Drive to Dream Tournament Grant

At First Tee — Greater San Antonio, our mission is to deliver best-in-class youth programming that builds character, instills life-enhancing values, and promotes healthy choices through the game of golf. We are excited to introduce the Drive to Dream Tournament Grant, an initiative designed to remove financial barriers and empower young golfers to pursue tournament play.

The 2026 Drive to Dream Tournament Grant is available to active participants ages 7–18 who meet specific eligibility requirements. Through this program, First Tee — Greater San Antonio aims to provide equitable access to competitive opportunities while supporting the continued development of our participants both on and off the golf course.

2026 Drive to Dream Tournament Grant

Total Grant Amount: $15,000

Objective
To provide eligible youth ages 7–18 with equitable access to competitive opportunities by covering tournament entry fees. Funds will be distributed transparently with oversight by First Tee – Greater San Antonio to ensure fairness and alignment with our mission.

Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for grant support, participants must meet all criteria listed for their respective age groups:

Ages 7–13 Eligibility Requirements

  • Age: Being between the ages 7-13
  • Academic Standing: Maintain A/B Honor Role
  • Program Participation: Being an active participant; having attended at least 2 out of 3 programming sessions over the last 12 months.
  • Membership: Being a registered member of the South Texas PGA Junior Tour (STPGA) (STPGA), Texas Junior Golf Tour (TJGT) and/or American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).

Ages 14+ Eligibility Requirements

  • Age: Being between the ages 14-18
  • Academic Standing: Maintain A/B Honor Role
  • Program Participation: Being an active participant, having attended at least 2 out of 3 programming sessions the last 12 months
  • Membership: Being a registered member of the South Texas PGA Junior Tour (STPGA) (STPGA), Texas Junior Golf Tour (TJGT) and/or American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).
  • Volunteer Hours: Complete at least an average of 5 volunteer hours per month

Funding Allocation
Funds will be deposited directly into participants’ member accounts (STPGA, TJGT, AJGA member accounts). Unused funds will be returned to First Tee – Greater San Antonio at the end of the year. If there a tour not represented, please let us know and we will do our best to work with them. Funds are restricted to approved tournament fees only. Additional funds may be applied based on availability and meeting the requirements.

Each funding cycle tracked and capped at:

  • Ages 7–13: Up to $200 per participant for tournament entry fees.
  • Ages 14+: Up to $500 per participant for tournament fees.

There will be at least two waves of funding May 15th – June 15th and August 1st – August 30th. Should there be any remaining funds, additional funding may be awarded.

Application Process 

  • Fill out the application form below or in print from First Tee – Greater San Antonio staff. Participants must apply for their respective age group. 
  • Submissions will be reviewed bi-weekly, with funds allocated based on eligibility and availability.

Commitment to Excellence
First Tee – Greater San Antonio is dedicated to empowering youth through golf. The Drive to Dream Tournament Grant reflects our commitment to fostering growth, removing barriers, and celebrating the achievements of our participants.

Why Tournament Play Matters

Tournament golf provides participants with opportunities to grow their skills, confidence, and character through competition. Competitive play helps participants:

  • Build confidence and independence
  • Learn perseverance and sportsmanship
  • Develop goal-setting and decision-making skills
  • Gain experience in competitive environments
  • Prepare for future golf opportunities
  • Continue developing the life skills learned through First Tee programming

The Drive to Dream Tournament Grant helps remove financial barriers so more participants can access these meaningful opportunities.

Additional Participant Benefits

The following tours are examples of tournament organizations participants may apply funding toward through the Drive to Dream Tournament Grant. In addition to offering competitive opportunities for junior golfers, these organizations also provide additional benefits and discounts exclusively for First Tee participants.

South Texas PGA Junior Golf

Participants can receive:

  • $30 off memberships to join the STPGA Junior Golf Program
  • Use code FTSA26 to receive the discount

STPGA Junior Golf offers four different junior tours, providing levels of competition for all participants:

Prestige Tour

  • 36 holes of competition conducted over multiple days

Junior Tour

  • 18 holes of competition
  • One-day events for ages 11-18

Junior Links

  • 9 holes of competition
  • One-day events for ages 13-18 (beginners)

Little Linkster

  • 5-9 holes of competition
  • One-day events for ages 6-12

Texas Junior Golf Tour (TJGT)

Participants may also receive:

  • Waived membership fees
  • 5% discount off all events
  • Open to participants ages 11-18

Players do need to register with the TJGT if they have not played previously.

If participants are not grant recipients, they are still eligible for these discounts but must contact Donna Smith directly at:

Participants should identify themselves as a First Tee San Antonio participant for discounts to be applied.

If eligible for the Drive to Dream grant, First Tee – Greater San Antonio will send the information directly to TJGT.

For any questions about the grant or application process, please reach out the Jay Horton at [email protected]