Category: Uncategorized

Actress, First Tee alumna Kathryn Newton joins First Tee as national brand ambassador

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 10, 2024) – First Tee is excited to announce that actress and avid golfer Kathryn Newton has signed on as its newest national brand ambassador. Newton, an alumna of First Tee – Miami, is passionate about making golf feel fun and accessible for everyone, and she’s known for featuring the sport on her popular social media channels.

Newton and First Tee have already collaborated at events like the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst and the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore in 2023 and 2024. In her role as ambassador, she’ll continue to engage with First Tee participants and represent the youth development organization at events.

“This is a full-circle moment for me,” Newton said. “Having grown up in First Tee, I’m proud to join the organization as an ambassador because I know the difference it can make for kids and teens. Golf has meant so much to me, and I’m thrilled to share my love for the game, and its inherent values, with the next generation.”

Well known for her roles in Marvel Studios Ant-Man and The Wasp Quantumania, Netflix’s The Society, as well as Legendary Pictures Pokémon Detective Pikachu, this year she stars in the highly anticipated Focus Features Film Lisa Frankenstein and Universal Studios Abigail. Her past work includes Oscar winning films such as Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri and LadyBird, as well as Golden Globe winning Big Little Lies.

Newton started her acting career at the age of 4 and was also an avid golfer. Her nickname in high school was “Kathryn the Golfer,” and as a +2-handicap, she helped her team win championships while simultaneously working as an actress.

“Kathryn embodies First Tee’s mission and our work to use golf as a platform to empower the next generation of game changers,” said CEO Greg McLaughlin. “She brings energy to our work and a commitment to making an impact on the young people with whom she interacts.”

Newton joins professional golfers Austin Smotherman and Alex Smalley, becoming First Tee’s third ambassador. As someone who’s passionate about the game, she brings a new perspective to the organization’s ambassador program.

First Tee has been helping kids and teens build character since 1997. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with its life skills curriculum, First Tee aims to instill values that are important both on and off the golf course, including inner strength, self-confidence and perseverance.

About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)
First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA TOUR. Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of kids annually through its network of 150 chapters, 11,450 schools and 2,000 youth centers. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, programs are delivered in all 50 United States and select international locations. President George W. Bush serves as Honorary Chair.     

Contact:
Megan Hart
[email protected]
(941) 400-8793

Hazeltine National Golf Club Supports First Tee – Minnesota

On August 19, 2024—Championship Sunday of the U.S. Amateur—Hazeltine National Golf Club presented a check for $25,000 to First Tee – Minnesota. Joining in the celebration was NFL Hall of Famer, Larry Fitzgerald, Jr., USGA President, Fred Perpall, Hazeltine National’s board chairperson, Dan Mulhern, and Hazeltine’s general manager, Phil Anderson.

The presentation took place after 36 First Tee golfers—from a wide range of First Tee–Minnesota locations—participated in a 9-hole scramble at The Loop, the Barrier Free Golf Course located in Chaska, Minnesota.

Jim Triggs, CEO of First Tee – Minnesota, said, “We are so grateful to Hazeltine. This generous gift is a game changer because it helps our program directors and coaches reach more kids in Minnesota through our golf and life skill programs.”

The morning’s festivities also included an 18-hole putting contest; the chance for some First Tee golfers to compete on the putting course with Larry Fitzgerald; a great lunch served by Fireman BBQ, and free admission to the U.S. Amateur for parents in attendance.

First Tee @ The 3M Open

The weather is perfect this weekend so head out to the 3M Open.  Kids 15 and under get in free and there are a ton of fun activities for families including First Tee’s massive hitting bay and “The Lab,” an all new—air conditioned—activity center that combines science, AI and golf! 

Click here for tickets to the 3M Open

Minnesota Twins Golf Day at Target Field

It’s a hole-in-one kind of day at Target Field! Come join us for “Golf Day” on Sunday, August 4, as the Twins take on the Chicago White Sox at 1:10 p.m. Whether you’re a golf enthusiast, a baseball fan, or simply looking for a day of outdoor fun, this is an experience you won’t want to miss! Your purchase of this special ticket package includes your reserved seat to the game and an exclusive Twins themed Golf Head Cover!

Click here to purchase tickets

Go Twins!

First Tee alumni share the advice they’d give their younger selves 

With graduation in the books, many kids and teens are looking ahead to the future. But we asked First Tee alumni to look back and consider the advice they’d share with their 18-year-old self.

David Singh 
First Tee – Tampa Bay
Recently earned his Master in Healthcare Administration at the University of Pittsburgh

“Life is not always gonna stick to the script you’ve got in your head. Sometimes, it’ll throw you curveballs you never saw coming. Roll with the punches, stay flexible, and remember, there’s always a silver lining in every setback. Keep your chin up, ’cause even when things don’t go as planned, there’s still a world of amazing possibilities out there waiting for you.”

