Blog Archives - Page 10 of 16 - First Tee

Coach Ben goes above and beyond to teach his students

Perhaps you know him from First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky as Coach Ben, or maybe you recognize him from his online coaching series, Birdies with Ben.  

Birdies with Ben is a video series hosted by Ben Walker, a staff member and alumnus at First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky. In the educational videos the chapter posts to its social media pages, Ben gives advice on life and the game of golf.  

By integrating the First Tee curriculum, Ben found an outlet to grow the game with increasing social media engagement from kids, teens, and young adults.  

“As kids and teens are joining social media, I wanted to meet the kids where they are,” said Ben. “I felt it was space where we could add First Tee content.” 

Coach Ben joined his local chapter as a participant in 2008 and worked his way through the program until he graduated from First Tee as an Ace student (the highest certification a participant can achieve within the First Tee network). 

“You come into the program thinking you are going to learn about golf, but you learn so much more about life skills,” said Ben. “I was once very shy, and First Tee helped get me out of my bubble. I felt safe and empowered to be myself and meet other people.” 

He attended Northern Kentucky University, where he was granted an internship to work with the chapter while earning his degree in sports business and event management. 

This opened the door for him as a full-time staff member upon college graduation in 2020.  

Now that Ben is a proud staff member of First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky, he cites how rewarding it is for him to reciprocate First Tee’s positive impact on the next generation. 

“First Tee is home. The relationships I’ve built in this program and skills I’ve taken with me have evolved into more than I could’ve ever imagined. I have a genuine love for First Tee and for the game of golf.” 

To see Coach Ben’s Birdies with Ben videos, check them out here!

First Tee Scholar Malisone Chanthapanya becomes first graduate of program

First Tee has always been a big part of her life, said Malisone Chanthapanya, who has been involved with the program since she was just 5. Now she’s graduating from Texas Wesleyan University, but the First Tee – Fort Worth alumna said she still has deep roots in the organization.

“First Tee is why I started golf,” she said. “I have a lot of friendships from First Tee, and the relationships I built there keep me connected to the organization.” Mali still volunteers as a coach at First Tee – Fort Worth and occasionally plays golf at chapter events.

Mali received her bachelor’s degree in finance on May 13. Of course, it was an exciting day for her family and friends, who celebrated with a big party. But it was also a milestone for First Tee as Mali became the initial First Tee Scholar to complete her undergraduate education.

The First Tee Scholars program provides mentorship, professional development opportunities and up to $20,000 in financial support for exceptional First Tee alumni during their college journeys.

“All of the Scholars are pretty close. I really like my mentor and the speakers they’ve brought in to talk to us. It’s been interesting to hear from people from all different backgrounds and jobs and experiences,” Mali said.

As First Tee is preparing to announce its 2023 scholar class, her advice to the group: “I think it’s important to be flexible and to manage your time well. The workload is really different than high school, especially being away from home for the first time.”

Mali completed her degree in just two years. She’s always been ahead of the curve: She was the youngest participant from First Tee – Fort Worth ever to earn her ACE certification, the highest achievement First Tee offers.

Mali won’t be leaving Fort Worth after graduation. She’s a member of the Texas Wesleyan golf team and still has two years of eligibility remaining. She’ll continue to play for the team as a grad student.

“Honestly sometimes I complain about missing school or balancing golf and schoolwork, but playing with the team has been my favorite part of my college experience. I’m able to travel and do what I love, meet new people and play new golf courses,” she said.

Mali was named to the All-Conference team as a sophomore. Playing at nationals during freshman year is her favorite collegiate golf memory so far. Her team finished eighth. “I really enjoyed spending time with them throughout the year, so that was just a fun end to the season,” she said.

In graduate school, Mali plans to focus on data analytics and supply chain management.

Learn more about the First Tee Scholars program

Coach Joe: ‘This program has taught me to become a better coach and father’

Joseph Goh, or Coach Joe as many know him from First Tee – Greater Dallas, has been a coach for more than 17 years. He sat on the board of directors for the Greater Dallas chapter until focusing his time as a volunteer coach, where he made it his goal to recruit other volunteers.

