Category: The First Tee Nine Core Values

Game Recognizing Game: First Tee – The Lowcountry salutes leaders in our community.

First Tee – The Lowcountry’s Community Leadership Awards Banquet Set for April 15

At the heart of everything First Tee – The Lowcountry does — teaching young people the game of golf while building their character — are their Nine Core Values:
Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy, and Judgment.

Each of these tenets work in concert to lift young golfers up and guide them toward a better life.

Once again this year, First Tee – The Lowcountry will celebrate these values through its annual Community Leadership Awards Banquet, recognizing local leaders who exemplify these core principles in their own lives.

📍 Event Details
🗓 April 15, 2025
📍 Sea Pines Country Club

“Everyone who we recognize exemplifies one, if not more, of the core values of First Tee,” said Lynn King, who will co-chair the event with Bill Fuge. “It’s a win-win because it not only gives us a chance to recognize them, it introduces them to what First Tee does.”

2025 Honorees – Celebrating Core Values

This year’s honorees represent a cross-section of our community — each inspiring in their own leadership:

  • Mike Nevil – Honesty
  • Brennan Roedig – Sportsmanship
  • Eric Boberg – Perseverance
  • JR Richardson – Confidence
  • Dr. Jane Upshaw – Responsibility
  • Mayor Harry Williams – Judgment
  • Missy Santorum – Courtesy
  • Colonel Neal Pugliese – Integrity
  • Molly Hornbeck – Respect

“I’ve known most of our recipients for a while,” said King. “It’s amazing because they’re all leaders in their own right.”

Special Recognition

The evening will also include the presentation of three special awards to those who have gone above and beyond in service to First Tee – The Lowcountry.

  • John Bankhead will receive the Jim Ferree Legacy Award. A national trustee for First Tee, Bankhead has played a critical role in building the local scholarship fund. “I don’t know how much bigger of a legacy you can have than that,” said Executive Director Pat Zuk.
  • In addition to being honored for Honesty, Mike Nevil will also receive the Mike Davis Award. “Mike is a tremendous volunteer and our lead coach in Beaufort. He’s also helping us secure a more permanent home there,” said Zuk.
  • Brennan Roedig will be recognized for Sportsmanship and awarded the Paul Caruso Award. “Watching the transformation of Brennan and his sister has been an absolute joy,” said Zuk.

Get Involved

Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available!
Visit 👉 firstteelowcountry.org to learn more and support this impactful event.

A New Era for Junior Golf on Hilton Head Island

When the Hilton Head Island Junior Golf Association (HHIJGA) found itself without operational leadership earlier this year, it could have marked the end of an era for youth golf. The local chapter of the South Carolina Junior Golf Association (SCJGA) and the Hootie and the Blowfish Junior Golf Tour had been running youth golf tournaments for decades, serving as a launchpad for talented young golfers.

And were it not for one brilliant move, it could have all been over. Instead, the organization turned to a partner whose mission aligns perfectly with theirs: First Tee – The Lowcountry. Known for its commitment to developing young talent both on and off the course, First Tee stepped in to ensure that junior golf in the region would not only continue but thrive.

“Golf tournaments for kids—that’s right up our alley,” said First Tee Executive Director Pat Zuk. “Plus, this provides a great opportunity for our participants to be able to do things outside of the program.”

A Winning Partnership

Already, this partnership has proven to be mutually beneficial. First Tee – The Lowcountry has leveraged its expertise to keep HHIJGA moving forward, while the Junior Golf Association’s robust summer tournament schedule has provided First Tee students with a chance to test their skills in competitive play—when the weather has cooperated.

“It’s been a bit of a weather challenge. Our first event was rain-shortened after nine holes, our third event was heat-shortened, and our ninth event was right during Debby,” said Zuk. “But it’s been really fun. This has allowed our kids to play on a variety of courses, from Old South to the Country Club of Hilton Head. And one event was particularly special—a par three shootout on Colleton River’s par three course.”

