First Tee – Greater Chicago

Golf Meets Character Building

First Tee – Greater Chicago is a youth development nonprofit with 25 years of impact, combining junior golf instruction with a life skills curriculum. The organization operates out of three Chicago-area facilities — Waveland Youth Facility, Harborside Youth Learning Center, and The Evans at Canal Shores.

Junior Programs

Programs are structured by age group, each blending on-course golf skills with character development:
- Ages 7–9 — Introduction to golf fundamentals in a fun, peer-focused setting
- Ages 10–11 — Skill progression with collaborative character-building activities
- Ages 12–13 — Deeper golf technique paired with adolescent growth challenges
- Ages 14+ — Advanced play with self-reflection and future planning
- Ace Program — Capstone experience for high schoolers preparing for next steps

What's Included

• Golf instruction integrated with five core values: pursuing goals, growing through challenge, collaboration, positive self-identity, and good judgment
• Access to the First Tee App for tracking progress and earning badges
• School-based and community outreach programs available beyond regular sessions
• National events and competitions for qualifying participants

Experience

First Tee is designed for kids who are new to golf or developing their game while building confidence and resilience off the course. The environment is intentionally low-pressure — kids are encouraged to fail, learn, and grow. A strong fit for families looking for more than just sport instruction.