Category: Volunteers

Volunteer Spotlight: Mike

Mike grew up in Pontiac, Michigan. After joining the Army and becoming a paratrooper, he moved to Fayetteville to continue his training and career. Mike always had an interest in golf so when his term of service ended and his wife’s coworker suggested First Tee, he knew it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass on. Mike wanted to share his love and knowledge of the game with the next generation.

“I wish I’d had the opportunity to do this as a child, so I’m thrilled that I can introduce a younger generation to the sport. My favorite moments from the spring season were when I was out coaching at Gates Four Golf & CC. When I would see a kiddo struggling with a chip or putt, I would give them a word of advice and encouragement. Seeing them apply it and cheering after a good shot makes it worth it.”

Volunteer Spotlight: Paul

Paul is originally from Lewiston, Maine but spent much of his life in Phoenix, Arizona working and raising his two sons with wife Diane. Like many, Paul moved to Pinehurst after retiring to enjoy the multitude of golf courses the area has to offer. He started volunteering his skills with First Tee – Sandhills four years ago. Thanks to Paul, our Equipment Loan Program has expanded and become a huge success . He single handedly took hundreds of senior, ladies, and adult clubs and converted them to junior sizes so they would be ready to put in our kiddos hands!

“I received a handwritten letter from a young girl personally thanking me for cutting down her putter at the last minute so she could use it in a tournament the next day. The letter still hangs in my shop today. It reminds me that our future is in good hands with kids from First Tee – Sandhills.”

Volunteer Spotlight: Tracey

Tracey is originally from Grand Forks, North Dakota, but spent most of her adult years in Florida establishing a career in public assembly facility management. Tracey often vacationed to Pinehurst. When the opportunity to move to North Carolina presented itself, she and her family packed up and settled in. Tracey became involved with First Tee – Sandhills to share her passion and love for golf with young kids in the community. She loves watching the kids grow in confidence and skill throughout each season.

What attracted me to volunteering for First Tee was the opportunity to work with kids. I love the approach of working on core values while learning to play the game of golf. The two go hand-in-hand beautifully.”

Volunteer Spotlight: John

Originally from the cold, snowy state of Michigan, John and his wife moved to Pinehurst for the warmer weather and promise of green golf courses. Since his own were little, John has enjoyed coaching and setting good examples for kids at a young age. In 2020, John joined our volunteer team. Since then, his passion for continuance learning has led John through Level II Coach training. And, his love of engineering landed him a key role on our STEM Camp Curriculum team. This spring, you can find Coach John at Pinewild CC on Tuesdays!

“I am really drawn to First Tee’s mission of enabling kids to build character and life skills through the game of golf. Seeing how many kids keep coming back each spring, summer and fall…. seeing them start progressing through the program… they continue to be excited and engaged week after week… it tells me we are doing something right. And, I just really love that!”

Volunteer Spotlight: Hayden

Hayden spent many years of his childhood in the Pinehurst area, so it is not surprise he started his golfing career early. Before the age of five, Hayden had already been gifted his first set of clubs. He attended First Tee golf camps in the summer and spent many hours with his dad and brother on the golf course growing in the game and learning important values like patience. Hayden moved out of the area when he was in high school, but his love of golf never wavered. After finishing college, Hayden relocated back to Pinehurst and began working at Charles Schwab as a financial consultant. Hayden was looking for ways to give back to the community and remembered the fun he had as kid with First Tee – Sandhills. Hayden’s love and passion for golf along with his endless supply of patience made him the perfect fit to be a coach!

“After volunteer coaching over the last three years, I can say that I really enjoy coming to class and seeing the kids improve during each eight – week program under our guidance and encouragement. The coaches I’ve volunteered with and the camaraderie we share makes it an easy decision to come back each season. This is truly a place full of great adults, teens and kids!”

Meet Aubriana Bishop

Aubriana Bishop, a freshly minted First Tee – Sandhills Alumni has expanded her role with our chapter this fall as an Intern.

Aubriana joined our chapter four years ago as a teen new to golf, quickly jumped in volunteering with programs, and had the opportunity to attend a National First Tee Participant Opportunity the summer after her junior year in high school. We are thrilled to have Aubriana take on this expanded role and our local chapter. Here’s a quick snapshot about Aubriana Bishop:

First Tee – Sandhills: Tell me a little about yourself? First Tee experience and future goals/endeavors/golf experience?

Aubriana Bishop: Hi all! I like to go by Aubri and I’m a freshman at Sandhills Community College! I started playing golf in 9th grade when I joined the Union Pines High School golf team! It was scary joining with absolutely no experience, but I was a quick learner and had First Tee to help me out! For the rest of high school, I leaned on my time at First Tee to build on my skills. Soon enough, I was not only the team captain, but one of the top players in my district! As for my school ambitions, after getting my associates degree, my goal is to major in a specialty of biological science, most likely genetics! I plan to at least get a masters and hopefully even a PhD in the future. Going into research as a career would be my dream, so I’m working hard to make that a reality!

