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First Tee alumni share the advice they’d give their younger selves 

With graduation in the books, many kids and teens are looking ahead to the future. But we asked First Tee alumni to look back and consider the advice they’d share with their 18-year-old self.

David Singh 
First Tee – Tampa Bay
Recently earned his Master in Healthcare Administration at the University of Pittsburgh

“Life is not always gonna stick to the script you’ve got in your head. Sometimes, it’ll throw you curveballs you never saw coming. Roll with the punches, stay flexible, and remember, there’s always a silver lining in every setback. Keep your chin up, ’cause even when things don’t go as planned, there’s still a world of amazing possibilities out there waiting for you.”

Savannah Mansueti 
First Tee – Florida Gold Coast 
Manager of operations at First Tee – Florida Gold Coast

“If I could advise my 18-year-old self, I’d emphasize embracing failure as a key part of learning and growth, seeing setbacks as opportunities to refine skills. I’d also stress the importance of building strong relationships with family, friends, mentors and colleagues for support and guidance. Lastly, I’d recommend prioritizing financial literacy early on, mastering budgeting, saving and investing for long-term stability and success.”

Haili Moore 
First Tee – Greater Dallas
Student at Texas Christian University and entry-level staff accountant 

“Do not allow yourself to settle in relationships, careers, friendships, education, etc. You are worth what you allow to infiltrate your time, peace and space. The thing is though, is that you are worth more than you’ll ever know.”

Jamie Rush 
First Tee – Pittsburgh 
Methodist University marketing student with a concentration in professional golf management 

“My advice would be to live in the moment. We are always wishing for the next big moment and forget to treasure the times that we are currently in. I’m still trying to learn this lesson today. Enjoy every aspect of the here and now, slow down and don’t wish your life away.”

Spencer McIntosh 
First Tee – Tampa Bay 
Director of business intelligence and analytics at First Tee 

“I would encourage my 18-year-old self to be continuously educating yourself whether that be reading more books, taking additional courses or seeking mentorship. I’d also recommend that he build a strong network and surround himself with supportive and knowledgeable people so you can apply those lessons to his passions. Then finally, I’d tell him to pay those gifts forward to the next generation of game changers!”

Srishti Dhurandhar  
First Tee – Metropolitan New York  
Business and technology management student and collegiate golfer at NYU 

“Some advice for my younger self would be to be less afraid to ask for help and make mistakes. I learned the most when things didn’t go according to plan and wish I had spent less time worrying about doing everything perfectly because everything will work out in the end as long as you surround yourself with people you can lean on. “

Are you a First Tee alumna? Learn more about the First Tee Alumni Network.

Where are they now: First Tee National Championship winners 

First Tee returns to Clemson University this year for its 4th annual National Championship. This year’s field includes 24 boys and 24 girls from First Tee chapters across the country to experience what golf looks like at the next level.

In addition to showcasing their skills and perseverance on the course, players will also attend a golf careers panel and a keynote address from First Tee alumnus Gavin Parker. 

This year’s tournament will be streamed on Gamecast, and you can follow scoring on Golf Genius. 

Before we head to Clemson, we caught up with our past winners to see what they’re up to. 

Ashton Harper  
First Tee — Roanoke Valley 

Ashton won the inaugural First Tee National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and is now a member of the golf team at Virginia Tech, where he is majoring in business. Ashton said his experience with First Tee taught him valuable lessons in perseverance. “Golf is not a game of perfect, and there will always be ups and downs when playing this game, but they are magnified in tournaments due to the high stakes. I was able to use perseverance to fight these ups and downs,” he said. 

Ashton aims to become an All-ACC player by the end of his tenure at Virginia Tech before going on to play professionally. 

Symran Shah 
First Tee — Greater Dallas 

Like Ashton, Symran won the First Tee National Championship at Clemson in 2021 and now plays golf at Virginia Tech. She studies business and plans to have a career in healthcare administration. 

Hannah Lydic 
First Tee — Delaware 

Hannah won the 2022 First Tee National Championship held at Notre Dame and is now a member of the golf team at the University of Richmond, majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing. Her experience in the First Tee National Championship taught her patience and perseverance in both herself and her game, she said. 

As a Spider, she’s won awards for golf and academics. “What’s cool about the game of golf is that if you play calm and treat your playing partners with kindness, you will ultimately have a better experience on the course which will allow you to play at a higher level,” she said. Because of her experience with First Tee coaches, she fell in love with golf and now has the goal to become a collegiate golf coach. 

