Uncategorized Archives - Page 3 of 4 - First Tee

First Tee – Greater San Antonio in New Orleans for the First Tee National Tournament

In December 2022, First Tee – Greater New Orleans hosted 16 First Tee chapters and 64 First Tee participants at English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans, Louisiana for their National Tournament. We sent four of our participants to represent team First Tee – Greater San Antonio. Armond Walker, Jack Polansky, Julian Karreman, and Riley Yount were all selected to participate in this tournament based on their commitment to mentoring our younger generation of golfers specifically during our summer camps where they helped us implement six weeks of our life and golf skills curriculum to 170 campers.

Vincent Kabaso, PGA – Program Ambassador Riley, Armond, Julian, and Jack have been outstanding role models in our program. I’ve been amazed at their devotion to our chapter. They are leaders in their own rights. Our younger participants continue to learn a lot from them. We have trusted them with leadership roles during summer camps and they have done incredibly well. These boys were deserving representatives of our chapter in New Orleans. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish next!

Armond Walker I had a great time playing with the First Tee at the New Orleans tournament. I’m thankful I was able to play such a great course and thankful that I was able to meet great people from other First Tee chapters.

Jack Polanksy It was a fun experience to go down to New Orleans and play such a beautiful golf course. I loved watching the ball game down there and it was just an all around fun experience. I really hope I get to do it again.

Julian Karreman I really enjoyed playing, it was a great learning experience and I made many friends and memories. I would love to do it all over again.

Riley Yount The New Orleans National Tournament was an awesome experience. We got to play on a beautiful course and see a city with rich culture. I enjoyed every second of it and would gladly be apart of it again.

In the end, Team First Tee – Greater San Antonio did not bring home a trophy but we are so proud of all four of them for representing our chapter well. We are so excited that we can offer our participants the opportunity to travel and compete as a team.

In addition to playing in the tournament, they were also invited to attend the New Orleans Bowl at Caesars Superdome.

Obando on following his dreams: ‘Not giving up and going the extra mile pays off in the end’

Felipe Obando may now be studying at the Keiser University College of Golf. But it wasn’t always a given that the sport would play an important part in his life.

Obando has long been a passionate artist, and in fifth grade, he won an art contest that not only awarded him tickets to The Honda Classic – and meet and greets with PGA TOUR players like Russel Henley – but also a lifetime membership to First Tee – Florida Gold Coast.

It was the first time Obando was exposed to golf, and First Tee introduced him to the coaches who could become important mentors, he said.

“I could go on all day long about the insane and incredible opportunities that have been given to me by the First Tee,” he said. But one thing stands out from his time in the organization: the values it instilled.

“Responsibly, honesty, integrity … were all words we learned as kids going to the First Tee which helped pave the way for the rest of my life,” he said.

During his time as a First Tee participant, Obando attended national events like the Leadership Series in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore, he played at storied courses, including The Breakers and The Bears Club, and he volunteered to help younger kids learn the game.

Obando was so passionate about the sport that he teamed up with seven other First Tee participants to create the First Tee – Palm Beaches Teen Golf Association, which has evolved into a thriving organization.

Obando has had to overcome challenges to get where he is today. He was born with a malformed right hand and has developed a golf swing that compliments his disability.

“Grabbing a cup, throwing a ball, flipping a coin. Those were all things I could do with my normal left hand. But what about a sport that involves your two hands gripping something? Golf was probably the most challenging sport I ever had to learn, and it took me lots of time and practice to be able to get good contact,” he said.

“I would say the most important thing throughout this process was never giving up, even if it meant putting myself in uncomfortable situations. I always (and still do) finished holes even if I wasn’t playing my best and wanted to pick up,” he explained. “Overcoming challenges for me was difficult, and it still is to this day, but not giving up and going the extra mile pays off in the end.”

Obando always knew he wanted to attend college, and now his goal has become a reality. He received a four-year scholarship to attend Keiser University College of Golf where’s he’s studying golf management.