While the majority of participants in these tournaments have come from the general public, First Tee is working to increase the involvement of its own students. “Right now, it’s probably about 15 percent First Tee kids, but this is just year one,” said Zuk. “That number will only grow as more of our kids participate.”

Success at the State Level

The impact of this partnership extends beyond Hilton Head. Two of First Tee’s standout participants, Daniel Morrell and his brother Paul, won their respective age groups at the statewide Tommy Cuthbert All-Star Tournament, which showcases the top junior golfers from across South Carolina.

“There’s a lot of competitive golf being played out there, and this is a great way for kids in our area to gain experience in a high-level tournament setting,” said Zuk. “It’s beneficial for those already competing, as well as those who want to see what competitive golf is all about.”

Thanks to First Tee – The Lowcountry’s leadership, the future of junior golf on Hilton Head Island is brighter than ever.

Girls Golf + First Tee Partnership!

2025 LPGA Girls Golf Program Now Open and FREE to First Tee Students.

What to Expect:

Develop golf skills, fitness, and character through engaging games and skill development.

Learn to play on the golf course, not just swing a club.

Progress through the “5 E’s of Girls Golf” (Empower, Enrich, Engage, Exercise, Energize) with age-specific skills challenges.

Coaching provided by LPGA and PGA Golf Professionals.

Start Date:

Kickoff Event: Sunday, February 2, 2025 | 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: The Zone, 108 Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton, SC

Regular Sessions:

Sundays, 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Locations include:

First Tee – Low Country (Boys & Girls Club, Gumtree Road, Hilton Head Island)

Berkeley Hall (366 Good Hope Road, Bluffton, SC)

Ages:

Girls 6-16, all skill levels welcome (from beginners to competitive players).

Coaches:

Krista Dunton: Director of Instruction, Berkeley Hall; Golf Digest #1 Teacher in SC, LPGA Top 50 Teacher

Betty Kaufman: Former Men’s Coach at DePaul University, Former LPGA Tour Player

Julie Cole: Senior Instructor at Sea Pines Resort, LPGA Top 50 Teacher, Former LPGA Tour Player

Stephanie George: Head Golf Professional at Berkeley Hall, Former LPGA Tour Player

Jordan Britt: Epson LPGA Mini Tour Professional

Dona Lerner: LPGA Top 50 Teacher

Cost:

$170 for all sessions

Scholarships available (Contact Krista Dunton)

If you are enrolled in First Tee – The Lowcountry, this program is FREE!

Registration:

Download the LPGA Girls Golf App.

Email Krista Dunton at [email protected] with your child’s:

Shirt size

Age

Club requirement (if applicable)

For more details, visit the LPGA Girls Golf of Low Country Facebook Page or contact Krista Dunton at [email protected] | 843-290-8714.

First Tee- The Lowcountry – Creating Brighter Futures

The First Tee has always been an organization dedicated to creating brighter futures. Across schools and programs throughout the country, this network of 150 local chapters has helped countless students gain valuable life skills to propel them toward their goals.

Our local chapter, First Tee – The Lowcountry, has long been one of the broader organization’s most dynamic members. Through classes at their stunning Gumtree Road facility and in classrooms across Beaufort and Jasper counties, they have elevated our community’s youth and guided them to become exactly the kind of citizens we need.

This past year, they took their impact even further by granting one deserving student the inaugural First Tee – The Lowcountry Secondary Education Scholarship. Joshua Smith, last year’s recipient, is using the funds he received to finance his education at The United States Air Force Academy.

“One thing most people don’t realize about the service academies is that students still have to come up with a fair amount of tuition money on their own,” said Pat Zuk, Executive Director for First Tee – The Lowcountry. “Joshua is a really good kid. He actually just came back to update the board on how he’s doing. He’s getting really into engineering. He is not only going to be great for the community at large, but he’s also exactly who you want in the armed forces.”

