Category: Blog

Get to Know Our 2023 Summer Interns

May 25, 2023 | Program Update

Summer is an exciting season for First Tee – Greater Charleston! When the school year ends, we’re able to reach hundreds of kids through community partner organizations, and we host a full-day, Monday-Friday camp for our Game Changers Immersion Program participants. This is in addition to summer Core Golf & Life Skills classes at six course locations. Needless to say, we need all the help we can get… which is why we are very excited and exceedingly grateful to introduce our 2023 team of summer interns!

Vada Williams, Dee M. Robinson Fellow

Vada will be working with our Game Changers Immersion Program, and as a Dee M. Robinson Fellow, he will also be learning the inner-workings of nonprofit life. Vada is a rising senior at Chicago State majoring in business management. He is currently the men’s golf team captain and serves as the Student Athlete Advisory Board President! He is looking most forward to being able to mentor the kids the same way he was when he was a First Tee participant growing up.

Antonio DelCastillo, Game Changers Intern

Antonio will be working with our Game Changers Immersion Program this summer. He’s a student at the University of Alabama and is expected to graduate in May of 2026 with an Anthropology, Economics, Pre-Med, STEM path to his MBA. He is a member of the National Hispanic Honors Society and is also a Level 1 First Tee Coach who graduated from the First Tee – Orange County program, where he was involved since the age of 6.

Madeline Webster, Game Changers Intern

Madeline will be working with our Game Changers Immersion Program. She is a rising Junior at the University of South Carolina majoring in Sport and Entertainment Management. FUN FACT: She went to a 2019 PGA TOUR event and got a fist bump from Tiger Woods! Madeline is excited to spend her summer on the golf course and connecting with young people who share her love of the game.

Gabe Conn, Game Changers Intern

Gabe is pulling double duty as a marketing and Game Changers Immersion Program intern. He is going into his senior year at University of South Carolina and is majoring in sport and entertainment management. Gabe currently works for the News and Creative Media Team at USC covering all sports and he looks forward to applying those skills to help tell the story of First Tee and our amazing program participants.

Olivia Ratliff, Game Changers Intern

Olivia will be working with our Game Changers as well. She is a sophomore at South Carolina State majoring in Middle Level Education and Political Science. She enjoys playing tennis and watching sports in her free time. She is most looking forward to helping kids develop life skills as her passion lies with teaching, education, and youth development.

Tanner Reynolds, Outreach Intern

Tanner is one of our Outreach Program interns. He is a rising senior at the University of South Carolina and majoring in sport and entertainment management. Before his time at USC, he was captain of the men’s golf team at Montreat University. He is excited to work with the kids in our programs and help them build a relationship with the game of golf!

David Fahrer, Outreach Intern

David will be working alongside Tanner as an Outreach Program intern. He is entering his junior year at the University of South Carolina, and he is majoring in finance. David has been a First Tee program participant since he was five years old and is most looking forward to helping kids learn life skills!

Learn More About Internships

Interning with First Tee is a meaningful way to build your resume, and it’s also a lot of fun! We advertise internships and volunteer opportunities in our monthly newsletter. Subscribe to our email list or contact Meghan Taylor to learn more.

Rolex Girls Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament

May 3, 2023 | Program Spotlight

The Rolex Girls Junior Championship is returning to the Golf Club at Briar’s Creek Monday, June 19, and this year’s event will feature a Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament benefitting First Tee – Greater Charleston.

Annually, this championship attracts the best up-and-coming golfers (ages 12-19) in the nation, most of whom will go on to play Division 1 collegiate golf and potentially the LPGA Tour. The charity event presents an amazing play opportunity for any golfer—young women in particular.

Thanks to a generous gift, one of our program participants, Alice Li, was able to play the Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament when it was last at Briar’s Creek.

“The event showed me how serious I could be about golf, and it pushed me to pursue a role in my high school golf team. It also helped get me into bigger golf tournaments, like SCJGA and PKBGT… I wish others knew that you don’t have to be super good at golf to play in the Charity AM. When I played, I’m pretty sure my nine-hole average was in the 50s. It was really just a super fun experience to go out and play some tournament golf.”

– Alice Li, First Tee – Greater Charleston Program Participant

Alice brought home more than happy memories from the event. She also won a charity event contest, and her prize was a 60 degree wedge, a keepsake that she still loves and uses today.