“When it comes to post graduation, all I know is that I want to be involved in the best industry there is, the golf industry, whether it’s a head pro at a club, a coach, working for a company and many more of the thousands of careers there are in the golf world,” he said.

He recently received his WR4GD pass, which makes him eligible to compete in tournaments like the USGA’s second U.S. Adaptive Open at Pinehurst this summer. Obando said he’s excited for what the future holds.

“I have been practicing hard, focusing on my classes, focusing on my game and staying healthy,” he said.

Coach Kelly on Building a Positive Self-Identity

Louis Kelly, First Tee – Greater Philadelphia alumni and now coach, has been with the chapter for longer than he can remember. Coach Kelly started when he was just 13 years old, graduating through the program in 2010.

Growing up with the First Tee – Greater Philadelphia chapter, Coach Kelly had been so positively impacted as a participant that he thought the only thing he could do was give back by returning to be a coach at the chapter in 2017.

“I love First Tee and I’ve been around it a long time now. Coaching my kids and being with influential people outside in the business world makes me reflect that I just love being able to bring a smile to people’s faces,” said Coach Kelly.

Coach Kelly focuses primarily on the in-school curriculum, along with coaching golf lessons for the participants to help them make their high school golf team. From there, Coach Kelly wishes to see his kids in the program graduate and go on to college where they can play for collegiate teams.

In addition to the curriculum and golf lessons, coaches like Coach Kelly serve as a mentor for the community, helping to support participants along their educational and golf journey. Coach Kelly focuses on building a positive self-identity as a core characteristic in life.

“The mind believes in whatever you say about yourself, so we need to make it a good one,” said Coach Kelly.

“We need community, and as you know, First Tee has allowed young people to come in a safe space and be around positive coaches and other young people to build healthy habits and life skills.”

Jose Perez Makes an Impact at First Tee – Monterey County

Jose Perez grew up in Salinas, California where his family loved watching different professional sports, but primarily soccer because of their Hispanic heritage. It wasn’t until Jose was 8 years old when he was first introduced to the sport of golf – and instantly he fell in love. “In other sports, you have to rely on other people. With golf, you only have to rely on yourself and that’s why I love the game,” said Jose.

Jose became a participant at First Tee – Monterey County after being introduced to the game, loving the programs he took part in. So much so, after graduating from the program, he became a First Tee coach in 2013. “Monterey County had a summer program which I applied to that summer. I took my first class and loved it. First Tee – Monterey County has helped me a lot in my career. The coaches I had gave their best at everything and gave me values and skills I could use in my life. The least I could do is give back,” said Jose.

While coaching at First Tee – Monterey County, Jose is also studying to get his degree in accounting. Once he completes his bachelor’s degree, he will apply to get his master’s degree and become a CPA. One day, Jose hopes to do accounting for businesses all over California and take over his dad’s pallet business.

“If there’s anything I could teach my participants, it’s to be patient, be positive and always be willing to ask for help.”

2022 Game Changer Shootout Presented By Texas Mutual

The 2022 Game Changer Shootout presented by Texas Mutual featured four girls and four boys from our top advanced participants. The event kicked off at San Antonio Country Club (SACC) on Friday, December 9th. Players volunteered and attended classes throughout the year to receive an invitation. Teams from First Tee – Greater San Antonio and First Tee – Greater Austin played practice rounds with SACC members to get a good idea for what the weekend was going to present. The course was in great shape, and the weather was calm – perfect conditions for a competitive weekend! Players began the tournament on Saturday, December 10th, playing the fourball format for the front nine and foursomes on the back nine. The day ended all square with anxious energy going into the final round on Sunday. Team San Antonio had won the boot the first two years of the event and were looking for the three-peat! Sunday’s round was down to the final holes with fourball format on the front nine and singles on the back. Team Austin finished strong and took the boot from Team San Antonio. Team San Antonio is keeping their head up and ready to prepare for next year’s Game Changer Cup!