Hunter Swanson 
First Tee — Green Valley Ranch 

Hunter won the First Tee National Championship at Notre Dame in 2022 and is now a business student and member of the golf team at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Hunter lost to Ashton in a playoff at the 2021 First Tee National Championship, which inspired him to have the perseverance to come back and win at Notre Dame and taught him how to be more comfortable in high stress situations, he said.  

As a college golfer, Hunter said the most important lesson he learned from First Tee is confidence. “I find I play more relaxed and have a better game when I practice enough to believe in my abilities,” he said. Since winning the First Tee National Championship, Hunter has made the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, been a Pac-12 Men’s Golfer of the Week and the Nevada State Amateur runner up. 

Megan Meng  
First Tee — Greater Trenton 

Megan won the 2023 First Tee National Championship at Stanford and is preparing to begin her college golf career at Northwestern, where she’ll study economics. Her experience playing in the First Tee National Championship challenged her to be hardworking and patient. She said she continues to use other First Tee lessons. “I find that it is important to always apply respect, sportsmanship and courtesy to those you are playing with,” said Megan, who also won the 2022 PURE Insurance Championship. 

Recently, Megan was a member of Team USA at the 2023 Junior Solheim Cup and a 2023 Rolex Scholastic Junior All-American. She’s currently in the Top 10 of the AJGA Rankings and plans to pursue professional golf. 

Cooper Groshart 
First Tee — Central Coast 

Cooper won the 2023 First Tee National Championship at Stanford and now attends California State East Bay, as a business administration major and a member of the golf team. Confidence is a First Tee lesson that Cooper keeps with him today while playing competitive golf. His experience in the First Tee National Championship was inspiring, as he saw so many people from different places share the same drive to compete and succeed in golf, he said.  

Cooper played in the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur in Charleston. As a freshman, he competed in 12 tournaments with his college team and has been on the dean’s list both semesters. He said his goal is to continue to improve as a player and a person. 

Learn more about the First Tee National Championship.

First Tee College Scholarship Program celebrates first graduating class 

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – (May 14, 2024) – Four years ago, President George W. Bush had a big surprise for seven exemplary First Tee participants. First Tee’s honorary chair told the teens they were selected as inaugural members of the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Now the organization is thrilled to celebrate their graduation. 

“Congratulations to the first graduating class of First Tee College Scholarship Program,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We are very proud of your hard work and commitment, and we look forward to watching you move into the next stages of your journey. First Tee is proud to have played a role in your development.” 

“First Tee is family,” said Ricky Lam, a First Tee Scholar who is graduating from Harvard University and pursuing a career in insurance. “Ultimately First Tee is a place where you have such a strong support system to be able to pursue your passions, ask for help, expand your horizons and network so you can be the person you strive to be.” 

The First Tee College Scholarship Program is a need- and merit-based scholarship program through which Scholars receive financial support and access to a wide range of professional development opportunities. Each Scholar is paired with an adult mentor to ensure they are equipped with the tools they need to be successful in college and beyond. 

“The First Tee College Scholarship Program really helped me find connections, especially with my mentor,” said Malisone Chanthanpanya, now a graduate student and member of the golf team at Texas Wesleyan University. Mali is one of three Scholars who graduated early to bring the total number of graduated First Tee Scholars to 10. “She was a great resource who I could talk to about not just college and my career but about life. I got to meet a lot of people through the scholarship program.” 

The First Tee College Scholarship Program was launched in 2020, and it recognizes First Tee participants who have shown dedication to academics, community service and their First Tee chapters. It has since grown to include 70 Scholars, with the 2024 class slated to be announced next month.  

Meet the graduates: 

Luke Boldt 
First Tee – Coastal Carolina / East Carolina University 
He has accepted a position as a medical missionary for two years and plans to apply to medical school. 

Malisone Chanthanpanya 
First Tee – Fort Worth / Texas Wesleyan University 
She’s in graduate school and prepping for LPGA Q-school in the fall.  

Jessica Jiao 
First Tee – Metropolitan New York / Georgetown University  
She has accepted a position with BNP Paribas Bank in its equity capital markets department in New York. 

Ricky Lam 
First Tee–Tri-Valley / Harvard University 
He has accepted a position with Sompo as a commercial underwriter.  

