Blog Archives - First Tee

How First Tee – Greater Pasadena found support after the Eaton Fire

First Tee - Greater Pasadena hosted community events for families impacted by wildfires

When the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena in January 2025, it left a lasting mark on the First Tee – Greater Pasadena community.

More than a year later, recovery is still underway. Some families have had no choice but to sell their homes and relocate. Local estimates suggest some homes in the area will not be rebuilt until 2028, and Altadena Golf Course remains unusable. As First Tee – Greater Pasadena program director Mark Fritz put it, “the community still has need for us as a chapter to provide our services and resources to families.”

Facing the loss of a program site and roughly $30,000 in equipment and supplies stored at Altadena Golf Course, the chapter moved quickly. Programming was paused for just two weeks before relocating to other local courses and parks less affected by the fire, including Brookside Golf Club and Eaton Canyon Golf Course, which returned to full operation by summer 2025. In total, the chapter relocated 70 percent of its programming and added three new sites, expanding its reach in the process.

Community coming together

Support from The Toro Company’s Growing the Game Through Access & Inclusion Grant played a direct role in that response, helping the chapter replace lost equipment and keep programs running for the families who needed them most. “This grant and funding from other golf organizations and supporters allowed us to not miss a beat,” Fritz said.

First Tee - Pasadena provided backpacks of gear to families impacted by wildfires

With support from The Toro Company, the chapter also used existing community touchpoints to reach displaced families. Through backpack giveaway events at the Rose Bowl and National Night Out, First Tee – Greater Pasadena has connected with families affected by the Eaton Fire and those attending Title I schools, promoting its program to more than 3,000 families this summer alone.

Nearby First Tee chapters across Southern California also stepped in to help: First Tee – Los Angeles offered programming space, while First Tee chapters in Orange County, Coachella Valley, San Diego and the Inland Empire organized club drives to help replace equipment for kids who lost gear in the fire. Local country clubs hosted donation days where members brought in used clubs, and Roger Dunn Golf Shops cut them down to fit young players. East West Bank funded a clinic and lunch for families who lost their homes, with more than 100 people attending the free event.

“This event demonstrated a very strong community collaboration involving the First Tee network and chapter supporters,” said First Tee – Greater Pasadena master executive director Bob Baderian.

Looking ahead

First Tee – Greater Pasadena is now planning to extend its reach further into the community it serves. In 2026, the chapter will launch a golf program with the Pasadena Unified School District, piloting at San Rafael Elementary with fifth graders. The program will culminate in a golf clinic at Brookside and a tour of the Rose Bowl. The chapter plans to bring the model to two to three additional PUSD elementary schools in 2026.

None of this recovery happened in isolation. From The Toro Company’s grant support to donated time, space and equipment from nearby chapters, businesses and community organizations across Southern California, First Tee – Greater Pasadena’s response to the Eaton Fire reflects what the chapter’s leaders describe as the strength of the First Tee community. As the Altadena community continues its long rebuild, that network of support remains in place.

Winners of Greater Pasadena's Chapter Cup pose at Brookside Golf Course

Naomi Raymundo of First Tee – Monterey County and Charlie Haney of First Tee – Manhattan win pro-junior titles at 2026 PURE Insurance Championship

Raymundo and Haney were paired with pros Stewart Cink and Rory Sabbatini respectively

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Sept. 20, 2026) – After a week of exciting competition and personal growth, Naomi Raymundo of Salinas, California, and Charlie Haney of Manhattan, Kansas, are the junior winners of the 2026 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee, an official PGA Tour Champions event, which concluded Sunday at Pebble Beach.

Both junior winners came from behind to claim victory. Raymundo and Cink recorded a final round 64 to finish 18-under for the tournament. They won the pro-junior girls’ title in a scorecard playoff. Haney and Sabbatini fired a final round 59 to finish 22-under, taking the pro-junior boys’ trophy by one stroke.