Originally from Singapore, Joe started his journey as a coach through First Tee – Singapore and moved to the United States after his technology company was bought out by a company in Dallas. Eventually, he and his wife planted themselves in Texas and started their own family.

“First Tee is more than a golf instruction program; we teach life skills. This program has taught me to become a better coach and father because of it,” he said.

He enrolled his two children in the program and the rest became history.

His two kids participated in First Tee throughout high school. His oldest, Jonathan, attended the University of California, Los Angeles and graduated in 2021 with a major in electrical engineering. He currently works at Amazon Robotics in Boston as a hardware development engineer.

His youngest daughter, Joni, is attending the University of Texas in Austin and will graduate in May 2023 with her degree in architecture engineering. She is currently an intern at The Boring Company and will be working with Southland Holdings as a business development associate.

“I want to emphasize that the First Tee program has built a foundation for its participants, including my own kids,” said Joe.

He makes it his mission to positively impact and equally empower First Tee participants with the skills and opportunities they need to be successful.

“As a volunteer coach at First Tee, I could change the trajectory of a child’s life,” he said. “No other organization gives me the opportunity to impact another’s life and add value to them like First Tee would.”

Joe, like many other First Tee coaches, is just one of many unique stories that make First Tee’s impact so profound. If one person can make a difference, a difference can be made upon a multitude of generations.

Find a First Tee Near You

Why a Kids Golf Camp in Denver is the Perfect Summer Activity

Are you still searching for the right kind of summer activity for your kids? Have you ever considered enrolling them in a golf camp in Denver? You may be surprised to learn that golf is not just for adults; it can be a great sport for youth of all ages as well. And it’s a great way to get your kids outside and active this summer, while also helping them learn new things.

Golf is a sport that has been gaining popularity among kids and teens alike for many years. With its focus on discipline, patience, and precision, golf can be a great way to teach your children important life skills while having fun. First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains offer a great variety of golf programs throughout the year, and we offer multiple golf camps for kids in Denver during the summer. Our camps will make any kid excited about golf!

Benefits of Outdoor Summer Activities for Children

Getting kids involved in outdoor activities, especially during the summer, comes with many benefits for you and your family. Just to name a few:

Outdoor activities provide a great opportunity for children to engage in physical exercise and develop gross motor skills.

It provides a break from screens and technology, allowing them to connect with nature and be more engaged with their surroundings.

Participating in outdoor sports can also reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and boost self-esteem.

Outdoor activities encourage children to explore and discover new things, which helps promote curiosity and a love of learning.

Summer sports can help children develop important social skills through group activities.

How Golf Positively Impacts Children

When it comes to deciding how your kids should spend their time over the summer, you certainly have a lot of options as their parent. Summer camps are always a great option to explore! However, not all summer camps will have the same long-lasting and positive impact on your kids.

The unique structure and lessons that come with learning golf at a camp for kids sets the sport apart, especially for younger players. Here are just some of the many benefits that come with participating in a kid’s golf camp in Denver:

Develop Life Skills

With the right kind of golf lessons, children can develop stronger patience, focus, and discipline skills. This is due to the nature of the sport and the type of instruction your kids receive.

Learning golf at a young age can also help children develop social skills and make new friends. Golf is a sport that can be enjoyed with others and provides opportunities for children to interact with a diverse range of people.

Improve Mental and Emotional Fortitude

Golf is a game that requires not only strategy but also determination and resilience. Players must deal with a range of challenges and setbacks, both on and off the course.

With the guidance of a mentor or instructor, youth golf players can learn to control their thoughts and emotions, even when facing difficult shots or unexpected obstacles. By playing golf regularly, kids can learn how to bounce back from mistakes and setbacks and maintain a positive attitude even in the face of adversity.

Build Self-Esteem and Drive

When it comes to golf, the sport is very technique-heavy. Because there are so many unique terms and forms to learn, youth players will develop a solid foundation of skills and knowledge, which is something to be very proud of. Kids can build their confidence as they advance in golf which can turn into a long-term desire to achieve great things in many areas of life.

