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.
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.
Charleston, SC–First Tee – Greater Charleston (FTGC) stepped into the national spotlight at First Tee Network Summit in Dallas, Texas last month as a recipient of the Barbara A. Douglas and Dr. William J. Powell Diversity Award. The award, presented by First Tee Headquarters (St. Augustine, FL) and The Toro Company (Bloomington, MN), recognizes outstanding leadership and commitment to promote ethnic diversity within local golf communities and the First Tee Network at large. Out of 150+ First Tee chapters, FTGC was one of two to receive this honor.
The Diversity Award is a relatively new addition to Network Summit, a bi-annual meeting of representatives from First Tee chapters around the world. It is named for Barbara A. Douglas, the first minority chairman of the United States Golf Association, and Dr. William J Powell, the first and only African American to design, build, own and operate his own golf course (Clearview Golf Club).
FTGC was nominated for the award based on geographic and financial accessibility of programming. The local 501(c)3 offers golf and life skills curriculum at 8 courses and 35 schools, 60% of which are Title I. 97% of children served receive programming free of charge. Additionally, FTGC impressed the award selection committee by pioneering a new immersion program for middle and high school students that includes STEAM curriculum, transportation, and meals in addition to golf instruction.
Staff members and stakeholders are floored by the award, but Executive Director Bucky Dudley says the work is just beginning…
“The Barbara A. Douglas and Dr. William J. Powell Diversity Award is a uniquely special honor. It’s wonderful to receive validation that we are on the right track, but the work doesn’t end here. Inclusion is not a destination. It’s a journey, and the way is paved with persistent invitations.”
Established in 2008, First Tee – Greater Charleston serves young people, ages 5-18, from all walks of life. The chapter offers on-course, in-school, and community programs to teach life skills through the game of golf to more than 17,000 children each year in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties.
Judson McNeil, President of The Toro Foundation; Bucky Dudley, Executive Director of First Tee – Greater Charleston; Kharynton Beggs, First Tee Alumna; Coach Lerone Johnson, Director of Special Programs; Kendall Flock, Director of Marketing and Communications; Russ Playford, Board Treasurer
Coach Johnson recently spoke with Golf Today hosts Matt Adams and Damon Hack about the USGA IDEA Grant and how we’re using that funding to expand our Game Changers Immersion Program. The interview, which aired live November 1st, shed some light on what it’s like to expose young people to enrichment opportunities on the golf course and beyond.
Photo courtesy of Toby Jenkins | Isaiah Myers (far left); Macio Jacobs Sr. (left); Josiah Myers (right); and Eduardo Curry Jr. (far right) pose with teammates at the 2nd Annual Fall Classic Amateur Golf Tournament
October 27, 2022 | Participant Spotlight
First Tee Game Changers Isaiah and Josiah Myers attended Port City Golf Club’s Fall Classic Amateur Golf Tournament at Charleston Municipal Golf Course on Saturday, October 22nd. Accompanied by mentor and friend Eduardo Curry Jr., the brothers played 9 holes in a competitive youth event ahead of adult participants.
Isaiah (age 12) started strong, hitting well off of the tee box on the first hole and putting skillfully on the green. Josiah (age 13) got off to a slower start, but as the day heated up so did his game. We’re proud to have both of these fine young men representing us in the community!
When asked how they liked participating in the tournament, Isaiah and Josiah expressed sincere appreciation for the chance to play. Thank you to Macio Jacobs Sr., President of Port City Golf Club for providing the opportunity and to Eduardo for accompanying!
Eduardo is a mentor and School Engagement Program Manager for Charleston Promise Neighborhood, a local nonprofit working to improve academic, health, and social outcomes for underserved youth. Visit charlestonpromise.org to learn more. He also serves on a nominations task force for our Game Changers Immersion Program.
Isaiah and Josiah are both second-year Game Changers, and they are part of our original immersion program class (Class of 2028). They meet with First Tee coaches Monday-Friday each summer and on Saturdays during the school year for on-course instruction and off-course enrichment activities.
We add a new class of Game Changers each summer (rising 6th graders), and we intend to offer year-round support to all immersion program participants through high school graduation. Email [email protected] to learn more about ways to get involved!
The Congaree Golf Club is hosting the CJ Cup October 20-23, and Golf Today is shining some well-deserved light on their philanthropic mission, the Congaree Global Golf Initiative (CGGI). The above interview features CGGI and First Tee – Greater Charleston alumna Kharynton Beggs.
