Category: Blog

For Bella, a high school sophomore and a proud First Tee – Central Ohio and LPGA-USGA Girls Golf participant, this year has been one for the books. Between playing on her high school golf team and balancing academics, Bella’s passion for golf continues to fuel her success. This June, she reached a thrilling new milestone: competing in the inaugural LPGA-USGA Girls Golf National Championship at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in North Carolina.

The tournament brought together 144 talented girls from across the country to play on a championship-level course. For Bella, it was one of the largest – and most exciting – tournaments she’s ever played. “Walking out onto the course was an amazing experience,” Bella shared. “I felt a mix of nerves and excitement, but mostly I felt so blessed to be there. The tournament was really big, but it felt small and personable because of all the community around you.”

Bella’s journey to Pine Needles wasn’t just about the golf. Over the course of the event, she connected with players from all walks of life, including reconnecting with a friend from a previous tournament. She remembered bonding over a love for the game and sharing stories about their lives. “Meeting different people from so many different places was incredible,” Bella said. “It made me realize how big and supportive the golf community really is.”

Her first round at the tournament tested her resilience. “I felt so much pressure to perform well,” Bella admitted. “I got stuck in my own head.” But thanks to a heart-to-heart with Coach Denise, Girls Golf FTCO Site Director, Bella found her footing. “She reminded me to play for myself, to enjoy the game, and to focus on doing my best – not on what others expect.”

With a renewed mindset, Bella found her rhythm on the second day. She not only improved her performance but also cheered on her fellow competitors. “I was able to uplift a lot of people out there, and it put them at ease. We all wanted to have a good time and soak in the experience. Once I shared what I was feeling, it lightened everyone’s mood, and we were able to have an awesome round.”

Bella walked away from the championship with more than just tournament experience. She gained confidence, lifelong friendships and memories she’ll treasure forever. Her advice to young golfers is simple: “Shine your light. Even if it’s not the brightest – your light is unique and it’s going to get stronger and brighter every day that you work toward your goals.”

Through this incredible opportunity, Bella grew her skills, character, and love for the game. And her story is just one of many. There are countless kids like Bella who, through golf, are learning resilience, leadership and the importance of community.

Three of four parents worry about their child being bullied. Parents know bullying is a problem, but they might not always know how to recognize its signs or how to address it. 

“October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to focus and raise awareness on bullying,” said Kristin Westberg, senior director of curriculum and education at First Tee and author of several books on bullying. 

What is bullying?  

Bullying is defined as repeated aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Sometimes it can be difficult for parents to differentiate between bullying and bad behavior. Don’t discount your child’s feelings if they’re embarrassed or their feelings are hurt; however, these outcomes might not be the result of bullying. 

“For an action to be considered bullying, the behavior must be unwanted by the person experiencing the bullying and intentional on the part of the person who is bullying,” Westberg explained. “There needs to be a power imbalance, making it difficult for the victim to defend themself, and the action must be repeated.” 

Bullies intend to intimidate, harm or control their victim, and their actions can take the following forms:  

• Physical violence 

• Name calling, making threats or taunting 

• Spreading rumors or intentionally ruining someone’s reputation 

• Cyberbullying online or by text 

How to prevent bullying 

Westberg suggests communicating these messages to your kids to help them understand the potential impact of bullying. 

• “Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected here.” Reinforce that everyone has the right to be treated with kindness and respect.  

• “Your words and actions matter. Choose to be kind.” Help your kids understand the power of their behavior and encourage them to think before acting or speaking.  

• “Everyone has something unique to offer. Let’s celebrate our differences and work together.” Promote inclusivity and appreciation for diversity, helping to prevent bullying that stems from misunderstandings or judgment.  

• “Let’s build a community where everyone can be themselves and feel accepted for who they are.” Build a supportive and accepting community where everyone feels valued and safe.  

• “Being a leader means standing up for others and doing the right thing, even when it’s hard.” Be a positive role model for your child. 

Build your child’s confidence 

Low self-esteem may make kids both more susceptible to being bullied and to bullying. A simple way parents can help their child build confidence is by listening to them and supporting their interests. 

Encourage your child to try new things in a safe environment to help them learn what they’re capable of and that failure is a natural part of growth. 

