On May 11, Golfathon-ers will take on the incredible challenge of playing 100 holes of golf in one day at Legend Oaks Golf Club to raise money and awareness for First Tee – Greater Charleston programs. Among them will be all-star alum Maya Timmons, who is eager to tackle her FIFTH 100 Hole Golfathon.
“It’s so fun to play the courses I grew up playing with First Tee. I love giving back and helping the kids so [Golfathon] is a no brainer! I’m looking forward to our costume and cart theme this year and bringing more friends to the event to help fundraise.”
– Maya Timmons, First Tee Alum
Maya prefers to play 100 holes in crocs, as seen with First Tee – Greater Charleston CEO (and Maya’s former coach) Bucky Dudley in 2023 and 2024.
After 12 years in our On-Course Golf & Life Skills Program, Maya understands first-hand how the game of golf builds confidence and character. She also witnessed youth growing through the game as a summer coach for our Pathfinder Immersion Program back in 2024, mentoring young people who received free equipment, bus rides, and rounds of golf thanks in part to Maya’s Golfathon fundraising efforts. Maya will return to our Pathfinder coaching staff this summer after graduating from Valdosta State University, and we hope you will help us celebrate the amazing impact that Maya has and will continue to make in the Charleston community by supporting her Golfathon journey with a personal gift or per hole pledge.
Last year, Masters Monday tickets became an unexpected lesson in patience and perseverance for two of our Pathfinders, Jael and Jamie. The sisters were nominated by their coaches to receive passes from a generous donor. They were excited to attend, but after making the drive to Augusta and waiting for hours, Jael and Jamie had to turn back. The 2025 practice round was rained out.
The girls spent the next year watching the PGA Tour more closely and dreaming of a second chance.
Earlier this spring, the same donor who donated tickets in 2025 reached back out in hopes of making Jael and Jamie’s Masters dreams come true. Jael and Jamie, drove back to Augusta National last Monday, made it in, and had the most amazing day under sunny skies!
UPADATE: Watch Jael and Jamie’s April 17 interview with News 4!
On March 26, teams from 16 Charleston Area elementary schools, along with student volunteers from Cane Bay High, traveled to Wescott Golf Club for Champions Cup, our annual golf and life skills tournament.
Tournament photos by Banner Photography.
The following schools, all of which offer First Tee’s In-School Program as a Physical Education unit, participated in the tournament at no cost thanks to a generous gift from the Henry & Sylvia Yaschik Foundation:
Charleston Development Academy Charleston Progressive Academy Chicora Elementary School Compass Collegiate Academy Goose Creek Elementary School H.E. Bonner Elementary School James B. Edwards Elementary School Johns Island Elementary School Julian Mitchell Elementary School Marrington Elementary School Montessori Community School Oakland Elementary School Orange Grove Elementary Charter School St. Johns Catholic School Stiles Point Elementary School Whitesville Elementary School
Coach Jefferson strikes a pose with students from Compass Collegiate, and Cane Bay volunteers cheer James B. Edwards through a Core Value Challenge
The tournament featured 9 golf challenges and 9 core value challenges. Participating students showcased great confidence, integrity, respect, courtesy, judgment, responsibility, honesty, perseverance, and sportsmanship—the cornerstones of our curriculum—while putting, chipping, and driving their way through a mix of traditional golf holes and exciting inflatable targets, including our giant hippo and shark. Students also learned about golf course design and played “pin the hazard on the dogleg” with our friend, Troy Miller—the architect behind Charleston Municipal’s widely-celebrated renovation.
Coach Yakes and his students from Charleston Progressive Academy bring big energy to the golf course.
Kids, coaches, and volunteers alike were all smiles for what First Tee Board Member and long-time Champions Cup volunteer Kelly Lyle calls the “best day ever.”
James B. Edwards Elementary finished third and Oakland Elementary finished second.
As with any golf tournament, teams attempted to shoot the lowest score, and the contest was exceptionally close. James B. Edwards Elementary finished third with a score of 149; Oakland Elementary finished second with a score of 147; and Whitesville Elementary won the day with a score of 142. Whitesville’s team will be recognized at a special awards ceremony at a later date, during which each team member will receive a free set of age-appropriate golf clubs.
Volunteers from Cane Bay High celebrate an amazing chip that contributed to Whitesville Elementary’s first place finish.
Our In-School Program is available to any elementary school in Berkeley, Charleston, or Dorchester county. Some middle schools are also eligible, thanks to a 2026 pilot initiative. Equipment, curriculum, training, and coaching support is all subsidized by generous First Tee donors, and elementary schools who join our In-School Program network are eligible to participate in Champions Cup at no cost.
Want to join us next year? Email [email protected] to learn more about getting involved as a school partner or volunteer.
