Why Golf?

At First Tee – Central Valley, 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 Program

Age 5-6

• First Tee Curriculum does not start until Age 7, BUT at First Tee – Central Valley we have developed a program that meets the needs of our younger Game Changers. They will be in the same class as the Age 7-9 group, but we tailor the topics for a younger audience.

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

Ace* *Must be in High School AND Active for more than (2) years to be eligible. 

A capstone program for high school teens that integrates the skills and inner strengths they’ve developed at First Tee and points them toward exploring, investing in, and building a clear plan and assets for their next step. In this program, participants will:

• Integrate their knowledge & skills into planning for their future
• Invest in their community
• Explore who they are and where they want to go next
• Investigate future paths (education & career)
• Craft their goals & create a game-plan
• Build kickstart assets for their next step

**In 2022, Chapters began using an enhanced and modernized curriculum across all programs, aligned to the age-based format described above. This is the culmination of a multi-year effort involving our network and industry experts from youth development and sports psychology. As youth self-identity evolves, a value system inherently develops within them so we took the opportunity to reimagine how the “nine core values” might be integrated into program content, while welcoming concepts outside of the nine values themselves. First Tee’s Commitment to Being a Game Changer and the 5 Key Commitments serve as a compass and an invitation for participants to come as they are so they can further uncover what’s inside of them, becoming the best versions of who they already are. Kids & teens will benefit from age-appropriate learning experiences, with updated content that meets the needs of today’s youth. Increased engagement and The Key Commitments will help our participants discover and uncover what is inside of them and build and strengthen those assets that enable them to grow and flourish throughout life.

Keep the Fun Going with the First Tee App

The First Tee App includes games and challenges that will reinforce the concepts experienced during class and bring them to life in new ways! Kids and teens will earn badges and points as they complete activities within the App, motivating them to keep going, and tracking their progress over time. Learn More