our story
It all started with a question: why don’t more kids play golf?
In 1997, a partnership among the LPGA, the Masters Tournament, the PGA of America, the PGA TOUR, and the USGA looked to make that question a thing of the past. To find the answer, they formed First Tee.
This new organization, First Tee, started as a way to bring an affordable junior golf program to communities that did not have them, especially in economically disadvantaged areas. What First Tee soon discovered was that blending the rules of the game with life and leadership skills, kids and teens didn’t just learn how to putt – they were learning important values.
First Tee offers more than golf lessons for kids: we offer life lessons.
Our Nine Core Values
By bringing golf to a whole new generation, First Tee had a unique opportunity to focus on the life skills inherent in the game. Whether those challenges are social or emotional, First Tee uses golf as the foundation for a curriculum that teaches a range of valuable life and leadership lessons.
In every experience with First Tee, kids are introduced to our
Nine Core Values: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment.
We don’t just build better golfers. We build character.
in SCHOOLS and beyond
Since 1997, we’ve grown quite a bit. We recognized our values extend beyond
golf courses, so we launched two programs to meet kids where they spend time. In 2004, we started
First Tee National School Program, bringing the sport of golf and our core values to elementary gym classes across the US. Then, in 2012, we launched
First Tee DRIVE, an after-school program designed for kids participating in organizations like the Y and the Boys & Girls Clubs.
Impact, Influence, and Inspire
Over the past 20 years, First Tee has grown to reach millions of kids and teens. Our program helps kids build character and confidence, developing the core values and life skills that stay with them on and off the golf course.
First Tee’s Impact Numbers
