Blog – First Tee – Greater Wichita

How First Tee connected DJ Belcher to NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson and helped him land his dream internship

A youth development program usually does not come with a connection to seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. But that is exactly what the First Tee gave to Drake “DJ” Belcher: a relationship that helped him land an internship at William Morris Endeavor this summer, one of the top talent agencies in the country.

DJ is a rising junior at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, majoring in finance. Growing up in Greenville, South Carolina, he joined First Tee – Triad at around 7 years old. Since then, his time in the program has shaped both his professional growth and his desire to give back to the next generation of participants.

Growing beyond the fairway

Last summer, DJ interned with First Tee – Triad through its Historically Black College and University Internship Program, which connects student-athletes from HBCUs across the country with professional development opportunities and the chance to lead summer camps in underserved communities. The program is supported in part by an IDEA grant. The USGA has awarded more than $1 million in these grants to First Tee chapters over the last five years.

Determined to leave his mark on the sport, DJ did not just coach; he inspired. He helped participants grow and believe in their full potential. “I want to increase representation and increase diversity in the game,” he said. He put that mission into action by giving participants a firsthand look at the doors golf can open, both on and off the course. Little did he know that the same internship would soon open a door of his own.

An opportunity that changed everything

Always eager to learn from others, DJ used the internship to expand his professional network. After sharing that goal with Ryan Wilson, CEO of First Tee – Triad, he was offered the chance to caddie for Jimmie Johnson at the 2025 Wyndham Championship Pro-Am. He accepted without hesitation.

What began as meeting a well-known name in NASCAR grew into a much more personal relationship. During their time together, DJ shared his aspirations to work in the sports entertainment industry, where he hopes to negotiate contracts, oversee brand deals and develop athletes’ personal brands. Jimmie, in turn, shared that he was represented by WME and expressed that he would love to connect DJ with his representation team so he could gain more insight into opportunities within the agency industry.

“That was our first interaction,” DJ said. “We had only known each other for three hours. Having the ambition, the drive to really just want to do better for myself, want to expose myself to different environments — he recognized that and has been willing to share his experiences with me.”

After connecting with WME, DJ knew he had found a path worth pursuing. He made a point of thanking the employees he met and staying in touch afterward. That persistence paid off when he applied to WME’s internship program and was accepted as a brand partnerships intern in its New York City office.

Jimmie did not just help DJ get his foot in the door — he left him with advice to carry into the role: Take advantage of being young, approach every experience with an open mind and never hesitate to ask questions. DJ has taken that advice to heart, treating the internship less like a job and more like a mentorship experience, one built on curiosity and continuous growth.

A bond built to last

The relationship between DJ and Jimmie has only strengthened since their first encounter. “We have had a lot more time to bond and create more of a personal relationship than a transactional relationship,” DJ said. “We have a genuine bond.”

DJ credits Jimmie’s willingness to share his time and resources as a reflection of who he truly is: “It really speaks to his character, sharing his resources with people who are willing to put in the work for it.”

From attending Jimmie’s races to playing in Jimmie’s foundation golf tournaments, DJ is looking forward to continuing to strengthen his relationship with Jimmie and learning and growing from him at a personal level.

DJ’s story is proof of what is possible when curiosity meets ambition. With a mentor like Jimmie in his corner and a career only beginning to take shape, this is just the start of the path ahead for DJ.

Learn more about supporting First Tee programs to make opportunities available to participants in your area or around the globe.

First Tee, PGA TOUR Superstore bring 40 teens to Montana for 6th annual Leadership Summit

Actor Michael Peña and golf broadcaster Amanda Balionis headline this year’s guest speaker lineup.

EMIGRANT, Montana (Aug. 3, 2026) – Youth development organization First Tee and longtime partner PGA TOUR Superstore are hosting the 2026 First Tee Leadership Summit at West Creek Ranch, welcoming 40 participants for two weeks of leadership development set against the backdrop of Paradise Valley in Montana.

Now in its sixth year, the Leadership Summit pairs outdoor adventure with intentional reflection to foster personal growth. Participants take on horseback riding, whitewater rafting, a challenge course and archery, while leadership development experts and PGA TOUR Superstore staff guide sessions designed to help teens uncover their values, sharpen their communication and grow through new experiences.

Actor and First Tee Ambassador Michael Peña will serve as guest speaker the first week, and golf broadcaster Amanda Balionis will join the teens during the second week.

