Category: Blog

Merriam Webster defines achievement as to reach a goal; a result of hard work; the state or condition of having achieved or accomplished something. Today, we are able to toast to the latest achievement. One many years in the making. We’ll look back on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, as a day in history when two local teens were selected to attend The First Tee National Life Skills and Leadership Academy. While The First Tee of the Sandhills participants have been selected previously to attend the Life Skills and Leadership Academy, each special in their own way, this summer will have an asterisk in the record book. This summer two young ladies are helping break down barriers, ignite new interest and expand opportunities in their perspective communities. These young ladies don’t have Moore County addresses. They live in Ft. Bragg and Pembroke, respectively. Kennedi Whitener-Mason, 15, is a high school freshman at Pine Forest High School, resides in Ft. Bragg, NC. Kennedi joined The First Tee of the Sandhills in 2009 through exposure to the Life Skills Curriculum during a pilot program at Stryker Golf Course – then a partnership between The First Tee of the Sandhills and the Department of Defense – being offered exclusively to these families through a military grant. While this exclusive program has since concluded, our offerings at Stryker Golf Course and in Fayetteville at Baywood Golf Club have continued and are offered to members of the community, of all backgrounds. Kennedi is a very busy young lady, spending time as a 2nd Element Leader with the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps, Volunteering her time at Sea Turtle Camps, an active member of the Future Farmers of America, 4H Club and the NC Junior Fair Board – all while being the MVP on her High School Golf Team. While she carries a quiet demeanor initially, Kennedi is a driven, light hearted and fun teenager that is ready to tackle her big dreams and goals for success in high school and beyond. Kennedi was thrilled to receive the call of achievement from our office this week. When asked how it feels to not only be selected but to be the first to represent her community on the national level, Kennedi responded in saying, “I’m so excited to be selected to attend and equally excited to represent Ft. Bragg, NC while in Minnesota this summer. I’m looking forward to learning about how to be a more effective leader and to apply what I learn at the academy to my activities both on and off the golf course when I return. This will be one of the top 3 highlights of 2016 for me!” Alaina Malcolm, 17, is a junior at Robeson Early College High School and resides in Pembroke, NC. Alaina first joined The First Tee of the Sandhills in the summer of 2011, when programs kicked off at Pine Crest Country Club, in Lumberton. Alaina participated in The First Tee’s PLAYer and Par curriculum locally in Lumberton through 2014. In 2015 she passed assessments to move onto the Birdie Level program, a curriculum currently only offered in Pinehurst. Her commitment to the commute has paid off. We’ve enjoyed getting to know Alaina, see her blossom as a confident young lady, up and coming golfer and future leader – allowing her the opportunity to become eligible for national opportunities provided by The First Tee home office. Alaina stays busy as the treasurer of the Native American Student Association (NASA), a member of the Go Green Club, and volunteer with the Robeson County Teen Court – all while commuting to Purnell Swett High School where she competes on the varsity golf team, as her high school does not offer golf. While Alaina’s dad couldn’t contain his excitement for his daughter’s selection, he wanted to ensure she heard it directly from us, as well. Putting her on the phone to officially hear the news! Alaina’s delight was evident through the phone as she expressed gratitude and enthusiasm for what was to come. When asked to express her personal reaction to this achievement, Alaina reflected in saying, “I’m still struggling to express how grateful I am to join participants from all over the country to further develop my leadership skills while participating in a game that I have truly come to love since becoming a part of The First Tee of the Sandhills.” She went on to say, “As the first national selectee from Robeson County, I want to express my genuine thanks to the volunteers and friends of The First Tee of the Sandhills that made this opportunity possible for me. I’m especially thankful that they have made a commitment to my home county to expose the youth in our community to the Nine Core Values that are transferable to life in general. I’m hopeful that I’m the first of many from Robeson County to benefit from this, and many other, experiences.” Kennedi and Alaina’s experience at the Life Skills and Leadership Academy will take place in Blaine, Minnesota from July 6 to July 12. They will join more than 90 youth from across the country at this national event, providing participants valuable character education and leadership instruction, encouraging them to develop and hone skills to become leaders in our local chapter, school and community while experiencing championship golf, career exploration and dorm living. This week’s news in encouraging to our continued efforts within the communities of our chapter service area where The First Tee curriculum is beginning to gain strength and grow new interest. We look forward to seeing what Kennedi and Alaina bring back from Minnesota this summer and how we can collectively increase our achievements in their home town communities. Cheers to a new milestone at The First Tee of the Sandhills!

