Why Golf?

Experiences are our greatest teacher. First Tee believes in developing the ones that are just as fun as they are meaningful, where kids feel excited to grow, safe to fail, and better equipped for whatever comes their way next. Through our personal growth and junior golf programs, we see kids’ build self confidence, inspiring more active participation in leadership opportunities and events, community involvement, and college scholarships.

At First Tee – Four Corners, we’re Building Game Changers by empowering kids and teens to be the best version of themselves.

Register My Child

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 First Tee 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 6-8

  • 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 9-11

  • 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

Program Locations

Riverview Golf Course
PO Box 360 / #64 County Road 6520 Kirtland, NM 87417

505-598-0140 (Riverview GC) or (505) 334-4291 (First Tee Office Phone)

Thomas Yost, PGA Teaching Professional and First Tee Director of Programs, First Tee Recognized Coach First Tee – Four Corners Programming Locations for 2021

Piñon Hills Golf Course and Civitan Golf Course

2101 Sunrise Parkway Farmington, NM 87402

(505) 326-6066 (Pinon Hills GC) or (505) 599-1194 (Civitan GC)

Luke Tanner, PGA Head Golf Professional and First Tee Level 1 Coach

Hillcrest Golf Club

2300 Rim Road Durango, CO 81301

(970) 247-1499

Michael McCloskey, PGA Head Golf Professional and First Tee Level 1 Coach

Conquistador Golf Club

2018 N. Dolores Road Cortez, CO 81321

(970) 565-9208

Micah Rudosky, PGA Professional and The First Tee Level 1 Coach

San Juan Country Club

5775 Country Club Drive Farmington, NM 87402

(505) 325-6276

Joel Atson and Fay Beyale, Assistant Golf Professionals and First Tee Level 1 Coaches