Bordered by the Yellowstone River, West Creek Ranch is owned by PGA TOUR Superstore chairman and First Tee Board Member Arthur M. Blank.

“First Tee Leadership Summit provides these teens with an incredible opportunity to grow, learn and build meaningful connections,” said Ralph Stokes, vice president of social impact, partnerships and community relations at PGA TOUR Superstore. “It reflects what makes First Tee so impactful: helping young people build character, develop life skills and discover their potential. At PGA TOUR Superstore, we are committed to investing in programs like this that empower the participants to grow into better players and people.”

“Golf is just the starting point for what we do at First Tee,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “Leadership Summit pushes teens to explore who they are, who they want to become and how they can lead with purpose. It is one of our most transformative opportunities, and we are grateful to PGA TOUR Superstore and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for making it possible.”

Before applying for the Leadership Summit, each participant must complete the First Tee Leadership Series, a five-week program held at PGA TOUR Superstores across the U.S. This year’s group was selected from a competitive applicant pool and represents 31 First Tee chapters from across the country.

In addition to supporting the Leadership Series and Leadership Summit, PGA TOUR Superstore and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation support First Tee chapters through grants and in-kind donations.

Leadership Summit is one of several signature participant opportunities First Tee offers in support of its mission to build game changers through golf. For more information, visit firsttee.org.

From Topgolf to a national stage: How golf helped Sydney find her voice

When Sydney Purdon stepped up to hit balls at a new Topgolf facility near her home in Aledo, Texas, she had no idea she was about to find her sport. She was 8 years old, and her parents had signed her up for summer camp, mostly to see if golf would stick. By the end of her very first day, she had hit more than 300 balls and was hooked.

“I had tried dance, cheer, basketball and soccer when I was younger, but golf turned out to be my favorite sport to play,” Sydney said. That same fall, her parents discovered First Tee – Fort Worth, and she has been an active participant every season since.

Eight years later, Sydney is a junior coach at her chapter, and she’s pursuing Ace, First Tee’s capstone program for teens. She was also selected to attend the 2026 First Tee Game Changers Academy, a national opportunity presented in partnership with AWS, the 3M Open and Topgolf, fittingly the same brand that first put a club in her hands.

“Stories like Sydney’s exemplify why we’re so proud to be a gateway to golf for countless young people,” said Tiffany Brush, senior director of marketing and charitable initiatives at Topgolf. “Whether it’s through our summer academy programs, partnership with First Tee or simply providing a fun, no pressure environment to try something new for family day out, we’re committed to introducing the world to the sport we love. Sydney’s remarkable journey from discovering her passion at Topgolf as an 8-year-old to becoming a Game Changers Academy member and leader in her community is exactly the kind of impact we hope to create every single day.”

Leading by example, on and off the course

Game Changers Academy focuses on inclusive leadership, something Sydney has already demonstrated at her chapter. As a volunteer coach on Saturday mornings, she works directly with younger players, many of them girls just starting their First Tee journey. Since pursuing Ace, Coach Chuck said Sydney “has shown up regularly and faithfully, investing in younger participants and modeling leadership through action.” She’s also volunteered at the PGA TOUR’s Charles Schwab Challenge and with LPGA Girls Golf.

Sydney’s commitment to inclusion is not abstract. She lives with primary ciliary dyskinesia, a rare genetic condition that affects her lungs and requires frequent medical care, including a hospital stay last year. Rather than let it sideline her, Sydney channeled her experiences into advocacy, raising concerns with her school counselors about attendance policies that unintentionally penalized students managing chronic health needs. Leaning on First Tee’s CARE framework – communicate, actively listen, review options, end with a win-win solution – she worked toward a solution that let her stay eligible for academic rewards while managing her care.

That same resilience carried her back to golf. Starting with putting and short game before working up to full swings again, Sydney returned to competition and continues to improve, currently competing for Aledo High School’s varsity team while maintaining a 4.43 GPA.

Looking ahead

Sydney hopes to graduate near the top of her class, lower her handicap and pursue a career in graphic design, all while continuing to grow First Tee’s reach in her community. As she heads to Minneapolis this July for Game Changers Academy, she carries with her the same curiosity that brought her to that first Topgolf bay nearly a decade ago, now matched with a clear sense of purpose: using her own experience to make sure no one feels left out.