With my families first summer in the Sandhills under our belt and the second one quickly approaching, we feel more at ease for what opportunities it will bring and adventures our family of four can look to conquer. The first summer was all about survival. My husband and I both work full time so our needs don’t change just because the calendar says “look at me – its summer!” Our forecast instead revolves around answering these questions – what’s the best place for the kids to spend their day? Will they have fun, learn something new or be bored? Will they be safe? Will they be required to continue to follow rules? Is it cost effective? Whether age 5 or 15, these questions remain the same. At The First Tee of the Sandhills we ponder the same questions in advance of summer every year. Working to ensure that our summer offerings are meeting the needs of the various communities we support. Needs that look very different here at our office in Pinehurst, east of us in Fayetteville or southeast in Lumberton. This summer we are excited to roll out two new opportunities in the Sandhills. One for our youngest participants, age 5 and 6, and the other for our oldest, teenagers! In partnership with Aberdeen Parks & Rec we will host a TARGET 1 program on their baseball fields off Highway 5 on Thursday mornings at 9:00am and 10:15am. TARGET 1 is a program geared for those youngsters eager to try out golf while still being able to run around and express themselves away from the quieter confines of the golf course. It’s sure to be a fun mix of learning and structure along with challenges and games. This program will be every Thursday for five weeks beginning June 23. One misconception in the world of The First Tee is you must join early. In actuality that’s not the case at all. A 13, 14 or 15 yr old can join The First Tee having played golf their whole life or having never picked up a club. For this nucleus of teenagers we’ve created our PLAYer for Teens program. A chance for Teens to get engaged in The First Tee, its curriculum and take advantage of the high school age benefits while not being paired up with their much younger sibling. With the timing of school dismissal and lag to get to a golf course, during the year this program runs on Saturday afternoons at Country Club of Whispering Pines. Having once been a teenager, we all know that most would rather be at the lake on a Saturday afternoon in the summer. Well, this summer we are starting something new. A Teen Club – of sorts – thanks to the support of Knollwood Fairways and their Professional Staff. For six Tuesday evenings this summer, beginning June 21, teens will join us for a special series. Here’s the game plan – they’ll get dropped off at 4:30pm and pair up with fellow participants and adult volunteers to head out for an on course experience. Around 6:00pm everyone will come together inside Knollwood Fairways clubhouse to cool off and enjoy dinner, on us. For the last 45 mins, or so, they’ll go back outside to work on what they learned on course while using The First Tee curriculum as their compass – all wrapping up around 7:00 – 7:15pm. Whether you have a 5 yr old, teenager, or someone in between, we have over 20 programs lined up for summer fun. Make sure to visit our website now, www.firstteesandhills.org, to find the right fit for your youngster. Registration opens Monday, May 9 at 9:00am!

