First Tee Explained

First Tee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the stated goal of improving children's life skills through golf lessons.[1] [2] Based in Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida, the organization claims to teach more than 3.6 million youth annually through programs across the country and internationally.[3] [4] [5]

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan serves as chairman of the board of governors, which is composed of business leaders.[6] Former President George W. Bush serves as the honorary chair; he succeeded his father, former President George H. W. Bush, who served from 1997 to 2010.[7]

History

First Tee was founded in 1997.[8] Started by PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, the organization began as a partnership among the PGA Tour, PGA of America, LPGA, USGA, and the Masters Tournament Foundation.[9]

In 2019, First Tee made the transition to a new nonprofit entity, PGA Tour First Tee Foundation.[10] First Tee has featured in the PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event played annually in September at the Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Club in California.[11] [12]

Demographics

The participants of First Tee are children aged five to 18, with participants progressing through the program over time.[13] Although the individual cost of participation is unclear, First Tee offers full scholarships and reduced fee programming for those with financial need.[14]

First Tee School Program

Since 2004, First Tee claims to have trained educators at more than 10,000 elementary schools to teach physical education courses.[15] [16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation Inc - GuideStar Profile . 2024-06-14 . www.guidestar.org.
  2. Web site: Pga Tour First Tee Foundation Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Cause IQ . 2024-06-14 . www.causeiq.com.
  3. Web site: Sharma . Aryan . 2024-02-25 . Capital One’s The Match 2024: Exploring This Years ‘First Tee’ Charity Event . 2024-06-14 . EssentiallySports . en.
  4. Web site: Loberstein . Adam . 80 First Tee teens selected for PGA TOUR Champions' PURE Insurance Championship impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach . 2024-06-14 . www.pgatour.com . en.
  5. Web site: 2016-05-13 . Youth golf classes offered at Blue Heron Golf Course through First Tee Foundation . 2024-06-14 . Snoqualmie Valley Record . en-US.
  6. Web site: PGA TOUR About the Commissioner . 2024-06-14 . www.pgatour.com . en.
  7. Web site: 2013-10-28 . President George W. Bush: The First Tee's Honorary Chair Talks to Golf Channel . 2020-11-10 . First Tee . en-US.
  8. Web site: The First Tee: ‘There’s an opportunity here right now’ . 2024-06-14 . GolfDigest.com . en.
  9. News: Brown . Clifton . 1997-11-14 . GOLF; Golf's Leading Groups Start an Ambitious Expansion Project . 2024-06-14 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  10. Web site: Smits . Garry . Arthur Blank Family Foundation, PGA Tour Superstores make $9.5 million grant to First Tee . 2024-06-14 . The Florida Times-Union . en-US.
  11. Web site: Ferguson . Janice . 2023-09-22 . Pebble Beach Is Hosting Another Coveted Pro-Am This Week, With an Eye on Future Stars . 2024-06-14 . Sports Illustrated . en-us.
  12. Web site: 2023-09-25 . Learning from the pros at the PURE Insurance Open impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach . 2024-06-14 . Golf Advisor . en.
  13. Web site: The First Tee . 2024-06-14 . palmergolf . en.
  14. Web site: Team . WLKY Digital . 2024-06-09 . Students awarded scholarships at George 'G.G.' Johnson Golf Tournament . 2024-06-14 . WLKY . en.
  15. Web site: Admin . The First Tee Offers Golf, Life Lessons to Next Generation . 2024-06-14 . Myrtle Beach Golf . en-US.
  16. Web site: Federal Hill Preparatory Academy . 2024-06-14 . www.baltimorecityschools.org . en.