Savannah Mansueti 
First Tee – Florida Gold Coast 
Manager of operations at First Tee – Florida Gold Coast

“If I could advise my 18-year-old self, I’d emphasize embracing failure as a key part of learning and growth, seeing setbacks as opportunities to refine skills. I’d also stress the importance of building strong relationships with family, friends, mentors and colleagues for support and guidance. Lastly, I’d recommend prioritizing financial literacy early on, mastering budgeting, saving and investing for long-term stability and success.”

Haili Moore 
First Tee – Greater Dallas
Student at Texas Christian University and entry-level staff accountant 

“Do not allow yourself to settle in relationships, careers, friendships, education, etc. You are worth what you allow to infiltrate your time, peace and space. The thing is though, is that you are worth more than you’ll ever know.”

Jamie Rush 
First Tee – Pittsburgh 
Methodist University marketing student with a concentration in professional golf management 

“My advice would be to live in the moment. We are always wishing for the next big moment and forget to treasure the times that we are currently in. I’m still trying to learn this lesson today. Enjoy every aspect of the here and now, slow down and don’t wish your life away.”

Spencer McIntosh 
First Tee – Tampa Bay 
Director of business intelligence and analytics at First Tee 

“I would encourage my 18-year-old self to be continuously educating yourself whether that be reading more books, taking additional courses or seeking mentorship. I’d also recommend that he build a strong network and surround himself with supportive and knowledgeable people so you can apply those lessons to his passions. Then finally, I’d tell him to pay those gifts forward to the next generation of game changers!”

Srishti Dhurandhar  
First Tee – Metropolitan New York  
Business and technology management student and collegiate golfer at NYU 

“Some advice for my younger self would be to be less afraid to ask for help and make mistakes. I learned the most when things didn’t go according to plan and wish I had spent less time worrying about doing everything perfectly because everything will work out in the end as long as you surround yourself with people you can lean on. “

Are you a First Tee alumna? Learn more about the First Tee Alumni Network.

Where are they now: First Tee National Championship winners 

First Tee returns to Clemson University this year for its 4th annual National Championship. This year’s field includes 24 boys and 24 girls from First Tee chapters across the country to experience what golf looks like at the next level.

In addition to showcasing their skills and perseverance on the course, players will also attend a golf careers panel and a keynote address from First Tee alumnus Gavin Parker. 

This year’s tournament will be streamed on Gamecast, and you can follow scoring on Golf Genius. 

Before we head to Clemson, we caught up with our past winners to see what they’re up to. 

Ashton Harper  
First Tee — Roanoke Valley 

Ashton won the inaugural First Tee National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and is now a member of the golf team at Virginia Tech, where he is majoring in business. Ashton said his experience with First Tee taught him valuable lessons in perseverance. “Golf is not a game of perfect, and there will always be ups and downs when playing this game, but they are magnified in tournaments due to the high stakes. I was able to use perseverance to fight these ups and downs,” he said. 

Ashton aims to become an All-ACC player by the end of his tenure at Virginia Tech before going on to play professionally. 

Symran Shah 
First Tee — Greater Dallas 

Like Ashton, Symran won the First Tee National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and now plays golf at Virginia Tech. She studies business and plans to have a career in healthcare administration. 

Hannah Lydic 
First Tee — Delaware 

Hannah won the 2022 First Tee National Championship held at Notre Dame and is now a member of the golf team at the University of Richmond, majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing. Her experience in the First Tee National Championship taught her patience and perseverance in both herself and her game, she said. 

As a Spider, she’s won awards for golf and academics. “What’s cool about the game of golf is that if you play calm and treat your playing partners with kindness, you will ultimately have a better experience on the course which will allow you to play at a higher level,” she said. Because of her experience with First Tee coaches, she fell in love with golf and now has the goal to become a collegiate golf coach. 

Hunter Swanson 
First Tee — Green Valley Ranch 

Hunter won the First Tee National Championship at Notre Dame in 2022 and is now a business student and member of the golf team at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Hunter lost to Ashton in a playoff at the 2021 First Tee National Championship, which inspired him to have the perseverance to come back and win at Notre Dame and taught him how to be more comfortable in high stress situations, he said.  

As a college golfer, Hunter said the most important lesson he learned from First Tee is confidence. “I find I play more relaxed and have a better game when I practice enough to believe in my abilities,” he said. Since winning the First Tee National Championship, Hunter has made the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, been a Pac-12 Men’s Golfer of the Week and the Nevada State Amateur runner up. 

Megan Meng  
First Tee — Greater Trenton 

Megan won the 2023 First Tee National Championship at Stanford and is preparing to begin her college golf career at Northwestern, where she’ll study economics. Her experience playing in the First Tee National Championship challenged her to be hardworking and patient. She said she continues to use other First Tee lessons. “I find that it is important to always apply respect, sportsmanship and courtesy to those you are playing with,” said Megan, who also won the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship. 

Recently, Megan was a member of Team USA at the 2023 Junior Solheim Cup and a 2023 Rolex Scholastic Junior All-American. She’s currently in the Top 10 of the AJGA Rankings and plans to pursue professional golf. 

