First Tee – Tampa Bay
About
Structured Junior Golf with Clear Progression at Rogers Park
First Tee – Tampa Bay operates out of Rogers Park Golf Course with a tiered system that takes kids from group lessons through competitive tournament play. The 8:1 student-to-instructor ratio ensures real coaching attention, and programs run year-round including a 10-week summer camp with meals provided.
Programs
Progressive pathway from beginner to competitive:
- Group Lessons (ages 5–17) — weekly 60-minute sessions in 7-week blocks, max 8:1 ratio
- Short Course Club (ages 8–18) — Saturdays, 1 hour instruction + 2 hours play (requires Club Certified status)
- Advanced Team (ages 12+) — weekly meets for juniors scoring 55 or under on 9 holes
- Summer Junior Golf Camp — 10 consecutive weeks, all ages, snacks and lunch provided
- Players Club (grades 9–12) — free Friday afternoon program with instruction, on-course play, life skills
- Girls Golf (ages 5–12) — dedicated 7-week girls sessions
- Tampa Junior Tour — 9-hole (12 and under) and 18-hole (13+) tournaments, April–October
What's Included
- 8:1 student-to-instructor ratio in group lessons
- Free Players Club for high schoolers
- Snacks and lunch included in summer camp
- Clear certification gates for progression between levels
- Tournament series for competitive experience
Experience
First Tee Tampa Bay's certification-gated system is unusually structured — kids earn Club Certified status before moving to Short Course Club, then qualify by score for the Advanced Team. This ensures each level is appropriately challenging. The free Players Club for high schoolers and 10-week summer camp with meals make it one of the most comprehensive and accessible programs in the Tampa metro.