{{Short description|Non-Profit Golf Organization}} '''First Tee''' is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the stated goal of improving children's life skills through golf lessons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation Inc - GuideStar Profile |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/83-4186070 |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.guidestar.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pga Tour First Tee Foundation {{!}} Ponte Vedra Beach, FL {{!}} Cause IQ |url=https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/pga-tour-first-tee-foundation,834186070/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.causeiq.com}}</ref> Based in Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida, the organization claims to teach more than 3.6 million youth annually through programs across the country and internationally.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Aryan |date=2024-02-25 |title=Capital One’s The Match 2024: Exploring This Years ‘First Tee’ Charity Event |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/golf-news-capital-ones-the-match-twenty-twenty-four-exploring-this-years-first-tee-charity-event-pga-tour/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=EssentiallySports |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Loberstein |first=Adam |title=80 First Tee teens selected for PGA TOUR Champions' PURE Insurance Championship impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach |url=https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/impact/2023/07/10/80-first-tee-teens-selected-for-pga-tour-champions-pure-insurance-championship-impacting-first-tee-at-pebble-beach |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.pgatour.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-13 |title=Youth golf classes offered at Blue Heron Golf Course through First Tee Foundation |url=https://www.valleyrecord.com/sports/youth-golf-classes-offered-at-blue-heron-golf-course-through-first-tee-foundation/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Snoqualmie Valley Record |language=en-US}}</ref>
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan serves as chairman of the board of governors, which is composed of business leaders.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PGA TOUR About the Commissioner |url=https://www.pgatour.com/company/about-the-commissioner |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.pgatour.com |language=en}}</ref> Former President George W. Bush serves as the honorary chair; he succeeded his father, former President George H. W. Bush, who served from 1997 to 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-28 |title=President George W. Bush: The First Tee's Honorary Chair Talks to Golf Channel |url=https://firsttee.org/2013/10/28/george-w-bush-tees-honorary-chair/ |access-date=2020-11-10 |website=First Tee |language=en-US}}</ref>
==History== First Tee was founded in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The First Tee: ‘There’s an opportunity here right now’ |url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-first-tee-theres-an-opportunity-here-right-now-john-feinstein |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=GolfDigest.com |language=en}}</ref> Started by PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, the organization began as a partnership among the PGA Tour, PGA of America, LPGA, USGA, and the Masters Tournament Foundation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Clifton |date=1997-11-14 |title=GOLF; Golf's Leading Groups Start an Ambitious Expansion Project |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/14/sports/golf-golf-s-leading-groups-start-an-ambitious-expansion-project.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The goal was to make golf affordable and accessible for all kids.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About First Tee |url=https://firsttee.org/about/ |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=First Tee |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2019, First Tee became a nonprofit corporation, PGA Tour First Tee Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smits |first=Garry |title=Arthur Blank Family Foundation, PGA Tour Superstores make $9.5 million grant to First Tee |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/golf/2020/09/24/falcons-owner-arthur-blank-pga-tour-superstores-make-first-tee-grant/3522203001/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=The Florida Times-Union |language=en-US}}</ref> First Tee has featured in the PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA Tour Champions event played annually in September at the Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferguson |first=Janice |date=2023-09-22 |title=Pebble Beach Is Hosting Another Coveted Pro-Am This Week, With an Eye on Future Stars |url=https://www.si.com/golf/news/pebble-beach-another-coveted-pro-am-future-stars-pga-tour-champions |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-25 |title=Learning from the pros at the PURE Insurance Open impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach |url=https://www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/articles/learning-from-the-pros-pure-insurance-open-first-tee-pebble-beach |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Golf Advisor |language=en}}</ref>
==Demographics== The participants of First Tee are children aged five to 18, with participants progressing through the program over time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The First Tee |url=https://www.palmergolf.com/the-first-tee |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=palmergolf |language=en}}</ref>
== First Tee School Program == Since 2004, First Tee claims to have trained educators at more than 10,000 elementary schools to teach physical education courses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |title=The First Tee Offers Golf, Life Lessons to Next Generation |url=https://myrtlebeachgolf.com/news/the-first-tee-offers-golf-life-lessons-to-next-generation/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Myrtle Beach Golf |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Federal Hill Preparatory Academy |url=https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/o/federalhill/page/first-tee |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.baltimorecityschools.org |language=en}}</ref> ==See also== * Walter Morgan
== References == {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
== External links == * [http://www.firsttee.org First Tee]
{{DEFAULTSORT:First Tee}} Category:Golf associations Category:Sports charities Category:Organizations established in 1997 Category:Charities based in Florida Category:Youth organizations based in Florida