First Tee Game Changers Academy returns to Minneapolis bringing all-star lineup of experiences, including keynote from Olympic medalist Kellie Wells Brinkley

Focused on inclusive leadership, the event brings together 72 teens from across the country, encouraging them to elevate their voices and lead change in their communities.

MINNEAPOLIS (July 17, 2026) – The 2026 First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow Jr. returns to Minneapolis, bringing together 72 teens from across the U.S. for a workshop designed to challenge them to elevate their voices, embrace their differences and become advocates for positive change in their communities.

First Tee’s longest-running participant event takes place July 18–22, 2026, with participants staying on campus at the University of Minnesota while taking part in a week of dynamic workshops, reflective activities and immersive golf experiences, including a round at the storied Interlachen Country Club, host of the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open.

Headlining the week’s welcome event at the Target Center will be keynote speaker Kellie Wells Brinkley, an Olympic bronze medalist. The conversation will focus on the impact of coaching and lessons in leadership, covering her experience from athlete to sports business executive.

“Game Changers Academy aims to equip participants with the confidence, character and skills needed to lead in their communities,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We are deeply grateful to AWS, 3M Open and Topgolf for their steadfast commitment to this program and to the next generation of leaders.”

The itinerary includes hands-on leadership workshops, as well as trips to Topgolf and the 3M Open, where the teens will participate in a clinic led by First Tee Ambassador Austin Smotherman, an alumnus of First Tee – Greater Sacramento and PGA TOUR player.

AWS, 3M Open and Topgolf are proud partners of the event. In addition to financial support, representatives from the organization will lead activities and facilitate sessions throughout the week.

First Tee is a youth development organization that uses golf as a vehicle to build character and life skills. The Game Changers Academy is open to teens participating in First Tee chapters nationwide, with participants selected through a competitive application process. It’s one of a full slate of First Tee national participant events focusing on topics like competitive golf, community service and leadership.

You don’t have to be a golfer to support one: A guide for non-golfing parents

Even if you’ve never held a golf club, or you don’t know a birdie from a bogey, that doesn’t mean you don’t play an important role in your child’s golf career.

Some of the most supportive First Tee parents we’ve ever seen have never set foot on a course themselves. Because what your child needs from you has very little to do with whether you can hit a fairway.

Golf can feel intimidating from the outside. It has its own language, etiquette and a large rulebook. But it’s not your job to master it. Your job is to show up, pay attention and let your child know that what they’re doing matters to you.

Let your child be the expert

One of the unexpected gifts of being a non-golfing parent is that your child gets to teach you something. When they explain the rules, walk you through their swing or describe what they worked on at practice, they’re building confidence and communication skills right alongside their golf game.

Take advantage of your commute home to ask questions and be curious. You might be surprised how much your child lights up when the roles are reversed. This can also be a great time to discuss how the skills your child is learning on the course can translate to growth in the classroom, with friends or at home.

Cheer for the right things

In golf, the scoreboard doesn’t always tell the full story, especially for young players who are still learning the game. Things like staying composed after a tough hole or helping a fellow participant find their ball are both forms of success.

When you pick up your child after a class or round, try asking, “What did you learn?” instead of, “How did you shoot?” Those questions signal that you’re paying attention to who they’re becoming, not just how they’re playing.

There are also ways to support your child’s without being a standout player yourself. For example, if they want to achieve a certain score or make a high school or collegiate golf team, you could help them build a goal ladder, breaking down their dreams into achievable actions.

The values are the point

First Tee uses golf as a vehicle to teach values and life skills. Your child is practicing these every time they step on the course, and you can help reinforce them everywhere else.

When your child is frustrated with a friend, that’s a conversation about courtesy and respect. When they want to give up on something hard, that’s a moment to talk about perseverance. When they make a mistake and own it, that’s integrity in action. You don’t need to know golf to recognize those moments and name them for what they are.

If you’ve ever worried that your child is missing something because you can’t teach them the game yourself, let that go. First Tee has coaches for that.

What your child needs is a supporter who asks good questions, celebrates growth over results and makes it clear that who they are matters more than any score. You’ve got that part covered.

