First Tee - Greater Dallas

Still thinking about last week at Luna Vista!

For the final day of camp, everyone got to explore the actual golf course and soak up so much new knowledge. Camp is a 10/10 so far, and we are so excited for the rest of the summer!

Huge congratulations are in order! We are incredibly thrilled and immensely proud to announce that James and Brooklynn have officially achieved Ace Certification—the absolute highest level within First Tee.

Reaching the Ace level is no small feat. It requires years of dedication, exceptional leadership, and a profound commitment to the core values of our program. By completing this final tier, James and Brooklynn have earned well-deserved national recognition for their hard work, resilience, and character both on and off the golf course.

Your journey with First Tee doesn't end at graduation. Now that you've conquered the highest peak, it’s time to stay connected. We highly encourage James and Brooklynn to join the First Tee Alumni Network to unlock exclusive networking opportunities, career resources, and a lifelong community of peers who are changing the game.

Huge congratulations to all of our amazing First Tee participants who are graduating high school! From the first time you stepped onto the green to watching you grow into incredible leaders, we could not be prouder of the dedication, character, and integrity you have shown.

We are so incredibly excited to watch you take on your next chapter and see all the amazing things you will accomplish!

But remember, this is not goodbye. You are officially First Tee alumni!

To stay connected, give back, and keep growing your community, make sure to join the First Tee National Alumni Network. Let us stay involved and keep the game going together.

What an incredible journey it has been! As First Tee Week comes to a close, we want to take a moment to look back at the amazing stories, memories, and life-changing lessons our community shared over the last seven days.

From learning that "I am capable" with Coach Katie, to finding self-confidence with Coach Joe, discovering leadership with Coach Taylor, and realizing that attitude is everything with Coach Chandler—our participants and alumni have shown us exactly what makes our chapter so special.

We are deeply thankful for all the love, appreciation, and recognition our coaches received this week. Seeing our feed flooded with notes of gratitude from parents, alumni, and participants has been truly inspiring. Our coaches don't just teach the game of golf; they pour their hearts into building game-changers, mentors, and leaders off the course.

While First Tee Week is officially wrapping up, our favorite season is just getting started! We are so excited to see everyone back on the green for our upcoming summer events, programming, and camps. Let's carry this positive energy and commitment to character straight into a fantastic summer ahead!

Thank you again to our coaches, our youth, and our entire Greater Dallas family.

Day seven of First Tee Week reminds us that true success isn't just about what you achieve on the leaderboard—it's about the character and sportsmanship you bring to everything you do. Today, we are wrapping up our participant spotlights with a beautiful story about the power of a positive outlook.

Stepping into a brand new, fast-paced environment like a large university can bring an overwhelming wave of loneliness and anxiety. For this participant, adjusting to a massive lifestyle shift meant navigating stressful days stuck inside their comfort zone. But when the pressure began to mount, they leaned on a core lesson handed down to them from Coach Chandler.

As they shared in their own "Dear Coach" testimonial: "You taught me that my attitude matters. A few years ago, you invited me to participate in the PGA Junior League. Even though I knew I was not the best player, my goal was to at least be the best sport. I always tried my best to maintain a positive attitude and be kind to myself and my fellow players."

That intentional commitment to a good attitude earned them a Character Award, a reminder they carry with them in college every single day. Now, they approach competitive internship markets, leadership roles, and demanding courses with the exact same kindness, integrity, and grace. They've even signed up to become a campus mentor, using their own experiences to give back and uplift others just like their coach did for them.

Day six of First Tee Week highlights how the real-world experiences gained through our program teach youth the true meaning of leadership and responsibility. Today’s story features an alumna who shares how their mentor, Coach Taylor, guided them from a young participant into an impactful leader at our local facilities.

Growing up in the program, this alumnus developed a deep love for the sport and a desire to give back. That passion led to a two-year internship working alongside Coach Taylor and Coach Ashley at the Robert C. Vaughn Learning & Leadership Center. Stepping into a coaching and mentorship role meant taking on the immense responsibility of keeping young participants safe, focused, and engaged. Whenever challenges arose, Coach Taylor was always there to offer guidance on handling conflict and teaching core values that stretch far beyond the golf course.

