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Looking Back on the First Tee Leadership Summit

This August, we held our first ever First Tee Leadership Summit in the unforgettable backdrop of West Creek Ranch in Montana. This event took place for two weeks, bringing together 20 teens each week from across the country to develop leadership skills through dynamic outdoor and team-building activities.

Through collaborative workshops, First Tee’s core competencies of building character, self-confidence and resilience played a huge part of the experience, to explore the concepts of relationship building, positive risk taking, and character evaluation.

We recently caught up with participant Benjamin Parris from First Tee – Denver to hear how this year’s event impacted him.

Benjamin Parris, First Tee – Denver

In Denver, I often hear the amazing experiences fellow participants have when they return from First Tee national events. Until the first week of August 2021, I had never experienced one for myself and I was not quite sure what to expect when I was selected for The First Tee Leadership Summit in Partnership with the PGA TOUR Superstore at Mr. Arthur M. Blank’s West Creek Ranch in Montana.

As soon as I arrived at the airport, I knew it would be a special week as I was immediately greeted by fellow participants and alumni chaperones. When we arrived at West Creek, even more participants were eager to greet us and introduce themselves. I knew I had formed relationships almost immediately, and those only got better as the week went on.

At the summit, we got to participate in activities such as horseback riding, archery, white water rafting, and other spectacular outdoor experiences. Also, during our days, we had the opportunities to listen to guest speakers like Dick Sullivan (CEO of the PGA TOUR Superstore), Ralph Stokes (the PGA TOUR Superstore’s Director of Partnership Marketing and former University of Alabama running back), Joe Shepard (a PGA TOUR Superstore Regional Manager), Stacie Monks (a PGA TOUR Superstore District Manager), and our keynote speaker Michael Vick (former NFL quarterback). We learned lessons in values, teamwork, skill sets, representation, and more.

Each day at the summit had a different theme. Our themes were: “relationships are the foundation for leadership,” “positive risk taking,” and “my character is me.” While our speakers were able to give us insightful words and stories on these themes, we learned just as much from our outdoor experiences as we did from our speakers.

On Tuesday, we focused on relationships and how trust is the foundation of every successful relationship. After hearing from Dick Sullivan and Michael Vick, six participants, including myself, departed for the ropes course while everyone else elected to horseback ride. When we arrived, we immediately had to build a relationship as we picked partners to ascend on a partner climb up a 30-foot wooden ladder. My partner Sam Gibbs from the First Tee of Fort Worth deserves a quick shoutout for putting her trust in me all week from the second we became partners at the ropes course.

On Wednesday, we worked on taking positive risks. My first risk of the day was waking up at 6:30 after a late night to go on a sunrise hike. Let me tell you, the views in Montana were spectacular, it was very much worth the risk of not sleeping in. Later that day I took another risk by going on a 3-hour horseback excursion, by far the longest I had ever been near another animal, besides my dog at home. My biggest takeaway from learning about positive risks were to approach people who think differently than you so you can challenge your own thinking and to seek out your own mentorships.

On Thursday, our final full day at the summit, we did a lot of self-reflection while thinking about how to own our characters. Stacie Monks began the day after another gorgeous sunrise hike. She posed the following question to all the participants. “What type of leader do you want to be?” She went onto discuss how to create a culture when you are leading others and how to empower them. Later that morning we had perhaps the hardest task of the entire summit, but also to me the most impactful. We were asked to complete this phrase. “This is what I believe about myself as a leader…” This wasn’t a simple sentence to complete, and to really answer the question, it required more than just a few sentences. To complete the thought, I had to reflect upon all the things I had been through that week at West Creek. I had to think about climbing with a partner, taking leaps of faith, the inspiration I had received from our speakers and workshops, and what I had learned from all the people around me. Later that evening, we sat around the fire pit as we listened and shared all 18 of us has discovered about ourselves as leaders.

