For the last 17 years, the PURE Insurance Championship has welcomed teens from First Tee chapters nationwide to Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course. Throughout the week the teens apply the life and leadership skills learned from First Tee programs during an event where they are paired with a PGA TOUR Champions player and amateurs from the business world.
For many of the teens who are selected for the tournament, the experience opens their eyes to the possibilities in golf and beyond as they are contemplating post-secondary education and careers, and in some cases, managing fears and emotions. This week, we take a look at several alumni who played in this tournament and how they’ve applied the lessons they learned from First Tee and this experience to reaching for their dreams.
Michelle Xie, First Tee — Silicon Valley
Played in 2013 with Kirk Triplett
Michelle recalls her participation in the PURE Insurance Championship as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She played and won the tournament in 2013 alongside Kirk Triplett. The two established an immediate connection, which led to coachable moments on how to manage the mental and physical demands of the game – both on and off the course.
Nothing compared to the exhilaration, nerves and pressure Michelle felt walking down the fairway with Triplett as their pro-junior team was in contention. Those moments of mentorship provided Michelle great perspective to deal with the rigorous schedule of being a student-athlete at Harvard University.
Michelle graduated from Harvard in 2019 with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. She played on the women’s golf team, receiving numerous accolades including being named the 2018 Ivy League Individual Champion and was voted as team captain her senior year.
Michelle recently moved back to the Silicon Valley to join REX Real Estate as a software engineer. Although she is not spending as much time at the golf course as she once did, Michelle still uses the many time management and problem-solving skills she learned from competitive golf and First Tee. Now that Michelle is back home, she has become a volunteer coach at the First Tee — Silicon Valley to mentor the next generation of participants.
Rayshon Payton, First Tee — Metropolitan Oklahoma City
Played in 2005 with Gil Morgan
An alumus from First Tee — Metropolitan Oklahoma City, Rayshon remembers watching the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach on TV in 2000. From that point on, he dreamed of playing on the course one day himself. This dream became a reality in 2005 when he was selected for the PURE Insurance Championship, paired with PGA TOUR Champions player Gil Morgan. They found themselves in the final pairing on Sunday at Pebble Beach where Rayshon ended up holing out from the 12th bunker on national television.
Rayshon has continued to pursue his dreams off the course. He interned at The White House, working in the office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs where he had the opportunity to work with Former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. Today, he is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, College of Law, and is currently the Legislative Director for Representative Kendra Horn.
Sara Scarlett, First Tee — Greater Sacramento
Played in 2011 with Jerry Pate
Being selected for the PURE Insurance Championship is a goal for many First Tee participants. That was definitely the case for alumna Sara Scarlett.
She joined First Tee around the same time that she was diagnosed with scoliosis, a curvature of the spine. Sara’s confidence was low, and she was struggling to balance her medical needs with the desire to have an active and social childhood. First Tee became her sanctuary – a place where she learned the life skills and core values that would ultimately shape her into a confident teenager who always looked on the “bright side.”
In 2011, she played in the PURE Insurance Championship with Jerry Pate. Some of Sara’s favorite memories include chipping in on the 10th hole at Pebble Beach and the motivational talks with her partner. Sara went on to play on the women’s golf team at University of Texas, graduating in 2017.
Sara now works for Chevron on the Corporate Affairs team where she works with the local community and nonprofits on Chevron-supported initiatives. Sara says she is lucky to have been taught the value of diversity at a young age from First Tee.
Taryn Yee, First Tee — Greater Sacramento
Played in 2009 with Jim Thorpe
For alumna Taryn Yee, playing in the PURE Insurance Championship was the first major goal she set for herself and accomplished on her own merit. Yee claims that she felt like a star when she first arrived at the 2009 PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach. Taryn played with Jim Thorpe, and she says the biggest takeaway was how confident she was at the end of the tournament. The PURE Insurance Championship and the lessons she learned there have provided her self-confidence that she carried with her through college and now into her successful career.
Taryn was a student-athlete at University of California, Irvine. As a freshman, she was selected to attend the PwC Executive Forum at THE PLAYERS Championship as an alumni opportunity with First Tee. At the event, she met PwC executives, spoke with clients and was introduced to the business industry and public accounting. This experience led to a new goal for Taryn, which was to graduate with an accounting degree and become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She accomplished that goal, which ultimately led her to career opportunities at PwC, The Gap, and her current position as a financial analyst at Facebook headquarters.
Through setting goals and perseverance, Taryn has been able to stay positive and work through challenges to achieve her goals.
“I have the confidence that I can accomplish anything. There is no such thing as an intangible goal!”
Justin Potwora, First Tee — Greater Portland
Played in 2017 with Bernhard Langer
It wasn’t too long ago that alumnus Justin Potwora was holding up the PURE Insurance Championship trophy with his partner, Bernhard Langer. Meeting First Tee participants from across the country and hearing about their experiences and perspectives left a lasting impact on Justin.