Cooper Groshart 
First Tee — Central Coast 

Cooper won the 2023 First Tee National Championship at Stanford and now attends California State East Bay, as a business administration major and a member of the golf team. Confidence is a First Tee lesson that Cooper keeps with him today while playing competitive golf. His experience in the First Tee National Championship was inspiring, as he saw so many people from different places share the same drive to compete and succeed in golf, he said.  

Cooper played in the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur in Charleston. As a freshman, he competed in 12 tournaments with his college team and has been on the dean’s list both semesters. He said his goal is to continue to improve as a player and a person. 

Learn more about the First Tee National Championship.

First Tee College Scholarship Program celebrates first graduating class 

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – (May 14, 2024) – Four years ago, President George W. Bush had a big surprise for seven exemplary First Tee participants. First Tee’s honorary chair told the teens they were selected as inaugural members of the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Now the organization is thrilled to celebrate their graduation. 

“Congratulations to the first graduating class of First Tee College Scholarship Program,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We are very proud of your hard work and commitment, and we look forward to watching you move into the next stages of your journey. First Tee is proud to have played a role in your development.” 

“First Tee is family,” said Ricky Lam, a First Tee Scholar who is graduating from Harvard University and pursuing a career in insurance. “Ultimately First Tee is a place where you have such a strong support system to be able to pursue your passions, ask for help, expand your horizons and network so you can be the person you strive to be.” 

The First Tee College Scholarship Program is a need- and merit-based scholarship program through which Scholars receive financial support and access to a wide range of professional development opportunities. Each Scholar is paired with an adult mentor to ensure they are equipped with the tools they need to be successful in college and beyond. 

“The First Tee College Scholarship Program really helped me find connections, especially with my mentor,” said Malisone Chanthanpanya, now a graduate student and member of the golf team at Texas Wesleyan University. Mali is one of three Scholars who graduated early to bring the total number of graduated First Tee Scholars to 10. “She was a great resource who I could talk to about not just college and my career but about life. I got to meet a lot of people through the scholarship program.” 

The First Tee College Scholarship Program was launched in 2020, and it recognizes First Tee participants who have shown dedication to academics, community service and their First Tee chapters. It has since grown to include 70 Scholars, with the 2024 class slated to be announced next month.  

Meet the graduates: 

Luke Boldt 
First Tee – Coastal Carolina / East Carolina University 
He has accepted a position as a medical missionary for two years and plans to apply to medical school. 

Malisone Chanthanpanya 
First Tee – Fort Worth / Texas Wesleyan University 
She’s in graduate school and prepping for LPGA Q-school in the fall.  

Jessica Jiao 
First Tee – Metropolitan New York / Georgetown University  
She has accepted a position with BNP Paribas Bank in its equity capital markets department in New York. 

Ricky Lam 
First Tee–Tri-Valley / Harvard University 
He has accepted a position with Sompo as a commercial underwriter.  

Kelly Low 
First Tee – Fort Worth / University of Texas at Dallas 
She has accepted an offer with Amazon Web Services as an associate solutions architect in Austin. 

Nicole Monsalve 
First Tee – Miami / Duke University 
She has accepted a position with the NFL in its two-year rotation program in New York. 

Sara Rintoul  
First Tee – Central Florida / University of Florida 
She has accepted an offer at Proctor & Gamble as a brand manager in Boston. 

Remi Shendell 
First Tee – Metropolitan New York / Emory University 
She is graduating with a double-major in biology and political science. 

Borina Sutiko  
First Tee – Silicon Valley / Santa Clara University 
She hopes to attend Cal Berkely this fall to earn her master’s in information systems.  

Denise Wei 
First Tee – San Francisco / University of California, Irvine 
She has accepted an offer with PwC in its audit division. 

2024 First Tee- Scheels Game Changer Clinic at Columbia Driving Range

Join us for a free golf clinic hosted by First Tee- Minnesota and Scheels at Columbia Driving Range and Learning Center! First Tee coaches will cover basics such as putting, chipping and hitting the ball really far. All golf equipment (and ice cream!) will be provided at the course. Fill out the form below to register your junior.

When: Sunday, May 19th

Time: 1-2 PM

Location: Columbia Driving Range- 445 St Anthony Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55418

Age: 6+

Space is limited and spots fill quickly! The deadline to register is May 14th.

2025 First Tee – Highland District Council Game Changer Clinic

This clinic is now full! To join the waitlist please enter your information below.

Join us for a free golf clinic hosted by First Tee- Minnesota and the Highland District Council! First Tee coaches will cover basics such as putting, chipping and hitting the ball really far. All golf equipment (and ice cream!) will be provided at the course.

When: Saturday, May 10th

Time: 1-2 pm

Location: Highland National Golf Course- 1403 Montreal Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55116

Age: 6+

Please fill out this form to join the waitlist for the free clinic:

Waitlist 2025 Highland District Council & First Tee – Minnesota Golf Clinic Registration

Parent/Guardian Name(Required)
Child Name
Parent/Guardian Email(Required)
Waiver(Required)