ASIAN GOLF INDUSTRY FEDERATION

First Tee Celebrates 25th Anniversary

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Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, United States: Twenty-five years ago, on November 13, 1997, then-PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem was joined in New York City’s Central Park by representatives from the leading golf organisations – the LPGA, the Masters Tournament, the PGA of America, the PGA Tour, and the USGA – public officials, including President George HW Bush, and golf dignitaries to announce the launch of First Tee.

Since that time, First Tee has grown into a pre-eminent youth development organisation boasting a network of nearly 150 chapters with programmes delivered at 1,400 golf courses, 10,000 schools and 1,700 youth centres in all 50 states and in Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Morocco.

In 2021, First Tee impacted more than 2.2 million kids and teens. Additionally, more than 10,000 adults are involved each year in support of First Tee’s mission, many of whom have participated in First Tee’s signature positive youth development training.

“I am proud of First Tee’s growth and impact over the last 25 years,” said President George W. Bush, First Tee Honorary Chair. “Their mission to help young people build life skills and strengthen their character using the game of golf has proven successful.

“Organisations like First Tee are critical to our society and our country’s future. I am grateful my father chose to get involved 25 years ago and pleased to carry the baton since 2011 in support of their work.”

Under the leadership of Finchem, First Tee was launched as an industry-wide initiative to make golf affordable and accessible for all kids.

As the first programmes were being developed, First Tee began an intentional effort to seamlessly integrate the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, creating a programme that empowers youth to build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that they can carry to everything they do.

“We are grateful for the vision of my predecessor, Tim Finchem, and for his leadership in creating First Tee in 1997,” said Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner and Chair, First Tee Board of Governors.

He added: “Congratulations and thank you to all who have played an essential part in growing First Tee and contributing to the many transformational and inspiring stories we have seen over the last 25 years.

“Just as importantly, we are extremely excited about the path and trajectory of the programme going forward as First Tee continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of young people.”

First Tee has been undergoing a modernisation effort to stay relevant and connected to kids and teens now and in the future. It refreshed its brand for the first time in 2020 and recently released a robust age-based curriculum update to better position the organisation to reach teens and keep kids engaged in the programme longer.

Technology efforts are also underway to centralise and better support programme registration, adult training and on-boarding, and tools for coaches. In 2023, the first participant-facing app will launch, providing supplemental digital experiences and gamification for young people in the programme.

In recent years, the organisation also reinvested in its College Scholarship Programme, and it touches hundreds of kids each year through national participant events, spanning from the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach to a five-day DEI-focused academy in Philadelphia.

“Since day one, First Tee has been intentional about reaching young people from diverse backgrounds, and that commitment continues today,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO.

“Most years, between 40 and 50 per cent of participants at chapters are non-Caucasian, and approximately 38% are female. Our network of chapter leaders, coaches, volunteers, board members and donors remain committed to breaking down barriers. And they continue to inspire me as we prepare for the future,” he added.

Throughout this anniversary year, First Tee has highlighted its alumni who’ve gone on to careers in the golf industry and beyond. First Tee’s final alumni feature showcases Ariana Saenz, a former participant at First Tee – Greater Houston, who went on to play collegiate golf at the University of Houston and Texas A&M.

Saenz is set to graduate with a master’s degree in human resources this year and hopes to pursue a career in the golf industry.

“From age seven to 18, I was exposed to a set of morals and life skills at First Tee that poured the foundation for the woman I am today,” said Saenz. “Along the way, I earned a college golf scholarship and went from being a participant to a volunteer who learned the value of giving back to the community and serving others.”

From November 16-18, representatives from First Tee’s network of 150 chapters are convening in Dallas for its Network Summit – the first in five years – to celebrate the anniversary and continue building momentum for the future with robust workshops, training and peer-to-peer networking.

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