The role of Secretary for a Board of Directors can be described using a range of verbs from daunting, cumbersome and underappreciated to essential, critical and fundamental – all spilled over in one long breath of conversation. It’s a need that makes one feel constantly in and out of the conversation during a board meeting as you’re trying to accurately account for the meetings happenings while also engaging in critical conversation. And, probably, one of the most difficult roles to fill and keep for a full term. Jennifer Nguyen, full time proud parent of three The First Tee participants, Real Estate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway, Vacation Property Management Owner, Military Family Support Group leader and Wife added ‘The First Tee of the Sandhills Board Member and Secretary” to her list of roles in 2013. At the time the chapter’s Board of Directors felt it was important to have a seat on the board for a parent of a participant. Someone that could provide an additional set of eyes and ears within our programs while also offer a different perspective to the rest of the board. What they didn’t realize they were getting was a fiery and passionate, kindhearted and grounded, momma bear that was ready to put her stamp on the programs and make a difference in our communities in any way that was needed. It was early last year when the phone rang at our office and our Board President, at the time, Dorson White, was on the other end. His business and personal schedules had crumbled and he needed to back out of attending The First Tee’s Network Meeting in Dallas, Texas. After a brief moment of panic, as it was mandatory that a board member attend the annual meetings, Jennifer came to mind. Her daughter, Lizzy, a high school Sophomore at the time, was set to receive recognition at the meetings as well as speak to an audience of 800 key business leaders. So, in theory, it would be a perfect fit and ask. I remember the conversation going something like this, “Hey Jennifer, it’s Courtney – at The First Tee”, “Hey, What’s Up!?!”, “I need your help”, “Of course, what is it?”, “I need you to come with us to Dallas for Network Meetings”, “Umm….. Ok…. Let me get back to you.” What felt like hours went by and then, finally, “Ok, I’m there”. We barely knew each other but our passion for The First Tee’s mission, vision and opportunities aligned and that got us on a plane to Dallas. After a round of margaritas, a heart to heart about the future for The First Tee of the Sandhills, and a side of chips and salsa, a special bond had been formed. One that meant she would support me when I was headed in the right direction and was ready to tell me when I needed to look at things from a different perspective. What I learned about Jennifer that night was that she’s had a wide range of life experiences. Experiences that make her who she is and bring a special skill set to our board room. From her family’s travels with husband Thong’s position in the military, her capability to find job opportunities in new cities, and her amazing outlook and ability to move past bumps in the road with her head held high. Jennifer was, and still is, fully submerged in her role and responsibilities as a member of the Board of Directors. She’s a self-proclaimed “lifer” to The First Tee and we couldn’t be more grateful.

As a teenager in the ‘90s there was not many things in life that I had to apply for and wait to hear if I was selected. If you wanted to attend a summer camp, go on a field trip or play in a local golf tournament, you simply signed up, paid a fee and marked your calendar. Today, the landscape has drastically changed. While many local and statewide activities exist for teens, so do regional and national activities, ones that definitely never made the news in Lee County in the 90s. March kicks off application session at The First Tee. Annually the home office provides regional and national experiences for chapter youth to apply for participation in. Ranging from College Prep Academies, Golf Competitions, Scholars Programs, Corporate Seminars and so much more. These opportunities include an application process consisting of participant essays, letters of recommendation, transcripts and even interviews by third parties. A far cry from the processes my family endured while my brother and I were teenagers. The tip of the iceberg is that once our local participants apply, we have the tough decision to determine which applications are strong enough to submit in representation of our chapter through the selection process of the national review committee. Curious what an essay question for the participant may look like? The most recent submission process was for the 2015 – 2016 Scholars Program where participants were asked to describe the value participating in The First Tee has had in their life by using a personal narrative about one of the Life Skills they have learned. Participants were asked to include examples of personal growth, development of leadership traits, and golf skill development. Finally, how these lessons will help them succeed in college. All in 500 words or less. Initially I’m overwhelmed to think that a 17 year old is experienced enough to be able to clearly dictate this request, because honestly at 17 I don’t think I was, was I? Then, I take a step back and realize that our high school seniors really have had a high level of education, experience and mentorship over the last several years to compose their answers. Interested in hearing some of their answers? One participant, now 17, reflects on his younger years of feeling shy, scared and uncomfortable meeting new people and trying new activities. Because of his healthy experiences with coaches and fellow participants, he started to look forward to what used to be a new experience at The First Tee as well as began improving his golf game. Later he learned how to set goals that are positive and important to himself. While initially hesitant of what other’s reaction might be to his goals, he embraced his golf goal of overcoming the anxious nerves of tournament competition and desire to not get sick leading up to his first shot of the day. Through encouragement from his coaches and reflecting on his goal ladder, he had a new found confidence and ability to enter new experiences and environments without hesitation.     Another participant, who will be playing on the Women’s Team at UNC Pembroke next fall, also wrote her essay on how to set goals. She reflected on an early lesson learned at The First Tee discussing how to create an image of what you want to achieve. Because she was able to successfully apply these skills to goal setting in high school, she has already set short and long term goals for college including her desired graduation GPA, school organizations she would like to join, golf accomplishments and more. In her wrap up, she reflected on how The First Tee teaches you to state a goal has a lot to do with whether you reach it. She has learned to state her goals positively, make them important and specific to her and ensure they are under her control.   We want know for a few weeks if either of these participants were selected to the Scholars Program. Though sitting back and reading their personal essays, teacher recommendations and seeing the sparkle of hope in their eye tells me regardless of the outcome, they will be ok. The application process is now an experience in itself, one that I may not have been capable of 17 years ago but am glad that in the future my children will be poised and prepared to tackle their own applications, due to their lessons along the way.

