First Tee - Clearwater

Fantastic start to our Player Development League Spring session!

Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club

Take us back to the Valspar Championship! Our participants had an amazing experience walking the course as standard bearers on Thursday of the tournament.

We have a few more openings in our spring programs starting this week!

For more information or to register please visit: https://firstteeclearwater.org/programs-2/

The rain cleared just in time last Saturday for a beautiful afternoon of Player Development golf at Chi Chi’s! ☀️

Even though golf is usually an individual sport, the 16 juniors loved the team scramble format, enjoying the camaraderie and low-pressure environment while supporting one another. That positive teamwork clearly showed in their great scores! The four teams finished 7 under par, 6 under par, 4 under par and 2 under par.

Shoutout to Piper, Hiyas, Gabriella, and Nancy for taking the top spot at 7-under, and congrats to Brooklyn for winning the putting contest! 👏

During last Friday’s Chi Chi’s Aces class, our players (ages 13–17) sharpened their short game with flop shot practice and worked on their First Tee national opportunity applications.

Proud of these young leaders for putting in the work!

☀️❤️ The weather on Valentine’s Day was perfect for the First Tee Player Development League at Chi Chi’s Golf Course!

Twelve juniors teed it up and brought their A-game!

🏆 Top scores of the day:
• Naomi (36) – advancing from 50 yards to 100 yards! Congrats, Naomi!
• Noah (39) – from the white tees
• Ayden (40) – from 100 yards

👏 Congrats to Brooklyn for winning the putting contest!

Huge thank you to Coach Missy, William, and Rod for guiding our groups, and to all the parents who came out to cheer on their juniors. We appreciate you!

⛳ This week at First Tee — Clearwater, players are focusing on the Key Commitment: Good Judgement, reflecting on how to make smart choices on and off the golf course. They are also practicing their golf skill of the week: Target Awareness with a partner toss warm-up and a team chipping challenge, chipping to the targets from each station to rack up points! 🏌️‍♂️🏌️‍♀️

Earlier this month, we kicked off the new year with our pre-winter training session, bringing together nearly all of our amazing coaches for an evening of learning and celebration. There was great discussion as we reviewed important safety guidelines and what it means to be a First Tee coach. We wrapped up the night with a delicious dinner from Publix and are grateful for such a dedicated team as we head into the season ahead!

We’re grateful to Pinellas Golf Tournaments for selecting First Tee — Clearwater as the beneficiary of their December tournament! A big thank you to Becky Gonzalez and Pinellas County Government for presenting a generous $1,100 donation. Your support makes a meaningful difference for the youth we serve.

Before winter break, Coach Stephen led our December Chi Chi’s Aces class. He showed students some putting drills and ran a fun putting competition, along with teaching them how to repair clubs. The students got to put their new skills to work by regripping the clubs they use when junior coaching. A great mix of learning, practice, and fun to wrap up the season before the holidays!

The 2025 “Share My Passion” Girls Golf Clinic, held at The ANNIKA Driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, was a day to remember! 🏌️‍♀️

Girls ages 6–14 wrote open letters to other girls their age about why they love golf, and 40 finalists were selected by Annika and the committee to attend with their guests. They rotated through fun stations, practiced their skills, and enjoyed an inspiring clinic with Annika herself. Check out the highlights from this unforgettable day! 📸