First Tee – Sandhills: What do you love most about First Tee?

Aubri: My favorite part of First Tee is the connections I’ve been able to make. I get to meet people from all sorts of backgrounds and have made some wonderful friends along the way. Both in the lessons and when coaching, there’s always a fun and inviting atmosphere that I find unique and extraordinary. Its what made me keep coming back year after year for classes, then volunteering, and now my first internship!

First Tee – Sandhills: Who is your favorite women’s golfer and why?

Aubri: My favorite women’s golfer is definitely Lydia Ko! She’s not only a fabulous player, but honestly just seems like a nice down to earth person. She’s extremely inspirational for her amazing skills and performance despite being so young. In between her world records, she’s always smiling and laughing. I value her attitude over anything. You can just tell she’s there because she truly loves the sport.

First Tee – Sandhills: One piece of advice you’d give to First Tee Participants.

Aubri: The best piece of advice I could give First Tee kids is something I wish I could go back and tell my younger self: you’re never too old to do something you love. This was something I struggled with a lot in high school. When I first started golfing, I was convinced that I started too late. Everyone around me had been golfing since they were 4. How was I supposed to catch up to them? Additionally, when I first started participating in program at First Tee, I often felt that I was “too old” for the games and activities. I wouldn’t let myself get excited about them; I had to “act my age” and prove my maturity. I even stopped playing videogames or watching shows I liked because I labeled them as too childish. Now that I’m older and coaching at First Tee, I see myself in some of the kids. While its good to be mature, its so easy to let yourself destroy the things that make you happy. I’m so glad I’ve grown from then, and I’m also happy I’m in a position where I can steer these kids in the right direction.

Intern Outlook by Mason Scott: My New Perspective on 4th of July

Growing up in small town Virginia, my exposure to military families was minimal. However, after living in Fayetteville the past three years, while attending Methodist University, I’ve become accustomed to seeing men and women in uniform, daily. A reminder of their gracious offer to protect our country. Over the last two years, I’ve volunteered at The First Tee of the Sandhills, assisting with programs and camps in Ft. Bragg and surrounding areas at Stryker GC, Gates Four Golf & CC and Baywood GC. Many of the kiddos we work with at these locations are from military families. Some, too young to realize the sacrifice their families make for our country, while others are fully aware of their parents’ role. As we get to know one another, many kiddos will explain how proud they are of their parents and how much they miss them. They’ve become resilient in adjusting to seeing their mom or dad via Facetime, than in person, for months at a time.   Honestly, it’s completely different from my youthful years. I would’ve had a hard time dealing with such a situation. But, these kids are some of the strongest I have ever met. They demonstrate perseverance and flexibility on a daily basis! Working with and interacting with our participants has truly put life in perspective. Some of my favorite moments have been the simplest. During class at Styrker GC, a boy looked up to watch the helicopters flying overhead, he began naming off the different types while shouting, “My mom flies one of those!” The same day, a young girl beamed with excitement explaining her dad was returning from deployment after class that evening! The pride they show for their parents and their jobs is extra special. And, I’m proud to be a small piece of these kiddos lives. I’ve seen first hand that while they attend programs at The First Tee, they are learning how to apply valuable Life Skills – helping them persevere and stay confident through difficult situations. Even when hardships have yet to be faced, kids in our programs become well prepared to handle them. With fun golf games and engaging Core Value lessons, I know we are building good kids through golf. A celebration, alone, worth some fireworks! So, this July 4th, while I’m with my family celebrating our country’s Independence, I’ll also be thinking about the dozens of kiddos I’ve met through programs, and their families, who support and protect us every day. Providing me the opportunity to feel safe while enjoying family time. I’ve challenged myself, and want to challenge you – let’s not forget how lucky we are, daily, let’s show the same level of appreciation year round, we have chosen to show today. Happy Independence Day! Mason Scott PGM Student at Methodist University, Class of 2020