Our team is thrilled to be expanding our In-School Program to three middle schools this spring! This pilot initiative will adapt golf and life skills curriculum, currently available in 48 Charleston Area elementary schools, for grades 6-8. Students will learn fundamental golf skills through game-based curriculum that emphasizes collaboration, judgment, awareness, and good decision-making.
In addition to revised curriculum, middle school pilot partners will also receive adapted sets of golf/life skills equipment, which feature longer clubs for taller students and enough flag targets for schools to design a full golf course.
Coach Johnson pictured with Coach Steven McLaren and Charleston County School of the Arts students trying out their First Tee equipment.
Middle school pilot partners include Sedgefield Middle School (Berkeley County School District), Charleston County School of the Arts Middle (Charleston County School District), and Oakbrook Middle (Dorchester School District 2). Oakbrook is our first school partner in DD2, and with expanded curriculum/equipment offerings, we’re optimistic about adding more schools in Dorchester County soon.
Coach Jensen pictured with Coach Frasier at Oakbrook Middle and Coach Johnson pictured with Coach Mitchum at Sedgefield Middle.
Many thanks to the Physical Educators who are championing middle school golf curriculum: Cole Mitchum, Pablo Mena-Morales, and Tamara Washington of Sedgefield Middle; Steven McLaren of Charleston County School of the Arts; and Jessica Frasier and Andrew Bishop of Oakbrook Middle.
Advocacy plays a critical role in launching all school programs, and we would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Ezra Cowan and Coach McLaren for waving the First Tee flag over and over again in multiple schools. Dr. Cowan, who is now the Interim Principal at Sedgefield Middle, helped launch our partnership with Charleston Progressive Academy as a PE Coach back in 2011, and Coach McLaren, who is now teaching at Charleston County School of the Arts, formerly taught First Tee curriculum at Westview Primary and Midland Park Primary, dating back to 2014.
All In-School Programs are made possible by generous community support. Donate today to help us reach more students, or email [email protected] to recommend a Berkeley, Charleston, or Dorchester county school.
On Monday, May 11, Friends of First Tee – Greater Charleston will take on the incredible challenge of playing 100 holes of golf in one day at Legend Oaks Golf Club to raise money and awareness for golf-based character development programs and game-changing transportation services.
Since 2019, the 100 Hole Golfathon has raised more than $800,000 to help First Tee – Greater Charleston serve young people at golf courses, schools, and community centers throughout Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. This year’s event, presented by First Financial Group, will play a vital role in keeping First Tee programs free for 97% of participants. It will also fuel the four buses that make programming possible for children in underserved communities.
Here’s how it works:
Register for free by April 27. You can pick your own playing partner (just ask them to register as well), or we can find one for you.
Collect per-hole pledges and donations. Fundraising is easy; we supply a toolkit, and you will also have a personal fundraising web page. We ask that each golfer raise a minimum of $500 to play May 11.
Play as many holes as possible May 11! Check-in starts at 7:00am. Wacky golf attire, themed team outfits, golf cart decorations, and outlandish spectacles encouraged. Food and drinks will be served throughout the day to keep the energy level high.
Two-person teams will battle it out for Golfathon bragging rights in the following categories:
Fundraising Champs (team with most dollars raised)
Most Influential (team with most donors reached)
Most Spirited (team with best outfits and gimmicks)
Golfers of ANY skill level can register to play now through April 27. All are welcome, but space is limited.
This wild day of golf will make a meaningful difference in the lives of local young people. It’s also a lot of fun. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out highlights from last year…
Join us for our fourth annual mentor-mentee mini golf tournament!
Sunday, March 15 11:30am-1:00pm 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 their 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!
Cost: A $10 donation per team includes 36 holes. Donation waived registration is available for families in need of financial assistance. Please email [email protected] for details.
Registration Deadline: February 23 (Please note that space is limited, and openings may fill up before the registration deadline.)
Presented By:
Register Your Team
Registration for this event is closed. Please subscribe to our newsletter for alerts regarding future opportunities.
2025 was our biggest year yet! Thanks to generous community support, we delivered golf-based character education programs to 26,503 kids, and 97% of those kids participated at no cost. Check out our 2025-2026 Impact Reportto learn more about how we’re helping kids develop confidence, social skills, and the desire to succeed, all through the game of golf.
Special thanks to our Legacy Partners, PNC, Hudnall Capital Advisors, Terracon, Middle Street Partners, and Pathfinder Foundation, and to our 2025 Program Location Partners Berkeley Country Club, Charleston Municipal, Dunes West Golf and River Club, Patriots Point Golf Links, The Club at Pine Forest, Shadowmoss Golf & Country Club, and Wescott Golf Club. We can’t do what we do without these amazing partners!
