At First Tee – Inland Northwest, 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 skills that stay with them for life:
- Understanding and managing emotions
- Resolving conflicts
- Setting up step-by-step goals
- Planning for the future
- Appreciating diversity
- Golf fundamentals and advanced techniques
Advancing through the Program
At each age group, 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 program.
Age 7-9
- Be active and have fun with peers in a safe and encouraging manner
- Build inner strength and self-confidence
- Learn to play golf
- Focus on building relationships with other players while exploring the game of golf
Age 10-11
- Explore character concepts in active and collaborative ways that are valuable on and off the course
- Develop golf skills and enthusiasm for the game
- Support positive Game Changing behaviors in fun and meaningful ways
Age 12-13
- Explore both golf skills and characters commitments while having fun with peers
- Provide opportunities to demonstrate mastery and growth in golf skills and abilities
- Support growth and development of early adolescents
Age 14+
- Build character and support personal development
- Develop additional golf skills and abilities
- Look toward their future and plan their own paths
- Evaluate, reflect, and apply their understanding of life and golf skills to new situations on and off the course
Life Skills & Core Values
There are four general Life Skills and Nine First Tee Core Values that are taught as part of every core lesson. Essentially, core lessons give participants multiple opportunities to be exposed to, experience, develop, apply, and eventually master interpersonal skills, self-management, goal-setting, and resilience skills through specific techniques that can be utilized on and off the golf course.
Lesson 1: Showing Respect
Lesson 2: Courtesy toward others
Lesson 3: Responsibility for the course
Lesson 4: Honesty of players
Lesson 5: Modeling Sportsmanship
Lesson 6: Developing Confidence
Lesson 7: Using Good Judgment
Lesson 8: Playing with Perseverance
Lesson 9: Living with Integrity
Lesson 10: Exploring the Game
Lesson 11: Respecting the Rules
Lesson 12: Meeting And Greeting
Lesson 13: Having Fun While You Learn
Lesson 14: Staying Cool
Lesson 15: Finding Your Personal Par
Lesson 16: Dreams and Goals
Lesson 17: Positively Setting Goals that are important to you
Lesson 18: Setting Goals that are Specific
Lesson 19: Setting Goals that are Under Your Control
Lesson 20: Getting to you Goal
Lesson 21: Dealing with Challenges
Lesson 22: Stay Well for Life
Lesson 23: Building a GO-TO Team
Lesson 24: Appreciating Diversity
Lesson 25: Dealing with Conflicts
Lesson 26: Be a GO-TO Person
Lesson 27: Planning for the Future
Honesty – The quality or state of being truthful, not deceptive. Golf is unique from other sports in that players regularly call penalties on themselves.
Integrity – The strict adherence to a standard of value or conduct; it is personal honesty and independence. Golf is a game of honesty, etiquette, and composure. You are responsible for your actions and personal conduct on the golf course.
Sportsmanship –Observing the rules of play and winning or losing with grace. You must know and abide by the Rules of Golf and be able to conduct yourself in a respectful manner.
Respect – to feel or show deferential regard for others. In golf, it is important to show respect for yourself, your partners, your opponents, and the golf course, as well as for the honor and traditions of the game.
Confidence – Reliance or trust: it is a feeling of self-assurance. Confidence plays a key role in the level of play that you achieve. You must have confidence in your abilities each time you play golf.
Responsibility – Accounting for one’s actions and being dependable. In golf, you are responsible for yourself and your actions on the golf course. It is up to you to keep score, repair divots, rake bunkers, repair ball marks on the green, and keep up with the pace of play.
Perseverance – to persist in an area, purpose, or task despite obstacles. To succeed in golf, you must learn to persevere through bad breaks and your mistakes.
Courtesy – Considerate behavior towards others. It is a polite remark or gesture. A round of golf should begin and end with a handshake between fellow competitors. Show courtesy toward others by remaining still and quiet while they prepare and execute a shot.
Judgment – the ability to make a decision or form an opinion. It is a decision reached after consideration. Using good Judgement is critical in golf. It comes into play when deciding on strategy, club selection, when to play safe and when to take a chance.
These values, taught through golf & play, are delivered with the goal of helping young people become more productive at school and at home – and more socially conscious citizens in their local communities as they grow.
Registration Terms & Conditions
Please review our Terms & Conditions prior to participant registration.
Refund Policy:
As a non-profit organization, our entire operation is funded by the generosity and donations of both the private and public sectors within our community. Due to administrative and processing costs, it is our policy that we do not offer program refunds. In the event that your child is not able to attend any registered classes, we will transfer your child to another class or provide you with a donation receipt in the amount of your registration fees.
Equipment:
Any golf equipment received for use is the property of First Tee of the Inland Northwest and must be returned at the discretion of the First Tee facility upon the termination of the participant’s involvement in the program. Participants in the Birdie skill level or above will be allowed to check out a complete set of clubs for their use for the whole summer. Students are required to care for these clubs as if they are their own and will return complete set at the end of the season in the same or better condition than they received them. This equipment usage is for those that do not have their own clubs and is free of charge, based on availability.
Media Release:
First Tee of the Inland Northwest, home office and participating agencies will from time to time use film, videotape and/or photographs of its student participants for lawful promotional and/or informational purposes. It is not our chapter’s policy to identify participants in any media print without the express permission of their parent or legal guardian.
Health Information:
In the event that a parent, legal guardian, or emergency contact person cannot be reached in an emergency, the registering agent, parent, or legal guardian agrees to accept any and all determinations of need for medical assistance and/or administration of medical attention deemed necessary by First Tee chapter representatives. Permission is hereby given to the medical personnel selected by First Tee chapter representatives to secure any and all medical, hospitalization, dental, and/or surgical treatment. In the event that such medical attention is needed from a healthcare provider, all costs shall be the responsibility of the parent or guardian.
I, the parent/legal guardian of the registered named youth, give approval for participation in First Tee of the Inland Northwest sponsored activities. I understand that First Tee of the Inland Northwest is an independent organization that benefits from the participation of many golf organizations including First Tee Home Office and its oversight organizations, PGA Tour, PGA of America, USGA, Augusta National Golf Club, and the LPGA. I assume all risks of injury whatsoever and agree to hold harmless First Tee of the Inland Northwest and First Tee Home Office, including its oversight organizations, from claim(s) of any nature arising from any activity, including transportation, connected with First Tee of the Inland Northwest’s facility of program(s). This hold harmless agreement includes, but is not limited to, any claim due to injury proximately resulting from the negligence of First Tee of the Inland Northwest, First Tee Home Office, and its oversight organizations, employees, agents, LPGA or PGA professionals, participating agencies, and volunteers. I consent to First Tee of the Inland Northwest and First Tee Home Office communicating information regarding my child’s participation via the internet.