Currently, Justin is entering his senior year at Southern Methodist University where he is majoring in finance. He was recently promoted to Portfolio Manager with Boulevard Investment Group and is also the Philanthropy Chair for his fraternity which raised more than $50,000 for Huntsman Cancer Foundation. His goal is to eventually work for a private equity firm and continue to be a leader in his community. Justin credits First Tee with teaching him how to act professionally, selflessly and never compromise his character and values in whatever he sets out to accomplish.
John Louie, First Tee — Monterey County
Played in 2009 with Donnie Hammond
Played in 2010 with Bobby Clampett
John joined First Tee — Monterey County not long after its inception in September 2004. John attended Salinas High School, but had visions of achieving more. One day he told his father that by using “Goal Setting,” a life skill he had learned at First Tee, he had set a goal to attend Stevenson High School. John applied himself and with his parents’ support, John became a Stevenson “Pirate.”
John competed on the golf team for Stevenson and represented First tee — Monterey County in the 2009 and 2010 tournaments at Pebble Beach.
John was accepted to Middlebury College in Vermont, playing on the men’s golf team for three years. He was tempted to stay on the East Coast and work in finance in New York City like many of his fellow Panthers. However, his heart was in Salinas and the agricultural town where he grew up. He was offered a position with Tanimura & Antle, one of the top agricultural companies in Salinas.
He has since worked his way up the company and now leads one of the firm’s recent acquisitions, PlantTape. John serves on the Board Committee for Taylor Farms Center For Learning. Last year, he was nominated as a member of the Board of Directors of First Tee — Monterey County, where he continues to give back by mentoring teens in the program.
Though this year’s event will be played without our First Tee participants, this tournament has remained committed to recognizing our participants, their hard work and aspirations. We are grateful to PURE Insurance, Pebble Beach and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for investing in their futures through First Tee.
Learn more about how we provide access to the game and new opportunities through our
character-building programs.
If there are any silver linings to this pandemic, it’s been the coaches and mentors who have stepped up going above and beyond for our participants. The events of 2020 have reinforced the need for programs like First Tee that lift up, support and empower kids to stand strong and grow during challenging situations. The coaches and staff of First Tee programs across the nation have leaned on their creativity, flexibility and adaptive spirits to keep participants engaged and encouraged during a challenging year.
Often, we take for granted how truly invaluable these mentors are in the community with their consistent effort and support for the participants they lead. But we see our coaches putting in the long hours. It’s extra time on the putting green or staying late for one last lesson on the driving range. That time isn’t just about helping a kid improve their golf game. Our coaches are digging deeper, building trust and having meaningful conversations. Many times, those sessions together turn to discussions of dreams beyond the golf course – what the future could hold, current struggles or opportunities for personal growth.
Julia Hardy, a participant from First Tee — New Hampshire, knows firsthand the benefits of having a dedicated and caring First Tee coach. Coach Beth Flint has been a mentor to her for the last seven years and it’s changed her life.
Julia had always been an avid golf fan, and early on she would take lessons at her local driving range, but Julia craved more time on an actual golf course. When she joined First Tee — New Hampshire in third grade, she didn’t realize she was signing up for so much more.
“First Tee was my first time truly playing on a ‘real’ golf course, and I was a little nervous, but the entire environment of First Tee really helped me adapt. The fact that the instructors at the First Tee not only cared about helping me improve my golf skills, but also grow as a person, really helped me connect and feel comfortable in the program. I always felt valued and supported.”
Julia admits that she was incredibly timid when she first started. One of the first things Coach Beth did when they began to work together was challenge her to build confidence. At the Sagamore Golf Course where Julia would practice, the 8th hole requires a difficult shot over water. Beth, knowing that timidity was a theme in Julia’s game and in her life, encouraged her to continue to push through the doubt. Ultimately, it made her a better person.
“Beth would always urge me to have confidence and swing through the ball. With each successive visit to the eighth hole, and each ‘be confident’ spoken, I could feel my confidence grow. Finally, I got to the point where I could approach the eighth hole, push away the doubts, and just hit the ball.”
After that, more often than not, the ball would fly over the water. This confidence translated off the course as well. Julia started speaking up more in class and participating in family debates. This growth in confidence allowed her to attack new challenges head on, Julia credits this growth in confidence as the most helpful trait she’s taken away from the First Tee.
Coach Beth agrees. “As she got older, it was beautiful to see her inner strength and self-confidence become greater,” she said. “Advancing through the program, it was obvious that she was a positive influence on others in all aspects of life; not just with golf but at school with friends, in her community, and of course with her family of whom she talks so often about. It has always been a pleasure to golf with Julia – however seeing the wonderful person she has become is the real treasure!”
Julia is now an Eagle certified participant, on track to get her ACE certification. The best part is that this isn’t an isolated story. Across the country, coaches and participants are building lasting bonds, showcasing the growth and evolution of positive relationships that have a ripple effect on the communities they serve and the people they meet each day.
But earlier this year, many chapters were unsure of what the future would hold for coaches and participants. Classes were cancelled and fundraising was unknown. It’s been thanks to generous supporters, like the USGA, who have helped ensure chapters keep their doors open for safe and socially distant programs. First Tee — New Hampshire was one of 51 First Tee chapters to receive a grant from the USGA towards their ongoing commitment to making the game more accessible and welcoming for juniors.
