Category: Blog

SEI Equipment Drive For The First Tee

SEI Institutional Group generously ran a donation drive for the First Tee. Thank you so much to SEI staff,  John and Steve, for organizing the golf equipment drive. These donations will greatly aide our programs and kids!

First Tee Audi Quattro Cup

The Audi Quattro Cup was held yesterday at Walnut Lane Golf Club. The Audi Quattro Cup, the largest amateur tournament series in the world, offers continually growing fascination. Since 1991, more and more Audi importers and dealers from around the world have been inviting their customers to experience golf passion during an exciting tournament day. An expected number of over 100,000 golfers will be competing in teams of two across more than 700 tournaments in the Audi Quattro Cup in 2018. This series is special as every team winning its regional tournament will be invited to the national final and thus has the opportunity to qualify for the World Final. This event helped raise over $15,000 for our programming!! Thank you for coming out to play yesterday in The First Tee Audi Quattro Cup. Congratulations to our winners, Dave and John MacDonald, who are now headed to Pebble Beach for an all expenses paid five-day trip to play in the United States Audi Final.  

FIVE REASONS YOUR KIDS SHOULD LEARN GOLF THIS SUMMER

Summer is almost here, which means you may be wondering how to fill your child’s time while school is out. This summer, consider an activity that keeps your child active while learning values and life skills that will help them at school and at home: GOLF.

HERE ARE 5 REASONS YOUR KIDS SHOULD LEARN GOLF THIS SUMMER:

1. YOUR KID WILL HAVE FUN

Golf looks different at The First Tee. Kids participate in group classes where they meet others from all walks of life. And they don’t start off by playing 18-holes, which can be really intimidating for a beginner. Our trained coaches come up with fun and creative games to introduce golf concepts to kids. Not convinced? Just wait until your kid plays golf tic-tac-toe!

2. ANYONE CAN PLAY

To a kid, golf may seem like a sport only older people play, but that’s only because golf is a lifelong sport. Imagine playing a game you love and can play forever. We offer youth golf programs to youth ages 7 to 18, no matter their background or experience. Worried about affording the game? The average cost per 6-week session is $72. And chapters offer financial aid, so no kid is ever turned away.

3. MORE TIME OUTSIDE

Studies1 show that kids are spending less time outside these days. At The First Tee, you’ll rarely find us in the classroom. We are in the business of doing, not telling. Increased sports activities lead to improved cognitive and academic skills2, which is why participants are taught the game of golf through experience-based learning, out on the golf course or driving range.

4. LEARN MORE THAN A GOLF SWING

You know that “experience-based learning” we were just talking about? Well, that isn’t just to teach kids the basics of golf. While learning the fundamentals of a golf swing, The First Tee’s character education programs provide a fun, active environment to teach kids how to manage emotions, resolve conflicts, communicate, set goals and much more. They will learn about The First Tee life skills, Nine Core Values and the Nine Healthy Habits.

5. GOLF IS MORE EXCITING THAN EVER

Ask anyone who watches golf today, the game still has a few surprises up its sleeve. A large part due to the return of Tiger Woods and many other PGA TOUR players who are defying the odds. The First Tee has a few surprises too, as we offer many exciting national events for kids who progress through our program, including an event played at Pebble Beach! So why not pick up the game this summer? You may just end up achieving greatness.
 

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An Interview with Jay Sigel, First Tee Chairman Emeritus