March Spotlight: Rick Kaiser

Coach Rick, a transplant from Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, joined our volunteer team at The First Tee of the Sandhills in 2016, soon after relocating to our area. As a semi – retiree, he wanted to find an organization to volunteer with to keep busy while engaging in the community. He enjoyed coaching earlier in his life – football, baseball, wrestling, lacrosse, soccer and basketball – and felt this was a great way to give back in the Sandhills – his new home! Rick’s move south meant he would get to trade playing in the snow for playing in the short grass! As a former Facility Manager of a Pharmaceutical company in Delaware, Coach Rick was in charge of snow removal, when needed, at the facility. And yes, he LOVED getting to play in the snow! So, it’s no surprise, when asked his favorite places he has traveled, Vail, Colorado was top on the list. But today, he would much rather explore all the Sandhills has to offer while finding time to schedule a tee time with friends on Pinehurst No. 5 or The Cradle. Don’t be caught off guard, a natural lefty, Rick swings righty from the fairways while putting lefty on the greens. When not playing golf and exploring with his wife, Rick loves watching all University of Tennessee sports – maybe he’s a bit partial, as his daughter will graduate from UT this May. Go Vols! Now that Coach Rick has spent almost three years on our team, we asked him to reflect on his experiences with the organization and provide us some insight into his WHY.   He loves the chance to meet new participants throughout the year, as different kiddos participate in different sessions (spring, summer, fall) while working side by side with fellow volunteers that he describes as enthusiastic and fun to be around. When working with the kiddos during programs, Coach Rick takes ownership in the chance to help young people develop and improve upon their Life Skills and he finds golf to be a seamless background to deliver each week’s lesson. While every week’s lesson involves varying degrees of games to engage kiddos in – it’s probably not the over the top games that he enjoys watching the kids play as much as seeing them simply practice their full swing on the driving range. When they ‘connect’ with a ‘big’ shot, their reaction is priceless! Coach Rick thinks the mission of The First Tee of the Sandhills is a good enough reason to invite others to join him on our volunteer team. And as an added bonus, practicing the Golf Skills they’ve been teaching the kiddos is helping improve his game, too! Thanks, Coach Rick, for all you do for The First Tee of the Sandhills. We love having you on our team!

Local Chapter to Host Volunteer Orientation

Spring programs across the Sandhills will kick off in three weeks at golf courses, youth centers and ball fields near you. In an effort to achieve our vision – ensuring a diverse group of kids are provided the chance to develop and grow through mentorship and character education while enjoying the game of golf – we have set the lofty goal of expanding our program offerings to reach 27% more kiddos across 2019. So, how will we reach 27% more kiddos? A little less sleep and the help of more volunteers! If seeing kids grin ear to ear when they win their first round of putt-tac-toe, or squeal happily when they launch a rubber ducky out of the bunker excites you – or, even more, having a participant come back on week 3 and exclaim they took out the trash without being asked or studied a little longer and made their best grade on this week’s spelling test – we’d like to tell you more! To prepare for our March kick off, we are hosting Volunteer Orientation and Training on Tuesday, March 5 at Pinehurst No. 6 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm. Orientation and Training is open to all volunteers – whether you are returning, newly signed up or simply interested in what we are all about! The format provides an engaging and interactive overview of The First Tee’s positive youth development model, allowing volunteers to feel confident in their availability to assist with the delivery of the Life Skills Experience curriculum. During these sessions, we will facilitate a mock lesson plan, review safety standards, introduce The First Tee Coaching Philosophy, and answer any questions you may have. Anyone in the community that has a willingness to give their time as a positive youth mentor – through golf – is encouraged to attend to learn more. And, don’t worry! Attending doesn’t commit you to volunteering, it simply gives you a peek inside what we do. But, for those ready to commit, remember, you can be an asset to The First Tee of the Sandhills no matter your handicap or lack thereof! Interested? Reach out to Matthew Sullivan at 910.255.3035 or [email protected] to save a spot at Pinehurst No. 6 on March 5. We hope to see you in a few weeks!

Volunteers Step Up for The First Tee

To the best of our calculations, in 2018, volunteers have given 2,611 hours of their personal time to The First Tee of the Sandhills. Simply put, that’s 109 days! During those 156,630 minutes, their commitment allowed 724 kiddos to come through 64 programs offered in Moore and Cumberland County. For 9,397,800 seconds they left politics, careers and personal objectives at the door and came together to grow good kids through golf. Because of this special group of supporters, who’ve given 109 days, we’ve been able to expand our week day program offerings to new facilities, deliver classes to up to 18 kiddos at a time, and get more kids on the golf course! In addition to these special volunteers, is our golf course facility partners. They graciously open their doors to our programs and kiddos – welcoming us with open arms and supporting our weekly needs. Because of their year round support, we have a place to meet and provide positive experiences for kiddos. Like when their grinning ear to ear after finally winning a game of tic-tac-toe, or giggling because their chip shot almost got into the net! As you see, it takes community coming together for a nonprofit organization to be sustainable. In 2016, The First Tee of the Sandhills and Golf Pride formally announced a partnership which would support Volunteer Programs – one allowing us to ensure our volunteers were qualified and prepared for their role with the organization, appropriately trained locally and nationally, provided The First Tee apparel, to show consistency and togetherness to parents and facility guest, and later, opportunities to be thanked. Last week, was one of those opportunities as we welcomed guest to our 1st Annual Volunteer and Community Appreciation Celebration at Pinewild CC – a special evening where we began a new tradition within our community of The First Tee. It reminds me of the high school days were you received your letterman jacket or varsity pin. Then, later in college when you survived fraternity initiation and were pinned. But instead of being pinned we’ve created The First Tee of the Sandhills badges. These are a way for us to honor our volunteers, based on their tenure with our organization and frequency they are engaged annually – all of which who’ve given over 36 hours of time to The First Tee in the last two years! This year we honored 21 volunteers! We are grateful to be surrounded by such a great team and look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together in 2019 and how many more badges we can hand out next fall!

Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork

I’ve been blown away in recent weeks by the community members who’ve stepped in to support our mission. I’d like to share with you how those small investments are impacting the puzzle pieces within our organization. About two weeks ago, while sitting in Bob Farren’s office, Director of Golf Course and Ground Management at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, I dropped a question. Are you familiar with the ‘old’ golf green space in the field behind the Campbell House building in Southern Pines? His response, “Absolutely, it was there twenty years ago when my daughter was in elementary school. What are you thinking?” Well, Coach Rita and our volunteers, run a fast paced, high energy TARGET program on Thursday’s for 5 & 6 year olds in that field. We would love to figure out how to expose those kids to a more realistic putting and chipping experience without having to transfer them to the golf course. I left Mr. Farren to think about the idea. Less than a week later, here comes a text message. It’s a picture of the green mowed down with two oversized, kid friendly, cups installed and pin flags in place. Step one to transitioning the overgrown grassy space to a more realistic, kid friendly, golf experience. Mr. Farren’s support reminded me of a line by Mother Teresa, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” Then, last week, an email from Golf Pride. First, the back story – a month ago we’d put the word out we’re in need of a few desks. One for an existing employee who really needed more work space and storage, the other for a new incoming employee. The email, “Courtney, we’ve found two desks that meet your dimension needs, we’ve cleaned them up and have employees ready to help move them on Thursday!” What a relief. We would be able to keep our donor dollars focused on the kids and utilize the resources of our community to improve the office functionality. A little humor about the transfer – sometimes moving furniture can be like shoving a square peg in a round hole. Ten Golf Pride employees later, we figured out how to get the furniture through their office doors and assembled into three vehicles. Nothing like a little afternoon exercise in your suit! Finally, just this week, a volunteer schedule emergency came up. Our programs are growing in Fayetteville, on Wednesday nights we have 25 kiddos participating at Gates Four Golf and Country Club. Our volunteers for the spring program have consisted of three amazing PGM Students from Methodist University. But, they are headed out for internships next week – and we’ve got two more weeks of spring programs and no volunteers! Ekk! At 3:22pm on Wednesday, I emailed two Fayetteville supporters – our newest Board Member, Stuart Augustine, and a local business owner, Thomas Owen – both love kids and golf. My note, “Could you help us rally the troops for a one time volunteer need in May?” At 3:46pm, the response, “We will cover these!” My response? “Y’all are a blessing.” Teamwork truly makes the dream work. As a non-profit organization, our goals and dreams will not be achieved by relying on staff, alone. As John Maxwell says, “Only by working in a team will you fulfill your dreams.” By channeling efforts, talents and resources of other people, we can succeed faster and more effectively. We are thankful for those that continue to come into the fold and enthusiastically support the mission. Together, we are growing good kids through golf!    

The First Tee: Volunteer Workshops on Tap

The First Tee of the Sandhills will begin spring programs in Moore County mid-March. To prepare, we will be hosting two (2) upcoming volunteer orientation and training sessions. These sessions are open to all volunteers – whether you are returning, newly signed up or simply interested in what we are all about! Sessions provide an engaging and interactive overview of The First Tee’s positive youth development model, allowing volunteers to feel confident in their availability to assist with the delivery of the Life Skills Experience curriculum. During these sessions, we will facilitate a mock lesson plan, review safety standards, introduce The First Tee Coaching Philosophy, and answer any questions you may have. Anyone in the community that has a willingness to give their time as a positive youth mentor – through golf – is encouraged to attend to learn more. And, don’t worry! Attending doesn’t commit you to volunteering. But, for those ready to commit, remember, you can be an asset to The First Tee of the Sandhills no matter your handicap or lack thereof! Volunteer Orientation and Training Sessions are scheduled for February 21st at Pinehurst No. 6 from 3:30pm – 5:30pm and February 24th at Country Club of Whispering Pines from 9:30am – 11:30am. Interested? Reach out to Matthew Sullivan at 910.255.3035 or [email protected] to save a spot at one of the upcoming sessions. Also, you can learn more about our volunteer program by visiting our website, firstteesandhills.org and navigating to our volunteer section. We are always looking for new volunteers to support our organization on and off the course! We hope to see you in a few weeks!