Why Golf?

Experiences are our greatest teacher. First Tee believes in developing the ones that are just as fun as they are meaningful, where kids feel excited to grow, safe to fail, and better equipped for whatever comes their way next. Through our junior golf programs, we see kids become more confident, better connected, better equipped to work through challenges, and more likely to pursue leadership opportunities.

On-Course Golf & Life Skills

At First Tee – Greater Charleston, we’re Building Game Changers by empowering kids and teens to be the best version of themselves.

By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with character-building curriculum, we create learning experiences that help kids uncover their inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that they can carry to everything they do.

Our trained coaches not only provide an introduction to junior golf and an opportunity to enhance golf skills, but they also create a safe, supportive, and empowering environment to help your child prepare for life ahead, including friendships, school, college and even their careers.

What will my child learn?

Your child will learn skills that stay with them for life:

  • Core values (respect, courtesy, responsibility, honesty, sportsmanship, confidence, judgment, perseverance, and integrity)
  • Understanding and managing emotions
  • Resolving conflicts
  • Setting up step-by-step goals
  • Planning for the future
  • Appreciating diversity
  • Fundamental golf skills and techniques
How will my child advance through the program?

At each age-based program level, participants will engage with 5 Key Commitments while mastering golf fundamentals:

  • Pursuing Goals
  • Growing through Challenge
  • Collaborating with Others
  • Building Positive Self-Identity
  • Using Good Judgement

Age 7-9

  • Be active and have fun with peers in a safe and encouraging manner
  • Build inner strength and self-confidence
  • Learn to play golf
  • Focus on building relationships with other players while exploring the game of golf

Age 10-11

  • Explore character concepts in active and collaborative ways that are valuable on and off the course
  • Develop golf skills and enthusiasm for the game
  • Support positive Game Changing behaviors in fun and meaningful ways

Age 12-13

  • Explore both golf skills and characters commitments while having fun with peers
  • Provide opportunities to demonstrate mastery and growth in golf skills and abilities
  • Support growth and development of early adolescents

Age 14+

  • Build character and support personal development
  • Develop additional golf skills and abilities
  • Look toward their future and plan their own paths
  • Evaluate, reflect, and apply their understanding of life and golf skills to new situations on and off the course
Where can my child attend an on-course program?

We host spring, summer, and fall 8-week Core Program sessions at the following golf courses (locations may vary by season):

When/how do we register?

To ensure that all children have a fair chance at On-Course Program enrollment, we host a registration lottery three times a year:

  • Our 2025 spring registration lottery will be held January 27 – February 2, and the spring season will begin the week of March 10.
  • Our 2025 summer registration lottery will be May 5 – May 11, and the summer season will begin the week of June 9.
  • Our 2025 fall registration lottery will be August 4 – August 10, and the fall season will begin the week of September 8.

Please join our newsletter list to receive registration lottery alerts via email.

Register Here

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Thank you to our partnering golf courses!