An Interview with Jay Sigel By Brian Isztwan

  Brian: How did you get into the game of golf? Jay: Well, that’s a great question.  I had caddied at Bala Golf Club, and on this particular day I was caddying for my dad and carrying three golf bags on my right shoulder.  I guess I was about ten and a half, thereabouts, I was a pretty big ten and a half. I was kind of amused at the game, but I had played a lot of other sports.  In any event, my dad said to me, “Would you like to try this game?” I said, “Yes, it’d be a lot easier than carrying three bags!” So he let me try it, although I did continue caddying.  I found it a difficult game for the first year or two, and then things got better.   Brian: So would you say your dad was the one who got you interested in the game? Jay: I would say so yes.  You know, as I continued to play a bit more and get a little bit better, he would remind me that it is a game of a lifetime.  That the baseball, football, and basketball that I was doing wouldn’t continue forever. And not only was golf a game of a lifetime, you meet a lot of nice people.  I didn’t really understand what that meant at the time, but I certainly do today.   Brian: What advice do you have for young kids just getting into the game of golf? Jay: Well, I think it’s a curious game: it looks easy, it’s not easy.  I think if you observe the people that are in the game, there’s a certain conduct they have that’s evident.  There are a lot of smiley happy faces and there is a lot of interaction between the golfers as they play, which doesn’t happen in games like tennis.  You really get to know someone in a round of golf, be it 9 holes or 18 holes.   Brian: What are some of the life skills and values you were able to gain from playing the game? Jay: Oh boy…lots.  I would say honesty and sportsmanship were very evident when I was a kid.  As a kid, I had an opportunity to cheat with an extra club in my bag in a big-time tournament, and I vacillated with that for a hole or a two.  I put the towel over the bag, tried to hide the club, I knew nobody would see it. But that just didn’t work. I’m so happy that I bit the bullet and confessed.  I got a 36 shot penalty, but that was O.K. I mean, I felt so bad during that wrestling of whether to tell the truth or not. Man, that hit home and what a great story that was for me to learn from.  We have to live with ourselves and our actions, and you’ve got to proud of yourself.   Brian: Moving on to your golfing career, were there any big differences between playing as an amateur and playing as a professional? Jay: Amateur golf is played for recognition, trophies, and trying to succeed at a game that’s a lot of fun.  Professional golf is the same thing! Except the scoring is not necessarily with trophies, it’s with money.  If one can stop the money from becoming so overriding or important then I think one can succeed. It’s all about the process, not the results.  So they changed the scoring but the game’s no different because the hole is still the same size! The whole thing is very similar to amateur golf, it’s just the way it’s scored and the way the individual looks at it.   Brian: To what do you attribute your long-tenured success? Jay: I’ve always been a competitor, whatever the game is.  That served me well. Also, I was very focused on dealing with other parts of my life and balancing my family time, practice time, and business time so that I could maintain my business and stay healthy during my golfing career.   Brian: How did you get involved with The First Tee? Jay: In 1963, I had serious hand injury when I was at Wake Forest.  My left hand went through a window pane in a door, and the glass broke and severed the ulnar nerve in my wrist.  It was a mess and I’m still handicapped to a certain degree. So that became a blessing in disguise. It took me a year to come back and it was a painful process, but when I started coming back, my golf was getting better.  I still couldn’t forget because people said, “This is a blessing in disguise.” I said, “Sure it is,” although I didn’t really believe it. But I started to win local, regional, and national tournaments. Well, I finally won my first major, the British Amateur in 1979.  I never believed I could come from this hand injury, to which some folks said I may never play golf again, to winning a major amateur event. That just blew my mind. At that point, I thought my career might be over and might not win again. I’ve got to give back, I’ve got to say thanks for all the enjoyment and success I’ve had and do something to help people.  With that in mind, I got involved with the Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association, which was at that time very similar to The First Tee, and got involved with The First Tee from there.   About the Interviewer: Brian Isztwan is a senior at the William Penn Charter School.  He is doing his Senior Comprehensive Project with The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia.  He will be attending Harvard University in the fall, where he will play men’s golf.    

Mike Quick Celebrity Invitational Recap

CBS3 Coverage of The Mike Quick Celebrity Invitational

Event Summary

We thank all of our sponsors, celebrities, players, auction and in-kind donors. With Audi, as our title sponsor and because of you, we were fortunate to raise over $100,000 which directly supports our programs. We had 125 players and 25 celebrities playing to benefit our kids. Mike Quick, we cannot thank you enough for your leadership, passion, and dedication to our young people. It was an honor to celebrate your birthday together and we are most grateful to have you as a First Tee Board Member.
Thank you Philadelphia Country Club for offering The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia a unique opportunity to introduce our kids and programs to you while having fun. Many thanks to Callaway for the Callaway Experience. Our golfers are now enjoying their brand new Callaway clubs and luggage.
Together, we are making a significant difference in the lives of over 17,000 young people.
We like to say that The First Tee creates Good Golfers but Even Better People.

First Tee School Field Trips

As the May days start to warm up, multiple schools are sending groups to Walnut Lane Golf Club for field trips with The First Tee.  Last week a couple of different schools joined in the activities. First Philadelphia Preparatory Charter School and Blair Christian Academy were out in full force for the beautiful May days.  With students ranging from grades K-7, there was a lot of fun in the sun to be had.

Each field trip session runs for about two and a half hours.  The program starts with a talk from our program director, Rebecca Caimano, about some of The First Tee core values, most notably the value of Respect, our The First Tee’s Code of Conduct.  After the kids talk a little about how they respect themselves, others, and their surroundings, they head out to the teaching area for some stretching and a fun relay race.

