First Tee - New Hampshire Press Release

  A new Executive Director and Program Director were announced this week by the board of First Tee - New Hampshire, a 15-year-old non-profit organization using the game of golf to teach life skills and values to Granite State children.     Chris Sargent, who has been with First Tee - NH for six years, has been promoted to executive director. Kori Doring, a two-time winner of the New Hampshire Women’s Golf Association state amateur tournament, is the new program director.   “Our ability to teach core values, healthy habits and life skills provides so many young people in our state with the tools they will carry with them for the rest of their lives,” said Sargent. “We instill in our youth the importance of honesty, perseverance, respect, confidence and good judgment.  While these character building traits are certainly prevalent in golf, the true magic occurs as our kids begin to bridge them into their everyday lives.”   Doring joined First Tee in February after seven years as the first assistant golf professional at Abenaqui Country Club.  As program director, she will work with the 12 locations throughout New Hampshire where First Tee classes are taught.  “In my first year I have had the opportunity to witness the passion that our trained coaches bring to this organization and it is contagious,” Doring said. One of her goals is to increase participation in First Tee’s Girls Golf program. “The largest growing segment in golf right now is young girls,” she said, “so this is great news for our program.”   Sargent, 34, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in sport management from Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL.  Before joining First Tee in 2012, he worked in sales for the Boston Celtics for six years.  He is also currently the golf coach for Winnacunnet High School. Doring, 35, has a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Boston College.  She has been a Class A PGA professional since 2013. “Since Chris joined our organization, enrollment in New Hampshire First Tee programs has almost quadrupled and we have added 10 program locations throughout the state,” said Jeff Walla, chairman of the board. “Kori has been a great addition. Her golf acumen and excellent rapport with the children have been important to our growth. These promotions are a testament to Chris’s and Kori’s skills and performance.” First Tee - New Hampshire is headquartered at Sagamore Golf Center in North Hampton, N.H.  Program locations for First Tee program are located at Rockingham Country Club, Cochecho Country Club, Nashua Country Club, Willowcreek Golf Academy at Atkinson Resort & CC, Candia Woods Golf Links, Ponemah Green Family Golf Center at Amherst CC, the Shattuck Golf Club in Jaffrey, Beaver Meadow Golf Course in Concord, and in the Upper Valley at Hanover Country Club, Fore-U Golf Center in West Lebanon and Dody’s Kids Golf Program in Claremont.