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.
Sixteen-year-old First Tee – Lake County (Hammond, Ind.) participant, Steven Outlaw, was notified during the 2001 First Tee Network Summit, the annual gathering of those within the First Tee network, that he was going to have to make his speech earlier than originally scheduled. The events to follow happened in a way that only fate decides.
Steven describes it as “being in the right place at the right time.” Using one of the first skills instilled into First Tee participants, as well as taught within his own household, on how to properly introduce yourself to others, Steven walked right up to one of the other speakers of the evening, former president of Georgetown College, Dr. William Crouch, and shook his hand. Steven’s demeanor stood out to Dr. Crouch and gave him quite the idea.
Following Steven’s speech, Dr. Crouch scrapped his own prepared comments and surprised Steven with a full scholarship to Georgetown College and news that he planned to provide a full scholarship to First Tee participants every year following. This full-ride scholarship would alleviate the financial burden of furthering Steven’s education.
Bob Krause, former vice president of institutional advancement at Kansas State University, followed suit with Dr. Crouch’s pledge. The First Tee Scholars Program was born and set to begin by 2003 with the inaugural class of Scholars, many of whom Steven is still in touch with today.
L to R: Christopher Hawkins, First Tee – Metro Atlanta alumnus and First Tee Scholar Class of 2003; Adam Ruegg, Troon Golf; Steven Outlaw, First Tee – Lake County alumnus and inaugural First Tee Scholar; Rod Jackson, First Tee – Metro Atlanta alumnus; Brandon White, current Program Director First Tee – Lake County.
As the inaugural First Tee Scholar, Steven graduated from Georgetown College with a degree in political science. After college, he enrolled in the PGA, PGM Accelerated Program. After completing two levels of the program, he secured an internship with Troon Golf, a leading golf management company. He has since worked with Troon Golf for nearly 15 years, starting in Arizona and traveling overseas to work in the Middle East, and in Malaysia managing The Els Club Teluk Datai (rated #83 in the world by Golf Digest in 2016).
More recently, Steven serves as the PGA Director of Golf at Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club, managed by Troon Golf. Steven has been a PGA Class A Professional for more than 10 years and currently serves on the Southwest Section PGA Board of Directors and is very active with Troon’s D&I Council. Going forward, Steven aspires to ascend the ranks in the PGA of America, with a passion specifically around diversity, equity and inclusion and positive change within the game of golf.
Though Steven had numerous amazing opportunities during his time as a First Tee participant, he now prides himself in exploring what he can do for First Tee as an adult. He works closely with First Tee – Lake County, often supplying the chapter with donations.
“These opportunities would not have been possible without First Tee and the core values instilled in me such as perseverance and confidence. Much of what I learned during my time with First Tee I use now to strengthen and empower my team. I am forever grateful and honored to be part of such a great organization. I look forward to the future of First Tee and the path they will pave for the next generation.”
Eleven years after Steven’s speech, the First Tee Scholars Program continues to thrive. It has since received a face-lift following Greg McLaughlin being named First Tee CEO in 2019.
Relaunching officially in 2020, President George W. Bush, honorary First Tee chair, congratulated the first class of the revamped program. First Tee College Scholarship Program now extends its impact to alumni beyond financial support, providing personal and professional development throughout their post-graduate careers.
Each of the Scholars is paired with a dedicated, trained adult mentor who helps encourage and guide them throughout the college experience, including virtual and in-person meetups. The program also provides professional development workshops held in-person throughout the year, and up to $5,000 per year toward tuition.
“First Tee aims to inspire and empower every young person in the program to set goals and begin pursuing them,” said McLaughlin. “The First Tee College Scholarship Program is intended to motivate young people to stay in the program and support alumni as they matriculate through the college.”
In recognition of First Tee’s 25th anniversary, the Class of 2022 includes 25 First Tee Scholars. This time, Steven Outlaw has turned the tables, joining as a mentor to one of the Scholars.
“I was extremely fortunate to be surrounded by great professionals as I progressed through my time with the First Tee. These individuals helped me grow not only in golf, but personally and professionally. I consider myself lucky to be able to return the favor to the next generation!”
We believe in helping youth succeed – on the golf course and in life. Learn more about our programs and how you can get involved.
Did you know more than 80 percent of First Tee chapters offer programming specifically for girls?
“Growing up playing golf, I never imagined being in the golf industry,” said Rebecca Caimano, assistant executive director at First Tee — Greater Philadelphia, who joined the chapter in 2011 to help grow its girls programming. “It was tough being the only female who played golf.”
Now, Rebecca is among thousands of leaders/coaches who are involved in First Tee.
First Tee views golf as a metaphor for life. It’s not the score that counts, but what you learn along the way. The game is a perfect practice ground for learning skills that extend far beyond the course. Let’s face it, digging deep when things get tough is a natural part of our sport – and life – experiences.
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary (& Women’s Golf Day), First Tee is proud of the role we’re playing in helping more young girls embrace the sport and what they can learn through it. Thanks to many female coaches and leaders throughout our network – like Rebecca – we are a safe place where girls can come, be themselves and learn from coaches and role models on the course and in the business world.
Also, thanks to organizations like USGA (a Founding Partner), LPGA-USGA Girls Golf and John Deere, sponsor of the Drive Your Future Academy, a national leadership development opportunity for female First Tee teens, we continue to intentionally offer opportunities for girls’ personal growth and development in many ways.
