Guess who’s headed to the TGR JR Invitational Presented by TaylorMade held at Pebble Beach Resorts?!
From October 8 through October 10, junior golfers, who range in age from 10 to 18, will be competing through a process that promotes the shared passions of TGR Live and the Pebble Beach Junior Golf Association by providing a unique opportunity and exposure to the sport of golf. We are excited to announce that First Tee – Monterey County participants Kalea H., Nikki I., Max Damian P., and Naomi R. are four out of sixty boy and girl junior golfers who have been invited to compete at The Hay and The Links at Spanish Bay. Learn more about the tournament at http://tgrjrinvitational.com/.
On September 21, First Tee – Monterey County participant Nikki I., Mentor Jeremy S., Alumnus Greg Classen, and PGA TOUR Champions Professional Tom Gillis. played in the Legends & Leaders Pro-Am presented by the PURE Insurance Championship. The team explored First Tee’s Five Key Commitments and shared invaluable memories together from the course to the Legends & Leaders Viewing Party!
Our rockstars, Naomi R., and her awesome brother, Jacob R., won their division at the 2022 Special Olympics 9 Hole Unified Division in San Jose, California! Special Olympics Northern California hosts fundraising and special events throughout the region year-round. This event is close to Naomi and Jacob as they share a passion for golf and raising awareness for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Today, we celebrate a partnership with Chevron that has led to $1,000,000 in donations for our Game Changers. The coalition initially began through the AT&T Pro-Am and has since become a long-time partnership dedicated to Building Game Changers. Andrea Bailey, Public Affairs Representative in Monterey County, shares, “At Chevron, we put people at the center of everything we do. Our greatest resource is our people’s inspiration, creativity, and ingenuity.”
Since the inception of First Tee – Monterey County, Chevron has stood in alliance with our vision of providing youth of all backgrounds an opportunity for a brighter future. Chevron has begun programs like the Aces for Access Program, Whole In One, and Chevron STEM Zone and supported First Tee – Monterey County’s Summer Camp to progress toward our community’s shared vision.
The Aces for Access program is part of Chevron’s global education commitment to increase access to quality STEM education and technical training. “Equal and equitable access is essential to improving diversity and inclusion efforts and achieving the benefits of an intentionally inclusive environment,” shares Bailey. Chevron has donated over $663,000.00 to First Tee – Monterey County through this program!
At the 2020 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Whole in One featured the Chevron STEM Zone in partnership with the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and First Tee – Monterey County. The program was designed to bring a holistic learning and golf experience, including nutrition, wellness, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), to local youth in Monterey County. Students from Salinas and surrounding areas also received golf training from professional coaches and lessons on nutrition, physical fitness, and sportsmanship from local experts!
In February 2022, Chevron USA, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Cameron Champ Foundation, and First Tee – Monterey County hosted a local golf clinic pledging $100,000 toward diversity, equity, and inclusion through the game of golf. The clinic will be hosted by PGA Tour star Cameron Champ and rapper and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am celebrity golfer ScHoolboy Q. During the event, Chevron, Cameron Champ Foundation, and Monterey Peninsula Foundation made a combined $100,000 donation to First Tee – Monterey County to be the founding partners for the chapters’ search for a permanent programming site on the Peninsula. “It is exciting to bring an intentional plan to expand our programming to positively change the lives of young people in Seaside, Marina, and other cities on the Peninsula,” Nick Nelson, CEO of First Tee – Monterey County, said.
For the second Summer, Chevron is the presenting sponsor of First Tee – Monterey County’s Summer Camp. This eight-week program is filled with so many fun and exciting opportunities. First Tee – Monterey County uses the summertime to introduce our character education and life skills programs to our local youth, helping kids and teens prepare for success at school, at home, and in their community. Like First Tee – Monterey County’s year-round course, the summer curriculum is divided into five levels, each with a different focus that helps kids develop their sense of self-a curriculum that Chevron strongly supports.
Building Game Changers is essential for creating a world where energy is affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner. Chevron and First Tee – Monterey County aims to inspire the next generation of innovators who can tackle complex challenges in life: building resilience and perseverance. Building Game Changers.
Our 12th Annual Summer Camp has reached over 330 kids and teens in only 5 weeks! First Tee – Monterey County Coaches have also spent over 12,000 hours working with all the kids! Like our year-round course, our summer curriculum is divided into five levels. Each level has a different focus that helps kids develop their sense of self. Our summer programs are weekly sessions that last eight weeks. Each week comes with energetic music, themed days, talent shows, karaoke, field trips, Splash Days, and much more! Visit firstteemontereycounty.org/summer to learn more.
