Category: Blog

Celebrating Mentoring at The First Tee

January is National Mentoring Month

Who have been your most treasured mentors in your life? While many of us can think fondly of the people who made a difference, 1 in 3 young people today will grow up without a mentor. Mentors play a powerful role. Studies show young people with mentors are more likely to enroll in college, engage in community service, and hold leadership roles. That’s why The First Tee Mentoring Program is connecting participants to caring adults who can be the difference and help them reach their goals. Meet Isis Coaxum. Isis began with The First Tee at age 8. Now a sophomore at Garfield High School, Isis is grateful that, in golf, she has not only found a game she loves but an advocate in her mentor, Shelia. “Having Shelia as a mentor is amazing,” says Isis. “I couldn’t ask for a better one. We go together well and I appreciate her so much. She has taught me many skills and values that I can use for the rest of my life such as leadership and coming out of my shell.” Isis and Shelia have been paired in The First Tee Mentoring Program for two years. Through the program, Isis and Shelia come together every other week with other mentors and mentees for dinner, golf, and group activities. Whether it is a round on the par-3, a glowball tournament, a trip to the museum, or a workshop on planning for college, their time together reminds Isis that in Shelia she has found someone who is committed to being in her corner. When Isis is not on the golf course, you can find her on the school soccer and softball teams, working as a basketball referee, or volunteering at the Woodland Park Zoo. She is thankful for the listening ear and partner in planning she has found in her mentor. “Shelia has truly helped me become a better person and we will be in each other’s lives forever. I can’t explain in words how much she has helped me grow into the person I am today. All I can say is THANK YOU SHELIA!” Interested in connecting with a young person in The First Tee through your love of the game? Learn more 

Middle School Girls Build Confidence After School At The First Tee

Through a partnership with Jubilee Reach, The First Tee of Greater Seattle now serves girls from every Bellevue Middle School through the Club Jubilee Girls Golf after school program. More than 150 girls benefit from The First Tee’s spring and fall programming at Crossroads Par-3 Golf Course. Girls hop on buses after school three days a week and head to the course, where they receive coaching on their golf swing and on building a great attitude. First Tee Coach Josh Andrews works as a Site Coach for Jubilee Reach, working on site during the school day to support students develop as great people and great athletes. We asked Coach Josh to share a bit about his experiences with the partnership. Here is what he had to say: How long as you served as a Site Coach with Jubilee Reach? This will be my second year with Jubilee Reach working as a site coach at Stevenson. Why do you think the site coach role is important to the development of students? The role of a site coach is important to the development of students. As a site coach we provide support to both the teachers and students. If it social, emotional or working on assignments we are there to help. Showing up everyday and making sure the kids are safe and doing well while they are in school is important to their success. What impact have you seen The First Tee/Jubilee Reach partnership have on the girls involved in the program at Crossroads? Working with Jubilee allows TFT to reach more children within our schools. Having children learn Life Skills and Core Values through the game of golf is awesome. It makes learning fun and allows children room for self discovery. What is your favorite part of coaching at The First Tee? My favorite part of working with TFT is being with the kids, having fun, learning golf and being a kid again. We just have fun learning, I believe that’s how we should learn. Make learning fun!

Coach Highlight: Patrick Mullins

First Tee Coach Patrick Mullins knows how The First Tee Schools Program makes a difference. As a teacher at Star Lake Elementary School in Federal Way, Coach Patrick has introduced hundreds of students to the game of golf and its inherent life lessons through lessons he teaches in his school gym. We asked Coach Patrick to share his perspective on The First Tee as a coach and educator. Here is what he had to say: How long have your been a teacher? I have been a teacher with the Federal Way School District for 10 years. What made you decide to coach for The First Tee? About 5 years ago I was able to have a First Tee Coach come into my gym and teach the in-school program. I loved the curriculum and my students were engaged right from the start. Being a golf nut, I knew this would be a great way to help grow the game and be a positive role model for my community at the same time. As one who has brought The First Tee curriculum into your classroom, how do you see it making a difference?Patrick I’ve really seen a difference on the playground during recess. Students are using the core values to be safe, kind and productive during games like 4 square, wall ball and tether ball. There are less arguments and the players are not only being more physically active but they’re are having a lot of fun. What do you enjoy most about coaching at The First Tee? I think I’ve enjoyed watching the players move through the program. It’s been fun seeing them grow on and off the golf course. I have many students who are now volunteer coaches, interns, and assistant coaches. A few have moved on to play college golf as well. What is one interesting fact about your others may be surprised to learn? One perk of the job is that I get opportunities to play lots of great courses with participants and fellow coaches. I’ve become an avid collector (my wife would say ‘hoarder’) of headcovers and at this point have at least 75 in my collection. Some have even been gifted by First Tee participants.

The First Tee Expands Its Schools Program

  Edu23 The school day is about more than learning math, science, and history. It is a time for kids to learn about themselves and their goals. That’s why The First Tee partners with schools across King County to make sure lessons on core values are a key part of the school day. The First Tee’s School Program not only introduces elementary students to the game of golf, but The First Tee Nine Core Values and The First Tee Healthy Habits during physical education classes. This school year, two new districts will benefit from the program. Students at nine elementary schools in the Tukwila and Snoqualmie School Districts will learn values like confidence, respect, and perseverance through the program this year. These schools will be among 185 schools throughout King County delivering the program. The First Tee of Greater Seattle’s School Program is the second largest program of its kind in the country. Through the program, teachers receive professional training, curriculum, and equipment to integrate The First Tee Nine Core Values into their daily activities. And teachers are seeing the impact. “Homeroom teachers comment to me that our kids are on their best behavior during golf week, ” said PE teacher Jeanine Bastasch. “I know it’s not because of the golf, but because of the core concepts we are teaching, like respect and judgment.”