For nearly 25 years, the PURE Insurance Championship has provided First Tee participants with the unique opportunity to showcase the golf and life skills they’ve gained through the program. Held at the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course, the tournament pairs 80 standout teens with PGA Tour Champions players and amateurs from the business community. The annual event was broadcast internationally on Golf Channel.

“The 80 First Tee juniors who competed this week demonstrated perseverance, character and exceptional talent on the course,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of First Tee. “We congratulate Naomi and Charlie on their outstanding victory. We are sincerely grateful to PURE Insurance, Chevron, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, PGA Tour Champions, Golf Channel and all of our generous partners for helping make this an unforgettable experience for our participants.”

Raymundo is a 17-year-old high school senior with a 3.91 GPA, and the only girl on her high school golf team. She is active in her community, recording more than 400 service hours in 2025. She is a junior coach for Special Olympics and First Tee – Monterey County, where she has been involved for 10 years. Raymundo is the second Monterey County participant to claim the pro-junior girls’ title in the last three years, after Nicole Iniakov and Ernie Els teamed up for victory in 2024.

Raymundo said she was “on the edge of my seat” while waiting for the final groups to finish. “There were so many thoughts going through my head: Pebble Beach, PURE Insurance,” she said. “This tournament is something I’ve wanted to do for so many years.”

First Tee – Monterey County participants cheered her on Sunday, following the final group up the fairway. “It shows how much of a family we are,” she said. “It shows how much of a connection we have, just how much we support each other at First Tee – Monterey County.”

Haney is a 16-year-old high school junior with an impressive golf resume. Currently No. 32 in the AJGA rankings, he is committed to play collegiate golf at Ole Miss. Haney competed at the Drive, Chip & Putt finals at Augusta in 2023. Haney has a special tie to PGA Tour Champions, having spent time with Manhattan resident Jim Colbert before he passed earlier this year.

“I got to play two amazing golf courses, and this was the best week,” Haney said. “I got to spend time with my dad and all the First Tee participants. I had such a great time with them and met some amazing people.”

Haney has been playing golf for 12 years. “That’s how I grew up through the game was First Tee,” he said. “In summer I’d be up there day until night, and that’s just where I remember being younger and having so much fun. I think that’s why First Tee is so important to me. I’ve had so much fun and learned so many things.”

During the week, First Tee’s partners PURE Insurance and Chevron celebrated their commitment to First Tee’s mission and raised additional funds to support the First Tee College Scholarship Program through special events. The program pairs select First Tee alumni with a mentor and provides professional development workshops and financial assistance throughout their college experience.

This week, leaders from PURE Insurance surprised Nyah Roccamonte-Clark of First Tee – Metropolitan New York with an invitation to become the newest member of the First Tee College Scholarship Program.

First Tee is a youth development organization that teaches life skills and helps kids and teens build their strength of character through golf. The PURE Insurance Championship 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.

To access photos from the event, visit here. For more information on the tournament, visit PUREInsuranceChampionship.com. To learn more about First Tee and see the full field list, visit FirstTee.org.

First Tee camp turned into a lifelong passion for this PURE Insurance Championship junior

Nyah Roccamonte-Clark joined her first First Tee summer camp at 5.

Many First Tee participants work for years to earn a spot in the PURE Insurance Championship, a PGA TOUR Champions event that pairs golf legends and business leaders with First Tee juniors for a week of competition and mentorship at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

First Tee juniors are selected for the field based on their golf skills and their commitment to developing life skills through First Tee. One participant who excels in both areas is Nyah Roccamonte-Clark of First Tee – Metropolitan New York.

Nyah’s path to golf began at 5, when her grandparents, who worked at Plainfield West Nine in Edison, New Jersey, enrolled her in the course’s First Tee program so she could spend her summer there while her mother worked. That early exposure sparked a passion that has carried Nyah through every stage of First Tee, from participant to volunteer to junior coach, and now to an internship with the chapter, where she logs 15 to 20 hours per week mentoring younger players.

