Golf is the best sport for having fun and learning crucial life skills. Period. That’s it. That’s my article…What? You want me to explain myself? OK. I will give it my best shot!!!
I started playing golf at age 15 in sunny San Diego, where I played 2 years of junior golf. From there I moved to Claremont McKenna College where I was the team captain all four years, league individual champion two years and first team all-league four years. Later in life I would become the CFO of Cobra golf in 1979 and most recently have been the assistant coach for Holy Names Academy.
The very fabric of the game of golf teaches golfers about themselves and about life. To help guide players on their lifelong journey, The First Tee uses its Nine Core Values to highlight what those lessons can be. Here are a few short stories that exemplify life learning through our beloved game.
A couple of seasons ago, I was hanging around with some coaches at the end of a dual golf match between high school teams. A player on my team came up to the coaches at the end of the round and asked for a ruling. During the round, a player from the other team had hit her ball under a tree. To hit the next shot, the opposing player had a teammate hold a branch back so she had room to take a full swing at the ball (unfortunately, this is against the rules). My team member (the player asking for the ruling) had the foresight to announce to her opponent (the player hitting the ball) that she would ask for a ruling upon completion of play. Note: the player hitting the shot did not have a clue about the rule, and there was no intent to gain an advantage. The girl asking for the ruling was a First Tee participant!!! She used courtesy in announcing her intent to ask for a ruling. She was confident in her handling of the situation and used good judgment. She showed respect to her opponent and demonstrated sportsmanship. And, she was correct in her knowledge of the rule.
Key point: the player in the story was prepared. More importantly: the skills she exhibited are those she will use for all aspects of her life going forward. To all of the current First Tee participants please, do not overlook the power of the Nine Core Values and the impact they have on your current and future life.
Many years ago, I was playing in the finals of a match play tournament. I was 2 up after 23 of 36 holes in the match. My drive was down the middle and my opponent’s drive was in the right rough. When we came together at the green he announced that his ball had moved when he addressed it. As a result of the penalty stroke I won the hole and eventually the match. I will never forget the integrity, honesty and sportsmanship it took for him to announce a penalty on himself. As I got to know him better in following years, I learned that he ran his business in that same highly principled and honest manner.
Key point: do you think there is a connection between how a person acts on the golf course and in real life? Yes!!!
One more story. During qualifying for the USGA Junior Amateur, I stood on the 18th tee and thought I was out of contention. I hooked my tee shot out of bounds and ended up taking a triple bogey. Turns out, if I had made a par, I would have been one of the qualifiers. I was distraught and devastated. In walking to the parking lot after the trophy ceremony, where a number of my fellow competitors greeted and consoled me (I wasn’t the only one who almost qualified). Everyone of those players that consoled me demonstrated Respect, Courtesy, and Sportsmanship. The nice gestures made me feel good at a time where I was really down.
Key point: After this, I learned perseverance. I continued to work on my game and ended up having some good tournaments later on. I never again stopped trying my best before a round was over.
Golf, good or bad, is about learning how to plan your way around the course. The First Tee is about learning to golf and learning how to plan your way through life, incorporating the Nine Core Values into your actions along the way. At my seemingly ancient age of almost 68, I would like to say to all First Tee Participants, please take the Nine Core Values to heart and incorporate them all into your actions – starting right now. Before you know it you will be 68 and writing articles telling people how to lead their lives…
Coach Bill with his team from Holy Names Academy, 2017-18 Metro League Champions!Coach Bill with his son, Russell at Sandpoint CC. Russell is an Eagle Scout, a UW graduate, and an Elephant Keeper at Point Defiance Zoo!
We asked Coach Chris Villasenor to share his relationship with Honesty, and honestly, we felt like you’d want to take a look!One of the Nine Core Values of the First Tee is Honesty. We often frame this around our behavior on the course: are we counting the right number of strokes, are we following the rules, do we have the proper number of clubs in our bag. However, Honesty stretches far beyond this into other aspects of golf as well as life.
When we’re practicing golf to improve, can you be honest with yourself as to your strengths and weaknesses? Many players will simply play to their strengths on the practice tee but an honest player can look at their game objectively then decide to focus on the things that will help them improve the most. In fact, whether it’s golf, music, Fortnite, or school (you can put these in any order you’d like) being honest about your shortcomings and addressing them in some way can improve your overall performance as well as your enjoyment.