In the interview, Khraynton shares personal struggles with doubt in the wake of her father’s passing (2016) and a taxing back injury. A gifted golfer, Kharynton was nearly ready to give up on competitive play her junior year of high school, but with CGGI and First Tee support, she was able to get back in the game. She now plays at Oglethorpe University and describes the experience as “life-changing.”
Kharynton represented First Tee – Greater Charleston in the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach. When Golf Today hosts praised her for a challenging par 3 on the 17th hole, she offered this advice… “Don’t underestimate the wind.”
The First Tee Family is SO PROUD of Kharynton, and we know that she will accomplish great things in the “real world” when she graduates from Oglethorpe next spring!
In recognition of First Tee’s 25th anniversary, The United States Golf Association has awarded IDEA grants to 25 of the 150+ First Tee chapters across America, including First Tee – Greater Charleston.
The IDEA Grant delivers direct funding to community-based programs that break down barriers to participation in golf and expand access to First Tee character-building curriculum. This year, 25 chapters were awarded funds to provide transportation, hire diverse coaches, train volunteers and build programs in diverse communities. First Tee – Greater Charleston received a $10,000 IDEA grant to expand its Game Changers Immersion Program, a needs-based golf and STEAM initiative that launched in 2021.
“This year’s IDEA grants are the latest milestone that reflect significant progress made to date in partnership with First Tee,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “The best way to introduce youth to the game is by meeting them where they are in their communities, and we are going to continue to drive resources toward the local level to ensure a more accessible and inclusive game for generations to come.”
This is First Tee – Greater Charleston’s second year receiving the USGA IDEA Grant. The local 501(c)(3) received $10,000 in 2021 as seed money for the Game Changers Immersion Program. That investment, along with generous community support, sponsored eight rising 6th graders who now participate in year-round programming–a full-day camp Monday-Friday each summer and continued golf/enrichment on Saturdays throughout the school year.
With continued community and USGA support, First Tee – Greater Charleston added eight new rising 6th graders in summer 2022 and hired a full-time staff member, Coach Lerone Johnson, to lead Game Changers and spearhead additional DEI efforts.
Bucky Dudley, Executive Director of First Tee – Greater Charleston says, “The Game Changers program seamlessly incorporates STEAM enrichment activities, field trips, free meals, transportation, and mentoring to the foundation of our sport-based character education program. The positive response from families is a testament to the impact this program is making in the lives of young people in our community.“
Did you know that First Tee – Greater Charleston offers program scholarships to all active and retired military families? It’s a small way to say thank you to those who have served, and generous community support makes that possible.
Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of service members who have fallen or been disabled while in the United States Armed Forces, likes what we’re doing. To help us serve as many families as possible, they have generously shared two VIP tickets to Palmetto Freedom Fest on November 4th and 5th, and we’re raffling those off to some lucky winner!
Raffle closes at 3:00pm October 24, 2022. Keep scrolling to buy-in!
Don’t want to take a chance in the raffle? Purchase VIP tickets to support Folds of Honor!
VIP Package Details
2 Tickets for VIP Freedom Fest Lawn Party Featuring Lauren Hall and Edwin McCain Friday, November 4th | 6:00p Credit One Stadium Lawn, Daniel Island SC
2 Tickets for 2nd Annual Palmetto Freedom FestFeaturing Lee Brice and Big & Rich Saturday, November 5th | 7:30p Credit One Stadium, Daniel Island SC
Private Transportation to and from BOTH EventsProvided by Coastal Limo Friday, November 4th & Saturday, November 5th
Every Raffle Ticket Helps
You must be 18 years or older to enter the Palmetto Freedom Fest VIP Package Raffle. Raffle closes at 3:00pm Monday, October 24, 2022. Winner will be notified via email. Failure to respond to email or phone call will result in forfeiture of prize. Raffle tickets cannot be refunded. Prize cannot be transferred or redeemed for cash value. No rainchecks. Transportation, pickup and drop-off location, must be approved by Coastal Limo before November 4, 2022. Additional terms and conditions may apply.
Join your favorite breweries at Shadowmoss Golf and Country Club in West Ashley for the Charleston Beer Week: Round of Beers tournament! Tournament proceeds will help fund First Tee programs for Charleston area youth. Entry includes 18 holes, a “beer buffet,” two meals, custom tee gifts, and raffle prizes.
Tournament Details
4 Person Scramble | $600 Per Team Benefitting First Tee – Greater Charleston
Shadowmoss Golf and Country Club 21 Dunvegan Drive, Charleston, SC 29414
Please Note: You must be 21 or over to participate. Event is a rain or shine. There are no refunds. All proceeds will go to support First Tee – Greater Charleston.