First Tee announces 80 teens selected to compete at PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship

The PURE Insurance Championship, held at iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links, pairs First Tee teens with PGA TOUR Champions legends for a week of competition and mentorship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (July 7, 2026) – First Tee and PGA TOUR Champions today announced the 80 teens selected to compete in the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee, set for September 15-20, 2026, at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course on the Monterey Peninsula.

Hosted by PURE Insurance and Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the tournament is broadcast internationally on Golf Channel and pairs First Tee participants with PGA TOUR Champions professionals and business leaders for a week of personal growth. Participants age 15-18 will compete for the boys’ and girls’ pro-junior titles.

Representing 52 chapters, participants were selected based on both their golf ability and their growth through First Tee’s youth development program. Members of the 2026 field have been involved with First Tee for an average of 7.5 years.

“Having experienced firsthand the lasting impact of youth sports, I am proud to support such a worthy cause and help create opportunities for these remarkable young people to build relationships and confidence that will stay with them long after tournament week,” said Katie Krum, Chief Marketing Officer at PURE Insurance.

The junior field was unveiled live on Golf Channel, where reigning girls’ champion Margaret Kerr of First Tee – Greater Houston and her pro partner, Steven Alker, joined the broadcast to discuss their experience competing in the 2025 championship. Kerr will begin her collegiate golf career next fall at West Texas A&M University.

Two members of the 2026 PURE Insurance Championship field earned exemptions into the tournament by finishing Top 5 at the First Tee National Championship, which was held at the University of North Carolina’s Finley Golf Club in June. Nakul Shrivastava of First Tee – Tri-Valley won the boys’ division, while Sadie Goodman of First Tee – Central Florida finished 4th, making her the top finisher in the girls’ division who has not previously played the PURE Insurance Championship.

“These 80 teens have put in years of work at their chapters to earn this incredible opportunity, and we are proud to have them represent First Tee,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “We are grateful to PURE Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions, Pebble Beach Resorts, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Golf Channel for their continued investment in these young people and in this extraordinary event.”

Tournament play begins Friday, Sept. 18, on both Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Following Saturday’s rounds, the top 24 juniors will advance to Sunday’s final round at Pebble Beach, where one male and one female First Tee participant will be crowned champions.

The junior field for 2026 PURE Insurance Championshipcan be viewed here.

For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com.

First Tee – Triangle’s Arianna Beverly reflects on the opportunities she’s earned through golf

When Arianna Beverly was six or seven years old, her dad signed her up for First Tee. She liked the little games well enough, but she wasn’t exactly serious about it. Then the world stopped, and golf became everything.

“COVID hit, and all we could do was play golf,” Arianna said. What started as a casual activity gradually became a lifelong passion.

Now a rising senior and member of the First Tee – Triangle community, Arianna just competed at the 2026 First Tee National Championship at Finley Golf Club in Chapel Hill — the same course where she recently attended a skills session as part of the PGA TOUR’s Pathway to Progression program. This week, she also stepped into a different kind of spotlight, moderating a conversation with player and golf personality Will Lowery at the championship’s welcome dinner.

A pathway opens

Arianna was invited to join Pathway to Progression at last year’s First Tee National Championship at the University of Notre Dame, where she played a practice round with Kenyatta Ramsey, vice president of player development at the PGA TOUR.

She won a qualifying tournament at Bally’s Golf Links in New York, “a very nice golf course, a different kind of experience,” she said. From there, the program brought her back to familiar ground: Finley Golf Club for sessions with coaches who helped with her swing, offered drills and talked through course management and the more technical aspects of the game. Through the program, she played her first AJGA tournament, a senior showcase in Las Vegas, and competed in a second AJGA event as well.

PURE Insurance Championship and Stewart Cink

If you ask Arianna about her favorite golf memory, there’s no hesitation.

“Playing at Pebble Beach. It was just the best experience of my life,” she said. “When I’m old and gray, I’ll still be reminding myself that I went to Pebble Beach and played with Stewart Cink.”

She competed at the 2025 PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links, where she was paired with the PGA TOUR veteran. The experience left a lasting impression. “He still gives me little bits of advice,” she said. “I learned so much from him about course management. I was just pampered by everyone at that tournament.”

More than a golfer

Off the course, Arianna is vice president of her school’s Black Student Association, a National Honor Society member and a jewelry entrepreneur. She started making earrings during COVID as a creative outlet, inspired by a find on Pinterest and encouraged by her crafty family. As her skills improved, her dad convinced her to turn her hobby into a small business. Her Christmas gingerbread men and cupcake designs have been particularly popular.