Register to Play or Sponsor a Team

Register to play or give our program participants a chance to play with future LPGA stars by sponsoring a team. The cost is $500 per girl or $1500 per team. First Tee teams will feature three of our program participants paired with an aspiring pro.

100 Hole Golfathon: Meet Our First Tee Alumni Players

May 1, 2023 | Participant Spotlight

On May 22, Friends of First Tee – Greater Charleston will take on the incredible challenge of playing 100 holes of golf in one day at Wescott Golf Club. That’s a lot of golf! And while some might suggest that it’s too much golf, we promise it is for a good cause.

The 100 Hole Golfathon, formerly known as the 100 Hole Hike, got its start in 2019. To date, this fundraiser has sponsored 5,000+ FREE rounds of golf through our Swing it Forward program, 400+ rides to local golf courses and enrichment activities, and 1,200+ scholarships for on-course Golf & Life Skills classes. None of that would be possible without committed Golfathon-ers and the generous friends, family members, and colleagues who support them with pledges.

Meet Our First Tee Alumni Golfathon-ers

In the spirit of friendly competition, we’ve recruited two First Tee – Greater Charleston alumni to face off with board members, YAC members, PGA club professionals, and other seasoned golfers in the Charleston community.

Maya Timmons

Maya is a First Tee alum who participated in our Golf & Life Skills program for 12 years. She attended Ashley Ridge High School, certified Ace at First Tee in 2015, graduated high school 2017, attends Western Governors University, and works at Topgolf. She graciously volunteered to cheer on our teams at the 2022 100 Hole Golfathon. This will be her second year attending and first year captaining a team!

“I’m really excited about playing in the 100 Hole Golfathon… I wish more people knew about it so that we could get a bigger crowd of people fundraising for our kids! I also wish that people knew playing 100 holes isn’t as daunting as they may believe. Last year’s event was extremely fun!”

– Maya Timmons, First Tee – Greater Charleston Alum

Kyle Myers

Kyle is a First Tee alum with more than 10 years Golf & Life Skills experience. He attended Fort Dorchester High School (where he played on the golf team), certified Ace at First Tee in 2015, and graduated high school in 2016. He now coaches First Tee classes at Pine Forest Country Club in Summerville.

“I’m overjoyed to participate in the 100 Hole Golfathon, especially with it being hosted at my old stomping grounds, Wescott Golf Course. I am looking forward to some good shots and great memories while raising money and awareness for First Tee, an organization that I spent over a decade of taking golf classes from and now get the privilege of coaching classes of my own. First Tee provides a safe, positive and instructional environment to teach golf and life skills that can be used on and off the course. I can’t wait to tee off the first hole and make the most out of this great opportunity!”

– Kyle Myers, First Tee – Greater Charleston Alum

Help Maya & Kyle Keep Kids On Course

Maya, Kyle, and their teammates will battle it out for Golfathon bragging rights in the following categories:

  • Most funds raised
  • Most donor support (number of donors)

They will be out at Wescott Golf Club from sun-up to sun-down, walking, running, and riding 20+ miles—taking hundreds of swings along the way. We’re confident that they have what it takes to stay the course, but it’s going to be a long day. Support from you will keep them going, and it will also help us keep kids on course throughout the year!

Pledge for Maya
Pledge for Kyle

All per hole pledges and flat-rate donations welcome, and they add up to accomplish big things! When you make a gift to Maya or Kyle:

  • Kids can attend On Course Programming FREE of charge. For every $1,500 raised, we can offer up to 6 FULL scholarships.
  • Golf is FREE for ALL Charleston Area Kids through Swing it Forward. For every $2,000 raised, we can sponsor 400 rounds of golf.
  • Kids receive FREE rides to and from the golf course. For every $2,500 raised, we can provide 80 round trips to groups of young people who are facing transportation challenges.

Visit our PledgeIt page to see fundraising progress, and tune into our Instagram and Facebook feeds on May 22 for day-of-play coverage.

Local Students Demonstrate Golf & Life Skills at Champions Cup

April 4, 2023 | Program Update

Charleston Area elementary school students traveled to Wescott Golf Club on March 29th to compete in the First Tee – Greater Charleston Champions Cup tournament. Each team, led by their PE teacher, tackled 9 golf challenges and 9 core value challenges to demonstrate all they have learned as part of our In-School Golf & Life Skills Program.

Volunteers from the Lucy Beckham Golf Team kept tournament participants on track and having fun.