Honesty, let’s be honest, is sometimes the harder road but like anything, it takes practice. In many cases, we cannot choose our outcomes but if you come to them via Honesty, you can always hold your head up.
There are going to be people in the world who tell you, “that band you like is no good,” or “that movie you like is terrible” or “why are you friends with that person?” The honest response is that you don’t have to defend these kinds of choices. Finding your passion is a true form of Honesty and I encourage you to be honest with your parents, teachers, and friends… but most importantly with yourself!
Coach Chris with his PGA Jr. League Team!
I consider myself an upbeat, confident, patient and positive person, and I am the “glass is half full” personality. What I have learned over the years about challenges is that they come to us and through us – through many streams and in many ways.
Growing up for example, at age 15 my dad was diagnosed with cancer. He was out of work for over a year. That presented many challenges for a family of seven people to figure out how we were going to survive. Where would we get food if dad wasn’t able to work? How would my mom take care of all of us if my dad did not survive?
I am the oldest of 5, and I had plans to go to college and play on a college [golf] team. No one in my family had gone to college – I was the first. Would I be able to go if my mom needed me? Golf was everything to me – literally. I found myself clinging to my clubs for comfort knowing my dad taught me how to play. What would I do without him?
That was a HUGE challenge and decision facing me, so my dad and I talked a lot. He said he wanted me to go to college and not worry about what was going to happen at home. This was as important for him as it was for me. He is the one that put a club in my hand when I was 8 years old. He wanted to see me play college golf.
Fast forward to High School graduation, soon it would be time for me to leave for college in Miami Florida, a LONG way from home! Dad and I agreed I would go in August. He said this is “YOUR TIME.”
“YOU” have worked so hard for this opportunity, and he was right. Now I had a choice: go or stay home. I wanted to continue to make him proud. And so, it was – I left for Florida driving my car with a friend (because the trip would be too much for him). Saying goodbye was awful. “What if…what if?” kept going through my head. He said “it’s okay – you go play like you know it. Show the other girls on the team that Michigan has good golfers too! Not all good golfers come from Florida!” We laughed and he gave me a big hug. I got in the car (packed with everything it could hold) and while backing out of the driveway, my mom and dad waving, I hoped this would be the scene when I came home for Winter Break – that he would still be around.
It was close to Thanksgiving and mom called “Val, can you come home?” I said “yes.” She said “good, I think your dad needs to see you.”
Back then, flying was a big deal for a kid. I flew from Miami to Detroit, my uncle picked me up and we drove 75 miles to our home in Jackson.
Dad had a million questions and was short on energy. I told him how the college team was doing and how the coach was outstanding. He was happy, that meant everything.
Dealing with challenges: they do not care how old we are, how smart we are, what we are wearing, or who we know. Challenges are opportunities that help us reach deeper within ourselves to bridge relationships or circumstances that are far out of our control. I have learned it is important to have the patience to understand the situation (no matter what it looks like) and negotiate the ‘what-if’ scenarios with other people that may be involved, or at times with your own inner voice. Challenges will always be a way of life, just like what we are all facing now with the monster of all challenges – mitigation of spreading a virus – and it feels like everything has stopped and that time is the force in control, not us.
Stay positive, live positive and face challenges with an open heart and mind. This is my experience: be patient. I practice patience. Breathing exercises and meditation are amazing tools for the heart and mind. When a person has patience – you can overcome challenges.
Patience is a wonderful gift from the universe.
Back row from left Coach Mary Dagraedt, and ValCoach Val & Coach Ann Swanson at our Ladies on the Links event in June 2018Val with one of golfs greats, Nancy LopezCindy MacNider, LPGA Professional-Phoenix AZ, Shirley Spork, LPGA Founder, and Val
“This is by far my favorite picture. To be standing beside one of the two remaining (living) founders of the LPGA, is such an honor. It’s because of Shirley Spork’s passion, confidence, and perseverance girls and women around the world can be a part of the game of golf!”
Coach Ben Bergner has been a rock star with The First Tee of Greater Seattle since 2013! Get to
know him as he shares how he got his start in the game of golf, his insight, experience and
advice for young players!
“I really like golf and I like to have fun with whatever I am doing,” Coach Ben says. “I have been
hitting golf balls since I was 2 and have been playing competitively since I was 8, and it is really
just about enjoying yourself. That’s all golf is about.”
