2012 Core Values Cup

Enjoying Round 1 with pro Ted Schulz

Contributing Blogger: Megan Board, participant, The First Tee of Roanoke Valley

This week just keeps getting more and more exciting!  Today I got to play my first tournament round at Del Monte with my pro Ted Schulz. He immediately put me at ease on the putting green before our round by making conversation and telling jokes.  I feel so lucky that I also got to play with two amazing amateurs: Herm Edwards (former head coach of the New York Jets) and Bob Simpson.  Mr. Schulz gave me a lot of pointers and helped to give me reads on many of my putts.  Mr. Edwards was great and made me laugh the whole time.  He knew how to brighten the round even when we weren’t having a great hole.  Mr. Simpson was continuously encouraging me and even introduced me to Jay Haas during the round.  The entire group, including the players’ caddies, made the experience unforgettable.  They were all so positive during the entire round.

Herm Edwards was also a speaker at the Legends & Leaders Dinner Thursday night.

I was pretty nervous before the round today, but after meeting my group, my nerves calmed down pretty quickly.  I enjoyed every minute of being in this wonderful place with these wonderful people. It was also great having my brother caddy for me.  He played in The Nature Valley First Tee Open the past two years and was able to help me on a lot of my shots.

I am so thankful to The First Tee, Nature Valley and the Monterey Peninsula for giving me the opportunity to have this once in a lifetime experience.  This week has been so surreal and I feel so lucky to have even been given the opportunity to be a part of this event.  I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings at Pebble!

The First Tee Selects 80 Participants To Play At Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach

Find out who will play Pebble…

Eighty participants from The First Tee received exciting news today as they’ve been selected to attend the 2012 Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, an official Champions Tour event that will be held July 6-8 and televised internationally on Golf Channel.The young men and women were selected by a national panel of judges that evaluated participants’ playing ability and comprehension of the life skills and character education learned through their involvement with The First Tee. More than 180 applications were submitted. Monterey Peninsula Foundation, the event’s host organization, chose 8 juniors through the exemption process. Overall, 81 juniors, ages 16-18 will be teamed with 81 Champions Tour players and 162 amateurs as they compete for the title at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte Golf Course.

“The Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach is an opportunity of a lifetime for the young people in our program,” says Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive of The First Tee. “Playing at world-renowned golf courses alongside Champions Tour players, the event provides our participants the chance to showcase not only their golfing abilities but also the core values developed through The First Tee’s Life Skills Experience. We are very grateful for the generosity of Nature Valley.”

Click “Read More” to see the selected participants

Applications Are In

Excitement is building as participants from across The First Tee network have submitted their application to play in the 2012 Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, July 3-8.

New this year, the Champions Tour has increased the field size from 78 to 81 players meaning The First Tee home office will now select 73 juniors through the application process and eight exemptions will still be awarded by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation.

Stay tuned as The First Tee field announcement will be made later in May. Who will get to go?

Highlights from 2011

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A Round at Pebble with Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn

Contributing Blogger: Megan Conder, participant, The First Tee of Contra Costa

During my practice round at Pebble Beach, I had a very magical surprise.  I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and play golf with an outstanding Athlete and outstanding person, Lindsey Vonn.

I not only admire her for her awards, but even more so as a person. Lindsey Vonn was so gracious to everyone in our foursome and supportive of me as a young athlete. I was even more impressed that she played golf with such a positive attitude.

Lindsey Vonn speaks on "confidence" one of The First Tee Nine Core Values during the Legends & Leaders dinner.

She hit some great shots at Pebble!  She was so positive and seemed to enjoy the people, and the day.  After her golf, she presented an awesome speech at the Legends Dinner where she spoke of “confidence.”

It was a very motivating speech to all of us. What I loved the most, was finding out how real and caring she is to all of us young people.  She is a wonderful role model.

I thank Nature Valley for taking the time to coordinate her visit during the First Tee Open. Lindsey Vonn is a perfect example of a phenomenal athlete with true character. Thank you Lindsey Vonn and thank you Nature Valley!

First Round at the 2011 Nature Valley First Tee Open

Contributing Blogger: Abraham Bell, participant, The First Tee of St. Johns County

 

Today I participated in the first round of The Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.  My tee time wasn’t until 12:33 pm so we had some waiting to do. At about 8:00 am this morning, my chaperone/caddy and I went to the tournament Hospitality Center, where I had a great omelette. Following my excellent breakfast, we went out to the driving range and I had a great warm up session with a bucket of BRAND NEW Pro V 1s, followed by some practice around the short game area where I chipped and hit some bunker shots. I’m going to be honest after my great warmup, I was pretty pumped.  After my warmup, we took about a twenty minute drive down to Del Monte Golf Club, where I spent the last twenty minutes before my tee time getting used to the greens. 

 

For today’s round, I was paired with Champions Tour Pro Bill Glasson (who I will play with tomorrow as well), former CEO of Outback Steakhouse, Chris Sullivan, and the CEO of Florida National Bank, Jack Uible.  At 12:33, the starter announced our names and Mr. Glasson striped one down the fairway and we were off. On the fourth hole a 165 yd. par 3, into the wind, Mr. Uible hit a 3 hybrid, right at the pin, after a second we heard a roar from the crowd, the ball fell into the cup for a HOLE-IN-ONE!  This was the first hole-in-one I ever witnessed and it was in a tournament round! 