On the course, Nyah is the top player on her high school team, and she finished 15^th at the 2026 First Tee National Championship at the University of North Carolina’s Finley Golf Club. She’s committed to play collegiate golf at Monmouth University, a Division I school in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

Off the course, she completed 225 hours of community service last year, while participating in her school’s STEM Connections Club and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She credits First Tee coach Chris Jefferys with teaching her patience and self-trust, lessons she says have reshaped how she competes and carries herself both in golf and in life. She aspires to pursue a career in sports psychology.

On Thursday, PURE Insurance Championship executives surprised Nyah with an invitation to join the First Tee College Scholarship Program during an event at The Hay.

PURE Insurance has been the title sponsor of the PURE Insurance Championship since 2017 and is a dedicated partner of the First Tee College Scholarship Program.

“The First Tee juniors are what make this tournament so meaningful for all of us at PURE,” said Martin Leitch, CEO of PURE Insurance. “Nyah is an exceptional young woman who stands out for her character, leadership and commitment to others. We’re excited to support her and watch as she continues to pursue her goals.”

Follow this week’s PURE Insurance Championship online and on Golf Channel.

Nyah Roccamonte-Clark and Martin Leitch of PURE Insurance pose for a photo during the PURE Insurance Championship

How Logan Cassidy’s grandfather put him on the path to the PURE Insurance Championship

The box of scorecards Logan received from his grandfather, commemorating their time on the course

Every golfer has a story about how they fell in love with the game. For Logan Cassidy, a participant with First Tee – Greater Philadelphia, that story starts with his grandfather – and it lives on in a shoebox full of scorecards.

Last Christmas, Logan’s grandfather gave him an unexpected gift: a box containing every scorecard from the rounds the two had played together over the years. It wasn’t just a record of scores. Tucked alongside the numbers were his grandfather’s handwritten notes, marking the shots Logan hit that he thought were special.

“It was a really thoughtful gift with a lot of memories,” Logan said.

It’s fitting, because Logan’s grandfather is the reason he found First Tee. He was a close friend of First Tee – Greater Philadelphia’s board president and encouraged Logan to get involved when he was just 7. From there, Logan was hooked, both on the game and on the community of kids he found through the program.

“First Tee has introduced me to great people, who also love to play golf, be around the game and care about people,” said Logan, who aspires to play collegiate golf and study business.

Nearly a decade later, Logan is one of First Tee – Greater Philadelphia’s most active participants. A senior at Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, he splits his time between a rigorous course load, a competitive golf schedule and deep involvement at his chapter, where he works at John F. Byrne Golf Course and coaches younger players.

That combination of commitment and character caught the attention of his chapter, which nominated him for one of First Tee’s most prestigious opportunities: a spot in the 2026 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee, September 18-20 at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

A scorecard from one of their golf outings, that notes not only their scores, but also a shot whereLogan birdied from the bunker

As he prepares to represent First Tee – Greater Philadelphia on a national stage, Logan carries with him the life skills and values the program has instilled over the last decade. Three holes-in-one, countless practice sessions in every kind of weather and a shoebox of scorecards later, the game that started with his grandfather is now taking Logan to the Pebble Beach.

The PURE Insurance Championship pairs First Tee juniors with PGA TOUR Champions legends and leaders from the business world for a week of competition and mentorship. The tournament is broadcast on Golf Channel.

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Outcome isn’t everything: Help your child prep for their next tournament

Tournament season brings a familiar flutter of nerves, not just for the young golfers teeing it up, but for the parents watching from behind the ropes. It’s natural to want your child to play well. But the scorecard shouldn’t be the only measure of success.

First Tee has always believed that golf is the vehicle, not the destination. Real growth lives in the way kids react to disappointment, bounce back after obstacles and treat their follow competitors. Here’s how parents can help their junior golfer step onto the course with the right mindset.