Register Today for a Kid’s Golf Camp in Denver with First Tee

First Tee has become the premier youth golf program across the United States of America, helping kids develop their skills through organized play at over 2,500 courses nationwide. At the summer golf camps in Denver, organized by First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains, we teach kids how to play golf and place great emphasis on educating players on everything else that comes along with learning the game. From stances and swings to course features and math know-how; our participants receive comprehensive instruction and coaching at our kid’s golf camps in Denver.

We believe that golf is more than just a game and we hope that all of the kids who come through our programs gain something that they can use in their everyday lives. As mentioned above, we truly value teaching youth players important life skills that can benefit them in many aspects for many years to come. These fundamentals are part of what makes First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains so unique.

Get your kids signed up for a fun-filled summer at a golf camp in Denver with us! Check out all of our programs today to learn more!

A small idea that led to a mission to Save Our Salmon

Austin Picinich, an 18-year-old participant at First Tee – Greater Seattle, is using his passion for art to paint Save Our Salmon Murals in Seattle, Washington. Today may be Earth Day – but for Austin, every day is Earth Day.

Here is Austin, in his own words:

Living in the Pacific Northwest, nature surrounds me. I enjoy nature outdoors on the golf course and I am currently in my 11th year with First Tee – Greater Seattle.

Off the course, I’m an avid artist.

In 2021, I was selected to attend the Innovators Forum – a leadership summit of 28 teens from First Tee chapters across the country. I spent the week in San Jose, California learning about innovation, leadership, and sustainability. Each of us First Tee students were tasked with developing our own innovative service projects to implement in our communities.

When I learned that Juanita Creek – the salmon-spawning stream less than a minute from my home in Kirkland, WA – had only three salmon return to spawn, I had identified the focus for my Innovators Forum project. But, as a high-schooler, I couldn’t envision how to make a difference; it initially felt like “too big of a problem to solve”.

First Tee encouraged me to think outside the box. I narrowed down the problem: Juanita Creek is hidden in a culvert, and a missing link is neighbors not knowing how to care for the stream. I decided to use my knack for art and passion for the environment to educate my community about Juanita Creek and its salmon.

I found the perfect “canvas” to bring my public art project to life – a 112-foot blank wall along Juanita Creek. I named my project the “Save Our Salmon” (SOS) Mural.

This wasn’t my first mural – in fact, First Tee gave me my first public art experience back in 2019. I painted a mural in the clubhouse of Crossroads Par 3 Golf Course, the course where I started golfing at First Tee – Greater Seattle.

My goal wasn’t just to create a mural that’s nice to look at – but a mural that teaches and inspires my community to protect salmon. I hosted a Community Paint Day leading 170 volunteer painters, ages 4 to 74, to “paint-by-number” the 112-foot blank wall – transforming it into vibrant public art, while teaching attendees how to become better stewards of Juanita Creek.

The Seattle Times summed up my project as, “it takes a village to paint a mural. Sometimes it takes a teen to bring a town together”.

First Tee inspired my confidence as a leader. I stepped up from an artist who enjoyed nature while golfing, to a leader actively protecting nature. I developed confidence in my leadership while a First Tee staff coach at Crossroads.

Since the first mural, I’ve painted two more SOS Murals along McAleer Creek. In total, I’ve led 370 painters and 1,000 event attendees painting 300 feet of “art-ivism” walls.

I tapped into another skill from First Tee: marketing. I’m now currently the Director of Marketing & Communications for First Tee – Greater Seattle’s Junior Advisory Board (JAB) where I create flyers and graphics for JAB.

I create SOS merchandise sold in a dozen local shops. So far, I’ve raised $23,541 with 100% of proceeds supporting stream restoration – an impact that continues long after the paint dries.

In 2023, I’ll be leading five new SOS Murals – with seven new streams each benefitting with a mural – and a projected 4,000 attendees.

Save Our Salmon Through Art is now nationally-awarded – I won the Barron Prize for Young Heroes, and SOS was named one of the top 15 international projects making communities and the environment a better place.

