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.

Our Programs

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

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

First Tee – Athens will begin teaching life skills and golf to children ages 7 to 18 years old in Spring 2025. Participation is open to youth on a first come, first served basis. Participants will attend weekly classes and most classes are held on weekends; weekday classes are also available. Please refer to our REGISTER PAGE for specific information regarding each location. Spring 2025 Registration will begin on February 1, 2025.

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 7-9: PLAYER Level

    • 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 10-11: PAR Level

    • 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: BIRDIE LEVEL

    • 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+: EAGLE LEVEL

    • 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