Normalize nerves, don’t try to erase them

Nervous energy before a big round is not a problem to be solved. It’s a sign that something matters to your child, and that’s a good thing. Instead of trying to talk them out of feeling nervous, help them name it with statements like: “It makes sense that you feel that way. This is important to you.”

Using the right language as the competition approaches can also be helpful. Avoid giving the tournament too much power by adding qualifiers like “big” and “important” when discussing it with your child. Most accomplished athletes would agree that one game or tournament won’t make or break a career.

On the practical side, logistics can take over tournament day: Is the bag packed? What’s the tee time? Try discussing these things throughout the week so it doesn’t feel like you’re cramming the night before.

Try zooming out too. Ask your child what they’re excited to experience – from seeing friends to trying a new shot or playing a new course. Not only can this help relieve pressure, but it’s also an important reminder that the score isn’t the only thing that counts.

Process over outcome

Junior golfers pick up on far more than instruction; they absorb how the adults around them respond to pressure and setbacks.

Golf is a difficult sport, and the scorecard isn’t always a reflection or the effort and personal growth that took place during a round. Instead of focusing on numbers, commend your child for staying calm during a tough moment or treating their playing partner with respect. These are the moments worth celebrating and naming them out loud teaches your child that a good round and a good score aren’t always the same thing.

If your child wants to talk after their round, listen first before offering perspective. If they don’t, that’s OK too. First Tee encourages teens to take ownership over their goals – maybe that means talking them through or processing internally.

Years from now, your child likely won’t remember every shot from a junior tournament. What tends to stick are the feelings: the excitement, the camaraderie and the pride of overcoming tough moments. Celebrating those feelings, before, during and after the round, is one of the most valuable things a parent can offer on tournament day.

Allen Theatres Claims the Corporate Cup at 15th Annual Corporate Challenge

First Tee – Four Corners celebrated the 15th Annual Corporate Challenge, bringing together local businesses and community supporters for one of our favorite traditions of the year.

The Corporate Challenge is more than a golf tournament—it is a celebration of the businesses and organizations that invest in our community and support the mission of First Tee – Four Corners. Each year, teams take to the course with their sights set on one of the event’s most coveted prizes: the Corporate Cup!

This year, Allen Theatres claimed the title. Congratulations to team members Burke Allen, Nate Allen, Ron Dalley, and Tony Mike Jr. on earning the 2026 Corporate Cup!

The tournament also included one of its most exciting traditions—the opportunity for one lucky golfer to take a shot at a $1 million hole-in-one.

Most importantly, the Corporate Challenge is a key fundraising event supporting First Tee – Four Corners and our mission to impact young people through the game of golf. Funds raised help us provide programs that teach life skills and character values while creating opportunities for youth throughout the Four Corners.

We are grateful for the opportunity to bring so many of our supporters together for a day of golf, friendly competition, and community. Thank you to every business, golfer, sponsor, and volunteer who helped make our 15th Annual Corporate Challenge a success!

Summer Veterans League Celebrates Its Biggest Season Yet

First Tee – Four Corners wrapped up its Summer Veterans League with its largest field yet, continuing the exciting growth of our programs serving veterans throughout the Four Corners.

Hosted at Riverview Golf Course, the Veterans League brings golfers together for friendly nine-hole competition, but the program is about much more than golf. It is about building community. Each week gives veterans an opportunity to get outside, enjoy the game, connect with one another, and build friendships in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

We are incredibly grateful to Basin Health Companies for supporting our efforts and helping us continue to provide this opportunity for local veterans.

The Veterans League is one part of First Tee – Four Corners’ growing commitment to serving those who have served. Our veterans programming also includes PGA HOPE, which provides golf instruction and an introduction to the game, and the Together with Veterans Golf Tournament, which gives veterans an opportunity to enjoy a fun, competitive tournament experience.

Together, these programs provide different ways for veterans to connect through golf—from learning the game to weekly league play to competition.

And we aren’t finished yet! Fall Veterans League begins September 9 at Riverview Golf Course, and we look forward to welcoming our veterans back for another great season of golf, friendship, and community.

