough money to pack 250 backpacks this year. With 50 of the backpacks going to Core Program participants, we were left with 200 in need of good homes. Last year, we began partnering with Charleston Promise Neighborhood to provide after school programming at one of their sites, Mary Ford Elementary. We even transported some of their students to Patriots Point this spring to take part in our PLAYer Core Program this spring. On Friday night, we took part in Mary Ford Elementary’s Back to School Bash where we handed out all 200 of the backpacks to families with pre-school through fifth grade-age children!
We wish all of our participants a successful and fun back to school season! For our next Participant Spotlight, we would like to share all of your “first day of school” photos, so please email photos of your children to Program Director, Meghan Taylor: 
SarahAnne takes part in the Core Golf & Life Skills Program at Patriots Point Golf Links with Coach Wayne. Last month, she successfully certified from the Par level to the Birdie level through our assessment process. 
(fourth from left, top row)
SarahAnne exemplifies each of the Nine Core Values, and her favorite is judgment. “I have to use my own judgment to make decisions on the golf course. When I first started, my coach helped choose what clubs I would use, but now I use judgment on what club to use by myself.”
(far right, bottom row)
She says that she most enjoys golf because, “I like to challenge myself. Golf is a good sport for that. Golf also helps me meet new people!” In addition to her participation in Core Golf & Life Skills Programs through The First Tee, SarahAnne also attends our LPGA-USGA Girls Nights Out at Patriots Point and is also a member of The First Tee’s PGA Junior League team.
(second from right, top row)
Off the golf course, SarahAnne also enjoys basketball, reading, beach volleyball, and spending time with her dog. If you see SarahAnne this month, please make sure you also wish her a happy birthday – she turned 13 on May 25th! 
The Conover Family lives in Summerville and started their classes with The First Tee at The Club at Pine Forest. For the past year, they have been with Coach Meghan and Coach Charlie at Shadowmoss Plantation in West Ashley. The Conovers were also recipients of our Pick Up Stix Program where participants who reach the Advanced PLAYer level are given sets of golf clubs to use as long as they are respectful with them as members of The First Tee Program!
Thank you to the Conover Family for being members of The First Tee program! If you would like to nominate a child for next month’s Participant Spotlight, please 
Each school selects 4 boys and 4 girls in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade that are involved with the NSP Program during physical education or after-school programs. This is a FREE event to the school and its students. The First Tee provides all equipment, team tee shirts, lunch, and transportation. With help from a teacher or chaperone, students compete as a team in golf, life skill, and STEM challenges. Healthy lunch and an awards ceremony followed the competition to crown the team champion: Marrington Elementary; the Physical Educator of the Year: Kris Wilber of Mevers School of Excellence; and the participant of the year: Annabel from Pepperhill Elementary.
If your school is interested in becoming a National School Program school in Charleston, Dorchester, or Berkeley county, please visit 
Dad, Kris, began teaching The First Tee curriculum in his physical education classes at Burns Elementary through The First Tee National School Program in 2014.A year later, the Wilbers’ son, Jackson started participating in Core Golf & Life Skills programming at Patriots Point Golf Links. Since then, Jackson has fallen in love with golf and has assessed through the PLAYer and Advanced PLAYer levels, now participating at the Par level. In addition to classes with The First Tee, he also participates on the PGA Junior League team through Joint Base Charleston. Jackson’s coach at Patriots Point, Wayne Nance, says, “Jackson has always been a joy to have in any of my First Tee classes. I call him Action Jackson, but Captain Laid-Back fits him better, because he is so low-key. He enjoys all we do, and goes with the flow, always following instruction. He is very competitive, but in a very positive and fun way. He shows sportsmanship, courtesy, and respect while winning or losing!”
Even their whole family is now getting involved in golf! Mom, Shawna, and younger sister, Reese, participated with Kris and Jackson in last year’s Winter Scavenger Hunt (and won!!) and SNAG Some Supplies, where participants took part in a SNAG baseball game and received school supplies to start the year. They also attended in this year’s Family Golf Day at Daniel Island Club (
In addition to joining The First Tee’s Program Committee this year, Kris is now the physical education teacher at the new Mevers School of Excellence in Goose Creek and will be bringing students from his new school to next month’s National School Program Champions Cup.
Thank you to the Wilber family for all of their support of The First Tee! Congratulations on being our “family” of the month!
The day began with a warm-up led by Sara Radin, a fantastic volunteer with The First Tee, who is TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) certified and has a lifelong love of helping others stay healthy and happy!
After the warm up, families progressed through five stations to learn new games: putting (with tic-tac-toe and putting pool), chipping (lily pad chipping), Birdie Ball, full swing, and lunch! 
We are so thankful to Daniel Island Club for hosting us again this year and to all of our volunteers for their help at each of the golf stations! Clearly, our participants had a blast!