Hole in One! Santa Barbara Nonprofit Scores a Grant

“What do you know about the game of golf,” a coach from First Tee asked his class of students, ranging in age from 7 to 14, all of them eager to be in the sun and learning.

“It’s what rich white people play,” one brave child answered.

First Tee, a national nonprofit organization with approximately 180 chapters, is dedicated to teaching kids life skills, healthy habits, and reaching kids who wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to the game of golf.

The local chapter reaches from Ventura to Paso Robles, and raises all of its own money to then be distributed throughout the program for equipment, locations, financial aid, etc.

Jessani Johnson, Executive Director of First Tee Central Coast, explains, “We accept every request for financial aid. We allow everyone to be able to pay what they need, even if that amount is zero.” She adds, “We provide equipment if kids don’t have access to it, and we give out scholarships and financial aid to anyone who needs it.”

As to the content of the sessions, Johnson explains how the First Tee coaches are “trained to seamlessly introduce nine core values, some of which are: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, and perseverance.”

The coaches set up stations for the kids to rotate through and grapple with the basics of putting, chipping, swinging the club, and more.

“By the end, the kids get really excited about golfing,” Johnson affirms.

First Tee recently received an IDEA Grant from the United States Golf Association, allowing them to expand their outreach, resources, and class loads. “The grant money covers the cost of paying our coaches, for the equipment, and pretty much all of the expenses. We’re so grateful,” said Johnson.

Through this grant, First Tee collaborated with People’s Self-Help Housing, another nonprofit organization focused on the Central Coast, which is dedicated to building homes for families and housing people.

Johnson explains how they have a similar mission statement and hold after-school programs where they expose people to things they might not otherwise be exposed to. “It really aligned to what we’re trying to do, especially with our outreach.”

First Tee and People’s Self-Help Housing have now completed two six-week sessions at PSHH’s Guadalupe location, and they are about to begin their first session in Santa Barbara.

Johnson explained the structure of the sessions: the first four are held at the People’s Self-Help Housing location, whether that be in a housing complex or grassy knoll, then the last two sessions are at an actual golf course, where the kids can practice on the real green and get rides in golf carts.

“They get to actually play the holes on the golf course!” Johnson said.

Through the six sessions, life skills are embedded into the curriculum as well as an inherent broken barrier as kids with little familiarity of the game get to be included.

“One of the first things we do in class is introductions. We teach the kids to shake hands, make eye contact, and listen to the person they’re speaking with.” Johnson goes on to give more examples of important life skills the kids are taught mid-session. “In the middle of the game, there might be an opportunity to show perseverance, and our coach will point that out to the group.” 

In Santa Barbara, the first four sessions will be held in Ortega Park. The fifth and six sessions will be at the Santa Barbara Golf Club, to “get the real golf course experience,” said Johnson.

The groups of children are usually as big as 26, with an age range from 6-14.

To sign up and learn more about First Tee’s mission and how to participate, see firstteecentralcoast.org.