The Ages 14+ program is the most advanced level of the First Tee experience. At this stage, participants aren’t just learning golf and life skills — they’re putting everything together and starting to think seriously about who they want to be and where they want to go. The program challenges young adults to step into their identity, build a vision for their future, and develop the confidence, character, and judgment to get there.
What a Typical Session Looks Like
Sessions at this level run 90 minutes, with greater depth, independence, and real on-course application built into every class.
Golf Fitness Warm-Up (first ~10 minutes) Active warm-ups continue to build fundamental movement skills, scaled to the physical development and experience level of older teens.
Games & Activities (bulk of class) Participants work on advanced golf skills and tackle meaningful life skill concepts — things like building a personal game plan for the future, being someone others can trust, and developing the mental tools to perform under pressure. Participants at this level are given more ownership over their learning, with coaches serving as guides and mentors rather than directors.
Wrap-Up (last 5–10 minutes) Reflection is a big part of this level. Coaches lead conversations that help participants connect their growth on the course to the bigger picture of who they are becoming and what kind of impact they want to have on the world.
Golf Skills Your Child Will Build
At this level, participants are developing real golf competency. The focus shifts from learning fundamentals to refining them, applying them under variable conditions, and developing a consistent personal process on the course. All four golf skills are practiced with greater sophistication:
- Putting
- Chipping
- Pitching
- Full Swing
Advanced fundamentals continue to be developed and applied:
- Get Ready to Swing — full refinement of grip, stance, aim, alignment, and balance
- Distance Response & Club Selection — strategic club matching for a wide range of distances and conditions
- Target Awareness — advanced distance judgment and target selection in variable playing conditions
- Clubface Awareness — applying direction and centeredness of contact consistently
- Body Balance — reinforcing a balanced start and finish across all shot types
- Swing Rhythm & Tempo — developing a personal, repeatable rhythm under pressure
- Pre-Shot Routine — using visualization and mental preparation tools (STAR) to analyze conditions and anticipate outcomes before every shot
- Post-Shot Routine — using emotional management tools (the 4Rs) to respond to both good and bad shots and move forward with focus
Participants also develop a thorough understanding of the Rules of Golf, including complex on-course situations like penalty areas, provisional balls, relief options, and out-of-bounds scenarios.
Life Skills & Character Development
The 14+ program brings everything full circle. Participants revisit all five Key Commitments through a more mature lens, while exploring life skill concepts that are directly relevant to the road ahead.
- Building a Personal Game Plan One of the most exciting parts of this level is helping young adults start thinking about their future — not just what they want to do, but who they want to be. Participants are guided through creating their own personal Game Plan: a living, evolving roadmap of their educational, career, and life goals. Coaches make clear that it’s okay not to have all the answers — the process of reflecting and planning is where the real growth happens.
- Being a Go-To Person Participants explore what it truly means to be someone others can count on. They examine qualities like trustworthiness, dependability, and integrity — and they reflect on how these traits show up (or don’t) in their own lives. They also learn what it means to surround themselves with a Go-To Team of people who support and challenge them.
- Trusting Yourself At this age, self-trust is everything. Participants work on developing confidence in their own instincts and judgment — learning to listen to themselves, make independent decisions, and stand behind their choices even when things get hard.
- Visualization & Mental Performance Participants learn how to use visualization as a powerful tool — not just on the golf course, but in any high-stakes situation. By mentally rehearsing outcomes and managing their emotional responses, young adults develop a mental edge that serves them in school, sports, relationships, and beyond.
- Identity & Impact Participants are challenged to think deeply about who they are and the kind of impact they want to have on the world. Through reflection and conversation, they develop a clearer, more confident sense of self — and a genuine belief that they can change the game and change the world by simply being the best version of themselves.
- Future Planning & Goal Setting Participants move beyond short-term goals and start thinking about the bigger picture — high school, college, careers, and life. Coaches guide them through practical planning while reminding them that great plans evolve, and that adaptability is just as important as ambition.
- Leadership & Being Someone Others Can Count On At this level, participants are expected to model behaviors for their peers, mentor newer players, and take real ownership of their role in the group. They explore what authentic leadership looks and feels like — and why it starts with character, not status.
- Emotional Intelligence & Mental Toughness Participants develop concrete tools for managing pressure, frustration, and uncertainty — both on and off the course. They learn to reset after setbacks, stay composed under pressure, and bring their best selves to every situation.
- Integrity & Good Judgment With greater independence comes greater responsibility. Participants continue to deepen their commitment to honesty and ethical decision-making, applying good judgment in increasingly complex situations — including navigating the full Rules of Golf on their own.
- Self-Discovery & Positive Identity Throughout the program, participants are given consistent opportunities to reflect on their unique strengths, values, and qualities. The goal is for every young adult to leave First Tee with a strong, positive sense of who they are and what they’re capable of.
Safety First, Always
Every session is structured with clear safety expectations so participants can focus on growing in a secure environment:
- Coaches use consistent signals so participants always know when to stop, look, and listen
- Designated safety zones keep players completely separate from hitting areas at all times
- A minimum of 10–12 feet is maintained between each hitting station
- A clear behavior policy is in place with consistent expectations and fair consequences
- All coaches are trained in Safe Sport policies and chapter incident reporting procedures