My favorite part of the leadership summit was the comradery all of the participants formed. I got the opportunity to make 17 new friends, who over the course of the week felt like family. I know that I’ll be keeping in touch with them for years and years to come and can’t wait until I can see them again. For me, the week made me feel like a true member of the greater First Tee family. I had never met a fellow participant from outside of Colorado, but now I feel like I’m connected to the First Tee everywhere I go. I can’t wait to stay involved with the program as I go to college and beyond.

I want to thank the First Tee, PGA TOUR Superstore and West Creek Ranch staff one final time for giving me what was truly a life changing experience. The programming was phenomenal, and the experiences were irreplicable. I came back home truly knowing what type of leader I am and how I can continue to grow as a leader. I can’t wait to apply what I learned in Montana to our local programs in Denver as well as other extracurriculars I participate in. I feel honored that I was a part of the inaugural summit.

First Tee and John Deere Host 24 Teens for the Drive Your Future Academy

The national, all-girls’ professional development event is being held in Detroit, September 3-6

Detroit – (Sept. 3) – Twenty-four teens from First Tee chapters across the country are attending the John Deere Drive Your Future Academy this week in Detroit. Held Sept. 3-6, the academic, career and leadership development academy is hosted by First Tee and John Deere. During the event, the girls will explore topics that will help them prepare for the future including volunteerism, teamwork and remaining active in the game of golf. The curriculum will come to life through interactive workshops and team-building activities such as a community service project and golf outing. In addition, the girls will attend the Solheim Cup in Toledo, Ohio. “John Deere is proud to support the Drive Your Future Academy and congratulates the 24 girls who have earned this opportunity,” said John Watson, John Deere relationship manager of First Tee. “We know this experience will position them to build upon an already strong foundation and be positioned for great things going forward.” The teens were selected for the Drive Your Future Academy through a national application process that scored applicants based on essays, letters of recommendation, and involvement in First Tee and other activities. First Tee is a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The John Deere Drive Your Future Academy is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee Headquarters to encourage and motivate participants as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities. For more information, visit FirstTee.org.

Citi & Presidents Cup Announce Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge & First Tee Australia

Citi and Presidents Cup Announce the Return of the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge and an Effort to Expand First Tee to Australia

Fans across the globe tasked with collectively driving a golf ball around the world to help bring First Tee, a positive youth development program, to young people in Australia  

 MELBOURNE, Australia and NEW YORK, United States – In celebration of the global impact of the Presidents Cup, tournament officials and Presidents Cup Global Partner Citi today announced the return of the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge with a “Drive to Melbourne.” Once again, Citi is inviting everyone to collectively drive a golf ball 44 million yards – the length it takes to circle the globe – either in-person or virtually. This time, the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge is aimed at supporting the launch of a First Tee chapter, to be managed by the PGA of Australia, at the 2019 Presidents Cup.

Click here to watch Justin Thomas introduce the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge.

Ed Skyler, Global Head of Public Affairs at Citi said, “We are proud to again partner with the Presidents Cup and support the return of the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge and the expansion of First Tee into Australia. We see golf as a platform that allows us to give back, and by supporting First Tee, we hope to provide opportunities to enrich the lives of young people around the world. The challenge also helps unite people around the world in pursuit of a common goal, reminding us in the process that the circumference of the globe is a mere 44 million yards!”

The Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge will feature a web-based game, a simulator, and a mobile game, allowing fans from all over the world to play and enjoy an interactive experience, while driving toward the opportunity to expand First Tee programs in Australia. The simulator will be placed in popular locations throughout Australia, and other select locations, to build excitement and increase awareness for the 2019 Presidents Cup, which will return to The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for a third time from 9-15 December, 2019. The full list of Simulator locations is still being determined but fans in Melbourne got a preview this past weekend, at popular Federation Square. The first location in the United States debuts today at Brookfield Place New York. Photos from the activation in Melbourne can be found here for use in editorial coverage of this announcement.

The Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge will drive toward a launch of First Tee programs in Australia later this year. Each year, First Tee (www.firsttee.org) provides education programs to young people throughout the United States on golf courses, in schools and at other youth-focused locations. The launch of a First Tee chapter in Australia will mark the organization’s sixth international location, including Canada, Japan, Korea, Morocco and Mexico. First Tee positively impacts the lives of young people through the game of golf by providing education programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values.

“Citi has been an engaged and valued Global Partner of the Presidents Cup. The Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge is a fantastic extension of the core values of giving back that makes The Presidents Cup special. We are excited to bring it to life as the buzz and momentum continues to build toward what we believe will be the best Presidents Cup yet at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club this December,” said Matt Kamienski, Executive Director of the Presidents Cup.

After winning his first PGA TOUR event in New Orleans in 2017, Australian Cameron Smith made a significant donation to a local First Tee Chapter in Florida. Along with the donation he wrote a note that read, “I remember being your age, hitting balls, dreaming of being on the world’s biggest stage and practicing making putts to win PGA TOUR tournaments… Without the nine core values, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Using these values each day, I strive to be a great person before a great golfer.”

Smith also recognized Citi for their efforts. “It’s great that Citi is not only launching this initiative to help bring awareness to the Presidents Cup, but First Tee will have a lasting legacy on the youth in Australia, not just as golfers, but to build overall life lessons and opportunities outside of the game.”

“We’re grateful to Presidents Cup, Citi and PGA of Australia for collaborating around the idea of bringing First Tee programs to young people in Australia as a part of 2019 Presidents Cup,” said First Tee President Greg McLaughlin. “While our programs have been in place in the U.S. for more than 22 years, I am pleased we are able to look for ways to strategically expand through relationships like this.”

The Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge mobile game will allow participants to take shots on the 18th Hole at Liberty National Golf Club (host of the 2017 Presidents Cup) and the 18th Hole at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club (host of the 2019 Presidents Cup). The online game can be accessed globally by users who go to www.PresidentsCup.com/Citi and Presidents Cup social channels. The game will be available in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.

Fans in select countries who play the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge will be entered into a once-in-a-lifetime sweepstakes, with one (1) grand prize winner and one (1) first prize winner.

Grand Prize: Trip for two (2) to the 2019 Presidents Cup, which includes the following:

  • Round trip airfare (economy)
  • Five (5) nights’ accommodation (Crowne Plaza)
  • Four (4) days return transfers to The Royal Melbourne Golf Club
  • Four (4) days Captains’ Club tickets to the Presidents Cup (Thursday – Sunday)
  • Presidents Cup spectator function, Thursday evening at Official Hotel Crown
  • Presidents Cup souvenir merchandise

First Prize: A framed 2019 Presidents Cup pin flag signed by Tiger Woods and Ernie Els

Grand Prize entries must be received by 11:59 pm USA ET on August 22, 2019

First prizes – December 15, 2019 by 11:59 pm AUS local time

Citi cardmembers will receive access to a fast pass lane, with Citi-specific signage promoting the benefit, for all simulator stops during the Citi 44 Million Yard Challenge. Locations include the Citi Interactive Zone on-site at the tournament.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit PresidentsCup.com.

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About the Presidents Cup

The Presidents Cup is a unique golf event in that there is no purse or prize money.  Players are not paid for their participation, but each competitor allocates an equal portion of the funds generated to charities of his choice.  Since the event’s inception, more than $49.1 million has been raised for charity from event proceeds, as well as contributions made on behalf of the Presidents Cup, including a record charitable donation of $10.7 million from the 2017 event alone.

To purchase tickets to the Presidents Cup or learn more about travel packages, please visit PresidentsCup.com. Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thepresidentscup, Twitter and Instagram at @presidentscup and sign up for the Presidents Cup e-newsletter.

Citi and Rolex are the exclusive Global Partners of the Presidents Cup.