Before she heads off to Japan on an upcoming school trip, Arianna is also looking ahead to the next chapter: college golf, ideally at an HBCU, and a degree in marketing.

The impact of First Tee

Through new environments and everything that comes with growing up, one thing has remained constant.

“First Tee has been the steadiest thing in my life,” Arianna said. “That’s something you need when you’re changing schools and meeting new people. I always know I have my friends at First Tee.”

She also credits the organization with something she didn’t expect when she first teed it up as a kid: social confidence.

As she prepares to graduate in 2027, Arianna sees golf not just as a sport but as the throughline of her life — past, present and future. “Through First Tee, I’ve fostered my love for the game. Everything I’ve done in the golf world has been because I found that love through First Tee. It’s going to get me into college, into the next chapter of my life, and I’m going to keep it throughout my adulthood because of what happened when I was six.”

Veronica Diaz shares how First Tee – Connecticut helped prepare her for a life of service

When Veronica Diaz joined First Tee – Connecticut around age 8, she found not only a sport, but a place to practice values like honesty, integrity and perseverance. Years later, those values are essential to her career in law enforcement.

Today, Veronica serves as an officer with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Police Department, where her work spans patrol, investigations and community service. It’s a career that demands composure under pressure, accountability and genuine care for the people around her — qualities she traces directly back to her time with First Tee.

“The values of honesty, integrity, respect and perseverance are things I use every day as a police officer,” she said. “Golf teaches you accountability because there is no one else to blame for your score, and First Tee reinforced that mindset.”

She credits her First Tee Coach, Coach Lindsey, for teaching her the importance of showing respect, making confident eye contact and offering a firm handshake — small things that turned out to matter enormously. “Those simple lessons have never left me,” she said. “They are values I continue to carry with me today and pass on to others whenever I can.”

Veronica’s path from First Tee participant to law enforcement officer saw her through four years of high school golf, Division III collegiate golf, summers coaching in the program and a serious car accident that reshaped how she thinks about time and the people she shares it with. “It reminded me how quickly time can pass and how important it is to spend time doing the things you love with the people you care about most,” she said.

Her nephew is now a First Tee participant through the Waterbury Police Activity League, the same PAL program that first connected Veronica to golf and the officers who inspired her career choice.

Reuniting at the Travelers Championship

This year, Veronica joined fellow First Tee alumni at a special meetup hosted during the Travelers Championship, made possible by the generous support of PGA TOUR Superstore. The gathering brought together alumni from across the First Tee network to reconnect, reflect and celebrate how far they’ve come.

“First Tee was such an important part of my childhood, so being able to reconnect with fellow alumni and see how everyone’s journeys have unfolded is special,” she said. “It’s also a great reminder of the impact the program has had on so many people.”

A message to the next generation

When asked what she’d say to a First Tee participant just starting out, Veronica’s answer was simple: Don’t be afraid if you don’t have everything figured out yet.

“The skills you’re learning through First Tee go far beyond golf and will help you no matter what path you choose,” she said. “Some of the experiences that shape your future may come from places you least expect. First Tee certainly did that for me.”

First Tee – Phoenix’s Ashley Shaw and First Tee – Tri-Valley’s Nakul Shrivastava claim 2026 First Tee National Championship

Shrivastava and First Tee – Central Florida’s Sadie Goodman earned exemptions into the 2026 PURE Insurance Championship

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (June 25, 2026) – First Tee has crowned two new national champions: Ashley Shaw of Litchfield Park, Arizona, and Nakul Shrivastava of San Ramon, California, won the girls’ and boys’ divisions respectively. The First Tee National Championship took place at the University of North Carolina’s Finley Golf Club, June 21-25, 2026.

The event brought together First Tee’s elite golfers for an opportunity to showcase how the program has helped them build the confidence, perseverance and skills needed to play at the next level.

Shaw shot 68-67-65 to finish 10-under for the tournament. A rising high school senior, she’s committed to play collegiate golf at the University of Georgia. Currently 67th in the AJGA rankings, she made her LPGA Tour debut at the 2024 Cognizant Founders Cup after earning an exemption into the tournament. Shaw has been involved with First Tee – Phoenix for more than eight years and serves as a volunteer coach and ambassador.