First Annual Buddy Games Brings Athletes Together at Riverview Golf Course

First Tee – Four Corners was thrilled to partner with our friends at the City of Farmington and San Juan County for the first annual Buddy Games, a celebration of athletes of all abilities and the joy of competition.

Riverview Golf Course served as the host for the golf portion of the Buddy Games, bringing participants together for a fun and welcoming day on the course. Golfers played nine holes in four-person teams, giving everyone the opportunity to compete, encourage their teammates, and enjoy the game.

The Buddy Games are a great example of how sports can create opportunities for connection, confidence, and belonging. While there was plenty of friendly competition throughout the day, the focus was on celebrating each athlete and creating an experience where everyone could participate and succeed.

For First Tee – Four Corners, being part of the inaugural event was a natural fit with our commitment to making the game of golf accessible and welcoming to everyone in our community.

We are grateful to the City of Farmington, San Juan County, Riverview Golf Course, the volunteers, and everyone who helped make the first Buddy Games a success. We look forward to seeing this new community tradition continue to grow!

Talking to your child about new teachers, classrooms and nerves

New school year, new teachers, new classrooms, new seat assignments, maybe even a new school altogether. For a lot of kids, all that “new” adds up to one familiar feeling: nerves.

As parents, it’s tempting to smooth things over with a quick, “You’ll be fine!” But some of the most valuable conversations happen when we slow down and make space for nervousness instead of rushing past it.

Honesty and respect are two of the lessons First Tee coaches aim to instill on the golf course, and they can be really valuable when it comes to addressing nerves heading into a new school year.

Encourage honest conversations

On the course, coaches encourage kids to be honest about their score, even when nobody’s watching and even when the number is not what they hoped for. That same kind of honesty is useful at the kitchen table in August.

Asking open-ended questions that inspire thoughtfulness can help kids better understand and process their feelings about a new school year. Try questions like:

“What’s one change you’re looking forward to about the new school year?”
“What’s one thing that feels a little uncertain right now?”

Honesty goes both ways in these conversations. Kids pick up when parents are anxious too — about carpool logistics, new schedules, a PTA role. Naming your own small uncertainties shows that nerves are normal and nothing to hide.

One important thing for parents to remember is that change is part of growing up, not a problem to fix. Show respect for your child’s feelings with phrases like:

“It’s normal that this doesn’t feel easy yet. Most things don’t feel easy on the first try.”
“You don’t have to have this figured out by Friday. Give it a few weeks.”
“Feeling a little nervous doesn’t mean something is wrong. It just means it’s new.”

That kind of language takes the pressure off kids to perform confidence they don’t feel and gives them permission to grow into the new situation the same way they grow into a new golf skill: with repetition, not perfection.

It’s important to teach kids that no one gets everything right. At First Tee, we view failure as the First Attempt In Learning. Mistakes happen and help us improve next time.

The bigger picture

Here are some questions to try in the car or at dinner as your child settles into their new routine:

“What’s something your new teacher does differently than last year?”
“Who did you sit with today and what did you learn about them?”
“What’s one thing you handled today that felt a little hard?”
“How can I help you get ready for tomorrow?”

The goal is not to eliminate their nerves but to help them build a habit of being honest about their feelings, a skill that will serve them into adulthood.

Building a positive self-identity provides kids with confidence to navigate challenges, setbacks and social pressures throughout life. When children learn to see themselves as capable, valued and worthy of respect, they’re more likely to form healthy relationships and take on new opportunities.

Find a First Tee location near you.

Leading with kindness: How Addi Schneider found her strengths

On and off the course, First Tee – West Michigan participant Addi Schneider is a true game changer, always leading others with kindness and empathy.

“Leadership isn’t just about achieving a goal,” Addi said. “It’s about having the grit to stay by someone’s side until they believe in their own potential.” That belief guides everything she does, and this week she is carrying it all the way to the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore in Montana.