What motivates you?
“Honestly, I enjoy sharing the game of golf with people, and it’s not always just golf. You learn
how to problem solve. Golf is a series of challenges that there is never one answer for, and you
always need to think critically. You are always given a different situation and you need to make
the best of what you got. What motivates me is that there are always people trying to figure
that out and that we are there to help them.”
What is your best advice for young players?
“Aside from the fact that with every shot you hit, you need to hit the center of the club or as
close to it as you can, you have to believe you can hit the shot you are trying to hit.
“Frustration comes easily from the ‘golf is hard’ standpoint, but a lot of it is expectations.
Players tend to have expectations that aren’t always realistic. Even the pros miss the majority
of putts from 10 feet!”
Which First Tee lesson or activity is your favorite?
“It’s not an actual First Tee lesson, but competition should be fun! I believe in encouraging fun
competition to test your skills with different activities and games. Much of life is a competition
and we need to have ways to practice that are fun!
“One activity that works really well is the Swish Hoop Race – how it works is you set up hoops
and hitting stations in an open area – hoops/targets can be modified to accommodate different
skill levels.
“The goal is to fly a ball into each target hoop – closing that target for the team
– and to ‘close out’ the round by closing out all targets, scoring an overall point. After a
team hits a ball in a hoop, they must announce their current score. With two hoops, you can
just announce ‘first.’ With 3 or more hoops, it works best to use different color hoops and
have teams announce loudly the colors they have successfully landed in, e.g. ‘purple and
red’ with green hoop remaining. Players within a team alternate a single shot at a time.
After each round – rotate groups to new hitting stations.”
Favorite golf joke?
“I don’t have a favorite golf joke but I do often use ‘FORE’ as a forewarning say if somebody
would inadvertently meander outside of the safety zone.”
Favorite club in the bag?
“I am an equal opportunity clubist! It is a mindset – whatever club I need to hit is the right
club!”
What hobbies do you have outside of golf?
“I honestly like golfing a lot. I have a 3-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback named Cacao that keeps
me busy. I also like playing guitar and have been playing for around 20 years. I enjoy BBQing,
smoking foods, going to the beach, and I am up for playing any just about any sport at any time.
I keep enough stuff in my trunk so that if anyone ever wants to play a sport, I got it!”
Cacao ☺Coach Ben’s Smoked Beer Can ChickenFavorite food?
“My mom’s jambalaya! Grilled shrimp, chicken, Portuguese sausage, rice, tomatoes, Creole
seasoning – spicy, smoky and just amazing!
“I also love sushi and teriyaki – we have such good teriyaki here!”
Getting back to your journey through golf, who was it that taught you to play?
“My dad. He introduced me to the game. He would take us to the driving range and would drill
holes out of wooden clubs to make them lighter. He taught me to play until I was 8 – he
wanted me to learn from other people so that I would not get frustrated with him. Even to this
day he will watch instructional videos and share with me along with tips on how to incorporate
them into my game. We play once or twice a week. He knows my game and has seen it evolve.
A special moment was when I shot 64 at Jefferson in February and he said it was the best golf
he has seen me play and that was special considering the many rounds we’ve played together.”
What is a special memory that you have from teaching the game and its values?
“I learned how fearless some participants can become. I remember an Eagle class that I was
coaching at Riverbend and would take them out to play on the course. When pairing them up I
would ask who wants to play against me and every single time, young Eagle player Cole
Reynolds said ‘ME!’
It’s rewarding to see how hard the kids work and their desire to come and prove it. Cole
coming to class eager to test himself reminded me of myself and how I used to have the skill to
beat my dad but could not prove it when playing against him. It reminded me of me and it is
special to see that. I beat my dad for the first time when I was 19 or 20 and that includes A LOT
of golf.”
Ben and his dadWhat advice would you give to the aspiring golfer?
“Forgive yourself.
“If you want to play golf and enjoy it for the long-term, you need to learn to forgive yourself. I
don’t consider myself a hot head, but we are all going to hit bad shots and have bad shots
multiple times within a round – golf is not a game of perfect. Arnold Palmer used to give
himself 7 steps to be emotional and then emotionally done with a shot. 7 steps and it is over –
the only shot that matters is the next one.”
Elvin Gladney has been an active participant with The First Tee of Greater Seattle since 2012 and is currently a full time student at South Seattle College studying Automotive Technology. Elvin has overcome challenges in his life including the loss of his father and diagnosis of high functioning Autism at age 4.
