For Kyle Spaulding, First Tee has been much more than a place to learn the game of golf. It helped shape his future, and ultimately led him back to where his journey began.
Kyle was a First Tee — Greater Philadelphia participant from 2010 to 2016. During his time in the program he took part in local classes, our first Caddie Academy, the Golf to Paradise Challenge in Naples, FL (which he attended with our Director of Events, Gabby Morganti!) and a Leadership Academy in North Carolina.
Through those experiences, Kyle began to see a future in golf that extended beyond playing the game.
“First Tee gave me a foundation that has carried into both my personal and professional life,” Kyle said. “It taught me how to communicate, work with others, handle challenges, and be a leader. Most importantly, it gave me confidence and helped me understand that golf could be more than just a sport, it could become a career and a way to give back to others.”
After becoming a First Tee alum in 2016, Kyle returned to the organization as an employee in 2020. Just one year later, he became Director of Golf at Walnut Lane Golf Club, one of First Tee — Greater Philadelphia’s two home bases. This milestone brought his journey full circle.
Today, Kyle has the opportunity to help create the same kind of welcoming, growth-focused environment that helped shape him as a First Tee participant. His path is also a reminder of the many ways the lessons learned through First Tee can continue to make an impact long after a participant ages out of the program.
“The biggest lesson I learned was to always be willing to learn, work hard, and take advantage of the opportunities in front of you,” Kyle said. “First Tee taught me that success isn’t just about how good you are at golf — it’s about how you treat people, how you handle adversity, and the effort you put into everything you do.”
And if Kyle looks familiar, there may be another reason. Longtime followers of First Tee — Greater Philadelphia may recognize him from our former Tip Tuesday series on Instagram, where he shared quick golf tips with our community. We pulled one from the archives for a look back at Coach Kyle in action!
From participant to alum, coach and Director of Golf, Kyle’s story shows how an introduction to the game, and the life skills that come with it, can grow into something much bigger.