FIRST TEE OVERVIEW

At First Tee – Western New York, we’re Building Game Changers by empowering kids and teens to be the best version of themselves.

By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with character-building, we create learning experiences that help kids uncover their inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that they can carry to everything they do.

Our trained coaches not only provide an introduction to junior golf and an opportunity to enhance golf skills, but they also create a safe, supportive, and empowering environment to help your child prepare for life ahead, including friendships, school, college, and even their careers.

Through our program, kids will learn skills that stay with them for life:

• Understanding and managing emotions
• Resolving conflicts
• Setting up step-by-step goals
• Planning for the future
• Appreciating diversity
• Golf fundamentals and advanced techniques

Advancing through the First Tee Program:

At each age group, participants engage with the 5 Key Commitments: Pursuing Goals, Growing through Challenge, Collaborating with Others, Building Positive Self-Identity, and Using Good Judgement, while focusing on mastering golf fundamentals and building upon a golf skill foundation as they advance within the program.

Age 7-9

• Be active and have fun with peers in a safe and encouraging manner
• Build inner strength and self-confidence
• Learn to play golf
• Focus on building relationships with other players while exploring the game of golf

Age 10-11

• Explore character concepts in active and collaborative ways that are valuable on and off the course
• Develop golf skills and enthusiasm for the game
• Support positive Game Changing behaviors in fun and meaningful ways

Age 12-13

• Explore both golf skills and characters commitments while having fun with peers
• Provide opportunities to demonstrate mastery and growth in golf skills and abilities
• Support growth and development of early adolescents

Age 14+

• Build character and support personal development
• Develop additional golf skills and abilities
• Look toward their future and plan their own paths
• Evaluate, reflect, and apply their understanding of life and golf skills to new situations on and off the course

FIRST TEE CLASS OVERVIEW

Traditional Class (All ages)

Our traditional classes typically meet for 90 minutes once a week. These classes take place on the putting green and driving range where participants will work on their putting, chipping, and full swing golf fundamentals while seamlessly engaging with one of the 5 Key Commitments.

Hybrid Class (Ages 12+)

Our hybrid classes typically meet for 90 minutes once a week. These classes alternate weeks between the practice facilities and playing on the golf course. Participants will have the opportunity to apply the skills they practiced the previous week out on the course while playing with other participants and receiving feedback from their coach. These classes allow participants to engage with the 5 Key Commitments and apply their golf fundamentals in an authentic environment.

Skills Focused Class (Ages 12+) *NEW*

Our new skills focused class is a hybrid class offering that meets for 120 minutes once a week. These classes alternate weeks between the practice facilities and playing on the golf course. This class offering is intended for participants who are serious golfers and are focused on getting better, no matter their starting skill level. These classes will be led by First Tee coaches that have additional golf knowledge and experience on top of their First Tee training. This class will focus primarily on our Key Commitment of Goal Setting as it relates to golf and life. To ensure coaches are able to provide personalized feedback, these classes will have limited spots available.

Course Playing Class (Ages 14+) *NEW*

Our new course playing class meets for 120 minutes once a week. In this class, participants get out on the golf course to play every week the class is running. Participants will engage with the 5 Key Commitments each week in an authentic environment. This class is intended for experienced players who are looking to get out on the course consistently to apply their golf skills and improve their decision making and course management strategies. This class will feature limited golf skill feedback so it may not be suited to newer players still refining their golf fundamentals. To ensure coaches are able to provide appropriate supervision and strategy feedback, these classes will have limited spots available.

Becoming a Game Changer Camps *SPRING ONLY*

Our camps typically meet for 90 minutes on 4 consecutive days. These camps typically take place inside the dome on the putting green and driving range where participants will work on their putting, chipping, and full swing golf fundamentals while seamlessly engaging with one of the 5 Key Commitments. For our Age 12+ age groups, the class will play on a golf simulator for at least 1 of the classes where they receive data related to their swing and ball flight as well as play on virtual courses.

Simulator Classes *WINTER ONLY*
Simulator classes typically meet for 90 minutes once a week. These classes are offered at select locations (typically Rochester) throughout the winter for participants to continue working on their golf fundamentals during the colder months. These classes feature accurate swing and ball data that will help participants to fine tune their skills and play fun games that are only available on the simulator software. Putting practice is also available at our current simulator locations through their software. These classes also seamlessly integrate our 5 Key Commitments and are great for golfers of all skill levels and may feature gameplay on virtual courses if time permits. These classes are different from our Simulator Leagues which can be found in the Playing Opportunity section of our website.