As the participant beautifully noted in their "Dear Coach" tribute: "Having these young minds in my care showed me that in order to be trusted with a responsibility, you must demonstrate that you are capable of being trusted. Coach Taylor reassured me on how to go about teaching young golfers how to handle conflict and teaching core values that go beyond the golf course."

Today, that former intern is thriving as a college student, carrying those hard-earned lessons of accountability, patience, and leadership into their academic and professional pursuits.

Day five of First Tee Week is all about how the core values learned through our program help youth conquer major transitions and thrive in the real world. Today, we are sharing an inspiring "Dear Coach" tribute from an alumnus who credits their coach with giving them the ultimate tool for life: the ability to truly be themselves.

Stepping out of a familiar independent routine and transitioning into a busy, structured university setting can be incredibly overwhelming. For this participant, it initially led to heavy overthinking and doubting whether they belonged or were as prepared as everyone else. But when the pressure hit, they fell back on the exact mindset their coach helped build in them.

As they shared in their testimonial: "You taught me the importance of life skills, life lessons, and how to truly be myself. You helped me understand qualities like honesty, respect, confidence, and perseverance. What meant the most to me was how you always encouraged me to stay true to who I am instead of trying to fit into what I thought others expected. That gave me a level of confidence that went beyond the golf course."

Armed with that perseverance and self-belief, they pushed past their comfort zone, moved halfway across the country for college, successfully integrated into a demanding student-athlete schedule, and absolutely excelled.

Our coaches don't just teach the game of golf—they help build the character, discipline, and authenticity that young people need to handle any setback and chart their own path.

Day four of First Tee Week focuses on the incredible strength that comes from a community of unconditional support . Today's featured testimonial highlights how a mentor can become a steady anchor during life's most challenging storms .

After joining the program as a young participant, this alumnus experienced a profound personal loss during their college years . Through that difficult journey, their coach stood by them, offering a rare kind of reassurance that completely re-shaped their perspective on success and failure .

As the participant shared in their own heartfelt "Dear Coach" tribute : "The type of unconditional love, support and appreciation you have shown me for most of my life is something I could never thank you enough for . When my father passed and I was so wrapped up with everything, Coach Katie continuously reminded me that I will still be loved when I succeed but more importantly I will be loved when I fail ."

That empowering foundation allowed them to move forward with resilience, balancing demanding academics, multiple jobs, and big professional dreams with complete confidence .

Day three of First Tee Week shines a light on how the life lessons learned on the golf course can completely transform how we show up in the world. Today’s testimonial comes from a participant who shares how their mentor, Coach Joe, helped them find their voice.

Growing up as a very shy and introverted kid, this participant often let nervousness and fear get in the way, allowing great experiences and opportunities to pass them by. But Coach Joe stepped in to change that mindset. He slowly instilled the belief that "it doesn't hurt to always try" and constantly pushed them to step right out of their comfort zone.

As the participant shared in their own "Dear Coach" tribute: "He taught me to always give my best, and to be confident in my own abilities both in golf and in life. And I slowly learned that change and doing uncomfortable things can bring positivity and once in a lifetime experiences."

Today, that once-shy middle schooler is thriving as a college sophomore, successfully navigating brand new environments, taking on leadership roles, and conquering internships—all because of that initial spark of self-assuredness.

Day two of First Tee Week is all about the immense impact a mentor can have on a young person's life. Today, we are sharing a powerful tribute written by one of our incredible participants to their mentor, Coach Katie.

This participant joined First Tee at twelve years old, finding far more than just a place to practice their swing—they found a lifelong advocate who believed in them fiercely, guiding them all the way through the Ace program and to national championships.

Whenever they thanked Coach Katie for her support, her response was always a humble, "I just file the paperwork, everything else is because of you." But the impact went far deeper. As the participant shared in their own words: "You impacted me deeply as a golfer, a participant, and a person. Because of your unwavering encouragement, I learned the most valuable lesson of all: Dear Coach, you taught me that I am capable."

Our coaches do so much more than teach the game of golf. They empower our youth to believe they are capable of achieving anything they set their minds to.