Our registration lottery for the spring season of On-Course Golf & Life Skills is open now through February 1! Please register at your convenience during the lottery period. Selections will be made at random (not first come first served).
Random drawings will occur the week of February 2. We will email you if your name is selected. You will not receive an email if you are not selected, but your name will remain on our waitlist. Please monitor your inbox and check spam folders for notifications throughout the week of February 2. If you receive an email confirming your child has been selected, you must log back in to finalize your program registration within 48 hours. If registration is not finalized within 48 hours, your spot will be awarded to our next wait-listed family.
Charleston, SC—First Tee – Greater Charleston is pleased to welcome five new members to its Board of Directors. Nick Ferring, Olivia Hochschwender, Scott Kindorf, Kevin Murphy, and Aly Sterling will join 13 returning Directors to support the administration and growth of First Tee’s golf-based character education programs, which serve 22K+ young people annually in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties.
Nick Ferring
Nick Ferring is an accomplished manufacturing and packaging executive with over 15 years of leadership experience in the industry. He’s a third-generation leader in the aerosol industry. Nick is currently the CEO of Custom Pak Products, a contract packager of aerosol spray paints and coatings. Prior to Custom Pak, Nick spent over a decade at PLZ Corp, a private equity-backed global leader in specialty aerosol and liquid product manufacturing, spending time with PLZ in Toronto, Chicago, and the Atlanta area. A passionate advocate for industry advancement, Nick has served on the National Aerosol Association Board of Directors for over eight years. He holds a B.A. from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA and an MBA from Boston College.
Nick grew up in St. Louis, MO, and now resides in Mount Pleasant, SC, with his wife, Meredith. They just welcomed their first child. Nick and Meredith are members of Daniel Island Club and Broomsedge Golf Club, in Rembert, S.C. In addition to supporting First Tee – Greater Charleston as a Pathfinder Immersion Program Mentor and Board Member, Nick is actively involved in his family’s charitable foundation based in St. Louis, MO, which has a history and mission of giving to early childhood education, the arts, and community development.
Olivia Hochschwender
Olivia Hochschwender was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. She earned her undergraduate degree at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and went on to obtain her law degree from the University of Akron School of Law. Following law school, Olivia worked at the National Labor Relations Board as a field attorney for several years and later transitioned to private practice as a management-side labor and employment attorney.
Olivia now resides on Daniel Island with her husband and two sons. When she’s not keeping up with her boys, you can find her on the golf course. A former collegiate golfer and proud First Tee alumna, Olivia continues to compete in US Mid-Am Championships and various state and local tournaments. Prior to First Tee – Greater Charleston service, Olivia served on the First Tee – Akron Board for eight years. She also chairs the Committee On Directors for the Board of the Old Trail School, an independent private school located in Akron, Ohio.
Scott Kindorf
Scott Kindorf is a Director in Manulife Investment Management’s Private Equity and Credit Group. He previously worked for the Bank of Ireland, Madison Capital Funding, and Ernst & Young. Over the course of his career, Scott has overseen more than $5 billion in financings. He holds a B.S. in Accounting and a master’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
Scott grew up in the Chicago area before relocating to Charleston in 2021. He resides in Mount Pleasant with his wife and their two daughters, who are both First Tee participants. When he isn’t driving his kids around town, Scott enjoys golfing and traveling with his family.
Kevin Murphy
Kevin Murphy oversees all design and construction related projects for RCB, a privately held real estate development company headquartered in Charleston. Prior to RCB, he developed and led a team of project managers in JLL’s Charleston office, where they completed projects ranging from an 1,100 SF tenant upfit to an 172,000 SF build-to-suit office headquarters. Project types varied from commercial, industrial, historic renovation, and healthcare. Kevin holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Auburn University.
Kevin resides in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Meredith, and two sons.
Aly Sterling
Aly Sterling is the Founder and President of Aly Sterling Philanthropy, a nationally recognized consulting firm helping charitable foundations and passionate people create and meet their philanthropic goals. She serves on various boards—prioritizing those related to education, entrepreneurship, and leadership—including the Paul J. Hooker Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Bowling Green State University, The University of Toledo Family Business Center, Care for Kids, and First Tee – Greater Charleston. Aly holds a master’s degree from the University of Toledo and is an adjunct professor at Bowling Green State University where she teaches on topics related to women’s leadership, social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility. She is also a published author.
Aly splits time between Ohio and South Carolina, and aside from work and volunteerism, she enjoys spending time with her three daughters, playing tennis, and traveling.
About First Tee – Greater Charleston
Established in 2008, First Tee – Greater Charleston serves young people, ages 5-18, from all walks of life. The 501(c)3 offers On-Course, In-School, and Community Outreach Programs that teach life-enhancing values and interpersonal skills through the game of golf, reaching thousands of children each year in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties.