Many parents believe extracurriculars, including youth sports, can help kids feel more confident. First Tee and Harris Poll collaborated on research that shows that 90% of parents agree that youth sports coaches could impact their child’s ability to respect others. 

You can access additional resources on bullying at stopbullying.gov. 

This September two participants from First Tee – San Joaquin will make their way to Pebble Beach, California, to play in the 2024 PURE Insurance Championship, and they happen to be siblings.

Julian and Elle Gianelli have been First Tee participants for six years. After being introduced to golf 11 years ago by their grandpa, they both found a love for the sport: getting to learn from him, spend quality time together and even show off a little bit.  

Julian is a junior in high school and is involved with Model UN, Key Club, Campus Ministry, Link Crew, the California Scholarship Federation, the varsity golf team and completed over 200 hours of community service in 2023. He’s also a 3^rd degree blackbelt in Taekwondo, with the curriculum of First Tee reminding him of the curriculum taught in Taekwondo.  

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my journey with First Tee has been the opportunity to give back to the community by coaching and mentoring younger participants,” he said. “Serving as a positive role model for these children has been an honor, allowing me to share the values and lessons instilled in me by First Tee and inspire the next generation of leaders.”  

Another way Julian gives back to his community is through his passion project “Crop Kindness Connect,” where he collects excess fruits and vegetables from local growers and provides them to those in need and local lower income schools of Stockton.  

His older sister, Elle, is a senior in high school and is involved in the chess club, Kids Connect Global and has earned the President’s Service Award with over 250 hours of community service in 2023. She is also a 3^rd degree blackbelt in taekwondo and has been involved in several First Tee national opportunities, including the First Tee Innovators Forum, where teens develop a community service project to implement in their hometown. 

Elle created a nonprofit called Socks4Seniors, which has provided over 6,500 pairs of silly socks and notes to over 100 nursing/assisted living facilities nationwide.  

“I’ve been able to envision the impossible and am proud of what I have established and achieved through my nonprofit,” she said.  

Julian and Elle are just two examples of the impressive 80 participants selected to play in the PURE Insurance Championship from September 17 – 22 This opportunity pairs each First Tee participant with a PGA TOUR Champions’ player and amateurs from the business world.  

Good luck to all 80 participants as they continue their preparations for Pebble Beach! 

Despite career highlights like meeting Jack Nicklaus and playing at Pebble Beach, Kristina Ma, long-time First Tee – Central Ohio participant, says that the character lessons she’s learned at FTCO have impacted her most.

Kristina began her journey with FTCO over 12 years ago, as a five year old attending Game Changers Summer Camp. After her positive experience at the camp, Kristina asked her parents to sign her up for more classes. She fondly remembers feeling excited about coming to class every week because, in addition to learning key golf skills, she also got to spend time with new friends.

While progressing through the FTCO classes and learning new skills, she faced setbacks. She recalls attempting some of FTCO’s class levels multiple times because she wasn’t ready to advance. But those setbacks taught her perseverance. She learned that she couldn’t give up even when the situation is difficult, and instead of feeling discouraged, she learned to appreciate the process.

Throughout the years, Kristina remained dedicated to golf, joining her school’s team and participating with FTCO. The mental challenge she encountered when she started playing competitively in tournaments provided the perfect opportunity to practice the perseverance she had learned in her early years with FTCO. “A challenge is a good thing” Kristina says. “It’s super valuable to learn how to push through [a road block]. Because you never know what’s going to be on the other side.” 

During her sophomore year, Kristina hoped her hard work would pay off when she applied to compete in the prestigious PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Golf legend Jack Nicklaus surprised her at an FTCO event by announcing she had earned a spot in the Championship, which Kristina remembers as a monumental moment in her life. 

Kristina considers playing in the PURE Insurance Championship her greatest accomplishment, having worked relentlessly to earn the opportunity. At Pebble Beach, she played with golf pro Ken Duke and secured third place out of 81 players, only realizing her achievement after finishing. ”I was just staying present in the moment and soaking up views, so I wasn’t necessarily focused with the leaderboard,” says Kristina, “I was extremely proud of myself and how I played and so grateful I got to represent FTCO at Pure Insurance.”

Recently, Kristina continued her exceptional FTCO experience by attending The First Tee National Championship at Clemson University. Competing in the tournament was a full-circle moment for Kristina because her brother, Stephen, attended the first-ever First Tee National Championship at Clemson three years ago. 