It all started as my idea at the First Tee Innovators Forum, with support from experience I gained from First Tee opportunities in leadership, marketing, and murals.

Derrick Ow on how he overcame an obstacle to achieve his dream

Without First Tee, I would still be the shy kid from Salinas, CA with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

Devoid of lessons learned through First Tee programs, I would simply not be writing this letter yet alone be talking.

When you suffer sixteen seizures at two years old and have doctors tell your parents that you will never talk or never succeed in a mainstream class in school, I guess you can say I learned perseverance early in my life.  

My parents enrolled me into numerous special education classes, occupational and physical therapy to regain my small muscle skills. However, with those classes came constant bullying of racial slurs and derogatory labels.  Looking for appropriate programs that would help my social and physical development, my parents enrolled me into First Tee – Monterey County in 2005.

You can say that my local chapter and I have grown up together, so I consider myself part of the foundation and groundwork of our chapter. The coaches were always inclusive and willing to help guide my growth as a young adult on and off the golf course.

Despite the respect and acceptance into a sport that has given me so much, I still had a secret that I needed to tell. I did not share my disability with my First Tee coaches until 2014 when I talked to our Executive Director, Nick Nelson.

I was applying for the Outstanding Participant Summit, and I needed a recommendation letter from him. When he read my essay for the application he said to me,” Derrick, I had no idea you had Autism.”

Hearing that from someone I respect and look up to be a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. This was the first time in my life that I felt loved by people who truly care for me, the sport of golf provided me an inclusive and safe environment where I was allowed to grow and develop as a golfer but most importantly a future citizen. 

Building on this newfound confidence I was able to share my disability with my best friends at school and others outside my family. 

In addition to life skills and core values I learned the importance of networking. I was honored to participate in five national First Tee events, where I met fellow First Tee members like me from all around the country. I keep in touch with most of the participants I have met along the way and cherish their friendship and support.   

What so many people consider to be a rich man’s sport is a sport that has given me a once in a lifetime opportunity. First Tee taught me life and golf skills – how to speak at public events to coaching an anti-bullying station during summer camp.

Most of these small accomplishments seem impossible to achieve with a disability like mine, but all you have to do is persevere through all the learning experiences I had to endure, working hard and never ever giving up. That is the impact First Tee has given me. 

Coach Jignesh leading the next generation

It started with his passion for the sport.

Coach Jignesh, from First Tee – Raritan Valley, found a love for the game of golf and only wanted to get better. He focused a lot of his time on playing in tournaments and excelling in his skills to be a better player.

When it came time to grow his family, he knew that he wanted to share his love for the game with his kids and once they were of age, he got them involved with First Tee.

“First Tee builds mental health and strength for the kids so after many years of experience with the chapter, I too wanted to get involved to give back to the community and be a part of building game changers,” said Coach Jignesh.

Since his kids have been involved with First Tee, they have been excelling in their golf game and together as a family, they build memories over their shared passion. Over time, Coach Jignesh would see change in how his kids became focused in school, in their golf game and instilling daily the character building blocks into their lives.

“First Tee brings so many life values for the kids including mentorship and safety,” said Coach Jignesh.

“I saw a big change in my son’s behavior and how when he goes out and plays, he brings those values to the tournaments.”

Coach Jignesh started as a coach in 2020 and has gone through First Tee’s Coach Level 2 training, now a senior coach. Eventually, he will take his skills and passion to soon become a master level coach.

As for his kids, they continue to stay involved in the chapter while his son has recently begun to volunteer himself as a way to give back to what has been given to him.

“First Tee is more like an education itself, knowing there’s safety in the program and values that you can learn such as being able to define what confidence is. Here, the kids get to learn, be smart and have fun – all at the same time.”

Carter Bonas wants everyone to feel like they belong on the course

Carter Bonas has already broken through in the business world, and he’s just 12. His love of golf helped inspire his company, Spectrum Golf.

The golf brand got its name because Carter is on the autism spectrum. The company was created to address an issue he faced, turning a challenge into an opportunity.

