Latest news with #FirstTee
Forbes
an hour ago
- Business
- Forbes
From SMART Goals To Bold Dreams: Skyler Xue's Leadership Journey
For Skyler Xue, an Ace participant at First Tee – Greater Washington DC, taking part in the First Tee Leadership Series in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore was nothing short of life changing. As a high school junior uncertain about what lay ahead, he found clarity and confidence through the experience, he said. The five-week workshop, which is held at PGA TOUR Superstore locations across the country, helped him explore his strengths and values, while envisioning a career that blends his passions for golf and STEM. 'The staff at PGA TOUR Superstore shared their insights on leadership and resilience, which had a lasting impact on me,' he said. For Skyler, one of the most impactful sessions focused on goal setting and career planning. Learning how to apply the SMART goals framework helped him map out actionable steps toward his dream of working in sports analytics. S: SpecificM: MeasurableA: AchievableR: RelevantT: Time bound Skyler aspires to use data to help athletes and coaches optimize performance. With a strong foundation in STEM and experience in data science and computational modeling, he's already developing an AI-powered golf caddie that analyzes course maps and player data to recommend the best shot strategy. This project is a perfect example of his passion for applying analytical thinking to solve practical problems. Skyler is now heading home from Montana, where he attended the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore. The weeklong retreat builds on the skills taught during the in-store Leadership Series. Participants are encouraged to build confidence and grow through challenge as they try new things, like horseback riding, whitewater rafting and archery. Accumulating nearly 200 community service hours in 2024, Skyler is a junior coach at First Tee – Greater Washington DC, founder of his school's math club and a member of the golf team. There's no doubt the lessons he learned in Montana will be put to good use by this future leader. Learn more about First Tee's teen participant events.
Forbes
04-08-2025
- Business
- Forbes
First Tee, PGA TOUR Superstore host 40 teens for Montana Leadership Summit
National youth development organization First Tee is proud to host the 2025 First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore, taking place over the next two weeks at West Creek Ranch in Montana. Teens will spend an impactful week in the Paradise Valley, where they'll experience leadership development, outdoor adventure and personal growth. Actor Michael Pena and Olympic medalist Kellie Wells-Brinkley will be guest speakers for Week 1 and Week 2 respectively. Leadership Summit is designed to equip participants with the tools and mindset to lead with character, overcome challenges and make a meaningful influence in their schools and communities. The immersive program encourages participants to step outside of their comfort zone and experience activities like horseback riding, whitewater rafting, ropes courses and archery. Throughout the week, leadership development experts and PGA TOUR Superstore staff lead reflective sessions to help participants identify their leadership strengths and values. First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore have a long and impactful history. This is the fifth year they'll team up to host Leadership Summit at West Creek, a working ranch owned by PGA TOUR Superstore chairman and owner and First Tee board member Arthur M. Blank that borders the Yellowstone River and Gallatin National Forest. During the event, PGA TOUR Superstore staff will facilitate sessions on topics like communication and growing through challenges.'The Leadership Summit is one of the most memorable and meaningful experiences these teens will have at this stage in their lives. They learn about themselves, working with others, face challenges and build lifelong friendships,' said Ralph Stokes, Vice President of Social Impact, Partnerships and Community Relations, PGA TOUR Superstore. 'At PGA TOUR Superstore, we are committed to investing in programs like this that empower young people to grow – as individuals, as leaders and as engaged members of their communities.' 'At First Tee, golf is just the beginning of what we do,' said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. 'During Leadership Summit, teens will explore who they are as individuals, who they want to become and how they can lead with purpose. It is one of our most impactful opportunities, and we are grateful to PGA TOUR Superstore and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for making it possible.'All participants must complete a leadership training course hosted by their local PGA TOUR Superstore before applying to Leadership Summit. This year's group was selected from a competitive pool of applicants and represents 21 First Tee Chapters from across the Tee offers a full slate of participant opportunities, including Leadership Summit, to further its mission of building game changers through golf. For more information, visit
Forbes
25-07-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Finley Mentzel Aspires To Make Positive Changes In Her Community