This year’s tournament featured players from Charleston Development Academy, Chicora Elementary School, James B. Edwards Elementary School, Julian Mitchell Elementary School, Lambs Elementary School, Marrington Elementary School, Montessori Community School, Oakland Elementary School, Orange Grove Charter School, Sanders Clyde Elementary School, and St. John’s Catholic School.

Students enjoyed putting, chipping into our inflatable hippo, driving, and sling-shotting SNAG balls angry bird style. They even had an opportunity to learn about golf course design from course architect Troy Miller.

Students from Charleston Development Academy enjoy “Pin the Hazard on the Dogleg” with course architect Troy Miller.

Teams demonstrated a firm grasp of the interpersonal and intrapersonal skills they’ve been learning about in their PE classes by answering questions about honesty, integrity, courtesy, confidence, judgment, perseverance, respect, responsibility, and sportsmanship. These core value questions factored into each team’s point total.

We are extremely proud of all 2023 tournament participants, including Orange Grove Charter School, Sanders Clyde Elementary, and Marrington Elementary who placed first, second, and third. Our champions will be recognized at a special awards ceremony where they will receive sets of clubs.

Coach Jackson high fives a student (Chicora Elementary), and our 2023 champions (Orange Grove Charter School) pose with their trophy.

The Champions Cup tournament is an annual event, sponsored by First Tee and the Henry & Sylvia Yaschik Foundation, to celebrate school program participation. To maintain COVID safety protocols, we hosted virtual tournaments in 2021 and 2022 where students participated in golf and core value challenges remotely from their schools. While those events were well attended, we’ve missed the magic of a green grass venue. Many of the students who participate in Champions Cup have never visited or played a golf course before. As such, it was all the sweeter to gather in person this year at Wescott… a uniquely special event for kids, coaches, volunteers, and spectators alike.

Thank you to the dedicated Physical Educators who administer First Tee curriculum and go the extra mile to train kids for this event. Thanks also to the MANY volunteers who make Champions Cup possible year after year. We look forward to seeing you all again in 2024!

First Tee – Greater Charleston Welcomes New Board Members

March 7, 2023 | Press Release

Charleston, SC—First Tee – Greater Charleston (FTGC) is kicking off 2023 with enhanced board support. Seven new Directors joined the organization last month including Keith Barringer, Cynthia Hubbard-Schools, Pam Kennedy, Kelly Lyle, Jim Mackey, Kelvin Moore, and Nick Schumacher.

New board members will join an active group of 14 returning members, bringing the Board of Directors total to 21.

Get to Know the Board

Keith Barringer

Keith Barringer is a retired Senior Managing Director from Accenture where he was a founding partner. He joined Accenture in 1986 after graduating from UNC Chapel Hill and was promoted to partner in 1996. During his 35-year tenure with the firm, he held various leadership roles around the world and worked in 28 countries.

In November 2020, Keith founded Abbotts Drive Advisory, a firm committed to helping C-level leaders and boards capture the opportunities enabled by the digital revolution.

In addition to being an enthusiastic supporter of First Tee – Greater Charleston, Keith has been involved with Atlanta’s High Museum of Art, the Network of Executive Women, and Consult Your Community at Georgia Tech, where he was the founding. Keith is also a founding sponsor of the Last Mile Partnership, an innovative venture between The Coca-Cola Company, the Gates Foundation, Yale University, USAID and Accenture that streamlines medical supply distribution in Africa.

Keith and his wife Julie have three children – Alex, Grayson, and Jack. In his free time, Keith enjoys tennis, golf, soccer/football (Fulham FC season ticket holder), collecting wine, photography, reading, East Coast hip hop, and spending time with family and friends.

Cynthia Hubbard-Schools

Cynthia Hubbard-Schools grew up in South Carolina (Aiken, Orangeburg, and Charleston). She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in English from the College of Charleston and spent most of her life as a legal assistant. She began her career in Columbia and returned to Charleston after accepting a position with The McNair Firm. Cynthia assumed the role of Judicial Legal Assistant to The Honorable P. Michael Duffy at the US District Court in 1995 and retired in 2018.

Cynthia splits time between San Francisco and Charleston where she enjoys spending time with her three children and three grandchildren. She and her husband, Scott, love traveling, good food, and good wine. Favorite destinations include wine country and Hawaii. Cynthia also enjoys playing golf, tennis, and pickleball.

In addition to First Tee – Greater Charleston board service, Cynthia has been involved in fundraising and event planning for Water Mission International, the American Heart Association, and local schools (Ashley Hall and Porter Gaud).