“Me and my mom were spending lots of money on clothes that were supposed to be comfortable but weren’t because I have skin sensitivity,” explained the First Tee – Florida Gold Coast participant.

“I started Spectrum Golf because I wanted other people to be comfortable too.”

The brand sells golf attire and accessories, which have been displayed at the PGA Show in Orlando, an industry standard event. Carter has been interviewed by Golf Channel, Golf Digest and more about his company.

It’s impossible for Carter to choose a favorite memory from his time as a golfer. “They’re all super amazing,” Carter said.

He’s walked the course with Ernie Els at the Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida, chipped with PGA Champions Tour player Alex Cejka and even met basketball star Steph Curry. Last year Curry was honored as Sports Illustrated’s Sports Person of the Year, while Carter was named Sports Kid of the Year.

Carter has big goals for his company, ultimately aiming to own a retail store and collaborate with other major brands. Playing on the PGA TOUR isn’t out of the question either, he said.

Carter loves the sport because he’s able to play on a team while still controlling the outcome of his round – whether good or bad. He also loves spending time in nature, he said.

Carter began playing golf after struggling to find another sport that fit.

During Autism Awareness Month, his message to others on the spectrum: “If you’re considering golf it takes lots of patience and practice, and you always need to stay positive,” he said.

Carter and his family have faced their own set of challenges when it comes to managing a new business. They had to table Spectrum Vitamin Water due to a manufacturing issue. “Carter only wants to sell products he loves,” said his mother, Dr. Thelma Tennie. But after finding a new producer, the vitamin water could be back on the market this year.

Seeing his mom – who owns a private therapy practice – helped inspire Carter to become an entrepreneur, he explained. And he’s also passionate about giving back. He recently launched a nonprofit, and he serves as a golf coach and motivational speaker for schools and events.

Like First Tee, Carter is dedicated to growing the sport of golf and showing that anyone can play. Carter and his mom were drawn to First Tee’s values, and he’s been participating with the Florida Gold Coast chapter in Fort Lauderdale for about a year.

“It’s been super awesome,” Carter said.

Build a Strong Foundation for Life in Denver with Golf Lessons

Are you looking for an engaging and exciting way to help your child develop important life skills? Consider enrolling them in a program in Denver for golf lessons! Not only will they learn how to play the game, but they will also learn valuable lessons that they can apply to their everyday lives.

Golf is more than just a game of hitting a ball with a club. It is a sport that requires discipline, patience, focus, and perseverance. By learning these qualities through golf, children and teens can develop the essential life skills they need to succeed in all aspects of their lives.

At First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains, we understand the importance of building a strong foundation for our participants. Our non-profit organization is dedicated to helping kids from all walks of life learn to play golf while incorporating important life lessons and personal skill-building into our programs. Our goal is to help set these kids up for success beyond the sport of golf.

Setting Up Youth for Success

Here are just a few of the ways that our Denver golf lessons can help your child develop important life skills:

Discipline and Focus

Golf requires a great deal of discipline and focus. Children who play the game must learn how to concentrate on their swing, their shot, and their overall strategy all at the same time. They must also stay calm and focused, even when things do not go as planned. While these skills are critical on the course, they can be applied to all aspects of children’s lives including school, personal relationships, and future work opportunities.

Perseverance

Golf is a challenging sport that requires a great deal of perseverance. Things often do not go as planned on the course and we help instruct youth players on how to persevere through it all. Kids need to handle their frustration and disappointment when they miss a shot or do not play as well as they would like. They must also learn how to bounce back from setbacks and keep trying even when things are difficult. These traits will come in handy for future academic and personal pursuits.

Sportsmanship

If there’s one sport that values sportsmanship and fair play, it’s golf. When they’re on the course, players are expected to respect opponents, follow the rules of the game, and accept the outcome of shots and matches with grace and humility. Our programs instill these ideals in young players, so they bring these values to their relationships with friends, family, and colleagues.