Entering the tournament with a no-pressure mindset, Kristina was most looking forward to embracing the experience and meeting other First Tee participants from across the country. Networking with her fellow golfers, who had experienced similar First Tee programs, was her favorite part of the tournament, and she created lasting friendships.

In addition to golf, the tournament included a variety of events designed to encourage participants to network and experience a taste of the college experience. Kristina attended a welcome dinner at the Clemson University football field and was thrilled to see her name, along with all her fellow participants, on the scoreboard. Kristina also heard from First Tee alumnus and golf pro Gavin Plugs and attended a panel of golf professionals to round out her experience.

Now entering her senior year of high school, Kristina plans to continue her involvement with FTCO due to the significant impact the organization has made on her life. “Learning the core values and being taught something new every single week – like integrity and perseverance and how that can translate into your everyday life, not just golf – was really important to me,” Kristina explained.  

Kristina’s FTCO coaches – many of whom she’s known since she was a child – are another reason she’s stayed with FTCO through the years. “I grew up with them and they got to see me grow – not only in my golf game, but as a person,” said Kristina, “Seeing them each week and knowing they’re a constant in my life is really important to me.” 

Now also a FTCO volunteer, Kristina finds it rewarding to play a leadership role at FTCO and Girls Golf through coaching. “It’s a full-circle moment for me because I used to be these kids,” explains Kristina. “When I was in this program, the coaches made an impact on me, and I get to be that for somebody else.” 

Kristina’s journey with FTCO shows the importance of FTCO’s mission to build character in kids through the game of golf. While the special experiences Kristina has had along the way are amazing, it’s the lessons of integrity, perseverance and leadership that have helped shape her into the person she is today. Her story is about more than just winning; it’s about how a supportive community and strong values can make a big difference in a young person’s life.

First Tee – Metropolitan New York alumna and 2022 First Tee Scholar, Srishti Dhurandhar, has been involved with First Tee for more than 10 years. She made the most out of her experience by completing the First Tee Leadership Series, attending Leadership Summit and going on to work at her local PGA TOUR Superstore.  

During her junior year of high school, Srishti completed five Leadership Series sessions, where she learned about personal values, leadership skills and exploring career fields. “The series planted little seeds of these ideas and then Montana really grew those ideas,” she said.  

Following the Series, she was accepted to Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore in Montana. Participants at the annual event are encouraged to try new things like horseback riding and whitewater rafting. They learn about their own strengths and weaknesses, how to work as part of a team and how to build authentic relationships.  

“Summit was a life changing week for me. I came back feeling like a whole new person,” she said. Srishti spent the week reflecting on and learning about herself. 

The week allowed her to get comfortable being uncomfortable, with Srishti saying that she did things that she would normally never do thanks to the event’s focus on positive risk taking,. “The environment was so safe and supportive that I felt comfortable enough to do that,” she said.

Session 1 of the 2024 Leadership Summit will be from August 5 – 9 and session 2 will be from August 12 – 16 at West Creek Ranch in Montana.  

Leadership Summit provided Srishti with the opportunity to talk to PGA TOUR Superstore executives and eventually go on to work as a club fitter at the store in East Hanover, New Jersey. There she learned a lot about customer service, clubs, shafts and how to use statistics to get people the clubs that fit them best. 

Now as an alumna, Srishti jumped at the chance to go back to Montana as a chaperone. 

“It was a full circle moment for me, standing in the same place that those participants were in and feeling the same emotions that they were going through,” she said. “Now becoming a mentor to those participants was emotional for me also.” 

Not only did chaperoning provide Srishti with a valuable experience as a mentor but it opened doors for networking opportunities that made her aware of the First Tee headquarters internship that she is completing now.  

“Working here has shown me how it starts at the root. You can tell that people are here because they want to be here, and they want to help the participants,” she said.  

Both the Leadership Series and Leadership Summit culminate with final presentations in which Srishti talked about her desire to work in the golf industry and combine her passion of technology and data with her passion for sports. 

“Going from the speeches I gave at the end of Series and Summit, to now living out those aspirations in this internship has been so rewarding and I absolutely love what I am doing,” she said.  

Srishti will complete her internship in August and begin her junior year at New York University, majoring in business and technology management and member of the collegiate golf team.