Pam Kennedy

Pam Kennedy is a retired Physical Educator and Health Teacher. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, she began teaching after graduating from Morgan State University where she played starting point guard for the lady Bears basketball team. She went on to teach for 38 years and spent 25 of those years coaching varsity basketball.

A lifelong athlete, Pam enjoys working out and loves spending time outdoors—golfing, playing pickleball, hiking, snow shoeing, and trail biking. She picked up golfing in her late 40s and has already scored a hole-in-one at Charleston National Golf Club.

Pam and her husband, Don (also a long-time educator), have a beautiful, blended family of 7 children and 15 grandchildren and an extended family of beloved students.

In addition to First Tee – Greater Charleston board service, Pam is an active member of Charity Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston.

Kelly Lyle

Kelly Lyle is the Founder and former President of 2 Oceans Promotions, a Promotional Marketing Company.

Kelly attended The Ohio State University and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music on a vocal scholarship. When Broadway did not call, a love of sport led her to Brendamour Sporting Goods in Cincinnati Ohio where she became the store’s youngest manager. Recruited by Federated Department Stores, she became Divisional Merchandise Buyer for Junior Apparel and Accessories for 15 stores throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

After relocating to Nashville, Kelly was Director of Customer Service for Mercantile Department Stores Southern Division. As Director, her responsibilities included increasing sales, marketing, recruiting, training and retention of top performers for 13 stores throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Kelly’s next move brought her to Aiken, SC, where in 1998 she started 2 Oceans Promotions, an ASI, PPAI, and WBENC Certified Woman Owned Business. Known for creating specific branded merchandise for the Entertainment Industry. 2 Oceans was named one of the top 500 Companies in ASI from 2010-2014. The company became one of 20 Time Warner preferred vendors and garnered 2 ADDY awards during Kelly’s Ownership. The Company was sold in 2014.

Playing competitive golf in the 90s and up until mid 2000, Kelly still has a true love for the game and the people you meet along the way. Golf Memberships include Daniel Island Club, Bulls Bay, Palmetto Golf Club, and Cornerstone Club in Montrose (Telluride) Colorado. Aside from golf, Kelly seeks out 14’ers (hiking) in the summers of Colorado while traveling with husband David. She also is active in the community. Philanthropic interests have included serving on the board for Louie’s Kids and fundraising/volunteering for East Cooper Meals on Wheels.

Jim Mackey

Jim Mackey is a retired pharmaceutical executive with forty years’ experience with industry-leaders such as Wyeth, Schering-Plough, and Merck.  He served in sales, marketing, and general management roles and retired as Merck’s Senior Vice President, North America for Consumer Healthcare in 2014.  From 2015 to 2022, Jim led a successful consultancy advising both large multi-national and smaller startup firms in commercial strategy.

Jim was a long-time board member for DARE NJ, an organization providing drug and alcohol resistance education to middle school and high school students, and he has been involved with First Tee since 2009, when his home club, Plainfield Country Club, became the first private club in the nation to host First Tee programming. Jim was instrumental in both individual and corporate fundraising for First Tee – New Jersey, and he helped the chapter produce 40+ college scholarships from PCC membership.

Since relocating to the Charleston Area in 2018, Jim has continued his commitment to First Tee as a volunteer coach.  He is also an Ambassador to The Congaree Foundation, serves on the Board of Visitors for his alma mater’s Haub Business School at Saint Joseph’s University, and is a board member of the Center for Marketing Solutions at University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business.

Jim and his wife Mary Ann are blessed with seven adult children who are dispersed throughout the country.  Their home on Sullivan’s Island is the family’s gathering place.  In retirement, Jim is an avid golfer and an ardent supporter of all things Gamecock athletics.

Kelvin Moore

Kelvin Moore is the Chief Security Officer for The United States Small Business Administration. He resides in Charleston and Washington D.C. and advises SBA program offices in the development of information technology (IT) security and privacy.

Kelvin was born and raised in Greeleyville, South Carolina. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1990 and spent 12 years serving his country in uniform.

In 2002, Kelvin transitioned from the armed forces and was hired as the IT Director for the Suffolk County District Attorney in New York. He went on to hold various senior leadership positions managing diverse teams of personnel in support of National Security Initiatives with the U.S. Department of State, several intelligence agencies, The Department of Defense, and the Defense Information Systems Agency (as part of the Joint Interoperability Test Command).