A leader in the making

Addi has been involved with First Tee – West Michigan for five years and now serves as a First Tee volunteer coach. Beyond the course, she volunteers with her school’s Special Olympics program and serves as a peer mentor, supporting students with special needs in the classroom.

This spring, Addi took her leadership to the next level after participating in Leadership Series, a five-week program presented in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstores across the country that helps First Tee participants explore their strengths, values and possible career paths. There, she discovered her core strengths — discipline, focus and achievement. Now, she’s one of 40 participants attending Leadership Summit, where she’ll deepen her leadership skills through outdoor adventures and team-building activities.

A diagnosis that shaped her leadership style

Addi’s leadership style has been forged since first grade, when she was diagnosed with dyslexia.

The diagnosis brought real challenges: the frustration of falling behind her peers and moments when she felt like a burden to classmates and teachers. But as Addi grew older, her perspective shifted. Rather than viewing dyslexia as a weakness, she came to view it as a superpower that gave her a unique ability to empathize with others.

That empathy shows up every week during the classes Addi coaches as a volunteer coach, where she connects with participants, understands their struggles and works to instill confidence in each of them.

During one class discussion on positive self-identity, Addi asked participants to share how they live out one of First Tee values in their own lives. One response stuck with her: A participant said it doesn’t matter what others think. It matters what you think of yourself.

That moment reminded Addi of the impact she was making. “My greatest strength is the character I have that allows me to help students find their own voice,” she said. “And with that, the confidence to be themselves.”

She brings that same purpose to her high school’s peer-to-peer program, where she supports students with special needs. Having experienced firsthand what it feels like to struggle and fall behind, Addi understands that not every student learns the same way and leads with a commitment to provide each of them equal opportunities to succeed.

Looking ahead

Her experience with the program has encouraged her to pursue a degree in special education and minor in American Sign Language, working toward a world that values access, empathy and equality. She’s already living that mission today: “My daily goals are to lead with kindness and make a difference in others’ lives,” she said.

Addi’s journey has shaped her into a leader who meets people with patience, empathy, and unshakeable belief in their potential, and that journey is just getting started. In Montana, she will carry the same values that have guided her all along: discipline, focus and a heart for helping others find their voice.

How First Tee connected DJ Belcher to NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson and helped him land his dream internship

A youth development program usually does not come with a connection to seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. But that is exactly what the First Tee gave to Drake “DJ” Belcher: a relationship that helped him land an internship at William Morris Endeavor this summer, one of the top talent agencies in the country.

DJ is a rising junior at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, majoring in finance. Growing up in Greenville, South Carolina, he joined First Tee – Triad at around 7 years old. Since then, his time in the program has shaped both his professional growth and his desire to give back to the next generation of participants.

Growing beyond the fairway

Last summer, DJ interned with First Tee – Triad through its Historically Black College and University Internship Program, which connects student-athletes from HBCUs across the country with professional development opportunities and the chance to lead summer camps in underserved communities. The program is supported in part by an IDEA grant. The USGA has awarded more than $1 million in these grants to First Tee chapters over the last five years.

Determined to leave his mark on the sport, DJ did not just coach; he inspired. He helped participants grow and believe in their full potential. “I want to increase representation and increase diversity in the game,” he said. He put that mission into action by giving participants a firsthand look at the doors golf can open, both on and off the course. Little did he know that the same internship would soon open a door of his own.

An opportunity that changed everything

Always eager to learn from others, DJ used the internship to expand his professional network. After sharing that goal with Ryan Wilson, CEO of First Tee – Triad, he was offered the chance to caddie for Jimmie Johnson at the 2025 Wyndham Championship Pro-Am. He accepted without hesitation.

What began as meeting a well-known name in NASCAR grew into a much more personal relationship. During their time together, DJ shared his aspirations to work in the sports entertainment industry, where he hopes to negotiate contracts, oversee brand deals and develop athletes’ personal brands. Jimmie, in turn, shared that he was represented by WME and expressed that he would love to connect DJ with his representation team so he could gain more insight into opportunities within the agency industry.