Elvin faces these challenges and lives each day with an unwavering positive spirit and an infectious enthusiasm. His challenges in no way define the person that he is.
Elvin is special not only because of his tremendous heart but for his wisdom well beyond his years.
His involvement in The First Tee program has been especially impactful because it provided him with mentorship and a sense of community.
“When I became involved in The First Tee, I learned it could change my mood into a joyful mood. Coaches helped me improve my golf game and swing and feel encouragement,” Elvin says.
Faith is also a big part of Elvin’s life. His involvement in fellowship allowed him to feel “encouragement from people in other churches and religions. It taught me how to pray and forgive in life and build a foundation of strong faith and keep the people you love close.”
Through The First Tee Mentoring Program Elvin was introduced to his mentor, Eli Winfrey. Eli has been a long time coach and mentor at The First Tee of Greater Seattle and considers his involvement with the chapter one of the highlights of his life. Winfrey served in the military for 10 years, hosts his own radio show, and is the Founder & President of TeamWinfrey, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating and helping the homeless, underprivileged youth, and those on the Autism spectrum.
Elvin with his mentor, Eli Winfrey
“Elvin is a very talented and fun individual to be around,” Winfrey says.
“We talked about his dreams and goals, his golf game, and our friendship. I enjoyed watching his golf game improve. When we would work on projects in our mentor class, he always presented great ideas, his energy was outstanding, and his smile was second to none. Our bond has grown since then as we always chat via text, email, and Facebook. Over the holidays I surprised him with some Nike golf shirts which when presented, we both got very emotional. This is what The First Tee of Seattle creates and I’m very grateful to them for that.”
In Elvin’s words…
“I think I don’t have the connection to socialize with people and can be really quiet. It’s hard to socialize with other people. Eli was a friendly person who has a happy heart and healthy soul and he doesn’t get himself upset or mad. I like it. He has a joyful mood and he gave me golf gifts I never would have had – when I talk with my mentor Eli I feel like he has great common sense about how I handle different challenges while I am on the autism spectrum – Getting to know Eli was awesome because he took me to The Home Course in DuPont and he had me on his radio show in summer of 2018 – that made me feel happy that I am going to be famous! He makes me feel confident and comfortable and that I am not alone in what I struggle
with.”
Last year things changed and while dealing with personal challenges Eli made the difficult decision “to step away from the mentoring program at The First Tee of Seattle for quite a bit of time. In doing so, I sat down with Elvin to explain to him what I was going through and that as we all continue to grow as people. There comes a point when the mentee takes the baton from the mentor and becomes the leader. As we grow, we must move forward with the knowledge that we’ve been taught and apply that to the next group of people who are looking for mentors and role models” says Winfrey.
Elvin has done just that and has become a leader and mentor in The First Tee Mentoring community. When asked what advice he has for folks dealing with challenges Elvin had this to say and let it be a lesson to us all!
“Don’t get yourself into a pickle – overly stressed and hesitated with conflicts. Be comfortable using CARE,” a First Tee Eagle level lesson for dealing with challenges.
“Prepare for new challenges and in dealing with challenges, sometimes it gets easier but some can be difficult. How to resolve conflicts is part of The First Tee Eagle book. When we deal with conflicts we have to Communicate, Actively listen, Review options, and End with a win-win. We want to learn about people’s different races and cultures and we want to interact with people and make them feel comfortable and welcome and use the CARE method to resolve conflicts. Dealing with a lot of conflicts can be hard but when you resolve them you have to make things better for everyone and end with a win-win. That’s what I gave to Eli – put CARE into your heart and no matter how hard it is, try to make things easier.”
Elvin joined us as the keynote speaker at our Microsoft Charity Scramble fundraising event on October 7th 2019 and you can see catch his speech HERE!
Thank you Elvin for being a part of our community and continuing to lift others up with your tremendous spirit and huge heart!
Elvin leading his team to victory in the Mentoring Rowing RelayAdvice from Elvin hanging in our office
Newly consolidated role to bring together direction and leadership of World Golf Foundation,The First Tee, World Golf Hall of Fame;Miller Brady named PGA TOUR Champions President as McLaughlin’s successor
ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida, and PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (November 28, 2018) – The World Golf Foundation Board of Directors announced today that Greg McLaughlin will assume the combined roles and responsibilities of World Golf Foundation Chief Executive Officer & President of The First Tee. McLaughlin most recently served as President of PGA TOUR Champions, since January 2015; prior to his role at the TOUR, he was CEO of the Tiger Woods Foundation for 14 years.