Siblings Corrine and Derrick O. are First tee – Monterey County Alumni who joined the program in 2005. Both are still so involved with First Tee, today! Recently, Corrine has been selected to attend the John Deere Drive Your Future Academy as an Alumni! This all-girls event focuses on leadership development, remaining active in the game of golf, learning the value of volunteerism, and recognizing the importance of teamwork. Derrick has been selected to be a part of the First Tee Participant Advisory Council as an Alumni Mentor! The Participant Advisory Council was created to provide opportunities for youth to express themselves, voice their ideas, and provide input for projects or programs that will impact the experience of all First Tee participants.
Scholarships allow students to earn the education they need to become a Game Changer in our community. We understand that students may experience challenges paying for their classes, books, and lodging over their college and graduate school years. Click the button below to learn more about the scholarship programs First Tee – Monterey County offers to help build Game Changers.
CASA of Monterey County presents its 2nd Annual Fore the Kids Golf Tournament. You will not want to miss this exclusive opportunity! Designed by renowned course architect Jay Morrish, golfers will experience the stunning, private course of actor/director Clint Eastwood. Tehama Golf Course sits atop the hills of Carmel and overlooks Monterey Bay.
Par 3 Challenges • Three $10,000 Hole-in-One Challenges – In the winner’s honor, hole-in-one awards $10,000 – $5,000 take home and $5,000 donation to CASA of Monterey County. • Win a Getaway in a 3 bedroom, 3 Bath Carmel Cottage – Closest-to-the-Pin Challenge #1 – Closest to the pin at the end of the tournament will win 3 days/2 nights in a vacation rental located in the Gold-en Rectangle of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The perfect place for an exquisite getaway – valued at $2,500. • Win a Stylish Ladies Tudor Watch – Closest-to-the-Pin Challenge #2 – Closest to the pin at the end of the tournament will win the Tudor Glamour Date, steel and yellow gold, self-winding watch, which features a champagne dial with ten diamonds on a stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp and safe-ty catch-valued at $4,250.
Shotgun scramble. The top three foursome teams with the best-combined scores will win 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes. All golfers will receive access to the course’s short-game practice areas, a gift bag for participating, breakfast, and snacks. The day will conclude with a celebratory lunch and awards ceremony.
Having fun with intention creates a safe, engaged, and exciting environment where kids will get the most out of training. Beginning a practice with a set intention or a goal emphasizes clear communication. A set intention for practice also encourages kids and coaches to celebrate small victories; otherwise, practices become dull and cause burnout.
Changing activities builds excitement for kids and allows for more opportunities. When a coach is creating a new activity, they should ask themselves: How can I make the goal of this activity challenging with different processes? Changes can include minor tweaks to the activity’s lesson plans based on the personalities and skills of the kids.
“Modifications can be as simple as adding more color with setup and golf balls! The kids love point systems based on similar shapes or colors around them, like If a kid has a red putter, they challenge themselves to target the red noodle for 2 points.”
Coach Jose, Level III
The spontaneous shifts in the lesson plans capture the kids’ attention and make activities fun.
A bit less structure, adaptability, and modifications bring fun to the kids, and they will feel more heard and included. More excitement from the kids leads to more engagement and opportunities for creativity and inclusivity.
“My favorite game is Noodle Blasters because we get to use the colored clubs and tennis balls to hit all the different noodles for different points,” – said Sophia J., First Tee – Monterey County Participant.
Do you want to have fun with intention? A great way to do so is during a game of 21 on the putting green.
21 is a game that can be set up all day for programming for kids of all ages! 21 embraces adaptability with easy modifications to the setup, equipment, rules, and point system. The game is set up with a team (or two for an exciting competition!) and two ropes-or more! During the setup, there is a line of cones for kids to line up behind, with rope lined up in front of the cones. The spaces between the ropes should gradually become thinner. Each space between the ropes is worth a different amount of points-the narrower the area, the more points. The first team to accumulate 21 points wins, but they cannot go over 21 points!
The setup of 21.
The game requires strategy, teamwork, and distance control. If a team goes over 21 points, a coach can subtract 12 points- or bring the team back to zero points! For an added challenge, you can have the team (or teams!) switch sides to experience different environments. You can keep up the challenge by playing on other greens, requiring players to adapt and create new strategies!
