Why Golf?

Experiences are our greatest teacher. First Tee believes in developing the ones that are just as fun as they are meaningful, where kids feel excited to grow, safe to fail, and better equipped for whatever comes their way next. Through our personal growth and junior golf programs, we see kids’ build self confidence, inspiring more active participation in leadership opportunities and events, community involvement, and college scholarships.

At First Tee – St. Petersburg, 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 9 core values that stay with them for life:

  • Honesty
  • Integrity
  • Sportsmanship
  • Respect
  • Confidence
  • Responsibility
  • Perseverance
  • Courtesy
  • Judgment

Our Programs

At the First Tee – St. Petersburg their are different programs that different participants engage with the 5 Key Commitments: Pursuing Goals, Growing through Challenge, Collaborating with Others, Building Positive Self-Identity, and Using Good Judgement, while focusing on mastering golf fundamentals and building upon a golf skill foundation as they advance within the different programs.

After School Academic Enrichment

  • The after school enrichment program offered at The First Tee – St. Petersburg Mentoring Center will provide 20 underprivileged youth the opportunity to participate in an enrichment program that will include: academic tutoring, mentoring, life-skill and character development programs, golf instruction as well as a safe haven after school. The dropout rate in South St. Pete amongst minorities is 50%. The First Tee along with your help would like to change this terrible statistic.

Before School

  • The before school program offered at The First Tee – St. Petersburg gives Thurgood Marshall Fundamental MS students the chance to socialize, learn key values, do homework, and play golf at the same time. With late start times it can be hard for parents to get their kid to school on time so we give them the freedom of dropping their kid off before heading to school in the next few hours.

After School

  • The after school program at The First Tee – St. Petersburg is a program for schools in the area to give them the opportunity to learn valuable lessons and play golf at the same time. This also gives parents relief knowing that their kid has a safe haven after school.

Work Program

  • The First Tee – St. Petersburg has a youth work program starting at the age of 14 that teaches the importance of a strong work ethic. The First Tee believes that pride, dignity, and purpose are the values that are learned while in the work program.

Elementary and Middle School Outreach Program

  • The First Tee collaborates with several inter city schools with the intention of giving youth the opportunity to learn the game of golf and the life skills that are associated with it.