 

Abraham Bell from The First Tee of St. Johns County played his first round with Bill Glasson at Del Monte

My pro partner played pinpoint golf the whole front nine hitting nothing but fairways and greens, meanwhile I saw the WHOLE front nine including 5 trees. We were 3 under heading into the par 5 17th and Mr. Glasson hit the green in 2 and left the eagle putt just short and made birdie. We ended up shooting 68 at Del Monte Golf Course and I was very happy with my pro partner’s play. Tomorrow, we tee off on the 10th hole at Pebble Beach at 8:03 am and although I didn’t play great today, I’m determinded to put at least a couple of birdies on my scorecard to help my team make the cut.

 

The Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach has given me the chance to fulfill one of my dreams to play the one of the greatest golf courses in the world, the scenic Pebble Beach Golf Links. It has been the trip of a lifetime and i am very grateful for getting the opportunity to be here.  I want to thank Nature Valley for being such gracious hosts and for sponsoring this great event. I also would like to thank the amateurs such as Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Uigle for supporting this great event as well.

 

As for tonight, I will be dreaming about nothing but birdies tomorrow!

Cocal-Cola Champions Challenge Highlights Video

During the Coca-Cola Champions Challenge participants from The First Tee are joined by Champions Tour players for a charity purse of $40,000 that goes to local chapters of The First Tee. Results: Gary Hallberg – $16,000 for The First Tee of Monterey County; Nadia Majidi – $16,000 for The First Tee of Tulsa; Jeff Sluman – $4,000 for The First Tee of Chicago; Lakareber Abe – $4,000 for The First Tee of Greater Houston

The Excitement of the Pairings Party…And Being Paired with Tom Kite!

Contributing Blogger: Allie Agrella, participant, The First Tee of Austin

I really couldn’t have picked a more perfect way to jump start this amazing week than with the Pairing Party tonight. The mood was so lively; I could feel everyone’s energy and excitement towards what the next few days will bring!

With the beautiful Inn at Spanish Bay as the backdrop, I knew from the beginning that the night was going to be a success! After having some great food, we all sat down and got comfortable with our delicious deserts in hand (my favorite… mini cheesecake and cupcakes!)

While we continued our feast, The First Tee previewed two promotional videos. It’s hard to describe, but when the video was being played I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. First, in myself and more importantly, in the amazing organization which I’m so thankful to be a part of.

Peter Jacobson presented the pairings Tuesday night

Suddenly, the time for pairings had come. At that moment, you could almost feel the anticipation buzzing all around the room as every junior participant prepared to have their pairing revealed. Providing both first class comedy and commentary during the entire pairing process was Peter Jacobsen. I, and from what I could see, everyone else, was amazed with both his charisma and charm! He made the whole night so enjoyable and kept everyone fully engaged. As I am writing this, my cheeks are still sore from laughing so hard!

Champions Tour partner, Tom Kite

My anticipation grew waiting for my name to be announced. Finally, my time came as I watched the spinning wheel on the screen reveal that my Pro was Tom Kite! After hearing about a previous member from The First Tee of Greater Austin  being paired with him in a prior year and having an awesome experience, I was thrilled! I am honored to have this opportunity and I would like to thank The First Tee and Nature Valley for making this dream a reality! What an incredible night with the promise of more to come!

They Call This Mecca

Contributing Blogger: Haley Chinn, participant, The First Tee of Seattle

My alarm went off at 4:00 a.m.  Normally, I would be in full REM at this un-teenage hour but today I was leaving for Mecca…Pebble Beach.  The flight from Seattle to San Francisco was only 2 ½ hours long yet it felt like an eternity because I have been ready to play since the day I received my acceptance email to the Open.

As we approached the entrance to the world famous “Seventeen Mile Drive,” my heart skipped a beat as a prominent sign welcomed First Tee Open contestants.  This only solidified the beginning of this amazing opportunity.  As I winded along Seventeen Mile Drive, I caught glimpses of the course and the beaches beyond.   It looked more breath taking than I remembered 2 years ago when I caddied for my sister Lindsay at these very shores in the 2009 First Tee Open.  

As I walked towards the Hospitality room to register, Mr. Tom Kite walked along with me, also heading to register.  I would’ve introduced myself but that’s when it hit me, I was going to play on the same course as the Legends of golf played – Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Bobby Jones.   After receiving my contestant ID badge and collecting my tournament ensemble, my excitement didn’t have a chance to subside as PGA pro, after pro entered the room to register.  Even while making my practice round appointment there were pros abound.  No wonder they call this Mecca.

My sister Lindsay is on my bag just like I caddied for her in 2009.  I appreciate her words of wisdom on how to overcome the pressures of playing with a pro and representing my First Tee Chapter.  Her mantra comes from Francis Ouimet: “You’re playing against Old Man Par, not the other players.”  Her most telling advice was, “Enjoy this time and take advantage of every experience.”  Thanks to the First Tee and Nature Valley for making all of this possible.

No Bogeys for Charity!

Junior participant Greg Steinhelper is helping to raise money for his local chapter, The First Tee of San Antonio

During the 2011 Nature Valley First Tee Open, junior participant Greg Steinhelper will not only experience what it’s like to play in an official tournament, but he’ll also be raising money for his local chapter, The First Tee of San Antonio.

For $20, the public can guess the total number of under-bogey holes that Greg and his Champions Tour partner shoot during the tournament (team best-ball format) for a chance to win one round of golf with two friends and junior participant, Greg, at TPC San Antonio Canyons Course. Learn More
 
All proceeds will support delivery of The First Tee of San Antonio Life Skills programs.

Submit your under-bogey guess to:
underbogeyguess@gmail.com
(HINT: last year’s range: +5 to -21)

Submit Your Payment to:
http://www.thefirstteesanantonio.org/club/scripts/section/section.asp?NS=GDC

Guesses will not be logged until the $20.00 payment is received via the online donation.