Teamwork and Communication

In many cases, golf can also be a team sport! To help youth players navigate team-based competitions, we place great emphasis on assisting them to develop important teamwork and communication skills. They will have to communicate effectively with their teammates, share responsibilities, and support each other throughout the game if they hope to win. These skills are essential for all kinds of responsibilities and opportunities, which is why it’s important to build them sooner rather than later.

Sign Up for Lessons with First Tee Today!

Golf lessons are an excellent way for children to develop and grow while having fun and staying active. At First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains, we are dedicated to helping underprivileged kids learn the fundamentals of golf and build essential skills they can use off the course. It’s what makes our approach in Denver to golf lessons unique and highly effective.

Isabella Curtis found a new passion at First Tee summer camp

First Tee – Central Arkansas participant Isabella Curtis understands the importance of setting goals. The 14-year-old does it every year for school and sports. She aims to shoot even par in a golf tournament this year. Ultimately, she’d like to play college golf, she said.

Curtis, who also plays volleyball, has only been golfing for a few years. She took part in a First Tee summer camp after an older girl from her church recommended the program. “I really had no interest or experience in golf, but I thought, ‘This could be fun,’” Curtis said.

She loves the challenges that golf presents, she said. “I like anything with competition. We did a drive, chip and putt competition at the end, and it was fun,” Curtis said.

Her advice for new golfers: “Just have fun and don’t take a bad shot too seriously because the most important shot in golf is the next one.”

Curtis’ golf career has taken off quickly. She’s been named the South Central PGA Player of the Year for her age group and won dozens of tournaments.

“It’s kind of like the beginning of a book,” said her father, Jonathan Curtis. “The story at the beginning is so important, and we’re so grateful for the staff and volunteers at First Tee who make a really complex game one that’s fun for kids.”

Curtis competed at the Notah Begay III Girls Golf National Championship in Louisiana last year, and she said she’s looking forward to seeing where else golf takes her – even if the sport wasn’t always on her radar.

“It has been a joy to watch Isabella grow not only into a competitive golfer but more importantly into a very impressive young lady,” said First Tee – Central Arkansas Executive Director Monica Blake. “Isabella first came to our chapter through our summer golf camps which provide the space to explore the game of golf while creating opportunities for personal growth. We take pride in knowing that First Tee is the place where Isabella developed her love and passion for the game.”

In addition to sports, Curtis also likes reading and volunteering with her church, where her dad is the pastor.

Find a First Tee summer program near you.

First Tee Empowers Kids Through Golf in Denver

Golf is a sport that offers numerous benefits to people of all ages, but for children, it can be especially beneficial. That’s where First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains comes in! Our organization is dedicated to introducing kids to the game of golf and teaching them important life skills and values along the way. Whether your child is new to golf in Denver or already plays, this sport and our organization can have a big impact on the lives of young people in the community.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains helps to empower youth through golf lessons, programs, competitions, and more in Denver and beyond!

Why Choose Golf for Your Kid?

Through First Tee’s programs, Denver kids are discovering the joys of golf while also learning essential life skills. We offer unique youth sports programs that provide a safe and supportive environment for children to develop their skills both on and off the course.

At each level of the programs offered by our non-profit organization, participants gain different skills and values that will help them become better golfers and better people. These skills aren’t just about their golf performance because they include things like honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, and respect.

Our youth golf programs also have a focus on inclusivity and creating a safe and welcoming environment for all kids. Regardless of their background or skill level, all children are encouraged to participate and learn at their own pace.

Our programming offers a great way for kids to get involved in a sport that they might not have tried otherwise, while also gaining valuable life skills that will serve them well in the future. Whether they continue playing golf or not, the lessons they learn through First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains will stay with them for a lifetime!

Suffice it to say, there are plenty of reasons to get your kids involved in the sport of golf in Denver. They’ll gain confidence, get in some great exercise, and much more.

First Tee’s Impact on the Denver Community

The First Tee programs are making a big impact on the lives of young people in the community. Through partnerships with local schools and organizations, our non-profit is able to reach a diverse group of children and teens and provide them with the opportunity to learn and grow through golf. We offer unique programs through Denver Public Schools like our Read ‘n’ Swing program that integrates relevant reading time with golf lessons. We are also proud to offer scholarships and financial assistance to ensure that cost is not a barrier to participation in any of our golf programs.

