We were very proud to partner with the Kids On the Hill Program this year and watch all the kids grow both their golf games and interpersonal skills. We ended this years program with a fun tournament with different prizes and the kids had a blast! It was a really fun summer and we are so proud of all the progress the kids have made. We can’t wait till next year!  

Just received AWESOME news from one of our families who moved to Florida a couple of years ago. “Dear TFTGP, This is Gloria. I just can’t wait to share a good news with you. Angela just won the US Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, NC. She played 9 years old girls division in Country Club of Whispering Pines between August 3rd and 5th, scored 35 – 38 – 34. I didn’t do well, I shot 74-80-78, World ranked T21. We want to thank you again for your support. Gloria” We are so proud of Gloria and her sister, Angela and wish them all the best going forward!

On Monday, July 24th, 20 First Tee students teed it up at the historic 9 holes of the St. Martin’s Course at Philadelphia Cricket Club. The participants were divided into 10 teams of 2, as the teams competed against each other in a 2 man scramble format. Prior to the start of the round, the students were treated to a history of lesson about the course. Executive Director Bill Hyndman described the 120-year history of St. Martin’s, including the two US Opens that it hosted in the early 20th century. The tight fairways and speedy, sloping greens presented a challenge to the players. However, the students’ ability to work together with their teammate and strategize their way around the course led to some impressive scoring. The team of Lenny Gipson, 15, and Jack Kwait,10, led the field with a score of 37. Christopher Bannon,17, and Tereze Santamala, 15, claimed second with a 4 over par 39. Davis McCourt, 16, and Mira Clarke, 13, rounded out the top three with a 41.

Kids on the Hill

From Camper to Manager

By Coach Vinny De Torro

In the Summer of 2017, I was offered a position with The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia as a program intern. Although I was a bit unsure of what I would be doing with my position,  I was excited to begin working and learning about the First Tee. During my first week of work, I learned that The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia had recently partnered with Kids on the Hill, the program that taught me how to play golf. With 80 campers, Kids on the Hill is a Police Athletic League program providing young people with golf instruction and access to golf.  I was eleven years old when I started with Kids on the Hill and now ten years later, as part of my internship, The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia has asked me to manage the program I love. For the past four summers, I have been an instructor and counselor for Kids on the HIll.  It was a very rewarding experience being able to give back and help the organization that had given me so much.  As a Kids on the HIll staff member, I was able to help our young golfers because I understood where they are in their golf careers. Whether I was helping a student get prepared to tryout for their high school golf team or simply showing a young camper how to hold a club, I have been able to relate to them. The opportunity I was given this summer to manage Kids on the Hill, has made me appreciate the work and dedication of my campers even more. I have learned that a significant amount of planning must be done in order to run a camp of this size while managing to keep our staff and kids engaged each afternoon. When I began working for The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, I was excited to gain valuable work experience, but never thought I would be involved in a program I cherished as a kid. For ten years, I have progressed with Kids on the Hill as a camper, student instructor and now a program manager with the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia.  I could not be more thankful that I spend my summers exactly where I want to be.

7/18/17 GolfTalk Live host Tony Leodora interviews Philadelphia Highway Patrol Officers Jim Martin and Mike Chichearo in front of the First Tee/PAL class at Spring Mill CC in Ivyland, Pa. Both officers are graduates of the PAL program and Officer Chichearo also was introduced to golf via the First Tee program. Now they are spending time giving back to the kids of the golf community. Don’t miss their interview on the Saturday, July 22 GolfTalk Live radio show. https://www.facebook.com/TheFirstTeeGreaterPhiladelphia/videos/1480591262005655/  

  Our Celebrity Invitational Presented By Accenture was a great success. It was very cool to see so many celebrities support The First Tee’s mission. We are grateful for all the media coverage we received. These stories help spread our message to the world. This event helped raise ove $100,000 for our programs! Thank you to all the sponsors who helped make the event possible.  

Fox 29 stopped by Walnut Lane Golf Club to observe a First Tee session with the Sports for Juvenile Justice Program. Our programming helps reinforce the core values that are essential to growth.

  7/9/17 We made it! excited for another great trip! Julian, Tori, Kyndall and Andrew will be representing us in the 9th annual Northeast Regional Challenge for The First Tee! Thanks to The First Tee of Raritan Valley for hosting!!   7/10/17 TFTGP students are enjoying their day exploring the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island! Thanks The First Tee of Raritan Valley!   I said “serious picture” meaning just smiles! But so proud of these 4 who represented us at the 9th annual Northeast Regional Challenge! They came in 2nd place! AND Andrew Magno got his first Hole-In-One!!! Thanks again The First Tee of Raritan Valley!