First Tee – Greater Charleston is a 501(c)3 youth development nonprofit that serves Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester county children by providing character education programming through the game of golf. They serve over 15,000 kids annually by breaking down barriers for children from all walks of life by providing programs, transportation, equipment, access to golf courses, and safe spaces. All money raised for First Tee – Greater Charleston stays local and goes directly back into improving the lives of kids in the Charleston community.
Thank you for your support!
Tournament SOLD OUT! To join the wait list, please complete the registration and make payment. We will notify you if your team gets in and if you do not, we will refund your registration.
Three First Tee teens ace holes 5, 7 and 17 at the iconic course
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2022) – Seventy-eight First Tee teens from across the country had the opportunity to learn from the game’s legends and explore possibilities in golf and beyond during the PURE Insurance Championship impacting First Tee, an official PGA TOUR Champions event, which concluded today at Pebble Beach.
Bryson Hughes representing First Tee – North Florida and paired with Alex Cejka, and Megan Meng representing First Tee – Greater Trenton and paired with Charlie Wi, claimed the male and female Pro-Junior titles today, respectively. Hughes and Cejka finished 18-under and won in a scorecard playoff, while Meng and Wi capped off the event 22-under.
The PURE Insurance Championship, in its 19th year, brings 78 teens from First Tee chapters nationwide to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Throughout the week the teens apply character strengths to play at an elite level at an iconic golf course where they are paired with and mentored by a PGA TOUR Champions player and amateurs from the business world. The annual event, hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, was televised internationally on Golf Channel.
PURE Insurance Championship male and female Pro-Junior winners with Pro winner; R to L: Bryson Hughes, Steve Flesch and Megan Meng
Three teens in the field made holes-in-one at Pebble Beach during their tournament practice rounds – Cooper Groshart from San Louis Obispo, Calif. on #7 (video), Theresa Shaw from Auburn, Calif. on #17 (video) and Sophia Bardunias from San Ramon, Calif. on #5 (video).
“We are proud of all the teens who played with confidence and composure this week at the PURE Insurance Championship,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “These young people exemplify the character and values we instill through the First Tee programs every day. A special congratulations to Bryson and Megan for winning the Pro-Junior titles. Thank you to our partners – PURE Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Chevron, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Golf Channel – for making this a special week for 78 First Tee participants.”
Hughes is a 15-year-old sophomore at Creekside High School in St. Johns Country, Fla. where he holds a 3.8 GPA. He has been involved with First Tee – North Florida for nine years and playing in this tournament has been a goal since he first watched it on TV as a six-year-old. Hughes holds a +2.3 handicap and is the No. 1 player on the golf team at Creekside High School.
“Thanks to PURE Insurance and First Tee for an amazing experience,” said Hughes. “Pebble Beach is golf heaven and it feels great to get a win at such a cool course. I’ve tried to make the most of this week by focusing on what I could learn from Alex and all the pros in the field. My biggest takeaway is how well they handle themselves during high-pressure situations.”
Meng is a 16-year-old junior at Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington, NJ where she holds a 4.5 GPA. She’s been involved with First Tee – Greater Trenton for nine years and has progressed from participant to volunteer junior coach mentoring the younger participants in the program. Meng holds a +2.3 handicap and aspires to play collegiate golf. She was named 2022 NJ.com Golfer of the Year.
“I’ve worked really hard to get to this moment,” said Meng. “But the biggest thing I’ve learned this week is that golf is meant to be fun. I’ve had a really great time and I’ve made memories I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I’d like to thank my pro Charlie, PURE Insurance and First Tee for this opportunity.
During the week, First Tee partners PURE Insurance and Chevron both hosted events to celebrate their commitment to First Tee’s mission and raise additional funds to support the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Leaders from PURE Insurance extended a surprise invitation to the scholarship program to 17-year-old Isabelle Junio, a high school senior from First Tee – Phoenix. The program pairs Scholars with a mentor and provides professional development workshops and financial assistance throughout the college experience.
First Tee is a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The PURE Insurance Championship is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee Headquarters to encourage and motivate participants as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.
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. In 2022, First Tee celebrates its 25th anniversary and reaching millions of youth through its network of 150 chapters, 10,000 schools and 1,700 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.
About Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization which donates funds from the proceeds of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA TOUR and the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting the First Tee, a PGA TOUR Champions tournament. The Foundation focuses on improving the quality of life in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties.
Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) Insurance is a property and casualty insurance company designed exclusively for successful, responsible families. We opened for business more than 15 years ago with the goal of offering something different in the insurance space: a company focused on doing what’s right for our membership (policyholders), one that promotes transparency and alignment of interests, and delivers greater value.
Today, after growing at least 15% in each year since we began, we are the most awarded insurer in our category, offer coverage in all 50 states that includes high value homeowners, automobile, collections, watercraft, personal excess liability, fraud & cyber and flood to a membership of more than 100,000 individuals and families.
Pureinsurance.com | 888.813.7873
About PGA TOUR Champions
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 34 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, at facebook.com/PGATOURChampions, on Twitter @ChampionsTour and on Instagram @pgatourchampions.
All events are televised in the United States, with most receiving complete coverage on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Tournament programming is available via 25+ TV linear partners in 145+ countries and territories, with 25 channels carrying long-form and/or highlights coverage, and 200+ hours of live coverage distributed in 135+ countries and territories. Programming is also available via the OTT platform GOLFTV powered by PGA TOUR in every market outside of the United States, excluding China and Korea, with live coverage distributed in 130+ countries and territories.
With a perfect 4.0 GPA and student government experience under his belt, BJ Little wants to change the world. He aims to become a criminal defense attorney, U.S. Senator and eventually, President of the United States.
But first, BJ is focused on serving his community. Starting with his high school.
When BJ entered his freshman year at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School there was no golf team. BJ wasn’t going to sit idly by, he was determined to form a team.
“In my freshman year, the very first thing I did was ask for the school to start a golf team,” says BJ. “The school went through all of the necessary preparations for the golf team to start, but then Covid happened.”
For BJ, and most of the country, school was now virtual for the next year and half, halting all chances for the team.
But BJ says the pandemic did not discourage him from achieving his goal.
“Going into my junior year I went in with the same mindset I had freshman year. I asked the school for a golf team, and they delivered.”
BJ helped by recruiting players and finding a practice facility. Leveraging his go-to team, a concept taught and encouraged at First Tee, he smartly enlisted help from his coach and director of golf operations at First Tee – Metro Atlanta Jeff Dunovant. They worked out a plan that the school could use the chapter’s facilities while BJ secured players for the team.
In 2021, the team officially launched. But there was still much work to do.
“BJ was the only player on the team who was not a beginner, so the practices would consist of BJ and I teaching the new players,” says Dunovant.
And for BJ, that’s what it’s what this is all about.
“In all honesty I just want people to have fun. The State and District titles will come with time. But ensuring students are happy and want to learn about golf is the most important thing to me. I hope that when I graduate Cristo Rey, students will still be playing golf. I want that to be a piece of my legacy to the school.”
BJ is one of 78 First Tee participants teeing off this Friday at the PURE Insurance Championship. The tournament pairs First Tee teens with PGA TOUR Champions players providing life-changing mentoring opportunities for the teens. This experience opens the participants’ eyes to the possibilities in golf and beyond as they are contemplating their future education and careers.
Isabella Lohr was in for a big surprise earlier this year.
She met PGA TOUR player and First Tee alum Austin Smotherman during the AT&T Byron Nelson in May, where he told the 17-year-old from First Tee – Dallas that she was selected to play in the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship.
Isabella is one of 78 First Tee participants who will tee off at Pebble Beach during the tournament, which will take place Sept. 23-25, 2022 and airs on Golf Channel.
“It’s the greatest honor anyone could receive, playing at Pebble Beach,” she said.
The welcome news came after a tough time for Isabella. She lost her childhood friend Dylan Dorrell on August 13, 2020, at the age of 17. He collapsed at a cross country practice and died at the hospital from an undetected heart condition. She says it’s the hardest experience she’s had to overcome.
“Grief was an obstacle I was not ready to face in life. It was a tremendous loss for me personally as every fond memory I had as a child included him.”
Shortly after Dylan’s passing, his parents created a foundation, #runforDylan in his memory.
“We were all still grieving but watching his parents turn their grief into a positive helped me gain a different perspective on life’s purpose.”
Isabella decided she too would honor his memory. In addition to nine years with First Tee, Isabella has been involved with Girl Scouts for more than a decade and decided to focus her Gold Award Project on raising funds for the #runforDylan Foundation.
Her project focused on organizing an annual 5K fun run to build awareness and gain funds for the foundation. More than 800 people participated in the inaugural event on the morning of November 6, 2021, raising close to $25,000. The proceeds will help fund AEDs at local parks in the community.
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First Tee is celebrating its 25th anniversary of teaching life skills through the game of golf. Follow the PURE Insurance Championship at PGATOUR.com.