After the relay race, the students are split into three groups and go to different stations like putting, chipping, drivers, irons, and even golf-baseball!  Each group gets to work with a couple of coaches and gains a beginners understanding of one facet of golf. They get some instruction at each station but also play some fun games. The groups rotate throughout the day until everyone has tried each station. Then the kids race in for lunch!

One of The First Tee’s many initiatives is to spread the game of golf to people of all ages and backgrounds.  These school field trips are a great opportunity for us to teach our wonderful game while also allowing the kids to gain life skills and values, bond with each other, and have some fun.

If you would like to book a field trip for your school please contact Rebecca today!

2018 Kick Off Events

Thanks to everyone who came to our Kick Off Events at Walnut Lane Golf Club and FDR Golf Club! We are so excited to get this season started. Registration for Spring II and Summer I are open. Click below to register today! We hope to see you.

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The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia Welcomes Michael Brown as New Board President

The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia Welcomes Michael Brown as New Board President

  “Always remember where you came from.  Walnut Lane Golf Club and The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia is where I came from”.  Michael Brown has been named the new Board President of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia in 2018.  Michael will be taking over for long time President, Jay Sigel. Jay has been integral to the growth and success of The First Tee of Greater  Philadelphia since its inception. Jay is a legendary amateur golfer. In 1983, he became the only golfer ever to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur in the same year, which made him only the third golfer to win two USGA individual titles in the same year. He also had a successful career on the PGA Champions Tour. Jay has served as the President of the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia for 37 years.   According to William Hyndman, V, Executive Director of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, “Jay’s leadership has helped our chapter grow to where it is today, positively impacting the lives of more than 15,000 young people in our eight county footprint.  Michael Brown is a dynamic successor whose commitment and dedication to our students and golf will further our mission of providing even more kids with The First Tee curriculum to create good golfers but even better people”.   The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia’s eight county footprint includes Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, Camden, Gloucester and Burlington counties. Michael Brown, “Brownie” grew up in a row home on Magdalena Street across from the first green at Walnut Lane Golf Club which is now the headquarters of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia. He started playing golf at Walnut Lane at the age of 12 and he was involved in, the Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association Classic, the early incarnation of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia. The golfers at Walnut Lane treated him so well that they even chipped in money so he could play in the U.S. Amateur Public Links championships. Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association, founded by Jack Gross, Greg Gaul and Walter Smith in 1978 was the predecessor organization prior to integrating with The First Tee in 2004.  It was founded upon the tenet of providing equal access to golf for all young people. Michael played in and placed in the first GPSGA Championship in 1979. “I can tell you that golf has been the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. The people I have met along the way have been tremendous and golf has opened doors that I never would have opened if I did not play golf”, says Michael Brown. “Brownie” does not forget his roots.  He wants to give back to kids to pass on the kindness shown to him as a kid. Michael Brown echoes departing President, Jay Sigel’s sentiment that golf has to have a social conscience and we all need to give back.  Giving back is the opportunity that excites Michael the most about being the new President, Board of Trustee. “I am going to do everything I can.  I will give back at every chance I get.  ” Michael Brown is Group President of InnerWorkings which acquired Brown + Partners in 2007.  Mike and his wife, Beth founded Brown + Partners in 1999. About The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia The mission of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia is to positively impact the lives of young people by providing standardized curriculum and educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. The First Tee Changes Lives. Young people in our country today are facing critical challenges.  Among these challenges include the fact that eleven million young people do not have a safe place to be after the school bell rings, one in three will reach adulthood not ever having a positive mentor, one in six children are food insecure, one in five students are leaving our schools each year and do not graduate.  The First Tee is addressing these challenges intentionally through character education in its programs, seamlessly integrated with a golf curriculum.  We believe that all young people should have access to safe places and caring adult mentors who provide an experience that helps them to grow socially, emotionally and academically. The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia introduces young people to The First Tee Nine Core Values, Nine Healthy Habits and Life Skills  inherent in the game of life and golf, preparing them for success both on and off the course.   In 2017 alone, through providing equal access to golf, we positively impacted the lives of more than 15,000 kids. In 2018, our goal is to reach 20,000 young people in our eight county footprint. The First Tee has developed programs built on the positive youth development framework.  Our programs provide safe places, intentional and trained caring adults, and developmentally appropriate and empowering curricula.  At elementary schools, youth centers and golf facilities, students participate in a seamless golf and character education program, promoting physical activity, introducing them to a lifelong sport while embedding core values and wellness in every lesson. Nine Core Values: Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy, Judgment. Life Skills: Interpersonal, Goal Setting, Resilience and Self Management Nine Healthy Habits: Energy, Play, Safety, Vision, Mind, Family, Friends, School and community make a difference with our kids. An investment in The First Tee is an investment in Good Students, Good Citizens and eventually, Good Employees.