2022 Game Changers Shootout Team San Antonio

The First Tee – Greater San Antonio team was happy to host this year’s event and shared a bit of their experience:

Carrie Kimbell – Chief Executive Officer It has been amazing to watch the Game Changer Texas Shootout presented by Texas Mutual evolve since starting it in December 2020 during the pandemic. It has become the local premier event between our friends in Austin. The relationships amongst the competitors have grown and blossomed, with lifelong friendships made! We are also very grateful to our friends at San Antonio Country Club who hosted these amazing individuals at a first class facility. For many of them – this was their first time playing at a country club. While it did not go our way – we are looking forward to getting “The Boot” back in 2023 when hosted in Austin!

Vincent Kabaso – PGA Program Ambassador Being part of the Game Changer brought back special memories for me. My love for golf was ignited when I represented my country (Zambia) at International events. Seeing golfers who were the stars of the time and playing with some of them provided me a firsthand look at what elite golf looked like. I have fond memories of the friendships I built and the lessons I learnt from that incredible exposure.

Gabby Rangel – Program Director 2022 Game Changer Shootout was my first one to experience and it was so cool to see our San Antonio rock stars battle Austin! It was not the outcome that we wanted, but excited to get our team prepped for 2023!

Game Changing Alumni

For over 25 years, we’ve used golf to teach lessons about life. We’ve spun the unexpected challenges on the fairway to coach kids about adversity in the everyday. It’s not just a game, its game-changing.

Our alumni are a reflection of that commitment we made to building game changers. Below are just a few of our exceptional alumni who are making a difference in the world because of the lessons learned at First Tee.

First Tee Network Summit

First Tee – Greater San Antonio staff and seven board members hit the road to Dallas, Texas for the First Tee Network Summit. With this being the first for our team, we were excited for all that the National Chapter had to offer. On Wednesday, the opening reception began with networking with leaders across the nation. Thursday opened with the 43rd president of the United States and Honorary Chair of First Tee, George W. Bush. PGA TOUR Commissioner, Jay Monahan, along with former commissioner, Tim Finchem attended to present retired CEO Joe Louis Barrow, Jr, with the Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday night’s 25th Anniversary reception. It was truly remarkable to see the impact of what First Tee is accomplishing across the nation.

Our staff shares their experience from a memorable week at the First Tee National Summit.

Watch our recap video here

Carrie Kimbell – Chief Executive Officer “Attending the First Tee National Summit is a great opportunity to share knowledge, best practices and network with colleagues from across the globe who all share in the greater mission to better the lives of the youth in our communities.”

Kellen Kubusak – Chief Operating Officer “The First Tee Network Summit was a great opportunity to meet leaders of chapters across the country and discuss best practices within our organizations, while also focusing on the ability to impact as many kids’ lives as we can through the different programs First Tee – Greater San Antonio offers!”

Gabby Rangel – Program Director “With being in my new position, I learned more about my role within our staff and community. It was great connecting with other program directors nationwide to bounce ideas off of and know who my go-to team is. I couldn’t be more grateful that our team went and experienced the Network Summit together. 😊”

Vincent Kabaso – PGA Program Ambassador “Attending the First Tee National Summit reinforced the impact I believe we are making in the lives of our participants. It was especially encouraging to see how national leadership has created a supporting platform that gives us incredible credibility when approaching donors and sponsors. The extended first tee family is a great resource too.”

MJ Resendis – Program Manager “The National Summit was such a great experience! I got to meet other Program Managers and loved getting to have conversations with people who have the same goals as me when it comes to improving our programs and creating impactful events and experiences for our kids. I also really appreciated getting to learn in the classes they hosted for us. I took a lot away from the “Unique Challenge of Engaging Girls” session that I feel I can apply when I am planning our LPGA Girls Golf session next year as well as our programming classes!”

