Mark your calendars!
Spring session begins the week of April 20. Registration opened in February and most classes are full.
Summer session begins the week of July 6. The summer schedule will be posted in mid-April and summer registration will open on May 11 at 8 a.m. View our Registration page for details.
Join us on Friday, August 7 at Fairway Hills for our 25th Annual Golf Tournament to support First Tee-Howard County. Registration opens on April 1.
DATE:
Friday, August 7, 2026
TIME:
Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.
10 a.m. shotgun start
LOCATION:
Fairway Hills Golf Club
5100 Columbia Rd.
Columbia, MD
Your business, family, or organization’s sponsorship of our tournament will be much appreciated and recognized. Reserve your sponsorship online or by contacting Phil Bryan or Nicola Morgal.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 WINNERS:
Simon Plunkett – Grand Prize Winner
Brian Hack – $400 Cash Prize Winner
Bob Henley – $100 Cash Prize Winner
Kevin Kokes – $100 Cash Prize Winner
Bill Callahan – $100 Cash Prize
Our grand prize winner will enjoy golf at a world-class destination with your favorite foursome. Purchase a raffle ticket and have a chance to win a four-day, three-night trip for FOUR at Pebble Beach (California) OR Pinehurst Resort (North Carolina), including:
Pebble Beach Resorts option:
Pinehurst Resort option:
There are four additional chances to win – one $400 prize and three $100 prizes will also be drawn! Can’t buy tickets this year? Please consider a tax-deductible donation of any amount instead! We are so grateful for your generosity in helping us continue to offer high-quality programming at a low-cost, giving more families the opportunity to enroll their children.
UPDATE: RAFFLE SALES ARE NOW CLOSED (5 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, DEC. 3)
First Tee-Howard County participant and junior coach Jonathan Moon spent time this summer at the PGA TOUR Headquarters in Ponte Vedra as part of the First Tee Pre-College Retreat for recipients of the First Tee College Scholarship Program. Earlier this spring, Jonathan received the news that he was one of just 20 teens nationwide who had been chosen for a $20,000 college scholarship.
The enhanced First Tee College Scholarship Program is designed to provide further support, life skill development, and mentorship of our alumni through their journey. Higher education continues to be a critical factor in unlocking opportunities for young people to thrive, and First Tee is committed to their success. The need and merit-based program provides scholarships up to $5,000 per year, renewable for up to four years of college admission. The program also provides professional development workshops, access to internships and full-time employment placement post-graduation. One of the key factors of the program is pairing Scholars with a dedicated adult mentor who will help encourage and guide them throughout the four years. The program is open to graduating high school seniors planning to attend college the following year. Applicants must be active members of First Tee chapters and will be considered based on financial need, academic performance, chapter involvement, volunteerism, and other criteria.
Jonathan and the other scholarship awardees from across the country spent a week in July exploring PGA TOUR Headquarters, hearing from amazing speakers, and gaining valuable advice for college success. We wish Jonathan and all of these scholars the best of luck as they begin their new journeys in college.
June 24 – August 14: Metro Tour
Our annual summer Metro Tour kicks offers participants the opportunity to gain tournament experience with fellow First Tee participants from across the D.C. metro area. The cost is $20 per participant per event. Learn about eligibility requirements and register here.
June 25: First Tee Night at Camden Yards
Join us for a fun night out at the yard on Wednesday, June 25! The Orioles will play the Rangers at 6:35 p.m., and First Tee has secured 50 tickets in the Picnic Perch with unlimited food menu.* Tickets are $45 each and available on a first come, first serve basis. To claim tickets, Venmo @firstteehowardcounty and include your name/your child’s name and the number of tickets.
July 7-August 24: Summer Session at Fairway Hills
Our summer session runs at Fairway Hills from July through mid-August for ages 5 through 17. Act now — registration is open, and spots are limited! Secure your child’s place today before all spots are filled. Register now.
August 8: 24th Annual Golf Tournament to benefit First Tee-Howard County at Fairway Hills
More details coming soon!
First Tee-Howard County is once again selling Golf Mania golf sweepstakes tickets for 2025 — a great opportunity to sharpen your focus on the four golf majors, support our area’s premier youth development organization, and have the chance to win cash prizes!