In 2016, Kelvin assumed the role of Chief Information Officer at Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland, and he relocated to Charleston in 2018 after becoming the Deputy Director of the National Cyber Range Complex.

When Kelvin isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with family and playing golf. He is an enthusiastic supporter of First Tee – Greater Charleston, and in addition to board service, he’s a devoted on-course program volunteer.

Nick Schumacher

Nick Schumacher was raised in Aiken, SC and is a proud graduate of Clemson University.  He credentialed as an unlimited general contractor and has held various management and executive roles in real estate development, consulting, and commercial and residential construction.  He currently works with the Kessler Collection, as their Corporate Vice President of Construction.  

In his spare time, Nick is active in the community, serving on various boards and committees for several youth development programs, Operation Home, and City of Charleston Housing Authority Commission. He enjoys coaching youth sports and has been an active volunteer with First Tee – Greater Charleston for over a decade. Volunteer roles include a previous term as Board Chair and serving as Chair of the GOLF&GALA committee.  

Nick has called Charleston home for 20 years.  He loves spending time traveling with his wife Katie, chasing his three kids around, and playing and enjoying live music whenever he gets the chance.

Learn More About FTGC Leadership

For a complete list of Directors and Advisory Board Members, please visit firstteechs.org/about.

PGA Jr League Tryouts

March 2, 2023 | Program Update

MARCH 13 UPDATE: ALL SPOTS HAVE BEEN FILLED FOR PGA JR LEAGUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING ANOTHER TEAM IN THE SUMMER OF 2024.

PGA Jr League is back!  Each summer, First Tee – Greater Charleston sponsors a team of 24 participants who compete against other area golf course teams in captain’s choice format matches. To learn more about PGA Jr League, please click here.

To be eligible for the First Tee PGA Jr League team your child must:

  • Be 9-13 years of age (as of July 31, 2023)
  • Have been enrolled in at least 3 total seasons of Core Golf & Life Skills programming
  • Have been enrolled in at least 1 season in the last calendar year (summer 2022, fall 2022, or spring 2023)
  • Be able to attend practices between 12:30 and 3:00pm on Wednesday afternoons June-August at Patriots Point Links
  • Be able to attend matches between 3:00 and 7:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays June-August across the tri-county area

The cost for team participation is $199 and financial aid is available.

Chris Pinckney: A Story of Grit & Determination

Mr. Chris Pinckney pictured with wife Beatrice, granddaughter Megan, and great-grandson Teagan.

February 22, 2023 | Local Spotlight

Mr. Chris Pinckney could be described as a “usual suspect” at the Charleston Municipal Golf Course. In fact, Charleston City Paper wrote an article on the subject in 2021 to celebrate renovations to the beloved course. In that article, we learned that Mr. Pinckney has been playing the Muni’s citywide amateur golf tournament since 1962. He even won the city title in ’79 and ’83. The now 79 year-old James Island native still plays the course two or three times a week, a freedom that he hasn’t always enjoyed.

As a youth (13 or 14) in the late 50s, Mr. Pinckney worked as a caddy for the Muni. He wasn’t allowed to play the course until 1961, when it became the first in South Carolina (public or private) to successfully integrate.

As an organization that exists to promote access to golf and all the intrinsic and extrinsic opportunities that go along with it, we found ourselves wondering… How does a young man without course access learn to play (and learn to play extremely well)?

We decided to give Mr. Pinckney a call to find out.

Mr. Pinckney told us that he was one of the first black golfers to play the Muni in 1961. He was 17 or 18 at the time and had already learned a great deal about the game as a caddy and from his older brother, Irvin Pinckney. The Pinckney family lived on a plot of land off Riverland Dr that had been purchased by Chris and Irvin’s grandfather. Irvin made a few golf holes on the property, and Chris recalls school friends stopping by to play. The boys also sharpened their game at the Little Rock Club on Grimball Road, a homemade 6-hole course designed by Richard “Lunk” Smalls in the 1950s. That course and military bases would have been the only facilities open to black golfers in South Carolina prior to integration of the Muni. Mr. Pinckney would eventually gain access to base courses when he went to work as a welder and machinist, first for the Naval shipyard and then the Air Force Base.