Teenagers from all different walks of life came together for a week of exploration and adventure.
Four First Tee – Monterey County participants, Timmy A., Fabian P., Max Damian P., and Ernesto S., spent a week experiencing the outdoors at Little Jennie Ranch, an active cattle ranch located in Bondurant, Wyoming. Little Jennie Ranch is family-owned and partners with The Wyldlife Fund to impact young people’s lives. The Wyldlife Fund’s mission is to unite people to advance wildlife habitat, research, and education.
The group relaxed in a meadow before their next project at Little Jennie Ranch.
The four teenagers earned an all-expenses paid, once-in-a-lifetime week-long trip through a scholarship program provided by The WYldlife Fund. “It was so enjoyable seeing all these kids experience the outdoors as they have never experienced before,” said Chris McBarnes, President WYldlife Fund.
“By far, the best part was experiencing this with people from across the country and friends from First Tee. We even met kids from other First Tee’s,” shared Max Damien P., First Tee – Monterey County participant.
Program leaders guided the kids through fishing, horseback riding, stargazing, and Game Warden’s even taught the kids about the different species local to Wyoming! “The stargazing took my breath away because the sky lit up with all the starlight!” said Fabian P., First Tee – Monterey County. Additionally, the group learned about wildlife habitats and research to help them understand the precise and efficient allocation of resources on the ground to advance wildlife projects.
This opportunity would not have been possible without the generosity of Geoff Couch, Board Chair First Tee – Monterey County, Chris McBarnes, and Little Jennie Ranch. “Every teen’s life was memorably impacted, and each has a whole new perspective on Nature ” said Chris. “Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You shared so much with us and have inspired me to be the best, most honorable version of myself,” Timothy A. said sincerely.
Watch the video below to learn more about their adventure!
Would you like to make an experience like this possible for your local Game Changers? Click the button below or email Mitch Massey at [email protected].
Brayden G. has been selected to attend the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. as a participant, and Coach Cynthia A. has been selected to attend as an Alumni! First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. is an evolution of our longest-standing participant event, the Joe Louis Barrow Jr. Life Skills & Leadership Academy, to address the challenges and experiences our teens face in their daily lives and better equip them to build the strength of character to be game changers in their communities. To learn more, please visit https://firsttee.org/game-changers-academy/.
Corrine O. has been selected to attend the John Deere Drive Your Future Academy as an Alumni! This all-girls event focuses on leadership development, remaining active in the game of golf, learning the value/impact of volunteerism, and recognizing the importance of teamwork. To learn more, please visit https://firsttee.org/john-deere-leadership-academy/.
Derrick O. has been selected to be a part of First Tee Participant Advisory Council as an Alumni Mentor! The Participant Advisory Council was created to provide opportunities for youth to express themselves, voice their ideas, and provide input for projects or programs that will impact the experience of all First Tee participants. To learn more, please visit https://firsttee.org/first-tee-participant-advisory-council-alumni-mentor/.
To further empower your local Game Changers, please click the button below.
The First Tee College Scholarship Program provides valuable, life-changing opportunities for the youth of First Tee; helping them prepare for success is at the core of our mission. We believe in encouraging youth to pursue their dreams and further their education. This year, the scholarship committee selected six scholarship recipients.
Meet the 2022 scholarship recipients!
Kensington Nelson, Recipient of the John Zoller Memorial Scholarship
Ana Trujillo, Recipient of the Ollie Nutt Memorial Scholarship
Salyna Robledo, Recipient of the Donna Zoller Memorial Scholarship
Emily Alcaraz, Recipient of the Zoller Family Scholarship
Sydney Craven, Recipient of the Fred & Susan Breidenbach Scholarship
Issac Flores, Fred & Susan Breidenbach Scholarship
Do you know what GBH means? These three letters stand for the foundation of success for Itzel Vargas-Bravo.
A Good, Better, How, review or GBH, is a structured strategy designed to focus on positive reinforcement and continuous learning, identifying areas for improvement and decision-making. As a long-time participant, Itzel learned how to make decisions and weigh her choices through activities like Would You Rather, board games, golf, and GBHs. Each activity helped create a foundation of skills needed for decision-making like introspection, judgment, and balance. These skills were further developed when Itzel became a coach. As a coach, Itzel learned how to work through GBHs with a team, ultimately teaching her how to make responsible decisions for the greater good: providing youth of all backgrounds an opportunity for a brighter future.
