Author: ogibbs

From sunrise to sunset! Learn how you can play all day while supporting tomorrow’s leaders!

WHEN: Friday, April 18

WHERE: Rockwood Park Golf Course

Hello all,

I am here to inform you all that January 25th will be my last day with First Tee – Fort Worth. This may be a shock for those that I’ve had the privilege to interact with, because as you know, I love First Tee – Fort Worth. I joined the program back in 2013 as a student of the program and stayed involved up to this point in my 20s. First Tee – Fort Worth will forever be my home away from home.

To the parents, I want to thank you for allowing myself and the staff of First Tee – Fort Worth to be a continuing part of your children’s development both as a golfer but also as a person who now has the life skills needed to be a respected and successful individual. 

To the kids, I will always cherish the interactions I have had with each and every one of you. You will all do great things in the future, remember to treat others the way you want to be treated, you are all leaders, lead by example. When times get tough, understand you can always ask for help, from your parents, teachers, coaches and even your friends. We are not able to do great things on our own.

This isn’t goodbye, as I will stay involved with First Tee – Fort Worth any way I possibly can. You are all a part of my family and you have all played a crucial role in my own development as a person, and for that, I can’t say it enough but thank you. 

Alex Lowe

Competitions Coordinator

Coming Nov 08 – check out this new and exciting event featuring 18-holes of par 3 closest-to-the-pin challenges! Register and learn more about sponsorships at our official page!

Hosted at the fabulous Mira Vista Country Club, this new event will feature teams paired with a local or featured professional and one of our top First Tee teen players in a shamble tournament! Teams will enjoy a fun evening on June 30th featuring a pairings party and unique shopping experience! Then teams will tee it up in the tournament on July 1st!

See the official FORE! the Kids Pro-Am page and register your team today or see our available sponsorship opportunities!

The Charles Schwab Challenge is Fort Worth’s biggest golf event of the year and First Tee – Fort Worth gets unique access thanks to our close partnership with Colonial Country Club! Join us for a week of festivities with this annual PGA TOUR event including highlight opportunities like the Youth Festival, Caddie Days, Short Game volunteer signups and more! Check out the opportunities below and sign up fast – space is limited!

Youth Festival – Saturday, May 18 (10AM – 1PM)

Come on out and enjoy our unofficial kick-off to summer with food, live music, various golf activities, booths and more! This is a free event for all families hosted by the Charles Schwab Challenge and First Tee – Fort Worth at Rockwood Park Golf Course. All festival participants will park in the parking lots at Rockwood Park (701 University Dr) and will be shuttled to the course.

Colonial Junior Invitational – Sunday, May 19

This invitation only event features two teams of participants playing in a modified Stableford format around Colonial Country Club’s famous Horrible Horseshoe – Holes #3, #4 & #5. Invited participants will be notified of selections by First Tee staff in the coming weeks.

Caddie Days – Monday, May 20 & Wednesday, May 22

A First Tee – Fort Worth tradition for more than a decade! Participants get the opportunity to “caddie” for a PGA TOUR professional on Hole #4 or Hole #13 during the Pro-Am competition!

Short Game Area

The short game area is an opportunity for participants and volunteers to gain inside-the-ropes access and firsthand views of PGA Tour pros short game practice sessions. Unique to First Tee – Fort Worth, this opportunity is only available to First Tee participants and volunteers age 13 years and older.

Lexus Shuttle Driving

Looking to volunteer to drive the Lexus shuttles? Contact Carlos Guzman at [email protected] to see where you can help!

First Tee – Fort Worth alum gave a strong showing at a collegiate event earlier this month! Samantha Gibbs at the recent Vaquero Invitational in McAllen, Texas, March 4-5, where she showed just what girl power means on the golf course!

Samantha, the 2023 FWJGA Girls Champion, dominated with an impressive 12 under total, carding a 68-67-66 for a three round total of 201, finishing 7 strokes ahead of the runner-up. As a freshman, Gibbs broke the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders program record for low round with a 66 and inevitably for 54-hole total with a 201 score. Samantha led the Islanders to a team victory, 9 strokes ahead of second place finishers Abilene Christian University.

Breaking records isn’t unfamiliar to the freshman; she frequently filled the record books in high school at Timber Creek in Keller ISD. With a list of achievements in golf and the classroom, Samantha continues her hard work and dedication to the game and her school work in college.

As a former Junior Advisory Committee President and ACE student, Samantha is a great example of the amazing participants that come out of our First Tee – Fort Worth chapter every year. We wish her luck as she finishes out her first year of college! Shakas up!