HISTORIC PHILLY FIREMAN’S HALL HAS STRONG LINK TO THE FIRST TEE

Historic Philly Fireman’s Hall Has Strong Link To The First Tee

By Greg Gaul, Board Member of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia Speech From 10/13 Fireman’s Hall 50th Anniversary Celebration   My name is Greg Gaul and while you may not know me, I was one of the founders of Fireman’s Hall Museum.  Today, I’ve been asked to talk briefly about the early history of Fireman’s Hall and tell you something of which you are probably not aware.   Back in 1977, following the launch of the museum, three of the original founders launched another enterprise that finally evolved into what is today The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia.  Aided by others in the founding group including Fire Commissioner Joe Rizzo, John Lang, and Carol Smith.  Jack Gross, Walter Smith and I conceived and formed another non-profit organization dedicated to youth development through golf that is thriving today, some forty years later. The First Tee is a national organization consisting of over 150 chapters.  The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, our group, is one of the leading chapters touching over 15,000 youths through its varied activities annually.  The First Tee introduces young people to these nine core values that will be character-building behaviors that will serve them well throughout their lives:  Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy, and Judgement.  These are the same attributes that many pundits say are missing in our society today. So it turns out, both Fireman’s Hall and The First Tee have an early shared history.  I would like to point out that both of these organizations, as affiliated groups of the “City of Brotherly Love” in their early days, had a shared mission to reach out and help the public in general with high-minded goals.  For Fireman’s Hall, it was public safety from fire.  For The First Tee it was youth character development through golf.  Both organizations at their inception had the same geographical footprint including the city proper and surrounding communities.   Firefighters have a long-standing affinity for golf, as well.  In the early days of Fireman’s Hall, it was an active supporter of the Joe Rizzo Celebrity Golf Tournament at Bala Golf Club.  That tradition of a connection to golf continues on. Walt Smith, the former CEO of the Contributionship Insurance Company, was the driving force for the formation of what was to become The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia.  He, along with Jack Gross and myself, were avid golfers.  The city, through its many resources including the Fairmont Park Commission and its golf courses, has fostered positive programs for the collective good that are not widely recognized and known.  Today, as an extension of that theme, The First Tee has operations at FDR Golf Club in South Philadelphia and at Walnut Lane Golf Club in Roxborough.   Interestingly too, both organizations have a long and integrated connection to the insurance industry here in Philadelphia.  A most obvious shared connection is with The Contributionship Insurance Company founded by Franklin but also with the INA (now Chubb), The Green Tree Mutual, Reliance and Lumberman’s to name just a few. Please allow me to look back and share some early memories with you about Fireman’s Hall. The first involves the Willet Studios’ half-moon, stained glass window which is on the second floor of the museum. Joe Rizzo was passionate about honoring the valor of fallen firefighters in the museum proper. We engaged the Willet Studios here in Philadelphia, a nationally recognized art studio, to create something. Floored at the cost at first, we decided to go forward because it was that important to our mission. I think it cost $10,000 to do and that was a reduced cost from Willet. Aren’t we glad we did? Next in 1976 Deputy Commissioner Joe McKenna had this publicity idea for a “Muster” on Delaware Avenue just before the museum opening to promote it. Paid and volunteer units came from Reading to Wilmington to Cherry Hill to show their equipment and join in the festivities. All the papers and TV were on hand. The board was overwhelmed with the participation and success. We think there were 10,000 people there, we were flabbergasted. Finally, the fire department had three Percheron horses and Joe Rizzo had an idea to name them after three of the “civilians” who served on the board. Two were males and one was a female but all were beautiful draft horses. So, as a photo publicity stunt in 1976 Joe Rizzo named and presented us with these horses. “Jack” was the first, named for Jack Gross head of the board, “Walt” for Walt Smith and lastly “Jean” for the female who is my wife. Ironically, both the horse and my wife were pregnant at the time giving birth a few months later. That was my first child, Scott. Those were just a few of the great times we had in those early days. Graciously, Carol Smith who knows and understands this shared history has offered me this opportunity to present a brief snippet of this unknown early connection to you.  We, at The First Tee, hope to work together with Fireman’s Hall in the future to build a stronger tie and connection between our two organizations where our intentions and purpose will be mutually beneficial.  Thank you for your time and interest.