2016 Summary ~ The First Tee of Connecticut
Transforming Lives One Swing at a Time
N
ow in their 17th year of
programming, The First Tee
of Connecticut offers a unique
youth development program
which teaches important Life Skills to
nearly 70,000 children across the state of
Connecticut using the game of golf as the
teaching medium. First Tee coaches, many
of whom are PGA members, use an activitybased approach to teach children aged
5-18 important Core Values like honesty,
integrity, judgment and perseverance, all
while they’re having fun learning how to
chip, putt and drive a golf ball. Equally as
important, they’re learning Nine Healthy
Habits which help them develop positive
physical, emotional and social habits that
prepare them for success on the golf course,
in the classroom and beyond.
Young people are offered a wide
variety of educational and leadership
opportunities - both on a local and national
level – through their active and ongoing
involvement in The First Tee of Connecticut’s
programs.
Academic scholarships are
awarded each summer to help young people
82 / CONNECTICUT STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION / 2016 ANNUAL
pursue their educational goals; thanks to
the generosity and assistance of donors
and alliance partners, a total of $31,000 in
scholarships was awarded in 2016. Several
participants qualified for some very exciting
opportunities over the past year – at just 13
years old, Meghna Mazumdar, a participant
from South Windsor, earned the grandprize in the Wells Fargo Succeeding Together
essay contest and played with Rory McIlroy
during the Pro-Am at the Wells Fargo
Championship in Charlotte, NC. Another
“experience of a lifetime” was earned by 17year old Chase Skrubis from North Granby;
in September, Chase played in The Nature
Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach and
made the cut to continue playing in the final
round with the defending Champions Tour
winner, Esteban Toledo.
By way of background, children
are first introduced to The First Tee of
Connecticut’s Life Skills Experience during
physical education classes at 147 public
schools as well as through partnerships
with youth service agencies like the YMCA,
local Boys & Girls Clubs, and Hartford and
Waterbury PAL (Police Activity Leagues).
Children are provided with flyers which
let them know where they can continue
learning through Group Lessons held once a
week for seven weeks each Spring, Summer