Competitive Play Inspires Port City Golf Club

Fast forward to 1961. Mr. Pinckney is an adept golfer with ambitions of competitive play, but tournament entry presented yet another stumbling block. “[In the 60s] these guys could play the course, but they couldn’t get a handicap because our course isn’t a club…” says Marshall Ormand, Charleston Municipal Golf Course Manager. “That’s why they [Mr. Pinckney, Johnny Middleton, and a few others] started the Port City Club. When that didn’t work, they started the Port City Classic Golf Tournament. It’s an incredible story.”

“Golf has been really, really good to me. It keeps my mind sharp… And the Muni has been good to me. It’s allowed me to qualify for tournaments all over.”

– Chris Pinckney

Mr. Pinckney has competed in a variety of public links tournaments. He’s traveled to Florida, Maine, Arizona, and Hawaii to play. In Phoenix, he finished 4th in the nation.

Mr. Pinckney’s bride, Beatrice, accompanied him to tournaments in Florida and Hawaii. She has fond memories of annual trips to North Carolina where the couple made lifelong friends… “Golf opens doors… You meet a lot of nice people on the golf course,” she says.

Golf seems to be keeping Mr. Pinckney young, a good thing now that he has grandchildren and one great grand to enjoy. He looks forward to teaching his great grandson to play one day, and Mr. Pinckney’s granddaughter, Megan Pinckney Rutherford (who also happens to be Miss South Carolina USA 2013) is eager for her son to carry on her grandfather’s legacy…

“His is a story of grit and determination and deserves telling. Can you imagine loving something so much, and being told that you can’t be a part of it because of the color of your skin, but then going on to be successful at it anyways? Growing up we all knew how much the sport meant to him; he spent most of his free time on the golf course… but it wasn’t until I was older that I could understand why. He had been denied access to that course so, in a way, it was like he was making up for lost time.”

– Megan Pinckney Rutherford

Mr. Pinckney Meets Our Game Changers

Earlier this month, Mr. Pinckney, Mrs. Pinckney, and Megan met our Game Changers at Topgolf. We talked about what it means to persevere, and the kids asked Mr. Pinckney about tournaments, traveling, and his shoe size (for the record, he wears a 12). We also discovered that Mr. and Mrs. Pinckney attended Gretchen Meggett High School where they were taught by Coach Johnson’s grandmother.

Mr. Pinckney can still drive a ball over 200 yards, and the kids were eager to watch.

When asked if he had any advice for young golfers, Mr. Pinckney said, “You just got to get out there and do it.”

We hope our young people will take that advice to heart—on and off the golf course. When life is hard, when others doubt, when a system is unfair… We hope they will remember Mr. Pinckney, who, despite incredible odds, became one of Charleston’s greatest golfers.

Game Changers Immersion Program Fall 2022 Recap

January 12, 2023 | Program Update

We’re gearing up for a new season of Immersion Program enrichment activities, and if fall was any indication, spring is going to be fun!

Game Changers Immersion Program participants meet Monday-Friday over the summer, and once a week (usually on Saturdays) throughout the school year. This past fall, weekly meetups alternated between of golf outings, enrichment presentations, and fieldtrips.

Our Game Changers routinely visited Wescott Plantation, where they worked with Coach Johnson and Coach Perry to improve their golf game. They also spent a few afternoons at Stono Ferry getting pointers from Coach K, Coach JP, and the College of Charleston Men’s Golf Team.

“Being a part of the Game Changers program was thoroughly enjoyable. Due to our students’ busy schedules, interaction with members of our local community doesn’t happen as often as we would like. To share their love of golf with the young men and women of Game Changers allowed our team to work together and hone their path towards becoming community leaders. It was not long ago that students in our program would have been part of programs like the Game Changers. To be able to share their skills and passion was exciting and humbling.”

–  Mitch Krywulycz, Head Golf Coach | College of Charleston

Aside from golf, Game Changers enjoyed a photography lesson by YoArt at the Cigar Factory (complete with photo scavenger hunt) and the Epic Gameshow Experience at Elite Games.

Educational enrichment included a tour of the Charleston Southern University campus with Associate Athletic Director Betty Palmer and a presentation by Officer Michael Rice and Amanda Perry, Esq. The presentation was a continuation of a mock trial activity that took place last summer.

“I had an opportunity to work with [the Game Changers] last summer during a mock trial program. I was thoroughly impressed by their willingness to get involved, ask thoughtful questions and really put in the work that was necessary to make the mock trial a success. Last fall, I had the privilege to assist Officer Rice and Coach Johnson with an educational presentation… The kids asked poignant questions that were applicable to their lives, and hopefully they will carry this information with them into the future. I was honored to be a part of this program because these children are leaders of tomorrow.”