McLaughlin will strategically direct the World Golf Foundation, The First Tee and World Golf Hall of Fame, expanding the reach, impact and global prominence of each and ensuring financial performance and sustainability. McLaughlin will serve as a leader among the world’s top golf organizations, and a key ambassador and spokesperson for the game of golf.
“We are thrilled to welcome Greg to this incredibly important new role,” said Jay Monahan, World Golf Foundation Chairman and PGA TOUR Commissioner. “I’m not sure we could have asked for a more qualified, passionate leader, considering his deep level of experience and executive leadership success within the golf world and beyond. Given the scope of this newly consolidated role – to further the World Golf Foundation’s mission and build upon the vision of The First Tee – his proven ability to build relationships at the highest level of the sports, business and not-for-profit communities is unique and will be invaluable. This restructure represents an exciting evolution for the World Golf Foundation, and Greg is the perfect person to take the mantle.”
World Golf Foundation Board Member and LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan added, “Greg will be a perfect fit in this new role. He is an authentic, proven leader who delivers on so many important attributes – he’s experienced, passionate and a visionary. Specifically, I think Greg will instantly connect with The First Tee chapters, donors and participants. With Greg at the helm, and given his ability to build lasting partnerships, this will be an exciting time for The First Tee and the World Golf Foundation.”
“As a member of the greater golf community for more than 30 years, I have always been proud of what the collective efforts of our sport have done and continue to do to inspire communities and change lives, especially for young people who can learn and grow through the values of golf,” said McLaughlin. “This is an exciting time in the evolution of the World Golf Foundation and, specifically, The First Tee, and I am humbled by and excited for the opportunity to lead our industry’s efforts to increase participation and global awareness of golf as a sport that is welcoming to all.”
McLaughlin joined the PGA TOUR in 2014, initially as Senior Vice President of the TOUR’s Championship Management division; he was promoted to PGA TOUR Champions President in 2015 and Executive Vice President of the PGA TOUR in 2018. McLaughlin has been instrumental in the success of PGA TOUR Champions, overseeing a record-setting 20-year marketing partnership with Charles Schwab & Co., the implementation of the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs and the addition of several new title sponsors and markets.
Prior to joining the Tiger Woods Foundation in 2000, McLaughlin was the Vice President of Tournaments at the (now-named) Genesis Open, Honda Classic and BMW Championship.
McLaughlin graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Economics. He also received his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Ten-year World Golf Foundation CEO Steve Mona will assist McLaughlin with the transition, as Executive Director of WE ARE GOLF and Senior Advisor, before retiring later next year. In addition, 25-year golf industry veteran, Jack Peter, who has made significant contributions including overseeing the design, build out and operation of PGA TOUR Entertainment and most recently, helping to bring the World Golf Hall of Fame to global prominence in his role as President, will retire from his position at the end of the year.
“I’d like to thank Jack for his incredible leadership through the years, specifically his success in raising the profile of the of the World Golf Hall of Fame Museum,” added Monahan.
Brodie Waters, World Golf Hall of Fame Vice President of Business Affairs, will lead the Hall of Fame structure, funding and operations with McLaughlin’s oversight, and will also oversee PR/communications activities for the World Golf Foundation.
Miller Brady, a 19-year veteran of the PGA TOUR, will succeed McLaughlin to lead PGA TOUR Champions. Brady steps into the role after most recently working under McLaughlin as Senior Vice President & Chief of Operations, where his responsibilities have included direct oversight of tournament business affairs, operations, competitions and player relations as well as scheduling. In previous roles at the TOUR, Brady gained valuable experience within the Corporate Marketing department and as Special Assistant to the Commissioner (Tim Finchem) during the development of the FedExCup. Brady began working in the sports industry in 1996 with Advantage International (now Octagon), overseeing BMW’s grassroots golf program and eventually Bank of America’s PGA TOUR Sponsorship of the West Coast Swing. He is from Atlanta and is a graduate of Georgia Southern University.
