The First Tee’s mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.

Since 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its positive values to more than 3.5 million young people in 50 states, four international locations and over 3,400 elementary schools.

Life skills programs that incorporate The First Tee Nine Core Values^™ are delivered through a network of community-based Chapters and schools representing over 200 school districts.

In 2009, a new delivery channel was added as part of a two-year agreement with the Department of Defense. The First Tee will implement programs on 120 U.S. military installations and reach 87,000 children of military personnel by mid-2012.

“Twelve years in golf is not that long, but what The First Tee has accomplished working with our kids is remarkable. The overall magnitude of the program’s impact is extraordinary.” -- Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR Commissioner

Chapter Network

What started as an initiative to create affordable access to the game of golf has now become a leading youth development organization.

• 201 Chapters offering life skills programs in more than 700 locations
  
  
• Reached over 300,000 participants in 2009
  
  
• Donor contributions have funded over $22 million in grants made to Chapters
  
  
• Over 1,100 affiliate relationships with golf courses that offer free or reduced access
  
  
• Over 7,800 volunteers, board members, coaches (including over 800 PGA/LPGA professionals) are engaged in teaching and mentoring participants
  
  
• Increased diversity in golf: over 46% of The First Tee participants are from diverse backgrounds compared to 16% in all of golf

The First Tee National School Program

Established in 2004, The First Tee National School Program trains physical educators to introduce children to golf and The First Tee Nine Core Values during regularly scheduled physical education classes in elementary schools. The program offers students a unique perspective toward learning golf while appreciating the positive personal and social values associated with a lifelong game and physical fitness activity.

• Over 3,400 schools participating in the program
  
  
• Reached over 340,000 new students in 2009
  
  
• Trained over 3,800 physical educators to deliver the program
  
  
• Exceedingly cost-effective program to implement: $3,000 per school
  
  
• Donors make it possible for The First Tee to provide matching grants to school districts

"The value of my participation in The First Tee is immeasurable. The First Tee helped me develop a strong foundation of morals and values that I can utilize to help me reach my goals and to achieve my dreams.” -- Jeffrey Tran, Scholar, Class of 2008