Our Pathfinders have been busy, busy, busy this fall, meeting on Saturdays for golf and life skill-building workshops.
We continued some of our summer themes with etiquette and chess instruction at Charleston Southern University. A huge thank you goes to CSU for opening their doors to us again this season and to our long-time enrichment partners, Mrs. Chris-Anne Streeter (etiquette coach) and Mr. Brian Gerauld (chess coach).
Our swings are looking as sharp as our chess skills and manners thanks to practice with Coach Jensen, Coach Johnson, and mentors at Topgolf and CHS Golf. Mentor outings were generously sponsored by the HV3 Foundation.
In November, The College of Charleston Women’s Golf Team hosted some of our Pathfinders for a clinic at Stono Ferry. This was a truly inspiring experience for our girls, especially those who are playing or aspiring to play for their high school teams. After reviewing skills, Pathfinders each paired with a college golfer for a team chipping challenge, persevering through increasingly difficult obstacles.
After a few Saturdays of golf, we headed back to CSU for a crash course in filmmaking with YoArt. We threw a ball into the air, shot some footage, and learned how to make the ball “float” with a little movie magic in CapCut. We definitely have future actors/directors/editors in our Pathfinder group!
Cassique was one of our favorite outings this season. We met up with mentors for a chipping and putting workshop with a focus on setting personal goals and decision-making. The course was beautiful, the weather perfect, and Pathfinders and mentors alike were all smiles. Special thanks to Kiawah Island Club for coordinating this opportunity!
We have two more outings planned for this season—a playday at Charleston Fun Park and a financial education workshop/playday at Wescott Golf Club. Special thanks to Synovus Bank and their amazing staff for sharing their time and expertise with our Pathfinders season after season. We look forward to a fun class followed by a festive lunch and a few holes with mentors out on the golf course.
Saturday activities will resume in the new year, and we’re excited to add a new class of rising 6th graders this summer! If you know a current 5th grade student who could benefit from year-round enrichment, please encourage them to apply for our Pathfinder Immersion Program. Applications for summer 2026 are due February 27.
Want to get involved? Your support can make a tremendous difference in the lives of local young people. Consider volunteering as a Pathfinder mentor, or email [email protected] to explore partnership opportunities.
We are currently accepting applications for our Pathfinder Immersion Program! Fifth grade students who will complete elementary school as of spring 2026 are encouraged to apply now through February 27.
Ideal candidates should have an interest in learning golf and academic/professional development opportunities. No prior golf experience is required. Accepted students will participate in a 6-week summer camp (based out of Charleston Day School) followed by Saturday enrichment activities throughout the school year.
There is no cost to apply or to participate in this program. Activities, equipment, and transportation are all fully funded by generous community support.
As fall programs wind down and we begin to reflect on program impact, we are pleased to report that 82 young people received routine transportation to the golf course on a First Tee bus this year. Thanks to generous community support and some amazing chaperones, we were able to serve 10 after-school groups (50 students) from Oakland Elementary, Mt. Zion Elementary, Compass Collegiate Academy, A.C. Corcoran Elementary, Meeting Street Academy, and Chicora Elementary on a weekly basis over the spring and fall seasons. Participants in our Pathfinder Immersion Program (32 students) also received rides to golf courses and enrichment activities on Saturdays throughout the school year and Monday through Friday during the summer.
Transportation plays a crucial role in expanding access to our programs, and it has been a game-changer for children with working parents, according to Oakland Elementary PE Coach April Blanton… “The bus transportation has been awesome. It allows students who may not have after school transportation the opportunity to participate in an extracurricular activity.”
Coach Jordan Lewis, a dedicated volunteer who had a chance to work with Coach Blanton’s students at Shadowmoss Country Club, describes bus transportation as “the greatest,” and he really loves the energy that after-school groups bring to the golf course… “Not a single kid from Oakland has shown up grumpy. They’re all the most excited to learn and participate.”
It truly takes a village to make these bus rides happen. Thank you to the dedicated donors who keep our fleet fueled, to the site coordinators who provide vital connections, and to world’s most versatile bus drivers, Coach Johnson and Coach Jensen. Special thanks is also due to the teachers, teaching fellows, and parents who helped out as chaperones with after-school spring and fall programs: Dennis Wright (A.C. Corcoran), Bryan Linnen (Compass Collegiate), Derek Fangos (Compass Collegiate), Nick White (Meeting Street Academy), CJ Rozzi (Mt. Zion), Emma King (Oakland Elementary), April Blanton (Oakland Elementary), Dana Allen (Oakland Elementary), and Bree Jackson (Oakland Elementary).
Want to get involved? We’re eager to add a new bus driver to our roster for spring 2026. Click here to learn more.