“I’m so excited to be able to get the win,” Shaw said. “For me, staying patient and just knowing I could hit the shots and waiting for the putts to drop was the key, and I just let it happen and I was able to get quite a few birdies this week.”

Shrivastava shot 66-64-67 to finish 13-under for the tournament. He recorded nine birdies in the second round, including six on the back nine. Shrivastava began playing golf with First Tee – Tri-Valley when he was 6. Now a rising high school junior, he has multiple Top 10 AJGA finishes.

“I’m feeling pretty good, very excited that I got to win this, and it was a really good opportunity,” said Shrivastava. “No matter how nervous I got or doubted myself this week, I just remembered confidence is key, and I just persevered through that, and I played pretty well.”

Both winners were awarded the Tattersall Cup in honor of First Tee Trustee Fred Tattersall, who generously supports the event. Photos from the tournament are available here.

Based on their play, Shrivastava and Sadie Goodman of First Tee – Central Florida earned exemptions into the PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA TOUR Champions event that will take place at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in September. The event pairs golf legends with First Tee juniors for a week of mentorship and competition. Goodman was 4th in the girls’ division, making her the top finisher who has not previously played the PURE Insurance Championship.

“Congratulations to Ashley and Nakul on their outstanding victories at the First Tee National Championship,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “These young people demonstrated exceptional golf skills, sportsmanship and resilience. Thanks to the University of North Carolina for hosting this year’s event and Fred Tattersall for making this event possible.”

The First Tee National Championship is held annually at college golf courses across the nation, providing First Tee participants the opportunity to network with others from around the country. The field included 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. A full list of results is available here.

The championship is part of First Tee’s full slate of national participant opportunities, which is designed to help teens grow while keeping them engaged with the program. In addition to competitive golf opportunities, First Tee headquarters offers leadership programs, a girls empowerment event and a community service workshop.

First Tee’s top golf talent will be on display at its National Championship, hosted at University of North Carolina

In addition to the Tattersall Cup, the male and female winners could earn exemptions into the 2026 PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (June 22, 2026) – National youth development organization First Tee will host its 2026 National Championship June 21-25, 2026, at the University of North Carolina’s Finley Golf Club.

Now in its sixth year, the First Tee National Championship brings together 48 of the organization’s top male and female players from across the country for a 54-hole stroke play event designed to provide participants with the opportunity to experience top collegiate golf courses while showcasing the skills and values they learned at their First Tee chapters.

The field includes 24 boys and 24 girls, ages 14-18, who were selected based on their golf skills and competitive golf experience. Twelve players in the field have already committed to college golf teams. Last year’s winners, Jordin Cowing of First Tee – Phoenix and Jacob Lewallen of First Tee – Greater Dallas, currently play at Austin Peay State University and Eastern Kentucky University respectively.

“We are proud to bring the First Tee National Championship to the Finley Golf Club, and congratulations to the young people who have earned their place here,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO, First Tee. “We are grateful to the University of North Carolina for hosting our event and Fred Tattersall for his continued support of First Tee.”

In addition to presenting the Tattersall Cup to the top male and female competitors, First Tee could also award two exemptions into the PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA TOUR Champions event that pairs professionals and junior players for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach Golf Links each September.

The First Tee National Championship is held annually at college campuses across the nation, giving participants the opportunity to network with peers from around the country and experience college life firsthand. Last year’s event was held at the University of Notre Dame’s Warren Golf Course.

The championship is part of First Tee’s full slate of national participant opportunities, which are designed to keep teens engaged with the program through competitive golf, leadership development and community service.

View the full list of selected participants here. Scoring will be available on Golf Genius.

How to watch your child play golf without adding pressure

Tournament season is here, and if your child is competing in junior golf this summer, you’re probably already thinking about how to show up for them.

Your presence matters. Research consistently shows that parental support is one of the biggest factors in whether a young athlete has a positive sports experience. But there’s a version of support that helps kids thrive, and a version that can add weight to an already pressurized moment. The difference isn’t always obvious, especially when you love your kid and want them to succeed.

Kids are remarkably perceptive. They notice the furrowed brow or slumped shoulders after a missed putt. They feel the silence in the car ride home. What they might not understand, however, is that you’re feeling disappointed for them – not disappointed in them.

