Category: Coaching

Coach Betty Palmer pictured with fellow volunteers/Board Members at Champions Cup 2024. Left to right: Phil Tralies, Betty Palmer, Juan Acevedo, Cynthia Hubbard-Schools, Kelly Lyle, and Jim Mackey

April 24, 2024 | Volunteer Spotlight

In 2023, First Tee – Greater Charleston provided character-building golf programs to 19,869 kids. 125 generous volunteer coaches helped make that possible… Volunteers like Betty Palmer. Betty serves on our Board of Directors, helps gather auction items for our annual GOLF&GALA fundraiser, assists with our Champions Cup tournament, coordinates classroom space for our Pathfinder Immersion Program, and serves as a volunteer coach for On-Course Golf & Life Skills classes at Wescott Golf Club.

1. How long have you been a volunteer for First Tee?

I believe this is my 3^rd year.

2. What does life outside of First Tee look like?

I began working at Charleston Southern University as the Associate AD for Academics in 2016 and continued in this role until August of 2022.  In August of 2022, I assumed the role of Director of Development for the University.  My husband and I enjoy playing golf every weekend, if the weather cooperates, at our home course, Coosaw Creek Country Club.  We have one daughter who also lives in Charleston.

3. What inspired you to become a volunteer?

I have always been associated with junior golf through the junior programs I experienced as a child. After my college graduation, I went on to be an assistant women’s golf coach at Mississippi State and Georgia prior to taking the head coaching position at the University of Alabama. I also worked with the American Junior Golf Association briefly before taking the Alabama job. Working with junior golfers is essential to the growth of the game, and I appreciate First Tee’s approach to developing interpersonal skills and values.

4. What traits have served you well as a volunteer?

Just having the background of working with so many camps over the years… Having worked junior golf camps at different universities and golf facilities provided me a solid background for working with kids and teaching the game.   

5. What First Tee games or activities do you enjoy most?

ALL OF THEM!  If I had to pick just one it would be the pink Hippo activity.

6. What is your favorite Core Value or Life Skill to teach?

Gratitude and Respect. Gratitude for the opportunity to be outside with friends, old and new, to learn a game that requires respect for the people around you and for the course itself. Experiencing these two values, along with all the other values that are taught, are beneficial to see. They help us understand ourselves and the world around us.

7. Are the kids teaching you anything?

Always learning from the kids. They have no idea how they help adults continue to grow in the game of life.

8. What part of programming do you think is most impactful for the kids?

I volunteer at Wescott so I get to witness the greatness of Coach Perry and Coach Tom each week. They have such a wonderful way about them of explaining the day’s activity, the word of the day, and expressing how fun and enjoyable the game of golf can be. 

9. What part of programming is most impactful for you?

Working with Coach Perry and Coach Tom and seeing the look in a child’s eye when they sink a putt or make a good swing or hit a straight shot. I get a thrill out of hearing the kids talk about how they are going to be a professional golfer one day. They are getting hooked on a game of a lifetime and one that will bring them much happiness.

A huge THANK YOU goes to the many volunteers who make First Tee programming possible, and special thanks to Betty for sharing her experience.

Ready to join Betty on course? Please visit our volunteer page to learn more.

April 19, 2024 | Volunteer Spotlight

In 2023, First Tee – Greater Charleston provided character-building golf programs to 19,869 kids. 125 generous volunteer coaches helped make that possible… Volunteers like Jordan Lewis, who helps run On-Course Golf & Life Skills classes at Shadowmoss Golf Club.

1. How long have you been a volunteer for First Tee?

I have been a volunteer for 1 year now, starting spring 2023.

2. What does life outside of First Tee look like?

I live in West Ashley with my wife Emily and golden retriever CJ.  I work from home as a Data Engineer and have been in Charleston for 4 years, moving here from Atlanta.  I love to golf, I love to cook (especially Greek food), take CJ on walks around the neighborhood and to the beach, and to travel and visit friends, I also love going to see live music.

3. What inspired you to become a volunteer?

I wanted to find a way to volunteer my time, and this felt like a great fit with a game I love.  

4. What traits have served you well as a volunteer?

I love to play games, whether it be sports or otherwise.  I enjoy teaching people things and seeing them grow… And I love golf!  I’ve been playing since I had plastic clubs in the backyard with my Dad.    

5. What First Tee games or activities do you enjoy most?

I don’t think there’s any specific game I like best (other than end of session golf baseball), but I love when the kids get excited and invested in what we’re doing and in their own progress. 

6. What is your favorite Core Value or Life Skill to teach?

Judgement… Getting the kids, who all want to swing as hard as possible, to slow down and understand that you don’t always have to swing out of your shoes has been so cool to see. 

7. Are the kids teaching you anything?

They are teaching me patience (haha) and have helped me learn how to connect and teach people who learn differently than I do.

8. What part of programming do you think is most impactful for the kids?

The part I think is the most impactful is probably when they start to see progress.  When they start to understand how making a change in grip or swing or etc, they can see the progress and start to put it all together. That’s when they get really excited.

9. What part of programming is most impactful for you?

Same as the kids… I love seeing it click in their heads and how excited they get. There’s nothing better!  

A huge THANK YOU goes to the many volunteers who make First Tee programming possible, and special thanks to Jordan for sharing his experience.

Ready to join Jordan on course? Visit our volunteer page to learn more.

December 19, 2023 | Coach Spotlight

Our very own Bucky Dudley, who also happens to be a Carolinas PGA Section Youth Player Development Award winner, recently shared some teaching insights with the PGA. Here are his thoughts on the importance of keeping students engaged…

Coaches must ensure their junior golfers are not only taking away an understanding of each lesson but are also enjoying the learning process. I employ a few teaching strategies… The first is ending the activity at the height of enjoyment. While this might sound counterintuitive, kids have a limited attention span. There is a limited amount of time before they get “bored” and their minds wander, creating unengaged participants and an unsafe environment. By only playing for a few minutes before shifting focus, participants will leave the activity with a positive experience and remember how much fun it was to play. They will want more! This also allows for the same games to be played week after week and for participants to see improvement across the weeks. This means that coaches must have at least two games or activities ready for each class. Consider using the change of activity as a water break to help refresh your participants for the next activity.

The second strategy is Play-Practice-Play, especially for older participants or those with more experience. I was introduced to this concept in First Tee Coach Training, and it was an “aha” moment in my professional development. The idea is to create games and activities for participants to quickly start playing after arrival, and to sandwich them around purposeful practice of the intended skill. For example, if the skill is putting, participants may immediately start play of a game where they need to putt the ball into a hole around obstacles. Finding it difficult at first, stopping for instruction and practice, and returning to the game afterwards can allow for improvement and increased enjoyment of the game during the second half.

Finally, the best coaches are master game creators. Drills are boring, but they are a great tool to help learn new techniques or skills. What if you could create games that bundle the skills needed to improve into a game that kids enjoy. Drills become less boring, and your students learn more quickly while having fun. Become a master game creator and your students will reap the rewards.

We may be biased, but we think Bucky’s advice rings true for all educators, regardless of subject matter. Hop over to our programs page to learn more about First Tee curriculum and how we utilize Bucky’s concepts to teach interpersonal skills through the game of golf.