By: Ana Herndon, First Tee — Metro Atlanta
At First Tee, we encourage kids and teens to learn from one another and their mentors, empowering them to make a difference in their communities. By fostering these environments, golf becomes more than a game, it becomes a springboard for building up leaders. Ana Herndon, participant from First Tee – Metro Atlanta, took some time to share with us how First Tee helped her build these skills and why being a leader is important.
1. What is a leader?
Someone who works to ensure the success of others. One of my favorite quotes by the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” This quote sets the standards for my goals as a leader. I aspire to be a great leader, one who is humble and works well with others.
2. Why is leadership important?
It is a critical skill. A good leader builds people up and helps them unlock their fullest potential. You are like a candle lighting other candles so that they can shine where they go out into the world.
3. How old do you need to be to be a leader?
You are never too young or old to be a leader. It is more important that you care about what you are leading in rather than your age.
4. What three words come to mind when you think of a great leader?
Humble, diplomatic, and kind-hearted.
5. Who is a leader in your life?
My first golf coach taught me not just the fundamentals of golf, the grip, the stance, the posture but also what it means to have a go-to team. Being a leader means being determined, honest, humble, and kind. I use those core values he taught me not just in sports but in my academics and the relationships I have with others. Golf has been more than a game but a way of life. The First Tee program has built my foundation: not just as a good golfer, but a better person.
6. Who do leaders learn from?
Their peers. You cannot humanly expect to know everything. There will always be someone who understands it better than you. As a leader, it is important to find people’s strengths and embrace them.
7. Who can you go to for leadership advice?
Having a mentor is crucial in becoming a leader. When you have mentors that mirror yourself, you feel as though you could achieve what they have. To me, you cannot be what you have never seen.
8. How do leaders overcome challenges?
You have to be willing to ask for help. When I founded a new club, it was a challenge balancing being an effective leader and seeking help. I did not fathom how difficult it would be to start a club from the ground up. If I wanted this to be successful, I would have to ask for help, and it does not discredit my ability to lead.
9. What can you do that makes you a leader?
Invest in things that you are passionate about and pursue them! You will naturally find those that have a similar passion and will follow your lead. I know it might seem intimidating at first, but a leader is not someone with an absence of fear but leads despite it.
For some, golf may be just a game. For us, it’s an avenue in which kids and teens discover the confidence and inner strength inside of them and learn to bring that to everything they do. One of the ways we cultivate this, is by encouraging youth to understand the value and importance of helping those around them. In your community, within your family or school, the world is in need of game changers who will show up for others. Claire Alford, from First Tee – Central Coast, is a game changer who, with the help of her school club, started the first Community and Health Resources Fair.
“Our goal was to provide vital health resources to the students at our school. My family is part of Santa Maria’s 74% Hispanic population, as counted by the US Census Bureau. At school I see how most of my peers rely on the federal free lunch program to get meals every day. By founding the Culture Community and Cuisine Club and creating the health fair, my brother and I helped bring health screenings and support to our peers.”
She could tell you that this is no small feat. Claire and her brother attended daily meetings and phone calls with school administrators and the community providers to ensure the event was a success. Due to the diverse population in the community, students struggle with a variety of issues that are often ignored. Community partners were present at the event to establish a safe environment for all students at the school.
“The most rewarding part of the day was seeing my classmates connect with services they needed. My life goal is to expand access to basic health evaluations and treatment to other rural towns in the same way that the First Tee has spread access to the life changing game of golf.”
We are proud of kids and teens, like Claire, that selflessly give their time to care for those around them and exemplify the values taught at First Tee. We can’t wait to see how she continues to work towards her goals in the future. 
Golf is a metaphor for life – full of unexpected challenges, and how we choose to respond defines who we are. As the kids and teens in our programs know, success is not defined by how well we play the game. It’s not about the score at the end of a round, or whether they won the tournament. It’s about the journey. What we learn along the way. And what we do with that learning makes all the difference.
What makes First Tee different from other youth development organizations is how we do our work: through golf. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, we create active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do
While participating in First Tee, 82% of the youth in our programs felt more confident with their social skills and 73% reported feeling more confident in their academic ability.
“I am grateful for the First Tee program and the impact it has had on my life. I have learned that golf is much more than a game, much more than just swinging a club, and carries with it life lessons that I will draw from for the rest of my life. The program has provided me with opportunities to play matches and tournaments that not only improved my game but provided lasting friendships with the golf families and coaches over the years. The program has provided me with a safe place to be a lifetime student of the game. There will always be something to learn, something to change, something to improve, (whether it’s a part of my golf game or a non-golf, real life situation) and First Tee ties them all together in a pretty bow, and helps me understand the connection.” – Emily Knox, First Tee — Tri Valley
Experiences are our greatest teacher. We believe 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. Our trained coaches create safe, supportive and empowering environments to help our participants prepare for life ahead, including friendships, school, college and even their careers.
Whether a child’s goal is to be a lawyer, a teacher, an astrophysicist, a musician, or a professional golfer, kids become a better version of themselves when they have the space to be who they are, surrounded by passionate people who guide them to see what they are capable of.
If anyone you know thinks that golf isn’t for them, invite them to try it the First Tee way.