“The USGA’s commitment to investing in First Tee over the years continues to have a lasting impact on the game as well as countless young people in communities across our country,” said Greg McLaughlin, First Tee CEO. “We are offering a meaningful and positive experience through golf that helps young people uncover who they are and grow personally. There is no better sport in which to do this, and we are thankful for the USGA’s confidence in our work.”
Learn more about character building programs across the country and how to get started with a First Tee chapter a near you. 
Like our participants, what makes our chapters so special is that each one is unique in its own way. We celebrate their diverse perspectives because it makes our work even more powerful. Yet one thing that remains consistent at every chapter is their passion for supporting the next generation and the communities they live in.
One way our chapters are doing this is by creating a space that makes every individual feel like they belong. A culture of acceptance is deeply rooted in our values as an organization as we seek to understand walks of life that are different from our own.
Two of our chapters, First Tee — Greater Pasadena and First Tee — Korea, have brought this to life in a meaningful new way. In 2019, the two chapters became official sister chapters in an effort for participants to share cultural experiences and explore opportunities beyond their community.
Recently, participants and coaches from the two chapters were able to meet virtually to discuss a trending topic in communities across the globe: returning to school during a pandemic.
During the video call, participants shared how they’re feeling and handling the return to school.
Gloria from First Tee — Korea shared, “I think I should take responsibility for myself because if I don’t follow the rules, I could put my friends and family at risk.”
Through the meeting, the participants realized that they have quite a bit in common despite growing up thousands of miles apart. They’re all adjusting to the “new normal,” and are leaning on the character strengths they’ve developed through First Tee to help conquer these challenges.
Bob Baderian, Executive Director for First Tee — Greater Pasadena, summed up the experience:
“This very positive partnership between First Tee — Greater Pasadena and First Tee — Korea encourages participants to share their experiences and perspectives and provides opportunities to educate them about the culture and history of their respective countries and communities. These meetings have resulted in increased knowledge and appreciation of cultures and lifestyles between our two chapters.”
Founded in 2006, First Tee — Greater Pasadena has served more than 200,000 kids and teens. First Tee — Korea was founded in conjunction with the 2015 Presidents Cup and is one of six international chapters within the First Tee network.
The sister chapters have a goal to one day provide an in-person experience for their participants to meet.
This pandemic, among other challenges this year, has been more than we could have ever anticipated. It’s stories like these, of coming together to learn, appreciate, and build relationships, that inspire us as we work to empower youth to be game-changers and make this a better world.
First Tee — Metropolitan New York is one of 51 First Tee chapters to receive a grant from the USGA towards their ongoing commitment to making the game more accessible and welcoming for juniors. In addition to the $200,000 that went to chapter grants, the association pledged $125,000 to help First Tee headquarters develop innovative digital tools that enable stronger connections between juniors, parents, chapters and coaches, bringing the USGA’s total investment to $325,000 for 2020.
“Year after year we are seeing the positive impact that First Tee and other junior programs are having in breaking down barriers and connecting communities through sports,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “It is vital for golf’s long-term health that we continue to create pathways for all juniors to participate.”
First Tee brings kids and teens to the game of golf and leverages it as a catalyst for personal growth through experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience. Through chapters in 150 communities and more than 10,000 schools and 1,200 after-school partnerships, First Tee reaches kids ages 5-18 from all backgrounds.
Why did you come back to the First Tee after leaving Golf for a few years?
“We are proud to support this year’s grant recipients who share the same commitment we do to improving the health and well-being of our region. From cultivating healthcare workers who will stay in the area, establishing and strengthening educational programs that will teach youth healthy eating habits, to programs that support youth recreation, we are excited to see how the 16 organizations will help our community prosper,” says Moses Zapien, CEO and President of Community Foundation of San Joaquin.
How did you get started with the First Tee?
Golf legend Arnold Palmer said, “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated.” First Tee coaches like Robert and Ron make it look easy! They set up activities that let the players experiment with different swings, clubs and speeds. They set up games that are disguised as golf that are fun and engaging, all while teaching them the nine core values of The First Tee.
Our coaches at other levels use lesson plans laid out by our program director, Chris Borrego. His plans are easy to follow and designed to seamlessly weave life skills with golf skills during a fun activity. Coaching is very rewarding and fun!
As 2008 Coach of the Year Tom Hooper will tell you, “We learn more from working with the kids than they learn from us!” Most of us are not low handicappers and it’s certainly not a prerequisite to be a good coach. A good coach sets up a safe environment for the players to experiment and have fun. One of the best feelings is a session where we are in the middle of an activity and an opportunity comes up to use a life skill. The First Tee calls that a “teachable moment.” It makes it all worth the cold, early Saturday mornings!
Can you coach? Of course, you can! We begin our Spring Tour in March. You will be so glad you did! Stockton’s youth are searching for mentors to look up to.