– Amanda Perry, Esq.

The presentation featured law enforcement scenarios constructed by Officer Rice, and Amanda gave examples of legal action that may result from each of the scenarios. Our Game Changers were certainly engaged. We may have a few future attorneys and officers on our hands!

“I wanted these young men and women to leave with a better understanding of policing with an emphasis on why we do what we do. The overall goal for me is to bridge the gap of understanding between law enforcement and the communities we serve, and that effort starts with our youth… The Game Changers were engaged in topics and discussion and were eager to ask questions regarding my career. Not every day a child gets the opportunity to ask numerous questions to a police officer. I was happy to provide them with that opportunity.”

– Officer Rice, Mount Pleasant Police Department

Our Game Changers ended the season with a carefree afternoon at SkyZone—complete with lunch, ice cream, and surprise holiday gifts from our Teen Advisory Council.

“All activities from the start of the Fall to the last fieldtrip before winter break have been very informative and enjoyable for the Game Changers. It has allowed them the opportunity to sharpen their golf games on the golf course as well as learn real life skills from a variety of enrichment speakers. …And our Teen Advisory Council did an awesome job selecting different Christmas gifts for the Game Changers. They were very thankful!”

– Coach Lerone Johnson, Director of Special Programs | First Tee – Greater Charleston

Want to get involved with our Game Changers in 2023? Email Coach Johnson to explore opportunities.

Help Us Celebrate 15 Years of Building Game Changers

January 3, 2023 | Chapter News

2022 was a spectacular year! We served 17,975 children (more than ever before) at eight local golf courses, 35 schools, and 14 community partner locations. We distributed 44 sets of clubs and helped kids play more than 2,000 free rounds of golf. We also gave away $10,500 to First Tee program alumni who are pursuing secondary education, and we rounded out the year with the Barbara A. Douglas and Dr. William J. Powell Diversity Award.

And there’s even more to celebrate in 2023… It’s our 15th anniversary! We’ve come a long way since 2008. We served 132 kids that year. This year, we hope to reach more than 18,000.

Our programming wouldn’t be where it is today without generous community support, and we hope you will help us keep the party going all year long by joining us for a happy hour or playday event. Our first play opportunity will be the Mini Mentor Cup on Sunday, January 29th. Happy hour dates to follow. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for updates.

Stay tuned for event details, and we look forward to seeing you soon. Happy New Year, First Tee Family!

Mini Mentor Cup Tournament at Charleston Fun Park

Join us for our first-ever mini golf tournament!

Sunday, January 29th
11:30-3:00pm
Charleston Fun Park
3255 N Hwy 17 Mt. Pleasant

Tournament Format: Adult/child pairs will play best ball. Both teammates will play each hole. The team will record the best score. Each team is required to use at least four of the junior participant’s scores.

Teams: A child can team up with any adult (a parent, grandparent, neighbor, friend, coach or mentor). If your child does not have a teammate, please email [email protected]. We have volunteers on stand-by who would love to play!

Rain Date: Sunday, February 5th

Cost: Tournament entry is $10 per pair, and financial aid is available as needed. Please email [email protected] to learn more about financial assistance.

Registration Deadline: Sunday, January 22nd (however, space is limited and may fill up before the deadline)

Presented By:

Register Your Team

We are no longer accepting registrations as the event is full. If you would like to add your name to the waitlist, please email Program Director, Meghan Taylor.

New, Age-Based Curriculum Launching Spring 2023

December 27, 2022 | Chapter News

This spring all First Tee chapters across the country will modernize their Golf & Life Skills Programs to better meet the needs of kids and teens. This transformation will match the way nearly all other youth sports and programs are arranged as well as meet the surveyed preference of kids and their parents to keep participants in groups of a similar age.

While we are excited about this change, we realize that parents and program participants may have questions, which is why we created the following FAQs with the help of First Tee – Greater Charleston coaches and parents.

Age-Based Curriculum FAQs

Why move to age-based programming?

  • Extensive research and feedback from participants and parents consistently show that age-appropriate programming will increase both engagement and retention of kids, especially older youth.
  • Registration will be simpler as parents are familiar with age-based as most sports and activities are set up this way.
  • As participants stay with us longer, they will be eligible for more life-changing experiences and opportunities including college scholarships and national academies.
  • The switch will allow for kids to learn with kids their own age and progress with them. Friends can learn and grow up with their friends.