Example of a Good, Better, How.
In one of Itzels’ favorite examples of a GBH, she and other coaches worked together to create a better rotation schedule to increase the impact of First Tee programming on the kids. “Overall, we recognized the underlying need for consistency and reliability. If we could get things consistent, we could develop a reliable daytime rotation process.”
The team decided that the most efficient solution was to assign a timekeeper and a set direction of rotation: A solution that has been in place since.
“It is okay to take the time to work out an answer.”
Itzel Vargas-Bravo, involved with First Tee – Monterey County for 16 years
The long-lasting effects of decision-making have left Itzel with a powerful life lesson: “It is okay to take the time to work out an answer.” She often wanted to make decisions that create short-term fixes rather than creating an environment that fosters long-term solutions. As Itzel developed her decision-making skills, she grew vital introspection, judgment, and balance skills, creating the foundation for her success today. Had it not been for the continuous learning and decision-making instilled through the GBH process, Itzel does not know if she would have ever learned the value of responsible decision-making.
A Good, Better, How conducted by coaches.
First Tee — Monterey County could not teach vital life skills like responsible decision-making without our supporters and advocates. If you’d like to invest in your community’s Game Changers, please click here. To make a pledge, please email Mitch Massey at [email protected]. To follow our journey of Building Game Changers, stay updated on Instagram and Facebook @firstteemontereycounty and visit our website firsteemontereycounty.org.
“Their commitment to help and be of service to each other, their family, and their community is unparalleled,” writes Jessica Carter, Director of the Pay It Forward Scholarship & Mentoring Program, about twin brothers Gurman and Gurtaj Grewal. Gurman and Gurtaj began their educational career in the Pay It Forward Scholarship & Mentoring Program at California State University, Monterey Bay this year, inspired by their older twin sisters Charn and Chand. Carter adds: “The Grewal siblings consistently help and support each other, excel in their academics while helping at their father’s store, and regularly give back to their community through their volunteer work and mentoring. They are humble, kind, and a pleasure to work with.”
The Pay It Forward Scholarship & Mentoring Program is a support and accountability program that ensures first-generation college students succeed. The program provides scholarship awards, life skills, mentoring, and accountability structures that increase the graduation and career placement success.
Elder sister, Charn Grewal (middle) acknowledges that the familial support they all have for each other has created the foundation for their success, and the Pay It Forward Program provided the opportunity. “My siblings and I support each other through love and empathy for one another. We are the children of immigrants from Punjab, India who came here with nothing but gave us everything.” The greatest lesson that Ms. Charn Grewal learned from the Pay It Forward Program was how to ask for help: A challenge that the majority of
first-generation college students face. “This program taught me the value of mentorship and how to get past the fear of actively seeking help, and how getting help does not make you inferior. It taught me how valuable it is to learn from others’ experiences and mistakes.”
The Pay It Forward Scholarship & Mentoring Program provides a $20,000 four-year scholarship at California State University, Monterey Bay, to local Monterey County, first-generation college students through private funds. Each scholar is mentored by a community leader who helps the student navigate the challenges of college life. “Learning from my mentor and reflecting on my own experiences truly helped me grow as an individual. To this day, as a resident physician, I actively seek mentorship opportunities so I can continue to learn and grow in all aspects of my life,” says Ms. Charn Grewal. Former Pay It Forward Program Director, Tim McCarthy, adds that the sisters have always exemplified strong core values and remained warm and gracious to all around them. “Each was totally committed to their family and to their shared goal of becoming medical doctors.”
Since the Pay It Forward Scholarship and Mentoring Program’s inception in 2008, 3.5 million dollars has been raised for scholarships, and more than 170 community leaders have served as mentors.
Brothers Gurman and Gurtaj Grewal are preparing for their second year at CSUMB with the Pay It Forward Program, and older sisters, Charn and Chand, have since graduated through the Pay It Forward Program at CSUMB, graduated from medical school, and are now in their first year of residency.
Chand, Charn, Gurman, and Gurtaj celebrate their respective graduations from medical school (Chand and Charn) and high school (Gurman and Gurtaj).
To learn more about the Pay It Forward Scholarship & Mentoring Program, visit firstteemontereycounty.org/pif. To help first-generation scholars like Charn, Chand, Gurman, and Gurtaj achieve their goals, make a donation or become a mentor today.