It’s always exciting when we get to welcome new families to The First Tee of the Sandhills. In fact, new families are great because they keep us on our toes and help ensure we have crossed our t’s and dotted our i’s. Once a parent has registered their child for one of our Life Skills Curriculum programs their first question typically is, “what should my son or daughter expect to do the first few weeks at The First Tee?” The First Tee module is a new concept to many, it’s not a golf academy, it’s not a team sport or an after school club; it’s a junior golf program with a mission. So, their question is valid and encouraged. We believe that sports, especially the game of golf, provide a platform to encourage core values and healthy choices. Therefore our mission is to shape the lives of young people from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect and perseverance while learning the game of golf. Our most widely available curriculum program is called PLAYer. PLAYer is the first program level of The First Tee and is a required starting point for any child age 7 and up. During the PLAYer curriculum a child is introduced to playing the game of golf while emphasis is made to learning The First Tee Code of Conduct, appreciating the rules and etiquette of the game and developing a game plan for golf and life. A child will spend between one and three years participating in The First Tee at the PLAYer level. Variations occur based on the child’s age, frequency in attendance and readiness to advance to the next level through our certification process. Every class at the PLAYer level includes a warm-up, focus of the day (golf skill, life skill and behavior), and a wrap-up. So, Parker, has signed up for his first PLAYer program at CC of Whispering Pines and wants to know what it’s going to be like. Well, it’s absolutely going to be fun. Our coaches and volunteers love what they do and especially love seeing new faces at programs! Upon arrival, Parker will be encouraged to check himself in to the participant notebook, find his name tag and then join the group. At the start of class all the participants will join Coach Curtis as he introduces the plans for the day and learns a little more about the new group. The first few week’s lessons are focused around showing respect and courtesy toward others. So, a warm up activity that Parker may have the first week would be practicing shaking hands when greeting others while learning how to introduce himself. This is a difficult task for many, young and old! And, later, Coach Curtis may ask Parker if he remembers what color Daniels eyes were. Why? Because, you haven’t properly shaken hands if you’re not looking each other in the eyes! Once everyone is physically and mentally warm, participants will break into small groups to tackle their activities of the day. Activities may vary coach to coach but it’s safe to say that the first few weeks will include exploration of the golf course facility, what it means to be target-orientated when playing golf and incorporating fun games that can teach and test Parker’s ability to play towards a target. During the last five to ten minutes of class Parker, his fellow participants, Coach Curtis and all the volunteers will come back together for a group wrap-up. Wrap-Up gives the coaches an opportunity to ask questions, find out about everyone’s experiences and leave Parker and his new friends with a final bridge to golf and life component. Potentially even a ‘task’ to think about until he sees Coach Curtis next Saturday. The 75 or so minutes that Parker spends with Coach Curtis may seem quick but our lesson plans are laid out to provide just enough time to learn, have fun and want to come back next week. So, if you are new to The First Tee of the Sandhills this spring, I would encourage you to call or stop by the office and ask questions. Your first-time, parent of a participant, questions not only help your family but all the other new parents. We want to make sure you are armed with the proper knowledge and preparedness for 2016 and beyond!

