Building Game changers

First Tee is more than your average golf program— it’s a youth development organization that uses the game of golf to teach valuable life lessons. 

First Tee began in 1997 as a partnership among the LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and USGA to make golf affordable and accessible for all kids. As the game was introduced to youth, so was a life skills curriculum that supported the development of inherent values found within the game of golf, including honesty, integrity, perseverance and respect.

Today, there are approximately 150 First Tee chapters around the U.S., including one in Canton, Ohio. 

For over 20 years, First Tee Canton has provided an opportunity for local children ages 5 through 18 to learn life-enhancing values, character development and healthy habits through the game of golf.

Approximately 10% of chapters have their own golf course, and only a select few have an indoor range. Fortunately for the First Tee Canton chapter, it has both. It is also the only chapter that owns and operates a nine-hole, par-three golf course on site.  

First Tee Canton Executive Director Scott Life shared:

“Our fun hook is golf. Once we have their attention, we integrate life lessons like resiliency and perseverance into the game.”

At First Tee, students learn the basics of the game and proper techniques for swinging, putting and chipping. More importantly, they learn nine core values as they play golf, with each hole on the nine-hole course representing one of these values: integrity, honesty, sportsmanship, perseverance, respect, courtesy, confidence, judgment and responsibility.

“We teach them values that build character,” said Terry Taylor, program director of First Tee and golf professional. “Each lesson teaches them values like being courteous, taking responsibility for your actions, dealing with disappointment when things don't go your way and believing in yourself. These values are just as important on the course as they are off the course.”

For one eight-year-old student at First Tee, he believes honesty is the most important core value. “I like the core value of honesty because you want to be honest with your score and not try to cheat,” he said. 

More than 70 trained, caring coaches and volunteers–– ranging in age from 12 to 88–– serve as positive role models, providing students with a safe and welcoming environment and teaching them an enriching curriculum full of experiences. 

Over 500 students participate annually in First Tee’s year-round programming at its 15-acre downtown Canton campus as well countless students from 46 partner schools who engage in physical education classes that incorporate First Tee programming.

While some students come from more affluent families, others come from less privileged backgrounds. Regardless of their backgrounds or skill levels, all students are welcomed and are never turned away because of the program’s cost.

GlenOak High School alumna Shelby Mercer is one of the many students who benefited from First Tee. The nonprofit completely changed the trajectory of her life, and it all started with an encounter with Terry Taylor when she was 12 years old.

“I had curly hair, big afro, my pants pulled down to my knees, a chained wallet. I thought I was the coolest kid in the world,” recalled Mercer. “I walked up to Terry, who was on the range giving a lesson, and said, ‘I want to golf.’ He said, ‘Not dressed like that. Come back tomorrow with the right attire.’”

Much to his surprise, she came back the next day wearing more appropriate clothing and got to work. She participated in the program from that day forward until she graduated high school. Mercer, who sees Taylor as a father figure, went on to play golf at Defiance College and earned a degree in intervention specialist with a minor in autism studies.

“I was a troubled kid. I didn’t like school. I got bad grades. I hung out with kids who did drugs and alcohol. I didn’t care about graduating,” shared Mercer during First Tee’s 20th-anniversary celebration in 2022. “When I started here, it became about much more than just golf. With Angela [former executive director] and Terry, most of the times, I didn’t have my lessons. They would help me with my homework for hours. Without them and the First Tee, I can honestly say I wouldn’t have graduated.”

First Tee currently has a waiting list of students eager to participate in the program. To accommodate more students, the course is being reconfigured and expanded. By relocating a few holes, the downtown Canton campus will soon have a separate driving range, practice area and chipping green as well as nine holes.

Life hopes that in time First Tee can further expand its course by an additional 15 acres on the perimeter of its current campus and offer more classes and outreach opportunities with community partners.

To learn how you can help build the next generation of game changers, visit firstteecanton.org.