About Citi

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com  | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi  | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com  | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi  | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi

About Rolex

An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise

Rolex, a Swiss watch manufacture headquartered in Geneva, is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products. Its Oyster and Cellini watches, all certified as Superlative Chronometers for their precision, performance and reliability, are symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. Founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905, the brand pioneered the development of the wristwatch and is at the origin of numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism invented in 1931. Rolex has registered over 500 patents in the course of its history. A truly integrated and independent manufacturing company, Rolex designs, develops and produces in-house all the essential components of its watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Through philanthropic programmes and a broad palette of sponsorship activities, Rolex is also actively involved in supporting the arts, sports and exploration, and encourages the spirit of enterprise, as well as the conservation of natural environments.

About First Tee

First Tee (www.firsttee.org) is a nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its beginning in 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other youth-serving locations. Its headquarters are in St. Augustine, Florida, USA, with programs in all 50 United States and select international locations.

About Melbourne – A Golfing Great

There are many sides to Melbourne. It’s serious yet playful, quiet yet dramatic, sport-obsessed yet in love with the creative industries.

Melbourne is a city that is constantly evolving, improving and changing, every day and all year round. The city innovates, is hungry for new ideas and delivers unexpected experiences from its inspired laneways, bars, art spaces, restaurants and boutiques.

Melbourne, and Victoria’s regions including the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas, are also home to Australia’s finest golf courses.

The famed Melbourne Sandbelt is superbly regarded internationally, with eight courses epitomising the golden age of golf architecture. These highly ranked layouts are built on land in the southeast suburbs and are conveniently located within a short distance of each other.

In 2018, Melbourne hosted the PGA TOUR’s World Cup of Golf, with the Royal Melbourne Golf Club proud to welcome the 2019 Presidents Cup for the third time this year. The Australian Open of Golf returns to the city in 2020 and 2022.

What These 6 Men Did on a Golf Course Changed the Course of History

By Ryan Wilson,
Manager of Program Evaluation & Assessment,
The First Tee home office

Greensboro, N.C. earned its place in civil rights history thanks to the Greensboro Four who sat down at F.W. Woolworth’s segregated lunch counter and asked to be served a meal. 

But what many people don’t know is the trail of civil disobedience had already been blazed in Greensboro five years earlier. Before the sit-in at Woolworth’s, the lesser known Greensboro Six did something so brave it would serve as a catalyst for many other civil rights leaders.

In 1955 the city-owned Gillespie Golf Course did not allow play by African Americans, nor had it ever, despite that the U.S. Supreme Court had already made it illegal for government-owned golf courses to discriminate. However, loopholes were found in the system by leasing courses to private groups for as little as $1. The private groups then restricted play to members and their guests; none of whom were black.

Breaking Down Barriers at Gillespie Golf Course

On the morning of December 7,1955 the Greensboro Six, led by Dr. George C. Simkins, decided they were going to fight this injustice. The six golf enthusiasts walked into the Gillespie pro-shop to sign-in and were met by a surly attendant who informed them they were not welcome. Undeterred, the men peacefully laid their 75-cent green fee by the cash register and teed off.

The head pro found the group midway through the front nine and began cursing and threatening them. In the book Uneven Lies, Dr. Simkins recalls the pro asking them why they were out there. The response was, “We’re out here for a cause–the cause of democracy!”

The group finished out nine holes and headed home, but later that night, the six golfers were arrested in their homes. All were convicted on counts of trespassing and had to serve 30-day jail sentences.

What ensued next was series of court cases and appeals to clear the golfer’s records and continue the fight desegregating municipal golf courses. Eventually, Judge Johnson J. Hayes forced the city to allow African Americans to play Gillespie Golf Course.

The city was given two weeks to get their affairs in order, but days before Gillespie officially opened to minorities, someone snuck in the clubhouse and burnt it to the ground. Dr. Simkins said, “Someone was determined to keep us from playing that course, even if it meant they couldn’t play it either.” It would be seven years before Greensboro officials would build another clubhouse and re-open the course.

The First Tee Represents A New Era for Golf 

Times have changed for the better since the Greensboro Six first walked Gillespie’s rolling fairways. Today, Gillespie is one of two flagship program locations for The First Tee of the Triad. On any given day of the week you can find junior golfers of every ethnicity learning golf, life skills and character development together.