At 3:00am a mere 368 days ago my alarm sounded off, alerting me the day had arrived. The day my family had been anxiously anticipating for a month or so. Moving Day. By 4:00am my dad and I were on the road, both cars packed to the brim, headed north on I-95 to meet the moving trucks here in Pinehurst by 10:30am. The drive was honestly a complete fog. I had filled up on coffee, Red Bull, Bojangles and car snacks during the drive and without much recollection safely arrived in town to pick up the rental keys and head to the house. Once I opened that door, the next chapter of our family’s story would officially begin. Though, it wasn’t until two weeks later that my husband and children would be able to officially relocate, giving me time to adjust and prepare a house to be our home for their arrival. Three days later, one year ago today, I eagerly walked into an unfamiliar office carrying an overstuffed tupperware of work belongings, double wrapped with packing tape, guarded not to explode. The sign on the door read, The First Tee of the Sandhills, a trademark full of history, passion and promise. Looking back on my first 365 days at The First Tee, I don’t regret a thing. Except maybe to have had the opportunity to take more advantage of the forty plus golf courses that call Moore County home. To be frank, this time last year feels like an eternity ago. It has probably been the fastest year to date, with so many activities, projects and experiences packed in that it feels like we moved ages ago. I’m proud to have had the opportunity to be a part of The First Tee of the Sandhills in 2015. Proud of our staff, volunteers and supporters for helping make it a year to remember. With 2016 spring programs registration opening next week, 2015 is firmly in the review mirror. A benchmark for future success. Jamie Martin and I are excited to continue planning and providing a quality Life Skills Curriculum program to youth throughout the Sandhills while interjecting some extra FUN into the year. In 2016, we will be offering Skills Days in between Life Skills Curriculum sessions, giving our youth that have gotten the golf bug, an opportunity to work on and improve their golf skills and keep the dust off their clubs. Allowing our curriculum through golf to be the larger focus during the eight week programs in the spring, summer and fall. A new addition to our office is the Reward Room. Whether it’s earning A/B Honor Roll, having perfect attendance at programming, completing a national participant opportunity or volunteering in the community; we are excited to invite participants to pick out a fun gift. From sleeves of golf balls, ball caps, water bottles, golf shoes and everything in between, it’s a well-deserved reward for their hard work and commitment. All graciously donated my members of our community! For the first time, this summer, participants will have the opportunity to play with us in the PGA Junior League, representing our chapter in a team environment while enjoying comradery with other area juniors. We are thrilled to have been invited to join the league and look forward to the new experiences! These are a glimpse into some of our new FUN plans for 2016 and there is even more to come! Personally, I’m looking forward to being a part of the next 365 days at The First Tee of the Sandhills, adding to our history, igniting new passion and delivering on the promise we’ve made to ourselves to be a positive influence on the next generation.

They motivate us. They help us plan for the future. They give us a purpose. They make us feel proud and satisfied when we reach them. A few weeks ago I introduced you to Personal Par and how you can incorporate the concept into accomplishing your New Year’s Resolution. For those of you still engaged in your resolutions, I would like to share a glimpse into The First Tee’s Birdie Level programs. While the Par level of The First Tee Life Skills Experience focused on interpersonal communication and self-management skills, once participants are the minimum age of 11 and successfully assess into the Birdie level program, the focus will move to an emphasize on goal-setting. So, why is this important to those New Year Resolutions you wrote down a few weeks ago? By implementing some of the following lesson tips you will ensure you are setting reachable goals while devising a plan to achieve the goal and overcome challenges. After Birdie level participants learn the correlation between dreams and goals they will then be introduced to four guidelines that will clarify and focus their goals, increasing their chance of being able to reach them. The guidelines for setting a reachable goal include: the goal is positive, the goal is important to you, the goal is specific and the goal is under your control. If I started by saying, “I don’t want to keep chipping bad,” I would need to change my goal to be “I want to improve my chipping,” and then even more specifically, “I want to hit my chip shots within 10 feet of the hole by April.” Finally, I have to figure out if this goal is actually under my control. What’s under your control in golf? Your attitude. What you do and how you act. The steps you go through before making a stroke. How confident you feel. How much water you drink while playing. How much sleep you get the night before you play. How you decide to play a shot. How much you practice. What’s not under your control in golf? How others play, act and feel. Bad bounces. Whether that putt decides to drop in the edge. What others say or think about you. How hot, cold, windy or rainy it is. How hard the course is. How much other people practice. So, is my goal under my control? Well, how much I practice my chipping, my pre-shot routine, my attitude before I hit a chip and my confidence over the shot are all in my control. But, a bad bounce, how the shot turns out and the weather elements on the day of play will not be in my control. Therefore, I should probably adjust my goal one more time to be, “I want to have the ability to hit my chip shots within 10 feet of the hole 5 out of 10 times by April 1.” Now that my goal is positive, important, specific and under my control; I need to create a goal ladder to help climb towards my goal. Building a goal ladder is the final focus of the Birdie level of The First Tee. Participants are taught to think of a plan as a ladder. Putting the easiest steps at the bottom of the ladder and the harder ones toward the top. Goal Ladders allow participants to see how far they have come and have far they have left to go. In the case of my chipping goal, I want to come up with five steps to help me achieve the goal. In order from the bottom of the ladder, my prongs would include: Ask for help on the proper way to chip consistently, practice proper technique, practice my ‘in the air’ distance control, practice combining the course factors between my ball and the hole in determining how far I need to fly my chip, stop the ball 5 out of 10 times within a ten foot circle. It looks like I have a lot to work on! Personally and professionally I have a lot of goals for 2016. Now is the time to revisit the original list, re-write them down more specifically, confirm they are reachable and start drawing out a goal ladder to work towards achievement. I’m encouraging you to figure out what your goal ladder looks like for 2016 and beyond! Shoot me a note and let us know!