Kelly Low 
First Tee – Fort Worth / University of Texas at Dallas 
She has accepted an offer with Amazon Web Services as an associate solutions architect in Austin. 

Nicole Monsalve 
First Tee – Miami / Duke University 
She has accepted a position with the NFL in its two-year rotation program in New York. 

Sara Rintoul  
First Tee – Central Florida / University of Florida 
She has accepted an offer at Proctor & Gamble as a brand manager in Boston. 

Remi Shendell 
First Tee – Metropolitan New York / Emory University 
She is graduating with a double-major in biology and political science. 

Borina Sutiko  
First Tee – Silicon Valley / Santa Clara University 
She hopes to attend Cal Berkely this fall to earn her master’s in information systems.  

Denise Wei 
First Tee – San Francisco / University of California, Irvine 
She has accepted an offer with PwC in its audit division. 

Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activity League First Tee Golf Clinic

On Saturday, April 27, we held a First Tee golf clinic for Santa Ana Police Athletic & Activity League (PAAL).  We had 24 kids from the PAAL program & Santa Ana community participate at Dad Miller Golf Course in Anaheim.  They learned about a key life skill, using perseverance: to commit & don’t quit.  They also learned some golf skills like clubface awareness by spending time at the driving range, putting green & chipping area.  For many of the kids, it provides an opportunity to be exposed to golf and they used perseverance to hit, chip & putt while having fun!

First Tee enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges.  By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills curriculum, First Tee creates learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience that kids carry to everything they do.

The Police Athletic & Activity League is a comprehensive community program that helps setup kids for success & creates healthy, positive relationships between kids, families and police officers that serve in their city.  They believe building these relationships is what creates a better COMMUNITY for all those who call Santa Ana their home.

FTOC Participant, Sunnie, Helps to Educate Peers in CPR

In 2023, Sunnie, a First Tee – Orange County participant, was selected as one of 32 participants in the Nation to attend the First Tee Innovators Forum. The First Tee National Opportunity, held in Jacksonville, FL in November, equips and empowers First Tee teens to develop a meaningful service project in their communities focused on education, health, human rights, or environmental sustainability. By bringing together passionate participants from across the chapter network, First Tee Innovators Forum provides a distinctive enrichment experience, engaging teens who share a similar desire for learning and generating changes in their communities.

On March 10th, Sunnie organized a CPR training for her and several other peers at Teens on Greens Leadership Series. When asked what her motivation was to organize this event she replied:

“Last year, a life-changing incident occurred when a family friend’s dad had a heart attack while hiking with his church group. Despite efforts to help, he arrived at the hospital too late. Realizing that immediate CPR could have made a significant difference shocked me. It made me truly understand the importance of having these skills. That’s why I’ve taken on CPR training as my project. I believe everyone should know CPR, especially since it could save a loved one’s life. Aligning with The First Tee life skills lesson, I aim to empower people to act in emergencies. Let’s ensure everyone has the knowledge to save their loved ones. 

Shoutout to the Renji Relief Inc. (Garfield Health Center) for making it possible! With your support, 20 junior members of First Tee OC are now CPR/AED-certified. Huge thanks for backing my cause! I really appreciate your support!” 

We are extremely proud of Sunnie for organizing this life changing event for her an her peers, and for being selected to participate in the First Tee Innovators Forum!

The importance of embracing differences and different experiences 

February is Black History Month, an important time to recognize the contributions and remember the hardships endured by generations of African Americans. Appreciating diversity and what makes us each unique remains an integral part of First Tee’s DNA year-round.  

“When you bring together people with different perspectives and different experiences, the whole becomes stronger than the sum of its parts,” said Pepper Peete, whose career in golf began more than two decades ago when she established the men’s team at Edward Waters College, an HBCU in Jacksonville, Florida. Peete now helps lead culture and inclusion efforts at First Tee headquarters. 

Access for All 

First Tee has always been committed to reaching kids from all backgrounds and making sure they feel included in our programming. At First Tee we commit to: 

  • Appreciating what makes us different. 
  • Providing everyone ​with what they need ​to succeed, knowing that our needs and challenges may differ. 
  • Creating space that makes every individual feel like they belong and can see themselves reflected.​ 

Collaborating with others – including those who are different from you – is a Key Commitment at First Tee, and it means showing respect, kindness and care for everyone. Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, ability, sexual orientation or lived experience, we’re all unique.  