Smith’s scholarship, presented this past April during the First Tee Gala, was spearheaded by national First Tee trustee and Palmetto Bluff resident John Bankhead. Awarding the scholarship in honor of his parents, Bankhead told C2 at the time:

“That’s one of the things that drew me to (First Tee) – working with youth and setting up scholarships.”

This year’s scholarship will be granted to a deserving student thanks to two stalwart benefactors of First Tee – The Lowcountry, Ken and Joan Campbell. One of the earliest donors to the then-fledgling program when it launched 11 years ago, the Campbells were only too happy to keep this invaluable scholarship going.

“When we explained it to Ken and Joan, they doubled the amount they were giving,” added Zuk.

Their generosity will help another student this year as the beneficiary of the 2025 First Tee – The Lowcountry Post-Secondary Education Scholarship. Eligible students must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a current or former First Tee – The Lowcountry participant.
  • Be in their senior year of high school or currently enrolled in a post-secondary two- or four-year program.
  • Have a minimum 2.0 GPA.
  • Exemplify First Tee’s dedication to community, embodying the nine core values, participating in Life Skills classes, and engaging in community service.

“For our donors like The Campbells and John Bankhead to make this kind of financial commitment is a real gift to us,” said Zuk. “Thanks to them, these young people can pursue whatever they want beyond high school, whether it’s a two- or four-year program or trade school.”

Interested students can apply through The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry or at firstteelowcountry.org.

First Tee National Championship: Lowcountry’s Own Jeep Patrick Shines on the Big Stage

This past June, young golfers from across the country made their way to the Palmetto State to test their golf game on the challenging links at Clemson University’s Walker Course during the 2024 First Tee National Championship. But these weren’t just any young golfers. These were the selected champions from nationwide chapters of The First Tee, an organization dedicated to teaching young people the fundamentals of golf and the importance of good character.

During the tournament, guest speakers led conversations around First Tee’s values and life skills experience, augmenting the challenge of the tournament with the personal development that sets the organization apart. And the players, all First Tee students, came from across the country to represent their home chapters.

A Hometown Champion

One competitor didn’t have to travel far.

“It was a great experience, being able to represent the Lowcountry,” said Jeep Patrick.

A long-time student of First Tee – The Lowcountry, Patrick began his journey when he was 11 years old. He has not only proven himself a phenomenal golfer, with impressive wins at regional tournaments against competitors much more experienced, but has also shown himself to be a standard-bearer for First Tee’s values.

A Strong Finish on the National Stage

“We are incredibly proud of Jeep and his performance at the First Tee National Championship,” said Executive Director and Patrick’s coach, Pat Zuk. “His dedication to the sport and his representation of our values both on and off the course are truly commendable. We look forward to supporting Jeep in his future endeavors and watching his continued success in the world of golf.”

With the support of First Tee – The Lowcountry, Patrick finished the 2024 First Tee National Championship in fourth place in a field of 24 other student-athletes, finishing five under par after 54 holes.

“I felt honored to represent First Tee – The Lowcountry. They’re the ones who got me into golf,” said Patrick. “Mr. Pat Zuk and the entire board at First Tee showed an immense amount of support throughout my high school career. I tried my best to represent the First Tee and walked away with a good result.”

Looking Ahead: A Bright Future in Golf

The strong finish at nationals marks another stepping stone in a golf career that looks poised to take off.

“Next up, I’m playing in the U.S. Junior Amateur in Oakland Hills, Michigan,” said Patrick. “That will be my last junior golf tournament.”

In between that and the day he departs for college, Patrick is keeping his golf game sharp by caddying at Harbour Town Golf Links, studying under another legend of the game, John Farrell.

“He’s been a very good mentor, and it’s an honor to work with him,” Patrick shared.

The future looks bright for this young golfer and model of First Tee’s dedication to molding young people into champions—both on and off the course.