Charlotte Davis – Marketing Manager Being in my first year at First Tee SA, I have learned so much about what our organization is about. Attending the Network Summit opened my eyes to the number of people dedicated to reaching even more youth and impacting their lives with our 9 core values. I attended the marketing-focused sessions and was able to share my best practices with other chapters that are beginning to strengthen their marketing efforts. I also had the opportunity to speak at the session “Keys to Successful Storytelling” with Sara Henika, Senior Director– Brand Marketing at First Tee, and Adam Loberstein Director– Social Responsibility at PGA TOUR, about our storytelling of the Uvalde Community Golf Clinic. Read more at https://conta.cc/3efKwYD

The First Tee Network Summit motivated the team to continue to build and grow our program even more so than before. It is because of the network of dedicated professionals that our organization is able to enrich the youth in the Greater San Antonio area.

Austin Smotherman Talks About Impact of First Tee

Visit our 25th anniversary page for more impactful stories and videos from our alumni.

Marcus Freeman Pays it Forward

First Tee is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this month, and over the years, it’s helped produce no shortage of game changers.

One example is Marcus Freeman from First Tee – Greater Charlotte. He says the organization has helped him grow as a golfer and person.

“Being a part of this community has helped me get through hard times. First Tee – Greater Charlotte was a safe place for me in 2020. During this time my grandfather was going through end stage pancreatic cancer and my family, like the world, was navigating COVID-19 and social distancing,” he says.

The support he received from First Tee inspired Freeman to pay it forward.

He completed more than 300 hours of volunteer work for First Tee in 2021. He collected more than 500 books for a First Tee book drive, and he’s a member of the chapter’s participant advisory council. Freeman has also volunteered for his swim team and tutored students in Japanese.

“An aspect of volunteer work that I enjoy is seeing the impact that giving to others can have,” he says.

Freeman is one of 28 First Tee participants from across the country who’ll attend Innovators Forum this November in Dallas. The workshop empowers First Tee teens to develop a meaningful service project in their community focused on education, health or sustainability. Eight participants will be awarded scholarships totaling $32,000 after the event.

A junior at Palisades High School, Freeman is an accomplished violinist, and he won a medal for performing Japanese poems in 2019. Freeman aspires to study sports science in college. “I enjoy learning more about physical fitness and how the body works,” he says. Freeman spends his free time researching training tips and injury recovery.

As he progresses as an athlete and student, Freeman says he’ll continue to use the lessons and qualities he’s learned at First Tee, including confidence.

“When I first joined the program, I was a little shy when meeting new coaches, parents and other players. I spent time observing the instructors and how they interacted with all the different people coming and going. I saw them shake hands, make eye contact, smile and speak confidently,” he says.

“I knew I wanted those skills as well. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and I started to apply what I observed to my own social skills. I practiced a strong handshake. I introduced myself to people I didn’t know, and I have met many interesting people, like professional golfer Davis Love III, all because I have improved in sharing my personality.”

Learn more about Innovators Forum.

Alumna Hannah Rens Reaches for the Stars

Lots of kids aspire to become astronauts but few go on to build careers in space exploration. That hasn’t stopped Hannah Rens from chasing her dreams into orbit.

The 24-year-old is a systems engineer for Boeing Space and Launch, working on Boeing’s Starliner, a commercial crew and cargo vehicle that will be transporting NASA astronauts to the international space station.

“My ultimate career goal is to be chief engineer of a permanent human habitat on the moon,” says Rens, a former participant at First Tee – Siouxland and First Tee volunteer. “To achieve that goal, I need to develop advanced business skills, gain industry experience and further my engineering technical education.”

That’s why she’s attending the First Tee Alumni Summit presented by Gallagher this November in Dallas. The event provides an opportunity for selected alumni to advance their career by building new skills while reconnecting with fellow alumni and chapter leaders.

“I’m looking to learn more about working in a rapidly evolving industry, startups and founding your own business, and how to develop an effective personal brand,” she says.

Rens says her nine years in First Tee helped shape her future. “It provided me with a structured path to improving my golf game, peer and trusted mentors, and interpersonal and professional skills that have been essential in achieving my goals,” she says.

While in First Tee, she was selected to attend the Leaders and Entrepreneurs Forum at Disney World. “Getting to meet other students from across the U.S. while listening and working with successful business owners and entrepreneurs was unlike any other experience I had in high school,” she says. “The business principles and goals I learned have stayed with me.”