Here are some ways kids can get more comfortable learning about and from others. 

A-L-R is a tool for learning about others 

First Tee coaches introduce the concept of appreciating diversity by explaining that people differ in many ways and are similar in other ways, and we all have strengths and weaknesses. It is important for kids and teens to understand, accept and appreciate their own strengths and weaknesses, but it is equally important they do the same with others. 

Engaging others in conversation doesn’t always come naturally to children, but it can be one of the best ways to form meaningful connections across perceived barriers. A-L-R is a strategy we teach at First Tee. 

  • Ask questions: Invite your child to ask questions to discover more about a person’s background and past experiences, which might provide insight into who they are today and the commonalities they share. 
  • Listen to understand: Introduce active listening by encouraging your child to focus on what others are saying rather than thinking about what to say next. 
  • Reflect and respond: Invite your child to show how they were listening by responding with a thoughtful question or sharing your own thoughts or feelings on the topic at hand.  

Through this exercise, kids might learn they share common interests with someone who looks or sounds different to them. 

Don’t forget that in addition to learning about others, preteens are often grappling with and discovering their own identities. If your family positions diversity as an asset, your child might feel more comfortable being themself.  

Exposing your child to food, music or books from other cultures can help them see the commonalities we share and appreciate that our differences make the world a richer place. You can also discuss the diversity that exists within your own family or community to show that diversity is everywhere, including the golf space. 

“Golf has given me an opportunity to go places I never would have been able to go and meet people I never would have been able to meet,” said Peete, who was married to Calvin Peete, one of the most successful Black professional golfers in history. “I think golf can open up unexpected doors.” 

A lifelong golfer and mother to two daughters who played golf at HBCUs, Peete has seen the sport become more accessible, especially to women, and she believes the golf course is a perfect place to break down barriers. “You get to meet so many different people through golf,” Peete said. 

First Tee – Orange County Partners with Wounded Warrior Project for an event at Top Golf

On Sunday, December 3, 2023, First Tee – Orange County had an amazing event with wounded warrior project. It was our first event ever at top golf and it turned out fantastic! We had a record breaking number of 81 participants that had the opportunity to learn the first tee way on Sunday. The core value that was talked about was collaborating with others! Many of the participants demonstrated and showed good team working skills through the games.  We played lots of fun games on the hitting bays including angry birds which was the most popular with the participants. Along with having fun golfing we had an amazing breakfast buffet and many raffle prizes that were given to the participants. At the end of the day we selected two player of the day. We had Lewis, and Baz. They both showed great teamwork skills by encouraging their teammates and offering positive support. Overall, we had an outstanding event thanks to our volunteers, coaches, top golf staff, and Wendy Rubio from Wounded Warrior Project!

Recap: High School/College Golf Panel Discussion

September 24, 2023

Thanks so much to the ~70 participants who attended the high school/college golf panel discussion. We learned so much & the heightened clarity about our kids’ future journey in golf was priceless. For those who couldn’t make it, here’s a summary of what was discussed:

Ethan Gomez – El Dorado High School Golf Team

  • His school has both JV & Varsity teams. Some schools only have Varsity
  • In general, +6 or better in 9 holes to qualify into Varsity Team and Bogey golf in 9 holes on JV
  • 6-8 players/team. ~6 play against other school in a match. Some spots are assigned based on practice results
  • During season can have 1-4 matches in a week, more during height of the season. Also 2-4 days of practice a week (typically practice on days with no matches). They generally play Monday through Thursday and have Friday and the weekend off; but coach still wants them to practice on their own.
  • Generally little time for social life during golf season; but season is short so overall balances out well

Craig Tagler – Western High School Golf Coach

  • Girls season in Fall; Boys in Spring
  • HS cannot contact player until after 8th grade graduation. However, a player can inquire about a HS golf program 
  • Schools typically have 7-8 matches per season, but some up to 22 per season
  • Quality of golf team varies greatly from year to year depending on experience of players coming in. Strong team if it has returning experienced players
  • Not a spectator sport; inability to sell tickets means there needs to be fundraisers etc. Players’ parents or coach have to transport to tournaments; at his school, the coach transports everyone.  
  • If your HS don’t have a team, you can still qualify for CIF in open qualification
  • At CIF playoffs, maybe only 25% of players break 100.