“That was our first interaction,” DJ said. “We had only known each other for three hours. Having the ambition, the drive to really just want to do better for myself, want to expose myself to different environments — he recognized that and has been willing to share his experiences with me.”

After connecting with WME, DJ knew he had found a path worth pursuing. He made a point of thanking the employees he met and staying in touch afterward. That persistence paid off when he applied to WME’s internship program and was accepted as a brand partnerships intern in its New York City office.

Jimmie did not just help DJ get his foot in the door — he left him with advice to carry into the role: Take advantage of being young, approach every experience with an open mind and never hesitate to ask questions. DJ has taken that advice to heart, treating the internship less like a job and more like a mentorship experience, one built on curiosity and continuous growth.

A bond built to last

The relationship between DJ and Jimmie has only strengthened since their first encounter. “We have had a lot more time to bond and create more of a personal relationship than a transactional relationship,” DJ said. “We have a genuine bond.”

DJ credits Jimmie’s willingness to share his time and resources as a reflection of who he truly is: “It really speaks to his character, sharing his resources with people who are willing to put in the work for it.”

From attending Jimmie’s races to playing in Jimmie’s foundation golf tournaments, DJ is looking forward to continuing to strengthen his relationship with Jimmie and learning and growing from him at a personal level.

DJ’s story is proof of what is possible when curiosity meets ambition. With a mentor like Jimmie in his corner and a career only beginning to take shape, this is just the start of the path ahead for DJ.

Learn more about supporting First Tee programs to make opportunities available to participants in your area or around the globe.

First Tee, PGA TOUR Superstore bring 40 teens to Montana for 6th annual Leadership Summit

Actor Michael Peña and golf broadcaster Amanda Balionis headline this year’s guest speaker lineup.

EMIGRANT, Montana (Aug. 3, 2026) – Youth development organization First Tee and longtime partner PGA TOUR Superstore are hosting the 2026 First Tee Leadership Summit at West Creek Ranch, welcoming 40 participants for two weeks of leadership development set against the backdrop of Paradise Valley in Montana.

Now in its sixth year, the Leadership Summit pairs outdoor adventure with intentional reflection to foster personal growth. Participants take on horseback riding, whitewater rafting, a challenge course and archery, while leadership development experts and PGA TOUR Superstore staff guide sessions designed to help teens uncover their values, sharpen their communication and grow through new experiences.

Actor and First Tee Ambassador Michael Peña will serve as guest speaker the first week, and golf broadcaster Amanda Balionis will join the teens during the second week.

Bordered by the Yellowstone River, West Creek Ranch is owned by PGA TOUR Superstore chairman and First Tee Board Member Arthur M. Blank.

“First Tee Leadership Summit provides these teens with an incredible opportunity to grow, learn and build meaningful connections,” said Ralph Stokes, vice president of social impact, partnerships and community relations at PGA TOUR Superstore. “It reflects what makes First Tee so impactful: helping young people build character, develop life skills and discover their potential. At PGA TOUR Superstore, we are committed to investing in programs like this that empower the participants to grow into better players and people.”

“Golf is just the starting point for what we do at First Tee,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “Leadership Summit pushes teens to explore who they are, who they want to become and how they can lead with purpose. It is one of our most transformative opportunities, and we are grateful to PGA TOUR Superstore and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation for making it possible.”

Before applying for the Leadership Summit, each participant must complete the First Tee Leadership Series, a five-week program held at PGA TOUR Superstores across the U.S. This year’s group was selected from a competitive applicant pool and represents 31 First Tee chapters from across the country.

In addition to supporting the Leadership Series and Leadership Summit, PGA TOUR Superstore and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation support First Tee chapters through grants and in-kind donations.

Leadership Summit is one of several signature participant opportunities First Tee offers in support of its mission to build game changers through golf. For more information, visit firsttee.org.