In golf, par is used as a measure of performance for players, but one that many never attain regularly. On the contrary, Personal Par is a measure of performance that varies from one player to another, and is based on his or her current abilities. For example, when I was actively competing in tournaments, after practice rounds I would set my personal par for the golf course to have a par 5 actually read as a par 4 or vice versa, setting a goal and expectation for my competitive round later that week. But today, longer par 4s are quickly re-written as par 5s and my personal par is a higher, but still an attainable goal for the day. Personal Par is a tool that can be applied to any process or performance task. Once an individual determines ‘where they are now,’ they can work to challenge themselves to improve on their personal performance measures. Finding Your Personal Par is part of the Par level curriculum of The First Tee. Participants receiving this lesson have successfully completed the PLAYer level curriculum, are a minimum of 9 years old and have spent two to three years actively engaged in programs. In golf and at The First Tee, players are encouraged to play with their Personal Par in mind, not giving too much attention to what Par for the course is or to what others in their group are doing. A great tip for determining your Personal Par in golf is this: The next three times you play the same golf course, from the same tees, save your scorecards and come up with a realistic par for each hole based on the scores you achieved over those three rounds. Then, next time you play, use your new scorecard to try and achieve, or better, your Personal Par. Remember, this is your current personal par, after a handful of new rounds I would encourage you to re-calculate an updated Personal Par for future play! How do we translate Personal Par to home and school with our youth? For example, we ask participants to think of an activity they do – and would like to improve on – such as chores, homework assignments, brushing their teeth or arriving at class on time. Then we ask them to estimate how many times they currently do the activity in a week and write that number down as their personal par. Participants are encouraged to try and improve on their personal par over the next few weeks of programming and we check back with them as a group to see where their progress stands. So, as you are thinking through your New Year’s Resolutions, I would encourage you to use Personal Par in your process. If your resolution involves wellness and physical activity, then I would encourage you to use categories such as how many times you engage in physical activity, eat nutritious meals or snacks, get at least seven hours of sleep, and how many glasses of water you drink. Attach an estimate of how many times you currently do this activity as your Personal Par and then simply try to improve! Personal Par is a great self-management technique you can utilize to acquire and develop confidence on and off the golf course! Don’t forget to continue to evaluate and make adjustments to your Personal Par throughout the year!

While Christmas is only a few short days away and the New Year will soon follow, we must not forget to look back at all that 2015 provided. Though, at The First Tee of the Sandhills, we have spent the last few weeks completing paperwork and organizing the chaos that success of 2015 created, we continue to be excited about the impact that was made this year. With the support of our volunteers, sponsors and community partners we reached hundreds of youth across the Sandhills, both on and off the golf course, through The First Tee programs and initiatives. In 2015 we offered 48 curriculum programs across 11 green grass facilities in the Sandhills while adding a program scholarship to ensure that no child is left behind. Our energetic volunteers welcomed 250 new participants to these programs! In addition we hosted 19 outreach classes throughout Moore, Cumberland and Robeson Counties, introducing a diverse group of youth to The First Tee’s passion of combining fun golf activities with core values! Bryan D’Ostroph was named our 2014 – 2015 Bill Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund Recipient just in time to head off to Washington and Lee University for his freshman year. From March to October we were privileged to celebrate 13 national participant opportunity selections, a Sandhills chapter record! And, 20% of our participants received recognition for earning A/B Honor Roll at their respective schools during the spring semester. As always, it takes a village to make these things happen. We rely on our wonderful volunteers to help coach our classes, mentor our youth, assist in the office, reach out to the community and so much more. This year we welcomed 22 new volunteers to The First Tee of the Sandhills who, combined with our returning support base, provided over 2,500 hours of community service in the Sandhills. THANK YOU! Equally important is the backing from our supporters that allows us to operate our programs, offer scholarships to our youngsters, provide continued education to coaches and staff, ensure program quality is unmatched and so much more. These individuals and businesses support