Chloe Carraway – Long Beach State Golf Team (Division 1)

  • No tryout for college. Players are usually recruited. Must meet athletic grade and course requirements in order to be in college golf
  • Coaches usually look at scores from outside events like SCPGA and AJGA
  • High School Golf teams skill level varies a lot so outside events are better gauge of a player’s ability
  • In season: 20 hrs/week practice. Off season 8 hrs/week. Practice consists of play, range, putt, weights (strength) and core training
  • Fall and Spring season
  • A lot of traveling in season so invariably will miss a lot of school. Typically 3 rounds of golf per tournament plus travel time.
  • It is player’s responsibility to make-up, but school does offer lots of resources to help. Must maintain GPA in order to stay on team
  • Some team even have strict dietary requirements in season or during tournament (Chloe’s team – no sweets!)
  • The intensity of practice regimen & tournament schedule makes it common that players suffer injuries. Chloe had surgery on her wrist & is still recovering; it’s a mixed bag of emotions being part of the team & yet not able to contribute, so she finds other roles to play ie. 

Bob Bosanko – Saddleback College Golf Coach

  • Use Fieldlevel App to create your athletic profile; coaches search for candidates inside the database
  • Swing video not that important, more interested in tournament record
  • Golf results on tournaments – best to maintain hole by hole score
  • Outside non-HS tournaments are heavily used to evaluate a player ability
  • Good idea to maintain USGA Handicap
  • Grades are important – must meet requirement before even getting on a team
  • Most schools have online applications; no tryout
  • Personal character is important; sportsmanship & attitude
  • Coaches look for progress in golf game from HS onward/grow year after year
  • Within a D1 school, individual scores can vary between 40-50 strokes
  • Reality check – in his 40+ years of coaching 300K+ students, only 1 turned pro (Cameron T.)

Final words of wisdom

  • Mental part of the game just as if not more important; be able to recover from a bad shot/round without being rattled. Able to maintain score even when game/swing is not working
  • Believe in yourself no matter what etc.; the mental game is the part that’s not taught much in school
  • Spend least amount of time with your driver; most amount of time with your putter
  • Most of the scoring happens within 120 yards
  • There are 25,000 out there who have better game than the pros on Sunday afternoon. The difference is, the players who make it on Sunday afternoon can make those 6-ft putts to save par when under pressure

2023 FTOC Coaches’ League

The 2023 Season of First Tee – Orange County’s “Coaches’ League” wrapped up on Sunday with the 18-hole finale at beautiful Tustin Ranch Golf Course. The FTOC Coaches’ League is a yearlong competitive opportunity in which a handful of FTOC Coaches select participants to represent their team.

Participants got to play 8 head-to-head matches from March-October this year at different golf courses throughout Orange County including Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Strawberry Farms, Oak Creek & more! Teams earn points for each win, tie, or high finish. At the end of this year’s competition, Coach Nick’s Red Team was crowned the champions after finishing with a “perfect” 12 point season. Congrats to Coach Nick, Julian, Luka, Airlia, Logan, Coco, Alyssa, Kiana, & Airden. There was a tie for 2nd place with 5.5 points with Coach Jacob’s Blue Crew winning the tie-breaker to claim the silver medals. Coach Tim’s Black Team were awarded the bronze medals.

At the end of the final round, each coach got the opportunity to select a “Player of the League”- a player that best exemplified the life skills and key commitments of First Tee while on the golf course during the year. Congrats to Airlia (red), Malia (blue), Cora (black), Kaitlyn (purple), and Varilyn (white).

An amazing effort by all the players this season. Keep up the great work!

Do you want to be considered for the Coaches' League Team in the future?

If you participated in at least 2 FTOC sessions/camps in 2023 and would like to be considered to compete in the 2024 FTOC Coaches’ League, we encourage you to attend our tryouts/skills showcase with the Coaches on Saturday, January 6 @ 10am at Islands Golf Center. More information on registration coming soon!

First Tee – Orange County empowering youth year-round through golf shown live on KTLA Morning News

Jul 27, 2023 / 02:58 PM PDT

First Tee – Orange County participants Andrew and Sarah promoted one of our Key Commitments of “Pursuing Goals” with a fun putting game and talking about First Tee on KTLA Morning News!

See their story and learn about how you can support our annual Charity Golf Classic through donations and by shopping our virtual silent auction starting Thursday, August 3rd. – https://e.givesmart.com/events/w8J/.