One of the ways that First Tee is making a difference in Denver is by promoting diversity and inclusion within the sport of golf. The programs are dedicated to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all children, regardless of their background or skill level. By introducing kids to the game of golf and teaching them important life skills, First Tee is helping to create a brighter future for the Denver community.

How To Get Involved with First Tee

Our mission at First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains is to educate and inspire youth academically, socially, and physically through the game of golf. If that mission speaks to you and you would like to help us achieve that goal, there are plenty of ways that you can get involved.

Parents and others can get involved with the programs of First Tee by volunteering their time or making a donation. First Tee relies on the support of volunteers to help with coaching, mentoring, and administrative tasks; financial donations are always welcome to help fund scholarships and other program costs. By getting involved with First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains, parents and volunteers can make a real difference in the lives of local kids and help build a stronger, more inclusive golf community in the city of Denver.

Sign Up for Golf in Denver with First Tee Today!

The programs offered by First Tee are an excellent way for kids in Denver to learn about golf and develop essential skills at the same time. By promoting inclusivity and creating a safe and supportive environment, our programs are helping to empower the golf community of Denver and expand it even further.

Whether your child is an experienced golfer or has never picked up a club before, First Tee can easily get them to get involved in the sport of golf in Denver and help them pick up useful skills they’ll use every single day.

Enrollment is open now for our upcoming programs! Sign up your kids with First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains today!

Coach Bonnie on sharing her love of golf: ‘Golf will make them better people’

It feels like fate played a role in bringing Bonnie Bunch Glover to golf 20 years ago. “I had a set of old clubs in my garage. Someone gave them to me, but I had no place to play and didn’t even know how,” she said. Then a colleague heard about the Lady Drivers, a group of Black women golfers in Jackson, Mississippi.

Glover dusted off her hand-me-down clubs and attended a beginners clinic hosted by the group. “I was voted most likely to succeed at the clinic, and I’ve been hooked ever since,” she joked.

For the last few years, Glover has been volunteering full-time with First Tee – Central Mississippi.

“Sportsmanship is one of the things I enjoy teaching the kids,” she said. “Golf will make them better people later in life. They’re learning to share, patience – golf promotes a lot of things,” she said.

With support from Morgan Stanley’s Eagles for Impact program, Glover attended a Level 2 Coach Training in New Orleans last year. “Getting that formal training just motivates you. You know you’re getting something solid to take forward,” she said.

“Bonnie is eager to help our chapter in any way she can. She loves working in our girls’ classes, and she’s a great person to recruit new volunteers and coaches,” said Margo Coleman, executive director of First Tee – Central Mississippi.

Morgan Stanley’s support will continue this year. For every eagle made during this month’s PLAYERS tournament, the firm will donate $5,000 to First Tee in support of the development and retention of diverse golf coaches, like Glover, to mentor the next generation of game changing leaders.

As a self-taught golfer, Glover said she feels more comfortable passing along her skills after attending a First Tee coach training. “I just try to tell my kids that you don’t have to be the best. You just have to do the best you can, and it will pay off,” she said.

“Coach Bonnie brings positive energy to each class. She is helpful to all of the students, taking the time to help them, no matter their level of golf,” Coleman said.

In addition to coaching, Glover helps organize an equipment drive each spring in partnership with the Jackson Women’s Golf Association. The group has provided shoes, clubs and clothes to many young golfers in Mississippi.

All her efforts aim to make golf more accessible to all kids, including those from diverse backgrounds, Glover said. “We need more minorities in the game of golf. Our kids need to see them,” she said.

Research has shown that kids learn better when they identify with their teachers. That’s why First Tee believes it’s important for our coaches to represent the communities they serve.

“We’re so grateful to Morgan Stanley for supporting this important initiative,” said First Tee CEO Greg McGlaughlin. “Coaches form the backbone of our organization, and we’re committed to bringing in and training coaches from diverse backgrounds because golf – especially with the life skills it teaches – is a game for everyone.”