helps to cement, grow and expand our programs while putting new, innovative plans in place during the year ahead. THANK YOU to each and every individual, business and foundation that contributed to our efforts in 2015. So, as we are all eager to look ahead to our 2016 calendars, what’s in store for The First Tee of the Sandhills? I’m glad you asked! We are looking to expand our outreach footprint to include consistent programs in northern Moore County while launching after school activities at Middle School’s across the Sandhills – an initiative that Southern Middle School as excitedly raised their hand to be the lab for! We plan to introduce the TARGET program to youth ages 5 and 6 around Cumberland and Robeson counties while growing our volunteer base in these communities to prepare for future curriculum programs for youngsters age 7 and older. Our Bill Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund will grow to include three collegiate scholarship opportunities for participants actively enrolled in The First Tee of the Sandhills as well as alumni. Quite possibly the most important, we will continue to build on our existing foundation while ensuring we are providing a high quality program. To circle back to my first blog of 2015, we are BUILDING MOMENTUM! From the Board of Directors and staff, our sincere thanks for your support in 2015 and continued support in 2016 and beyond. Best wishes to you and your family for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

In June of 2007, Cole and I were married and that Christmas we received our first joint card from The Walker’s – Cole’s Aunt, Uncle and three cousins. This was no ordinary card, it was more like a family newsletter with ad space dedicated to highlight each member’s year, a few photos and then a little bit of space left over for general family commentary and well wishes. We are looking forward to receiving our 9^th card from the Walker’s in a few short weeks, in fact, we better make sure they have our new address!  Anticipating their annual newsletter has allowed me to reflect on 2015 and contemplate what would go into a newsletter of my own, a personal version and a professional version. I vaguely remember the month of January, probably because it was full of packing, cleaning, saying goodbye to friends, moving, unpacking and finally sleeping. But, I do remember February and March. My first two months here in the Sandhills. I was once again faced with packing, cleaning and unpacking – but this time it was for work. In those first 60 days we moved offices, traveled to Dallas for a week long national conference and I somehow managed to squeeze in over 45 meetings with community members. During those crazy first 60 days Jamie, our Program Director, did a great job of getting me up to speed with a who’s who in the world of programs, volunteers, coaches and contacts. And one of the who’s who that really stuck out, and I had the opportunity to see during those 45 meetings, was the Silver Foils.  What a dynamic group of women with so many passions, similar and unique, that come together weekly to support the needs and missions of our communities. Not only with The First Tee but other organizations such as supporting the Given Memorial Library, the Red Cross, dressing up at Clowns for the hospital, and so much more. Today, through the support of 30 Silver Foils, Pinehurst #6 staff and lead coach Charlaine Hirst, The First Tee of the Sandhills is able to offer ‘Just for Girls’ curriculum programs on Tuesday afternoons, year round. In 2015, we saw 70 girls between the ages of 7 and 13 participate in this unique curriculum experience. Next year will mark 10 years of support from the Silver Foils for ‘girl’s golf’ in the Sandhills. An initiative that did not originally start in conjunction with The First Tee. To provide a little history, in the spring of 2006, the Silver Foils met and determined that they wanted to find an organization to support that would involve continuing contributions and commitment for many years, not just a one-time project.  Soon after they chose to partner with the newly formed LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Club, which happened to be formed locally, and separately, by then Executive Director of The First Tee of the Sandhills, Al Arrigoni. A program and initiative that was at the heart of the Silver Foils, an opportunity to share their love for golf, it’s inherent values and traditions, with young girls in and around ‘the home of golf’.     Programs initially kicked off at Pine Bluff CC but over the years moved to other area facilities including the Pit Golf Links, Whispering Woods CC, Longleaf CC and Little River Golf Club. In addition, they hosted special events for the girls like ‘behind the scenes’ tours for the upcoming US Women’s Open at Pine Needles Resort & Lodge as well as professional clinics with staff at Pinehurst Country Club. Then, in 2012 the Silver Foils determined a need to realign their focus of the ‘girl’s golf’ model and pitched the concept to The First Tee of the Sandhills for inclusion in ongoing weekly curriculum programs. The four-week pilot program for this model was a hit in the fall of 2012 and by spring 2013 the “Just for Girls” program officially took off thanks to the commitment from facility host, Pinehurst #6, volunteer coordinator and Silver Foil, Karen Plankar and golf professionals Charlaine Hirst and Shannon Smith Scott.  