Monies raised at the tournament will help support expansion of the First Tee program in Orange County communities and fund scholarships for those participants that need financial support. No child is turned away. Help us build more Game Changers today!

Watch FTOC on KTLA Morning News!

Volunteer Opportunity at the US Open at LA County Club

How would you like to meet people interested in learning about First Tee while getting a free ticket to the US Open at LA Country Club?

We have a great opportunity for volunteers at the upcoming US Open scheduled for Thursday, June 15-Sunday, June 18. 

First Tee is going to have a display at the Century City Mall during this year’s US Open. The display will be open Thursday – Sunday. The visitors to the golf tournament will have an opportunity to stop by the booth before or after they visit the golf tournament across the street at LA County Club. It will be located in the atrium of the Century City Mall. The display will have a putting area and other fun activities for guests while talking with First Tee volunteers about our program. 

Below is all the details and a Google volunteer sign up sheet to be completed with the volunteer’s name, email address and cell phone number. 

  • Dates: Thursday, June 15th – Sunday June 18th
  • Shift Times: 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM & 1:30-6:00 PM
  • Location: Westfield Century City (10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90067)
  • US Open Tickets: Volunteers will be provided one ticket to the US Open on a day of their choosing and are asked to provide their first and second choice of day when they sign up for a shift. Please note that ticket allotment may vary during Championship week, so volunteers are not guaranteed their first choice. Ticket distribution will be managed by First Tee headquarters.
  • Parking: Parking will be available for volunteers. More information will be communicated as we get closer to the event date.
  • Food and Beverage: Lunch will be provided to all volunteers.
  • Apparel: Each volunteer will receive a t-shirt on-site that must be worn during their shift.
  • Volunteer Age Limit: Volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent/guardian accompany them
  • Volunteers will be provided additional information leading up to the event, so we have been asked that volunteers provide us their email and cell phone number on the sign-up sheet.

If you are interested in volunteering at this special event, please sign up no later than Friday, June 2nd.

Click here to Volunteer!

Thank you for representing First Tee – Orange County

Volunteer Family Spotlight – The Lee Family

The Lee Family

In the spirit of National Volunteer Month, we would like to recognize the Lee family. Patrick, Jen, Jenson and Rosie have been a part of First Tee for 7 years. Each family member has a particular role as a volunteer including coaching, assisting with events and tournaments, and joining a team of parents to form our parent council.

We are extremely grateful to have an amazing family be a part of the First Tee – Orange County family and we look forward to many more years of their volunteer service.

COACH PATRICK

Pat picked up golf in his 30’s inspired by his late aunt who held multiple Ladies Champion titles at Hong Kong Golf Club. Pat met FTOC in 2015 at Roger Dunn and has been a committed coach since. Pat’s favorite part about FTOC is watching the participants grow and uncover their talents in golf and in life. In our pre-kids days, Pat had golf ball favors inscribed “Awesome Twosome” made for our wedding and dragged Jen out to play 9 holes every Saturday morning at 6am. Pat works as a computer and memory chip designer.

COACH JEN

Jen started learning golf in college and saw it pay off when she’d represent Deloitte to play in clients’ tournaments as a CPA. Jen’s extent of golf nowadays is through FTOC, but she does remember playing rounds even with Rosie in baby carrier on Jen’s back. Jen’s favorite part of FTOC is maintaining her reign as the ambassador who has recruited the most new participants and coaches. Jen runs a 501(c)3 charity focused on youth development and is currently starting a 4-week entrepreneurship summer camp geared for children.

COACH JENSON

Jenson (age 12) started learning golf at age 3 and has been in FTOC since age 4; he and Daddy fight over the latest issue of Golf Digest and are both glued to the TV during majors. Jenson is also an avid cellist, being recently chosen for Honors Orchestra. His favorite part of FTOC is serving as Junior Coach; he has rarely missed volunteer events, happily forgoing school carnivals and birthday parties to go coaching instead. 

ROSIE

Rosie (age 10) started FTOC at age 2, when her golf bag was bigger than her and coaches fought to walk behind her and hold up her golf bag lol. Rosie served at senior center during her preschool days and is currently the youngest member of Saddleback Church’s Cardmaking Ministry. Her favorite part of FTOC is Girls Golf and the friendships she’s forged. Rosie is counting the days to be a junior coach when we’d finally have everyone in our family wearing FTOC red polos :-).