First Tee

The First Tee’s mission is to allow every child the opportunity to discover their passion for golf while learning the program’s 9 core values: honesty, integrity, perseverance, sportsmanship, judgement, courtesy, respect, confidence and responsibility. In San Francisco, the results have been astounding. While San Francisco changes faster than ever, we ensure that the future generations are given the opportunity to learn and grow. More than the game of golf, we emphasize being... amazing people. Having courtesy, being respectful, living with perseverance, the list goes on. We are fortunate to call San Francisco our home and we are proud to improve our community, one golfer at a time. Do you have a personal experience with The First Tee you’d like to share? Please share this video and include how you or someone you know benefited from The First Tee. --- #SanFrancisco #SFProud #GrowTheGame

Game Changer: Kai Briones Lee San Francisco, CA

Game Changer: Taryn Yee (@tee_whhyyy) Taryn got involved as a participant of First Tee Greater Sacramento in 2002. Taryn was involved in the LPGA-USGA girls golf program, Junior Tour, and Junior Committee, achieving Ace Level certification through the Life Skills program. Taryn also attended several national academies, including the Life Skills and Leadership Academy, PLAYer Advanced Academy, Future Leaders Forum, and PURE Insurance First Tee Open. Through these academies, ...Taryn met the Wong sisters, who first introduced her to First Tee - San Francisco. As an alum of First Tee, Taryn attended the PwC Executive Forum, and later accepted an internship and eventually a full-time offer with PwC. Through PwC’s financial literacy program, Taryn got to spend an afternoon with the kids in the classroom at Harding Park. From there, she became involved with Sandy’s Circle, and is now one of the co-chairs of the program. The most invaluable aspect of First Tee San Francisco are the connections Taryn has made with the participants, particularly Kelly Woo and Denise Wei. Taryn spent a week getting to know Kelly while chaperoning at the John Deere Drive Your Future Academy. Taryn recently connected with Denise because she’s attending UCI and pursuing accounting at PwC, similar to what Taryn has done. First Tee instills core values and life skills through the game of golf. Taryn attributes all her successes academically, athletically, professionally, and personally to First Tee. Being a participant of First Tee has been one of the most influential experiences of my life. Not only has it helped develop my golf game to compete at the collegiate level, but it has presented me with many unique opportunities, provided me support from my coaches, peers, and has developed me to be a future leader. Thank you, Taryn, for all that you have done for First Tee San Francisco. You truly are a game changer! #BuildingGameChangers

Our 2021 Summer Camp/Class registration opens next week! Make sure you check the dates/times for registration as they differ with our different camps. For a full schedule and more information on the camps, check out our chapter’s website: https://www.firstteesanfrancisco.org/register/ #buildinggamechangers

Women in Golf Wednesday Marissa Mar El Macero, California Marissa became involved with First Tee in the Sacramento area when she was 12, all the way up through high school. Marissa was introduced to Sandy’s Circle within First Tee - San Francisco, and in 2018 joined as a volunteer. In March 2021, Marissa joined the Board of Directors for First Tee - San Francisco!... As Marissa grew up playing in First Tee events in the Sacramento area, she knew how fun the events and programs were for the participants who joined. More importantly, golf has been one of the greatest teachers in life because of the values that are inherent to the game, particularly respect, integrity, discipline, perseverance, and confidence. Marissa believes First Tee provides a great avenue for kids to acquire these skills that will be instrumental for their future success. Volunteering with First Tee - San Francisco has been an opportunity to give back and grow the game that has given Marissa so many opportunities. Marissa meets and interacts with a countless number of incredible kids through First Tee - San Francisco. Marissa explains, "it's exciting to see the game of golf continue to grow!" Fun Facts: Favorite First Tee memory: Mini golf with the Sandy's Circle kids at Urban Putt in SF Favorite golfer: Tiger Woods Favorite club: Driver Course Marissa is dying to play at: Royal County Down

Game Changer: Ben Liswell Ben Liswell, amateur golfer who started the game too late to join his local First Tee. Ben didn’t start his First Tee journey until he started working at PwC and had the opportunity to volunteer at First Tee - San Francisco teaching financial literacy to the Future Foursomes. Seven years later, Ben has had so much fun volunteering with the kids. Ben’s favorite memory with First Tee - San Francisco was just a few weeks ago, and it still puts a huge sm...ile on his face. Denise Wei, is a First Tee - San Francisco alum and she's currently studying at UC Irvine to become a CPA. Ben recently learned she wants to pursue this career path because of the volunteer work we did at PwC! First Tee teaches its students many important life values! Ben believes perseverance is one of the more important values. Many Future Foursome participants have gone through times and need a stable support system. The infrastructure of First Tee allows the students to keep going knowing they have a bright future ahead of them! Whether it's on or off the course, you cannot keep these kids down and that's a testament to their character and the leadership of First Tee SF's program. For anyone thinking of joining a First Tee, Ben would say it’s an amazing combination of friends and golf, leaving a lifetime full of memories. Join First tee and you won’t regret it! Ben’s advice for the younger generation is, don't expect to become a professional athlete. Expect to grow as an individual and learn valuable skills to lead a healthy, happy life! Thank you, Coach Ben, for all that you have done for First Tee San Francisco. You truly are a game changer! #BuildingGameChangers

Women in Golf Wednesday Kayla Choi San Francisco, CA Kayla was a late bloomer to First Tee - San Francisco. She joined First Tee - San Francisco in high school and remembers her first day, where she was swinging a plastic club with a class of middle schoolers who were much better than she was. Nonetheless, Kayla was up for the challenge and with the help of First Tee - San Francisco, she was able to join her high school's varsity golf team and they went on to win city champio...nships! Kayla joined First Tee - San Francisco after going to the Players Championship with her dad one year. She was so intrigued by the game, she wanted to take lessons and get more involved. Kayla has many favorite memories with First Tee - San Francisco. Kayla was one of 4 First Tee alumni chosen to attend PwC's Exec. Business Forum at the Players Championship in 2016. Kayle had so much fun watching THE PLAYERS Championship, meeting all the wonderful PwC professionals, Mr. Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., PwC’s chairman Tim Ryan, and the former PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem. At the event, Kayla gave a speech in front of hundreds about her experience with First Tee - San Francisco. The First Tee - San Francisco means so much to Kayla! She truly would not be where she is without PwC. Not only did Kayla build invaluable life skills and confidence, she had numerous doors opened for her. One salient example Kayla now works at PwC as a management consultant. If it wasn't for the First Tee sending Kayle to Florida to attend PwC's Exec. Business Forum, Kayla might not be where she is today. Fun Facts: Favorite golfer: Tommy Morissey (he has a wicked one arm swing) Favorite club in the bag: Driver, there's nothing like the feeling of a good drive One course Kayla is dying to play: Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links