Thanks to the generosity and support of these individuals and entities, over the last three years, The First Tee of the Sandhills Just for Girls program has been able to triple its reach to young girls in our communities. While we have no intentions of slowing down, neither do the Silver Foils, proving their energy and commitment to the program is strong as they have doubled their volunteer base! We would like to offer a special thank you to Karen Plankar for leading, scheduling, nagging and motivating a wonderful group of volunteers over the years. Her guidance has helped cement the partnership between our two entities while forming a special relationship between the Silver Foils and Just for Girls participants at Pinehurst #6. Today, Karen is able to confidently pass the baton and join the group as ‘a staple support volunteer’ while Jimmie Hepner takes over the reigns as the new scheduler, planner and motivator. Thank you to the Silver Foils for holding a special memory in my look back at 2015, for opening your arms and hearts to my goals and passions for The First Tee Just for Girls programs and allowing me to join you on Tuesday’s at Pinehurst #6. Here’s to another ten years of girl’s golf in the Sandhills! PS: My daughter is eagerly awaiting her seventh birthday so she can join the Silver Foils for Just for Girls curriculum!

A mere 22 days ago my house was recovering from a fun filled evening of trick or treating and candy eating, a Halloween celebration that spread across two weekends with school carnivals, church wide trunk or treats and door knocking. Yet, in just 33 days we will celebrate Christmas. A holiday that also has spread across a multi week time period as we look to celebrate with classmates, co-workers and family members near and far. Sandwiched between October 31 and December 25 is Thanksgiving, falling on the fourth Thursday in November since 1940.  As our children begin to get older, the history of this holiday – the true meaning, has become of interest to me. Today, it feels to me that the media and day to day demands have recycled Thanksgiving as a time to encourage individuals to express general gratitude through the celebration of food and spending money while kicking off the Holiday gift giving. Instead of standing alone as a significant day that deserves its own place on the calendar without the commotion of other activities in the works. Through research I found that the ‘reason’ for the Thanksgiving celebration, which for a few hundred years did not take place on the same day, varied. The 1623 celebration marked the end of a long drought and a celebration of successful crop growing. During the American Revolution, Continental Congress designated multiple days of Thanksgiving a year. In 1789, George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States, calling Americans to express gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country’s war of independence. Then, at the height of the Civil War, in 1863, Abraham Lincoln made a proclamation entreating all Americans to ask God to ‘commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife’ and to ‘heal the wounds of the nation.’ Lincoln was the first to schedule Thanksgiving for a set date, selecting the final Thursday in November. During the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt moved the holiday up one week in an attempt to spur retail sales. A decision that was met with passionate opposition, but has stuck since 1940. Reflecting on my findings has allowed me to embrace the true reason, in my eyes, for Thanksgiving even more this year. It is uplifting to see that over time Thanksgiving was celebrated with diversity. A diverse group of individuals coming together to share in celebration and enjoy the available crop. A diverse number of reasons to celebrate each year and to reflect on previous celebrations. Stirring up history makes my heart swell for all I have to be thankful for this year, both personally and professionally. Our staff and board at The First Tee of the Sandhills has strived to ensure we are showing thanks ‘every step of the way’ as we have treaded through a year of change and success both on and off the course. We are bursting with thanks for the opportunity to have retained relationships with volunteers, participants, community leaders and businesses while also making inroads in the execution of new plans, new faces in our volunteer line up, new participants in our curriculum programs and new partnerships with businesses and individual supporters. We are thankful that so many share in our passion for the mission and vision of The First Tee of the Sandhills. To ensure that a diverse group of young people across the Sandhills are being provided the opportunity to develop and grow through mentorship and character education, giving them the exposure needed to become better citizens tomorrow and helping to make a lasting impact in our communities – all while enjoying the game of golf! Thursday gives us an opportunity to reflect on a year of gratitude, but in actuality, we are thankful each and every day.