We’re celebrating 20 years of impact in Fort Worth and our surrounding communities! After two decades, we’ve served over 20,000 kids and young adults, and that means lots of amazing stories! Check out this story from our alum Robyn who graduated the program in 2015!

---

If you were around our Rockwood Park Program Location in the 2010s, your probably heard Robyn’s name! Always a determined and hard-working individual, Robyn’s commitment to everything she did was evident even from her earliest classes with First Tee. As a teen, Robyn joined the Junior Advisory Committee and eventually served as President where she honed her leadership and communication skills. In 2015, Robyn was awarded First Tee’s Outstanding Participant of the Year award which included a $20,000 scholarship towards her college education. It could be said that this was simply an early recognition of her potential that has blossomed into an even more impressive resume during and after her time in college.

Robyn first attended Texas A&M University Galveston where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Maritime Public Policy and Communication, followed by a Masters Degree in International Affairs from The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. During her education, Robyn dedicated herself to learning more about her passions for foreign affairs through various internships and fellowships, expanding her knowledge and experience.

Since her days at First Tee, she has always had a believed in the importance of giving back and selfless service. Robyn certainly exemplifies those beliefs every day as she continues her pursuit of a career in foreign affairs, now with the United States Air Force. Ultimately, Robyn hopes to one day work in a United States embassy oversees and we have no doubt that her goal is well within reach!

We love hearing about our alum success stories and enjoy catching up! Visit our Alumni Page or re-connect with us by emailing [email protected]!

We’re celebrating 20 years of impact in Fort Worth and surrounding communities! After two decades, we’ve served over 20,000 kids and young adults, and that means lots of amazing stories! We recently caught up with one of our alumni who graduated from college this past year.

---

Brendan O’Connell was a First Tee – Fort Worth regular and skilled player during his time with our chapter! Taking advantage of the opportunities offered, Brendan was highly involved with our chapter’s Junior Advisory Committee and was voted in as President in his later high school years. Leading a group of your peers is a whole new experience for most teens, but Brendan was able to take those skills and apply them to life later on in college.

Brendan attended the esteemed Cornell University and graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics and Management. During his time at Cornell, Brendan was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and served as President during the 2021-22 school year. Brendan attributes many of the skills he utilized as President of his fraternity as being first developed during his time as President of the JAC at First Tee – Fort Worth.

These days, Brendan works as an investment analyst with CornerStone Partners, and while he doesn’t have as much time for golf as he used to, he stills enjoys the game and playing when he can. Most recently, Brendan scored a 77 on the challenging TPC Harding Park in San Francisco during an outing with clients – proving that he’s still got it!

Our own Coach Chuck connected with Brendan to ask him a few questions about his experience with First Tee – Fort Worth.

Chuck: What was your most memorable experience as a participant?

Brendan: Playing in the 2017 PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach.

C: Is there anything you learned while at First Tee that you still use now, golf or life skills related?

B: Goal setting; how to set goals and tackle them one step at a time. More broadly, with each passing year, I realize how much learning to navigate the game of golf can teach us about how to navigate life.

C: How has golf continued to be a part of your life and what Core Value has helped you navigate golf the best?

B: I continue to play golf with friends when I can. Being confident on the course has helped me continue to navigate the game despite not having the time to play as much as I once did.

C: When you think back on your time with First Tee, what stands out the most as something that you looked forward to each time you were in class?

B: I looked forward to challenging myself and improving week after week.

C: If you could give a piece of advice to a participant in our program just getting started or early in their journey with First Tee, what would it be?

B: Push yourself to spend time outside of your comfort zone. In particular, take advantage of leadership opportunities.

C: Which Core Value from First Tee do you see yourself use the most in your everyday life?

B: Responsibility

C: Looking back on your journey through First Tee, what is one thing you wish you would have done more of or better?

B: I always enjoyed getting to volunteer as a coach – learning how to teach young people is a joy and a privilege and there’s no such thing as too much of it.

We love hearing about our alum success stories and enjoy catching up! Visit our Alumni Page or re-connect with us by emailing [email protected]!

Give with purpose.

Amazon presents the Communities Foundation of Texas 2023 North Texas Giving Day coming Thursday, September 21!

This is the largest single day of giving in the metroplex and one that supports hundreds of non-profits in our area. We are proud to be partnering with the Communities Foundation of Texas once again for this amazing day of generosity!

Please consider joining us on this day with a gift to our Giving Day page and help us raise funds to support that many competitive and non-competitive opportunities offered to our participants! These opportunities provide valuable experiences that promote self-reliance, confidence, perseverance and judgment. Help us keep these opportunities free or low-cost to our families!