Empowering girls for a brighter future
While many First Tee alumnae have gone on to work in golf, others have excelled in different areas, including medicine, journalism and public affairs. And we think that’s great for them, and for the world around us.
Studies have shown that women leaders are engaging and collaborative, yet it hasn’t always been easy for women to break into many top leadership roles. Golf can help.
Ninety percent of Fortune 500 CEOs play golf, according to the PGA of America, and more than half of all businesspeople believe golf is a valuable networking tool. Women executives believe that a background in sport was helpful to career advancement because it prepared them to work better in teams, and behaviors and techniques can be applied to the corporate setting (Women’s Sports Foundation).
First Tee teaches valuable life skills that can help girls as they become leaders. Through our personal growth and junior golf programs, we encourage girls to build self-confidence that they’ll carry with them into their future.
“I originally stuck with it [golf] because I wanted to beat my brother,” Rebecca continued. “And now, here I am, using a sport that changed my life to change others.”
Now, that’s girl power.
Approximately 25% of First Tee’s coaches are women, and we’d love to increase that number! If you are interested or know of a passionate female leader in your life, please point her here to get involved: https://firsttee.org/get-involved/coach-volunteer/
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
Experiences are our greatest teachers. They shape how we treat others, how we see the world around us, and how we view ourselves. How we view ourselves is also known as our self identity and is defined as the qualities and potential you possess. It can influence the choices you make, the attitude you have day-to-day, and ultimately, it becomes your inner voice. For youth especially, a positive self identity can have a massive impact on who they become as adults. There are many ways parents can help their kids develop a positive self identity, and at First Tee we pride ourselves in nurturing a positive self identity for youth. Here are three ways you can help your kids develop a positive self identity inspired by our core values.
Live Your Values
Kids watch and learn from the adults in their lives every day. Studying their actions and responses, they develop their identity based on their guardians and the other mentors in their life. If you live according to the values you want your kids to have, then they are more likely to absorb that into their own independent lives. That being said, having a mentor is a great way to ensure this happens. At First Tee,youth learn from their coaches by:
Treating others with respect and honesty
Experiencing the value of teamwork, not just by being told to act as a team but by witnessing their coach lead with teamwork.
Watching their coaches exercise positive self talk and kindness to others around them brings out the best in themselves and their self identity.
Create a Culture of Acceptance
When there is no room for failure there is no room for growth. Fostering an environment that is not only safe for kids to fail but encourages them to try again, helps kids develop a strong sense of self. Acceptance also transcends just failure; it also means that every person, regardless of their background, is welcome. We work together to actively create a space of belonging for every kid— no matter what walk of life. Through example we encourage youth to accept their team members for who they are, treat each other with kindness, and create that culture of acceptance everywhere, so that when they reflect on themselves and their own identity they treat themselves with the same level of respect and positivity that they give others.
Empowerment Through Experiences
For kids, experiences shape their inner voice that gives them confidence and character. Not all experiences in life are easy, and when we empower youth to persevere and stay true to themselves, we bring out the best that’s inside of them. First Tee exists to enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. As time goes on, that empowerment creates a strong sense of self, and encourages a positive self identity even in difficult situations.
Though a positive self identity may seem like something only some people are born with, it is really something that can be cultivated through leading by example, an open culture of acceptance, and consistent empowerment through all experiences. What do you want your child’s inner voice to sound like when they grow up? Nurturing their self identity can make all the difference in that. We guide kids and teens to strengthen what’s inside and put it into action. If you are interested in getting your child involved with First Tee, you can learn more and sign up today!
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.
Every conversation can be an opportunity to learn something new, build trust with someone, and deepen connections. This happens when we build the skill of active listening and learn to treat listening as an active process – not a passive one.
What is Active Listening?
Active listening is a way of listening and responding to another person that improves mutual understanding. It’s about being present, listening to understand (not respond), and showing active interest and engagement in the dialogue.
Why does it matter?
Active listening is an important skill for all of us to cultivate. Not only is it an important leadership skill, it has been shown to promote mindful thinking, can reduce anxiety and depression, helps build relationships and can promote empathy.
How do we practice it?
At First Tee, we use a process called A-L-R to help build connection through active listening. This helps us to deepen conversations, keep them going, and get the most out of them. Here’s how A-L-R works:
Asking questions: Asking thoughtful questions is not only a way you can keep the conversation going, but it gives you a deeper understanding of the person or topic you are engaging with.
Helpful Tip:Be curious. Try asking questions that dig a bit deeper: How did they feel in that moment? What was going on in their minds during that experience? What would they do differently the next time? These make the conversation richer, rather than closed-ended questions that are typically answered with a simple Yes or No.
Listening to understand: When you ask a question, it is important to listen carefully to what the person is saying. We can sometimes be fixated on what we are going to say next, or when it’s our turn to jump back into the conversation, but try not to think about what you are going to say next.. Your focus is on them and their perspective rather than your own.
Helpful Tip:Make an effort to try to clear your mind first of any distracting thoughts. It can help to jot down a mental or physical note of things on your mind in order to give your full attention.
Reflect & respond to the reply: Keep the conversation going by responding in a way that connects with what they just said. You can try to restate in your own words what the person said, share what you think or feel about it, or ask another open-ended question that connects with what the person just said.
Helpful Tip: Show engagement and interest in what they are saying: look them in the eye when they are talking, use body language like nodding your head.
Active listening requires work, but you’ll be surprised at how much reward there is when you approach conversations and communication with this skill. Active listening is just one of the skills we are supporting kids and teens to build at First Tee. Click here to find out more about our programs.