The Masters: April 10-13, 2025
PGA Championship: May 15-18, 2025
U.S. Open: June 12-15, 2025
British Open: July 17-20, 2025
This is “Fantasy Golf” without the work and commitment, for a great cause! To sweeten the deal, this year Golf Mania is offering Buy 5, Get One Free.
Still not sure how it works? This quick video explains it! These tickets also come with absolutely free music downloads for up and coming artists. So jump on in! And yes, if you delay until after the Masters, your $20 ticket will be good for the next majors, so greatest value goes to the early purchasers!
Congratulations to First Tee-Howard County participant Swara K. on being selected out of a pool of 100+ applicants to serve on the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf eLeader Board of Directors.
“I was interested in applying to the Girls Golf eLeader Board because it gives me a chance to get my voice out there about what I think could be improved with the program, as well as leadership experience. I was taught in my First Tee classes about how to introduce myself to other people and make a good first impression. These skills, along with mentoring and volunteering with First Tee, definitely helped me stand out in my application and interview process,” comments Swara.
The eLeader program is a new national volunteer and mentorship opportunity for Girls Golf advocates ages 13 – 18 who are looking for ways to give back to help their local program. In addition to making a difference in their communities, eLeaders build professional and leadership skills that help prepare for life beyond high school.
Introducing First Tee’s First Ever Year-Long Program
On the Mark is a year-long program for First Tee participants ages 12 and up aimed at focusing on the “short game,” building skills gradually. Participants will learn on the golf course, playing nine holes to build confidence as they progress through the levels of play. Players will start from 25 yards from the hole and must score 36 or better to progress to the next level.
Classes will be held at 7 a.m. on the second Sunday of each month, starting on July 14. The annual cost for the program is $100, and players must be accompanied by an adult who will rent a golf cart ($11 per round) to facilitate pace of play. Participants must confirm their participation each month so that tee times can be arranged. Registration opens at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 17. Please note that this program is not open to new participants.
The annual Metro Tour is upon us! The Metro Tour offers opportunities for First Tee participants ages 9 to 18 from chapters around the metro area to participate in competitive tournaments at different golf courses during the summer.
This year’s Metro Tour kicks off on June 18. Some events are for girls only, while other events are restricted by level. Below is a schedule of events along with eligibility requirements. Registration will be online only. Please contact us with any questions. We’re looking forward to another exciting Metro Tour!
First Tee announced today that Jonathan Moon will represent First Tee-Howard County when he competes in the 2024 First Tee National Championship, where top players from chapters across the country show how the program has helped build the strength of character needed to play at the collegiate level and beyond. The First Tee National Championship—the only national event that is purely tournament golf—will be held at Clemson University from June 23 to 27. This year, two participants will have the opportunity to join the PGA TOUR Pathway to Progression and continue their golf journey.
Last year, Jonathan was chosen out of a competitive application field to play in the PGA TOUR Champions’ PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach. Jonathan also completed a 72-day golf challenge in 2023, during which he committed to playing nine holes of golf every day for 72 days to raise funds to give other junior golfers opportunities through First Tee-Howard County. At the end of the challenge, he presented a check for $2,000 to our chapter.
| First Tee-Howard County’s board of directors is thrilled to announce our new executive director, Steve Weathersbee! A familiar face to many in our community, Steve became involved with First Tee-Howard County in 2016 when his daughter joined the program, and is a certified level 4 First Tee chapter trainer who has been coaching at our chapter for nine seasons. |
| With more than 20 years of experience coaching and mentoring youth in Howard, Baltimore, and Anne Arundel counties, Steve has taught group lessons for Columbia Association and Howard County Parks and Recreation, in addition to private golf lessons. Steve is also a PGA Associate, actively pursuing full PGA membership. “I am beyond excited to be given the opportunity to continue the 20+ years of excellence that Don Van Deusen brought to First Tee-Howard County. It truly is an honor to be asked to lead the program he built. I am committed to making sure we continue the fantastic work of First Tee and offer all of our participants the best experience possible,” Steve commented. Coach Weathersbee assumes his new role today, April 15; please join us in welcoming him! Steve can be reached at [email protected]. |