Through golf, young people can find more than athletic skill. They can discover a pathway to personal growth, leadership development and lasting community impact. For 17-year-old Finley Mentzel, First Tee has been an integral part of her leadership journey. The guidance and support Finley has experienced through First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky have been foundational in developing her character both on and off the course, she said. This summer, Finley attended First Tee's Game Changers Academy. Now in its 25th year, the weeklong event brings together teens from across the country for meaningful discussions on self-awareness, inclusive leadership and community building – skills they will carry with them throughout their lives. 'This experience has inspired me to lead and make a difference on and off the course,' she said. 'I've learned so much and want to create more positive change in my community.' Finley joined First Tee – Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky at age 8 with her older brother, Henry, who's now a First Tee Scholar, and fraternal twin, Tiernan, an attendee at the First Tee's Game Changers Academy in 2024. Throughout her golf journey, Finley has received mentorship that she believes has shaped her into the athlete, student and friend she is. 'First Tee helped me by teaching me life skills in how to manage work, hard teachers and to set smaller goals to accomplish larger ones,' said Finley. 'The First Tee lessons and coaches have helped me accomplish many things both big and small.' Finley currently serves as a volunteer coach and participant advisor, known by her coaches and peers for her patience and ability to connect with participants of all skill levels. Last fall, Finley attended the First Tee Innovator's Forum in Phoenix, Arizona. Her experience resulted in a community service project that aims to connect chapter alumni with current participants. Her chapter is currently working to implement it. Finley plans to pursue a career in the health care industry after college with hopes of someday working in a children's hospital. She hopes to combine her passion for working with children with her desire to make an impact on her community. Alongside AWS and Topgolf Callaway Brands, Mayo Clinic supports First Tee's Game Changers Academy, helping to prepare the next generation of leaders, including those in the health care industry like Finley. First Tee offers a full slate of national participant events, like Game Changers Academy, designed to help teens make connections, build confidence and grow as leaders.
CTV News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Young golfers take part in junior golf clinic
WATCH: A junior golf clinic was held by a group called First Tee, which aims to teach kids how to golf and about the life skills the sport brings.
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
How Stephen Im Has Gone From First Tee Participant To Game Changer
Stephen Im's golf story is about giving back to the community that helped shape him. Stephen grew up in the inner city of San Diego, just minutes from Pro Kids, home of First Tee – San Diego. It was the 1990s, and 'Tiger Mania' had a whole generation dreaming big. For Stephen, First Tee – San Diego quickly became his second home. 'I describe my time at First Tee as the best years of my youth, when life was simple,' he said. Stephen Im His journey through First Tee wasn't just about swing mechanics or lowering scores — it was about building character and finding belonging. 'The reason I credit much of my own development to First Tee has to do with my involvement during my teenage years,' he said. Being multiracial, Stephen struggled at times with identity and community, he said. 'Learning who I was and what made me unique led me to develop better judgement.' One defining moment of his youth came when Stephen was selected to attend the very first Game Changers Academy at Kansas State University. From navigating dorm life to playing one of the toughest golf courses in the country, Colbert Hills, the week was packed with new experiences. Returning to Game Changers for a Special Anniversary This year, Stephen returns to Game Changers Academy — not as a participant, but as a coach and mentor. The event, which focuses on inclusive leadership and community building, is taking place in Minneapolis and celebrating its 25th anniversary this summer. It's supported by AWS, Mayo Clinic and Topgolf Callaway Brands. Stephen is excited to be involved so he can help teens expand their horizons, just as he did decades ago. 'There's something about visiting another community that opens your eyes to the world we share with others,' he said. He hopes participants walk away with broadened perspectives — and the courage to inspire others through their experiences. More than anything, Stephen is excited to spark those lightbulb moments. 'Guiding teens to find their place in the world and giving them a safe space to express themselves. That's what this work is about,' he said. Coaching with Purpose Since getting involved as a kid, golf has been an important part of Stephen's life. While earning his degree from Cal Poly Pomona, he joined First Tee – Greater Pasadena as a coach and found his calling. Over the years, Stephen wore many hats: coach, mentor and leader, becoming a Level 4 coach in 2020. Through his eight years in Pasadena, he watched young participants grow from beginners to high school graduates, and they, in turn, witnessed his own evolution. Stephen returned to San Diego in 2023, and now he's back in the same neighborhood where it all began, allowing him to bring experience and relatability 'For the kids I get to work with now, I can literally say, 'I've been in your shoes,'' he said. He credits his own growth to the coaches who once saw his potential: 'I can still describe a specific conversation with a coach from 30 years ago,' he said. 'That's the power of intentional mentorship.' He now strives to be a mentor for others by helping kids find their own strengths. The Game Changers Academy is part of First Tee's full slate of national participant opportunities designed to keep teens engaged with the program. First Tee offers leadership programs, a girls empowerment event, competitive golf opportunities and a community service workshop.