About the World Golf Foundation
The mission of the World Golf Foundation is to unite the golf industry in support of initiatives that enhance the growth of and provide access to the game of golf worldwide, while preserving golf’s traditional values and passing them on to others. In support of that mission, World Golf Foundation focuses on a variety of initiatives to grow and celebrate the game of golf around the world. Through The First Tee, the World Golf Foundation focuses on positively impacting the lives of young people. Under the banner of the World Golf Hall of Fame, it recognizes and celebrates golf’s greatest players and contributors and serves as an inspiration to golfers and fans worldwide. The World Golf Foundation’s GOLF 20/20 initiative pursues programs to ensure golf’s continued growth and vitality. All World Golf Foundation initiatives work together to support the growth of the game among youth, women and minorities, while also fostering diversity within the golf industry. The World Golf Foundation also supports the golf industry in a variety of other roles, including acting as a centralized vehicle for communicating the industry’s initiatives to the media, providing a forum for golf’s organizations to collaborate on initiatives of mutual importance and commissioning and disseminating to golf’s stakeholders research on key aspects of the game.
About The First Tee
The First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. With its home office at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, The First Tee reaches young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other youth-serving locations.
Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has grown its network to deliver programs in all 50 United States. In 2016, The First Tee brought character education through the game of golf to more than 5.3 million young people. The First Tee’s Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. Johnson & Johnson is The First Tee’s Legacy Partner and Southern Company is its Education Patron. Former President George W. Bush serves as honorary chair. The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501c3.
About PGA TOUR Champions
PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of professional golfers age 50 and older, including 35 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. In 2019, the PGA TOUR Champions schedule will include 27 tournaments across the United States, Japan, England and Canada, with purses totaling nearly $58 million. The Charles Schwab Cup, which includes the Regular Season and the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, is used to determine the season-long champion. All events are televised in the United States, with most receiving complete coverage on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, telecasts air in excess of 190 countries and territories, reaching more than 330 million potential households. Follow PGA TOUR Champions online at PGATOUR.com, Facebook, Twitter (@ChampionsTour) and Instagram (@pgatourchampions).
How many holes can you play in one day? Brandon Teeny pushes the limit and inspires everyone around him.
Tonight we witnessed the magic of sports front and center when The First Tee of Greater Seattle hosted its third annual Junior Golf-a-Thon at the Jefferson Park Par 3 Golf Course. Throughout the event, our young participants were challenged to find out how many holes of golf they could play in one day. They took on fundraising responsibilities for the event, collecting pledges and procuring monetary donations in support of the chapter.
From 9:00am to 11:59pm on July 18, an AMAZING young man named Brandon Teeny played 181 holes of golf.
Brandon Teeny isn’t your average teenager. He lives with a developmental disorder called cerebral palsy, which affects his balance and motor skills. This, however, in no way, shape, or form defines him as a person or an athlete. Rather, Brandon is known for his talents, his character, and his vibrant personality.
Brandon has been involved with our chapter for over 8 years, where he has seen and experienced so much. While I haven’t known Brandon long, I have been fortunate to get to know him this year through our mentoring program.
True to form, not only did Brandon accomplish an incredible milestone and eclipse Golf-a-Thon records, but he did so with class. He cited “playing today with so many random people” as the highlight of the day.
Brandon played the course in order and waited patiently, especially when playing with younger participants. Yet, he still remained a man on a mission.
I asked Brandon around 10pm how many birdies he had on the day of the 120-some holes he had played at the time.
He replied, “It would be 1 but it hit the flagstick, so technically it’s a 2 shot penalty.” I admired his honesty – It was sincere and genuine. He took pride in acting with integrity, which is an admirable quality, particularly for such a young individual. Brandon proved that he is wise and mature well beyond his years.
Brandon is an amazing human being. He inspires me and so many others, and we are lucky that he has remained part of The First Tee of Greater Seattle.
Cheers to you, Brandon. Here’s to your perseverance, and congratulations on an incredible milestone!
Golf is the best sport for having fun and learning crucial life skills. Period. That’s it. That’s my article…What? You want me to explain myself? OK. I will give it my best shot!!!
One of the Nine Core Values of the First Tee is Honesty. We often frame this around our behavior on the course: are we counting the right number of strokes, are we following the rules, do we have the proper number of clubs in our bag. However, Honesty stretches far beyond this into other aspects of golf as well as life.