The First Tee Philly Offers Unique Experience at Celebrity Invitational

  The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia will be hosting the 2017 Celebrity Invitational Presented by Accenture at Huntington Valley Country Club on July 17th, 2017.  “Accenture has been a longtime supporter of The First Tee and we would not be where we are today without their support” says Bill Hyndman, Executive Director of The First Tee Of Greater Philadelphia. “Our kids appreciate Accenture’s leadership in being our Title Sponsor for the Celebrity Invitational.  Their support makes all that we do possible.” This event is unique because it will allow the kids of The First Tee to caddy for the celebrities and get to know each of them. This is a great experience that will last a lifetime and it is just one of many benefits of being involved with The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia. The goal of the Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament is to raise funds to continue to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. Dinner tickets are still available and can be purchased at www.firstteephiladelphia.org.   Huntingdon Valley Country Club is a premier golf course that is consistently rated on Golf Week’s Top 100 Classic Courses and currently hold the 78th position. The club is also ranked by Golf Digest as the 9th best course in Pennsylvania. The outing will include numerous Philadelphia area celebrities such as Dr. J, Mike Quick, Gary Dornhoffer, Ron Jaworski, Merrill Reese and many others. The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia has experienced tremendous growth over the last few years. The number of female program participants has increased from 41% to 48% which is one of the highest female participation rates of the 155 First Tee chapters in the United States. The number of female coaches has also grown to 30% which include some alumni. On the program side, they have significantly increased their certification program offerings from two days weekly to six days weekly at their two existing Philadelphia facilities (Walnut Lane Golf Club and The Jay Sigel Learning Center).  The Chapter now offers 1,500 students, 18 weekly classes, up from a total of five classes during the two-day weekly sessions.  The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia is in the preliminary stage of introducing certification programs at three new locations. Inside their National Schools Program and DRIVE curriculum, The First Tee is currently in 35 Philadelphia schools, reaching 15,000 students. Currently, 15% of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia student population is special needs youth.  Within the last year, The First Tee has partnered with ELS for Autism, The Overbrook School for the Blind and the Widener Memorial School.  The First Tee has established an initiative to refine and develop programs for special needs children. As of 2017, Kids on the Hill, a Philadelphia Police Athletic League (PAL) youth golf organization, joined The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia. This summer, an additional 80 young golfers from five PAL centers, are learning The First Tee’s philosophy of golf being more than a game.  They are being introduced to The First Tee Nine Core Values and Nine Healthy Habits while learning how to play golf. First Tee coach and former Kids on the Hill alum, Vinny De Torro,  speaks highly of his time with Kids on the Hill and now with The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia. “I was very fortunate to be involved the program when I was younger because it allowed me to fall in love with the game of golf.  I will always appreciate the opportunities I was given through the Kids on the Hill program and the impact it has had on my life. This is why I have decided to give back to The First Tee and help coach these wonderful kids.” The Celebrity Invitational is one of many vital events in helping support The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia and all of their great programming. You can find out more about the celebrity invitational and The First Tee at www.firstteephiladelphia.org. The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to young people. Through after school and in school programs, we help shape the lives of young people from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect and perseverance through the game of golf. And it’s making a difference.Good Golfers. Better People. Find out more at www.firstteephiladelphia.org

  6/30/17 Almost home! We had a wonderful trip! After playing cards until 11:30 TFTGP students did an awesome job getting up and to the van by 3:45am!!! Of course there was a lot of sleep to be had on the bus! Thanks again Carolinas Leadership Academy for having us! Hope to see you again next year! Look for some stories from the students in the coming weeks! 6/29/17 This is #TheFirstTee so impressed with all these kids. Complimenting each other, helping each other and being themselves together! Last day here at Carolinas Leadership Academy finishing the round atSandpiper Bay Golf and Country Club and then off to graduation!   6/28/17 The First Tee of Brunswick County alumni Cameryn Smith shared her story with the students Carolinas Leadership Academy! It was super inspirational and I’ll leave you all with her words “you can sit back and let the worst thing in your life define you or you can let it motivate you to become who you’re suppose to be.”   After a tournament at Sandpiper Bay Golf and Country Club the students got some great advice from the Mayor of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina and now they are enjoying the beach! #learningtheimportanceofsunsreen#reapplyreapply     6/27/17 Participants at Carolinas Leadership Academy are getting ready for the par 3 championship today at 4pm! Stay tuned for the results! #pitchshots#pitch #golf #lifeskills #leadership 6/25/17 #FirstTee #HavingaBlast #MeetingNewFriends 9 TFTGP Students are traveling to the Carolinas leadership academy !

The First Tee is proud to be partnered with the Police Athletic League to run the Kids on the Hill program which was started by James D. Sykes to promote youth golf. We kicked off the summer program at Horsham Family Golf under the direction of Officer Ernie Rehr and First Tee Intern (and Kids on the Hill Alumni) Vinnny De Torro. “I was very fortunate to be involved the program when I was younger because it allowed me to fall in love with the game of golf” Vinny says. “I will always appreciate the opportunities I was given through the Kids on the Hill program and the impact it has had on my life. This is why I have decided to give back to The First Tee and help coach these wonderful kids.” These PAL kids will experience 7 weeks of golf instruction and learn some of The First Tee’s Nine Core Values and Life Skills to help in their life’s journey. Thanks for starting this great program Mr. Sykes!  

  Walnut Lane Golf Club invites you to compete in an epic 3 Club Challenge on July 13th. You can only use 3 clubs the entire round! This is a great test of skill and strategy but it will also be a 2 man scramble so think wisely about how you choose as your partner! There will be Dalesandro’s cheesesteaks available after the round to help celebrate…..or ease your suffering. Sign up now as spots are limited!    Event Highlights * 2-Man Scramble format * 3-clubs. You only get three. Choose wisely (4,500 yards from the tips) * Dalessandro’s Cheesesteaks after the event. *Sponsored by Budweiser family of beers $75 per player

Sign up HERE *REGISTRATION IS LIMITED