What are the age groups?

  • 5-6
  • 7-9
  • 10-11
  • 12-13
  • 14+

What happens if my child ages up during the season?

  • The age a child is on the first day of any session will dictate what class they sign up for that season.
  • If a child has a birthday in the middle of a session that qualifies them for a new group, they will remain in the current class until the next session. For example, a child turning 10 in the middle of a session will remain in the 7–9-year-old class.

How will age-based classes affect current level of progression?

  • Kids no longer complete assessments to move into a new level. Once they reach the new age group, they will automatically move into the next age group.
  • Progression will be measured through a new badge system, estimated to launch in 2024.
  • First Tee Headquarters is currently in the development phase for a digital badging system to keep track of participant progression.

How will more advanced players be taught in a class with those who are just beginning to learn the game?

  • Especially during the first few seasons as we navigate this age-based transition, classes will remain small to best instruct all participants.
  • Classes will also be split up into smaller groups for certain activities to better educate all kids.
  • The Life Skills Curriculum has been refreshed so there will be new information for both new and returning participants.

Will class duration change?

All classes will still be 8-weeks long. Class times may change slightly, based on your child’s age:

  • 5–6-year-olds: 45 minutes per week
  • 7–9-year-olds: 1 hour per week
  • 10–11-year-olds: 1 hour per week
  • 12–13-year-olds: 1.25 hours per week
  • 14–18-year-olds: 1.5 hours per week

Will the lottery system change?

  • We have reviewed age group data at all program locations. This data will dictate program schedules for 2023.
  • For at least the first season of age-based programs (Spring 2023), all participants will take part in the lottery to create the fairest system of registration.

Will there be an exception for siblings of different ages to be in the same group if they are at the same skill level?

  • No, we will adhere to the age of every participant to enhance program engagement. Accommodations will not be made for siblings.
  • The curriculum is designed for the specific age groups, and we want to ensure that all children receive a curriculum that is developmentally appropriate.

Contact Us to Learn More

We hope these FAQs have helped to address some of the more common questions about age-based curriculum. If additional questions arise, please contact our Program Director, Meghan Taylor, for assistance.

First Tee – Greater Charleston Participant Spotlight: Meet Florence

December 5, 2022 | Participant Spotlight

We recently interviewed 10 year-old program participant Florence to learn more about her move from Washington DC and what she loves most about First Tee. Here’s what she had to say…

How long have you been involved with First Tee?

Florence: I’ve been playing golf my whole life. I’ve had little kits since I was one or two, but I’ve been playing with the First Tee for about four or five years. 

So you started with First Tee in DC before coming to Charleston?

Florence: Yes.

That’s quite a move! How did it make you feel?

Florence: It was a really big move, and I didn’t like it at first.

What do you like most about First Tee?

Florence: What I like most about First Tee is that they don’t just teach you how to play good golf; they teach you proper manners and how to act in situations.

Is First Tee – Greater Charleston different than First Tee – Greater Washington?

Florence: The accents are different… [At this point Florence delighted us with her best impression of a Southern accent, which we unfortunately did not catch on camera.]

Coach Charlie and Coach Chuck tell me that you’re a great golfer! How does that make you feel?

Florence: If someone says that I’m a good golfer, it makes me feel really proud because I’ve worked hard all of my life to achieve that. 

First Tee focuses on some important core values (honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment)… Can you think of a time when one of those values helped you accomplish a goal? 

Florence: I recently went to the CJ Cup with my dad and his friend, Mr. Russ. I used respect by being the only one asking for just a high five instead of asking for things. 

That’s awesome! I’m sure you impressed the pros..

Florence: Ooh! I got several people’s signatures there! …Shane Lowry, Collin Marikawa, and Rory McIlroy (aka the world’s best golfer).

Aside from golf, what do you like to do and/or who do you like to spend time with?

Florence: Aside from golf, I really like to spend time with my dog and to horse ride, but we’re having trouble finding a pony for me to ride down here. …But we are going to a hunt club this weekend, and I’ll get to ride there!

Do you think you’ll keep playing golf?

Florence: I think I’ll continue to play golf because it’s a great way to spend time outside and get fresh air. 

At First Tee – Greater Charleston, we’re teaching more than golf. We want to help kids build confidence and resilience that are applicable to all aspects of life. Email [email protected] to learn more about ways to get involved.