Mike Barber, executive director of the chapter shared the following thoughts.

“The U.S. Supreme Court validated the courage of the Greensboro Six. Now 56 years later, Gillespie is a great facility for our chapter, supporting year-round programming, a learning center, full length and short courses, indoor instructional studio, and premiere outdoor practice facilities. These assets are used to give the surrounding economically-challenged community the opportunities deserved but not otherwise available.

Our chapter believes that through the mission of The First Tee, the courageous efforts of the Greensboro Six lives on in providing equal opportunity and equal access to all.”

Gillespie’s current Head Professional Bob Brooks, PGA is a nationally trained coach with The First Tee and is a major supporter of the program.

Mr. Brooks had this to say when asked about the history of Gillespie and The First Tee program:

“Gillespie is an integral part of the community. The impact of the Greensboro Six will be felt for generations to come. Today Greensboro Parks and Recreation operates with a vision of: “Building better lives, better community. Come join us.” That vision couldn’t be more evident than at Gillespie. Through our partnership with The First Tee of the Triad, we are enriching the lives of kids from all over the city, and hope to have an even bigger impact on the community than that day back in 1955.”

The Greensboro Six took a stand for a cause much bigger than just playing golf on a nice course. These men knew that they were fighting for the future of all black golfers. What they didn’t know is the impact their actions would have on our nation. Today, The First Tee honors these men for their incredible, yet seldom told, contribution to the game of golf and American history.

From Boxing Rings to Golf Courses: Remembering My Father, Joe Louis

A Father’s Day reflection by Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, The First Tee

Barrow, Jr. plays with his father. Circa 1953.
Barrow, his father and sister. Circa 1953.
I was first introduced to the game of golf when I was five or six years old. My father [former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis] would take me to Pipe O’Peace Golf Course (renamed in 1986 to Joe Louis “The Champ” Golf Course) outside of Chicago where he passed along his love of the game. However, Dad’s love of golf was actually a pastime that worried his promoters. My father’s trainers were concerned that golf would develop his muscles in the wrong way, plus it took a lot of his time.
Barrow learned to play golf under the watchful eyes of Ted Rhodes (left) and his father (right).
Barrow learned to play golf under the watchful eyes of Ted Rhodes (left) and his father (right).
He would go out to the course whenever he could, whether he was in training or not, and as a result, he became quite an accomplished amateur golfer. The one time my dad did not listen to his trainer resulted in the only time he was beaten during his 12-year reign as heavyweight champion. That was the first Max Schmeling fight in 1936. My father was overconfident going into this fight. He later said, “I thought I was going to win no matter what I did. So I took my golf clubs to training camp with me. I had the idea that I was doing a lot of hard work for nothing, so I started cutting my training short. I’d box two rounds and drive to the golf course.”
Joe Louis. Photo courtesy of USGA Museum.
Joe Louis. Photo courtesy of USGA Museum.
Fortunately, Dad put more focus into boxing and less into golf while preparing for his successful rematch against Schmeling in 1938. [listen to the fight]. While Dad did pass his love of golf on to me, more importantly, the golf course became a special place for us as father and son. My parents divorced when I was young, so during visits with my dad, he would take my sister and me to lunch or dinner, but it was difficult to really get to know him because people would constantly stop him for autographs or just to talk. But on the course, we were able to share a special intimacy created by two people sitting in a golf cart. During these rounds, he told me about his background, revealed details of his fights and discussed my future.
Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. at his home in 2014 for Golf Digest.
Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. at his home in 2014 for Golf Digest.
Although he passed away in 1981, before I became involved in the golf industry, I think Dad would have been proud of my current work with The First Tee. My father’s overwhelming desire to help others also influenced me. This quality was an important factor in my decision to join The First Tee, and it now provides inspiration for this organization that is so driven to help young people develop the confidence, leadership skills and character to succeed in life.

This Father’s Day, I hope you too can reflect back on that special someone who has guided you through your life and inspired you to be the best you can be.