A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Rens began her career with internships focused on aircraft maintenance and repair. As Starliner prepares to expand its service to additional sites in Earth’s orbit, Rens works on vehicle life span and sustainment. Ultimately, Starliner will become one of the first spacecraft with turnaround times closer to traditional air traffic. Talk about a Game Changer.

Rens now serves as a mentor for high school and college students who want careers in the space industry, and she’s enrolled in an astronautical engineering master’s program at the University of Southern California focusing on human spaceflight.

Rens still golfs, and she’s a certified open water and dry suit SCUBA diver. Learn more about the accomplishments of First Tee alumni.

Veteran Spotlight: Kyle Hawkins, First Tee – Greater San Antonio Parent & Volunteer

This Veterans Day, we thank and honor all who have served our country. Thank you for your service! We especially wanted to spotlight one our parents who is a Veteran, Parent and Volunteer at one of our program locations!

We are happy to provide opportunities for families like the Hawkins throughout our 8 program locations. Read more about the Hawkin’s experience with First Tee – Greater San Antonio and how it has impacted their lives below!

“Golf is a terrifically frustrating game – it teaches you so many life lessons and good habits, while enjoying the outdoors. I didn’t pick up my first golf club until my junior year of high school, but quickly became obsessed. I continued to play when I could in college, but priorities were about to change for me. I attended Duke University on a Navy ROTC scholarship, and I distinctly remember my first day in uniform was a Tuesday – September 11, 2001. Once on active duty, I was fortunate to experience several areas of the Navy, from running experiments for the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Lab, to organizing the training for a fleet of minesweeper crews.

I now have a 9-year-old daughter who has been showing interest in golf for a couple of years now, and the more I learned about the First Tee, the more I saw an opportunity for not only her, but myself as well. As a volunteer and parent, I was able to get an up-close look at the energy and growth the kids bring, and hopefully in the process share some my own passion for the game. It was amazing to see the improvement they made after only seven weeks, and I hope they got as much out of the class as I did.”

Parent Spotlight – Philip Walker, First Tee – Greater San Antonio Parent

Our parents’ support of our programming is why our participants succeed on and off the course.

We are happy to provide opportunities for families like the Walkers throughout our 8 program locations. Read more about the Walker’s experience with First Tee – Greater San Antonio and how it has impacted their lives below!

“We moved to San Antonio from Hampton, Georgia in October 2017 after I took a contract position with the Air Force Civil Engineering Center down at Lackland Air Force Base. Since we were not members of a golf club, all of Armond’s practices needed to be at public facilities. We found the driving range at the RIIM, but one day it was closed, so we found the driving range at Polo Field.

After several weeks of coming to Polo Field to practice, Jimmy Lee, father of the Lee sisters, told me about the First Tee program. Admittedly, I only signed Armond up so that he could get $1 range balls. It was simply a business decision. However, once Armond started participating in the Saturday morning classes and then playing rounds along the Alamo City Golf Trail, the rest, as they say, is history.

First Tee – Greater San Antonio has made it possible for my son to interact with coaches and PGA professionals like Coach Vinnie. Also, Armond has had the opportunity to play at world class venues such as TPC San Antonio through his participation in the Game Changers Shootout. This is significant for me because Armond’s mother and I do not come from wealthy families. We are working-class civilians who strive to give both of our sons the very best life that we can give them. So, whereas we do not have a membership to a golf course like TPC San Antonio, the First Tee has made it possible for Armond to still get the experience of playing at venues like TPC. Not only that, but Armond had the opportunity to volunteer at the 2022 Valero Texas Open. It was an experience that he will never forget.

I enjoy the fact that Armond has so many people in his corner that want to see him succeed. From Coach Carrie, Coach Mercedes, Coach Steve, and Coach Vinnie to the parents of the other players, I feel as though Armond has built a network of connections that will be in his corner for years to come.” – Philip Walker