When we’re practicing golf to improve, can you be honest with yourself as to your strengths and weaknesses? Many players will simply play to their strengths on the practice tee but an honest player can look at their game objectively then decide to focus on the things that will help them improve the most. In fact, whether it’s golf, music, Fortnite, or school (you can put these in any order you’d like) being honest about your shortcomings and addressing them in some way can improve your overall performance as well as your enjoyment.
Honesty, let’s be honest, is sometimes the harder road but like anything, it takes practice. In many cases, we cannot choose our outcomes but if you come to them via Honesty, you can always hold your head up.
There are going to be people in the world who tell you, “that band you like is no good,” or “that movie you like is terrible” or “why are you friends with that person?” The honest response is that you don’t have to defend these kinds of choices. Finding your passion is a true form of Honesty and I encourage you to be honest with your parents, teachers, and friends… but most importantly with yourself!
What motivates you?
“Honestly, I enjoy sharing the game of golf with people, and it’s not always just golf. You learn
how to problem solve. Golf is a series of challenges that there is never one answer for, and you
always need to think critically. You are always given a different situation and you need to make
the best of what you got. What motivates me is that there are always people trying to figure
that out and that we are there to help them.”
What is your best advice for young players?
“Aside from the fact that with every shot you hit, you need to hit the center of the club or as
close to it as you can, you have to believe you can hit the shot you are trying to hit.
“Frustration comes easily from the ‘golf is hard’ standpoint, but a lot of it is expectations.
Players tend to have expectations that aren’t always realistic. Even the pros miss the majority
of putts from 10 feet!”
Which First Tee lesson or activity is your favorite?
“It’s not an actual First Tee lesson, but competition should be fun! I believe in encouraging fun
competition to test your skills with different activities and games. Much of life is a competition
and we need to have ways to practice that are fun!
“One activity that works really well is the Swish Hoop Race – how it works is you set up hoops
and hitting stations in an open area – hoops/targets can be modified to accommodate different
skill levels.
“The goal is to fly a ball into each target hoop – closing that target for the team
– and to ‘close out’ the round by closing out all targets, scoring an overall point. After a
team hits a ball in a hoop, they must announce their current score. With two hoops, you can
just announce ‘first.’ With 3 or more hoops, it works best to use different color hoops and
have teams announce loudly the colors they have successfully landed in, e.g. ‘purple and
red’ with green hoop remaining. Players within a team alternate a single shot at a time.
After each round – rotate groups to new hitting stations.”
Favorite golf joke?
“I don’t have a favorite golf joke but I do often use ‘FORE’ as a forewarning say if somebody
would inadvertently meander outside of the safety zone.”
Favorite club in the bag?
“I am an equal opportunity clubist! It is a mindset – whatever club I need to hit is the right
club!”
What hobbies do you have outside of golf?
“I honestly like golfing a lot. I have a 3-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback named Cacao that keeps
me busy. I also like playing guitar and have been playing for around 20 years. I enjoy BBQing,
smoking foods, going to the beach, and I am up for playing any just about any sport at any time.
I keep enough stuff in my trunk so that if anyone ever wants to play a sport, I got it!”
Elvin Gladney has been an active participant with The First Tee of Greater Seattle since 2012 and is currently a full time student at South Seattle College studying Automotive Technology. Elvin has overcome challenges in his life including the loss of his father and diagnosis of high functioning Autism at age 4.
Elvin faces these challenges and lives each day with an unwavering positive spirit and an infectious enthusiasm. His challenges in no way define the person that he is.
Elvin is special not only because of his tremendous heart but for his wisdom well beyond his years.
His involvement in The First Tee program has been especially impactful because it provided him with mentorship and a sense of community.
“When I became involved in The First Tee, I learned it could change my mood into a joyful mood. Coaches helped me improve my golf game and swing and feel encouragement,” Elvin says.
Faith is also a big part of Elvin’s life. His involvement in fellowship allowed him to feel “encouragement from people in other churches and religions. It taught me how to pray and forgive in life and build a foundation of strong faith and keep the people you love close.”
Through The First Tee Mentoring Program Elvin was introduced to his mentor, Eli Winfrey. Eli has been a long time coach and mentor at The First Tee of Greater Seattle and considers his involvement with the chapter one of the highlights of his life. Winfrey served in the military for 10 years, hosts his own radio show, and is the Founder & President of TeamWinfrey, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating and helping the homeless, underprivileged youth, and those on the Autism spectrum.
