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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.

Marcus Freeman Pays it Forward

First Tee is celebrating its 25th 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

2022 Texas Mutual Invitational Benefiting First Tee – Greater San Antonio Recap

The First Tee – Greater San Antonio Board of Directors, Front Nine Committee and team are celebrating the 2nd Annual Texas Mutual Invitational and Concert benefiting First Tee – Greater San Antonio.

Thursday, October 6th marked the kick with a concert with 300 guests featuring Texas Country Music performer Wynn Williams with the stage sponsored by Valero Energy Corporation! Each guest received a complimentary concert T-Shirt sponsored by Rudy’s BBQ. There was a live and silent auction sponsored by Security Service Federal Credit Union and a raffle to win a 6-seater EZ-GO golf cart, won by Amy Thomas! Guests took home live auction items such as a 30-person private dinner party hosted by Don Strange of Texas, an Argentinian Dove Hunt, and a family deer hunt at 1851 Ranch! Our silent auction featured items such as Hotel Emma one-night stay, Alamo City Golf Trail Die Hard Membership, golf rounds, gift baskets and YETI coolers and more. Guests dined on cuisine provided by Don Strange of Texas and top-shelf beverages provided by Dripping Springs Vodka & Republic Whiskey! The night was full of excitement and energy!

Our board chairman, Steve Schott, spoke with regional vice president of Texas Mutual, Jim Zilkowski about the importance of being the title sponsor and how First Tee aligns with their corporate values of generational learning. Our program ambassador, Vincent Kabaso, spoke with First Tee Lead Coach, Ernesto Macias, math specialist at Leon Valley Elementary, about introducing golf to his students and the benefits beyond the game.  

The Texas Mutual Invitational golf tournament was held on Monday, October 10th at the prestigious Oak Hills Country Club. Over 110 golfers received a premier tee gift, a Titleist travel golf bag.  Golfers practiced on the driving range and putting green thanks to our sponsor, BCS Prosoft. All golfers had a opportunity to win one of two hole-in-one cars sponsored by Cavender Auto Group. Golfers were able to utilize some shots of First Tee’s best participants on holes throughout the course and even attempted to beat the pro against Julia Vollmer, Marlo Zamora, and Michelle Lee on hole #2. Live auctioneer of the concert, Pat McMahan’s team won the tournament with a low score of 57!

First Tee – Greater San Antonio is very fortunate to have a title partner like Texas Mutual help cultivate the next generation of Texas workers, and help  provide a great experience to our event guests that will directly benefit First Tee  programs and scholarships. First Tee – Greater San Antonio is ready to grow and serve even more of San Antonio’s youth to continue building game changers!

Special thanks to all our sponsors for making this night possible!

Texas Mutual Insurance – Title Sponsor

Valero Energy Corporation – Stage Sponsor

Rudy’s Barbeque – T-shirt Sponsor

Cavender Auto Group – Hole-in-One Car Sponsor

Security Service Federal Credit Union –  Live & Silent Auction Sponsor

VIP Staffing – Cup Sponsor

Alina Gil: First Tee – Greater San Antonio Birdie Participant

My name is Alina Gil. I am a 7th grader at St. Luke Catholic School.  I am currently 12 years old. I joined the First Tee when I was 8, which makes it 4 years ago.  When I have free time I enjoy drawing, painting and playing with my dog.

What do you enjoy most about golf?
The things I most enjoy about golf is playing with my friends, and meeting new people. Something funny is, I like to snack in between holes in the golf cart.

What have you learned most since playing in tournaments?
What I have learned, from past tournaments, is that everyone has their own way of playing golf. Golf is a mental (mind challenging) game, and I have seen players handle their challenges differently. I have learned not to compare myself to anybody. Take this quote for example, “Be Yourself; Everyone Else Is Already Taken” – Oscar Wilde . Everyone has their own game, I set my goals to improve my previous score.

What is your favorite accomplishment with golf so far?
So far my favorite accomplishment with golf is when I got 1st place in the San Antonio Beltway Junior Championship tournament in my division. I also got a trophy for being player of the year!

How has First Tee helped prepare you for these events?
The First Tee has helped me by giving me friendships, courage, golf lessons and more. The First Tee has helped me get my 1st set of clubs. I was so happy and proud to get them! They prepared me in joining my school’s golf team. The effort and practices got me 1st and 2nd place in my school’s golf tournaments!

What are you looking forward to most with your golf game?
I am looking forward to get better with my golf game. In my future I want to be able to play in the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association). I want to get to that level so I can be successful in golf and my life.

The Key to Setting Reachable Goals

Have you ever thought about your achievements in life? What were the dreams and ambitions that you wanted to work towards? How did you get there? At First Tee, these are the type of questions we propose to kids and teens to help them understand the process of attaining goals; but to reach their goal, they must first understand how goals are formulated.  

A goal is something that you want to do, be or have, but it’s not something that you can do, be or have right at this moment. It’s something you must work to get in the future, and you can apply that to any challenge in life. For example, if your child wants to achieve Honor Roll and receive all As and Bs in school this year, what would that require them to do? They would need to do well on tests and assignments. How would they accomplish that? Encourage them to take good notes, turn in their work on time, and study for their tests. 

For kids, having guidelines or tools can effectively help them identify their goals and make them feel comfortable about reaching them. At First Tee, we utilize four guidelines to do this. Talk to your child about the dreams they currently have and try these out for yourself. 

Four Guidelines for Setting a Reachable Goal: 

  • The goal is Positive: 
    • I want to achieve a passing score of 80% or higher vs. I don’t want to fail this test 
  • The goal is Important to You: 
    • The goal needs to be important to you, not to someone else. You should be able to explain why you want to achieve it and why it will make a difference for you. 
  • The goal is Specific: 
    • You want to know exactly what you’re working toward. 
  • The goal is Under your Control: 
    • Your efforts will allow you to achieve this goal vs. Something that is out of your control like becoming famous or winning the lottery. 

Goal setting is a strategy kids and teens will apply for the rest of their life. When we set our goals, we want to be very clear about them so that we have the best chance to achieve them. The key to remember is that goals come in all shapes and sizes. Just because it doesn’t work for someone else doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve it. Your kids will learn from both their achievements and setbacks, but as they begin to set personal goals, they will learn and grow in ways that you did not think possible. 

Want to get involved with what we are building at First Tee? Click here to find out more.