Parents' Corner

A First Tee class typically involves a blend of golf instruction and life skills development, aiming to build character and self-confidence in our young participants. Classes often include a mix of on-course practice, drills, and discussions focused on First Tee’s core values, such as pursuing goals, collaborating with others, and using good judgement.

Youth on Course has partnered with First Tee — Inland Empire to make golf course access even more affordable to our participants. Kids and teens who are actively enrolled in First Tee — Inland Empire classes and have a current First Tee Annual Membership are eligible for a discounted membership to Youth on Course.

LPGA*USGA Girls Golf is the only national junior golf program that specializes in providing girl-friendly environments for Juniors to learn the game of Golf. As the experts in making the game of golf fun, and teaching more than just stance and swing, they teach girls valuable life skills like confidence and perseverance.

If your participant has outgrown their current set of Junior Golf Clubs and you’d like us to get them into the hands of a new Golfer in our Chapter, reach out! Clubs should be “ready-to-use,” meaning we do not need to re-shaft or re-grip the clubs. If the clubs meet this criteria, one of our Staff Members will arrange a time to pick them up.

FTIE is happy to assist those participants who may need Financial Aid. Simply go through the Registration process all the way to Checkout. At Checkout, you will see an option to “Apply for Financial Aid.” Select the Box and answer the prompted questions. Once you apply, your request will be sent to our FTIE Support Team. After reviewal and approval, you will receive a confirmation email and have 48 hours to then complete your registration.

FTIE is one of the largest geographical First Tee Chapters in America situated in one of the fastest-growing Regions in the Country.  We offer our Classes at over 30 different locations throughout the Inland Empire. Check out our Interactive Map to see programming options near you. If you don’t see one that will work for your participant, reach out! It is likely we are in the process of securing a new location near you!

FTIE only brings aboard qualified Coaches who must clear an extensive Background Check and complete yearly training through the SafeSport Learning Platform. Read more about the entire process or reach out to our support team with any further questions on these items.

As the golfer’s ability improves, Participants are invited into opportunities to test these developing skills on the Golf Course.

Friendly Competitions take place every few months for the entire Chapter. We call these “Play Days.”

More serious matches are held quarterly for the best players in our Chapter. These could be Tournaments amongst Inland Empire participants as well as the rest of the SoCal Region.

For more questions on the FTIE Player Pathway, reach out to our Director of Player Development, Jonathan Flietstra.

First Tee participants have access to a variety of national opportunities, including national championships, academies, and special events like the PURE Insurance Championship. These opportunities offer participants a chance to connect with other youth, mentors, and industry professionals while furthering their golf and life skills.

FTIE generally offers participants opportunities throughout the calendar year. We have classes that run for 8 weeks in a row, followed by a couple week Break.

Most participants Register for an 8-week class that happens once a week at one of our partner golf courses for a 90min time period. Towards the end of that 8-week Session, Registration for the following Session opens up on the FTIE Website, listing ALL of the next session’s classes.

During Summer, some 8-week classes are crunched to 6 weeks, while other locations will offer Summer Camp opportunities and pause the weekly Sessions altogether.

If you’re new to the Golf Scene, maybe this is your first time hearing about First Tee. First Tee — Inland Empire belongs to a National Network of 150 other First Tee Chapters with a Headquarters located in Florida. If you’re wanting a 30,000ft View of First Tee, browse through our Parent’s Guide. Here you will find First Tee’s Mission, Statistics, and other Resources that tell the story of why we do what we do.

First Tee uses an age-based curriculum, dividing programs into different age groups to better suit the needs of young participants.  The age groups are generally 5-6, 7-9, 10-11, 12-13, and 14+. Each age group has a specific program length and learning objectives, with the younger groups focusing on fundamentals and character development, and older groups progressing to more advanced golf skills and character commitments.

At times, depending on Class size and registration, age groups may overlap. As we continue to grow and add new participants to our Chapter, these Age ranges will only become more solidified. Until then, if you have a child (or sibling) outside the age-range, give us a call and we can talk through your particular situation and make a decision that is best for all involved.