Your child wants to know that you care. But during competition, that awareness can work against them. When kids sense that a parent’s mood is tied to their performance, they start playing for the wrong audience. Instead of focusing on the shot in front of them, they’re managing your reaction, and that’s an enormous cognitive and emotional load for a young person to carry.

What helpful presence actually looks like

The good news is that being a supportive presence doesn’t require you to suppress your emotions. It just requires a small shift in focus.

Before the round, keep it simple. Remind your child that you’re proud of them for competing, full stop.

During the round, resist the urge to coach from the gallery. Even well-intentioned tips mid-round can disrupt a young golfer’s concentration and signal that you’re focused on outcomes rather than effort. Let them play and problem-solve.

While athletes can learn from mistakes, avoid offering critiques right after a round when emotions are raw. Instead, try leading with curiosity. Prompt reflection with questions like:

How did you feel?

How were the conditions?

What was the best moment of your round?

What did you learn today from your round?

Let the hard moments do their job

Competitive golf is full of adversity … missed putts, bad bounces, tough weather. These moments feel painful in the short term, but they’re also exactly where some of the most important development happens.

At First Tee, FAIL stands for First Attempt In Learning. The idea is that setbacks aren’t signs of failure but part of the process. When kids are allowed to sit with a hard moment, reflect on it and try again, they build something no coaching tip can give them: genuine resilience.

Your role in those moments isn’t to fix the feeling or explain away the disappointment. It’s to stay calm, stay present and let your child know that your love isn’t contingent on the scorecard.

What junior golfers often need most from their parents is the freedom to compete, take risks, make mistakes and figure things out in real time.

Find a First Tee chapter near you to learn about competitive golf opportunities.

How to balance structured activities and unstructured time this summer

A guide for parents navigating the summer schedule

Summer arrives with the best intentions. You want your child to grow, make memories and maybe even get a head start on something meaningful. So you sign them up — camp here, lessons there, a program or two to keep things moving. Before long, the calendar is full and summer feels a lot like the school year with warmer weather.

Sound familiar?

Finding the right balance between structured activities and free time is one of the most common challenges parents face when summer rolls around. There’s no perfect formula, but there is a lot of research that can help.

The case for structure

Structured activities give kids something school schedules naturally provide: routine, accountability and a sense of purpose. When children commit to a team, program or class, they practice showing up even when they don’t feel like it. They learn to follow through. They build relationships with coaches and mentors who see them differently than their parents do, and that outside perspective can be incredibly powerful.

Programs like First Tee give kids a structured environment where they’re not just learning a sport but developing the habits and character traits that carry into every other area of their lives.

Why unstructured time matters just as much

Here’s what the research consistently shows: Kids need boredom. Not as a punishment, but as a gift.

When children have unstructured time — time without a screen, schedule or adult directing the action — they’re forced to use their imaginations, negotiate with peers, solve problems on their own and discover what they enjoy. This kind of self-directed play is where creativity lives.

Child development experts note that free play is essential to healthy cognitive and emotional development. When every hour is scheduled, kids miss out on the chance to just be – a surprisingly important skill.

Finding the balance that works for your family

To keep kids engaged in youth sports, Project Play advocates that organized instruction, structured play and unstructured play should work in tandem. While First Tee lessons provide the first two components, a family golf outing or on-course round with friends can help nurture your child’s love for the game.

There’s no universal ratio of structured to unstructured time that works for every child or every family. But here are a few questions to help you find yours:

Is your child energized or drained after their activities? The right structured program should challenge your child, but it shouldn’t leave them depleted every day. If they’re consistently exhausted or resistant, it may be worth reassessing the schedule.

Do they have time to be bored? Boredom is uncomfortable at first. Kids will tell you there’s nothing to do. Give it 20 minutes. Often, that’s when the best stuff happens — the backyard fort, the invented game, the book they finally picked up.

Are they driving any of it? Summer is a natural time to let kids have more say in how they spend their time. If kids have a say in which activities they want to continue or try and when they want downtime, it builds the kind of autonomy that develops into good decision-making over time.

Is there room for spontaneity? If your childcare needs allow, leave some white space in the calendar. The best summer memories often happen unplanned.

The goal isn’t to maximize your child’s summer. It’s to give them a summer that helps them grow in skill, character and their sense of self.

That means some structure, some commitment, some challenge, and yes, some long afternoons with nowhere to be and nothing to do.

Learn more about First Tee programming near you.