Pro Kids | The First Tee of San Diego are Champions for Youth Champions
San Diego, CA. –
For the sixth year in a row, Pro Kids| The First Tee of San Diego participated in the Champions for Youth Program, and for the fourth time in Champions For Youth history, finished in first place, raising more than $250,000 to empower local students to excel on and off the golf course.
Champions For Youth is the primary charitable program of San Diego’s premier PGA TOUR event, the Farmers Insurance Open. Champions For Youth is the primary charitable program of the Farmers Insurance Open. The program is a collaboration between Farmers Insurance and the Century Club to positively impact 10 San Diego charities that support at-risk and underserved youth and their families. The charities use the platform of the tournament to fundraise and increase awareness of the issues these organizations serve.
Most notably, this year Champions For Youth helped charities focus on growing and maintaining their donor base, and Pro Kids saw an increase of over 100 percent based on previous Champions for Youth campaigns, thanks to the strategic peer-to-peer format of this years’ competition, and dedicated board members, staff, parents, volunteers, and donors. With the support of these gracious parties, Farmers Insurance and The Century Club, over 700 kids throughout San Diego will have continued, year-round access to over 2,500 hours of golf and life skills education at no cost.
“We are proud that the Champions For Youth program has so positively impacted Pro Kids | The First Tee of San Diego, and in turn the youth they serve,” said Peter Ripa, CEO of the Century Club of San Diego / Farmers Insurance Open. “We look forward to seeing the resources and awareness generated through this year’s program support their mission now and long after the last putt drops at the Farmers Insurance Open.”
The mission of Pro Kids is to challenge underserved youth to excel in life by promoting character development, life skills, and values through education and the game of golf. For more information, please visit https://www.thefirstteesandiego.org.
Norman has played in two National Championships with the University of Oregon and became the youngest player in history to represent the United States at the Walker Cup. He went on to lead the United States Team to a 19-7 victory with his stellar play (3-0-1) at Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course this year. Pro Kids is very proud to see Norman excel on and off the course. We know there are big things ahead for him. Check out Norman’s story and success by clicking the links below:
This summer, for the first time ever, Pro Kids | The First Tee of San Diego will have teams competing as part of the PGA Junior League (PGAJL)! PGAJL provides a fun, team-oriented experience that will give our members a taste of competitive golf. It’s also a place where many of the best golf professionals in the world got their start.
Members of our first-ever Pro Kids PGA Junior League team in City Heights!
Pro Kids entered two teams to compete for the PGAJL championship this season, one for our City Heights site and one for our Oceanside site. Each team has 12 Level 3 and Level 4 members who have shown a special interest in golf and represent the communities that we serve. Our goal is to have two teams per site next season!
How It Works
Members will compete as a team in a two-player scramble format, playing 9-hole matches against kids from other golf courses in San Diego. Each team member gets a numbered jersey with his or her last name on the back.
Scoring consists of a cumulative point system of all matches happening at the same time, much like the Ryder Cup. Teams are split up into four groups of three players each, allowing for substitutions during the match. Everyone plays a minimum of six holes per match. More information about the PGAJL competition format is available here.
Graduating from the Par 3 Course
One objective of being part of the PGAJL is to give our Pro Kids members an opportunity to play regulation-size golf courses earlier in their Golf & Life Skills program. Many of our Level 4 members have yet to play on a regulation golf course, limiting the types of events they could participate in.
In addition, the team-oriented format allows team members to further develop their social skills and build long-lasting friendships with their peers. In order to be successful in the League, Pro Kids members must learn how to work together and play off one another’s strengths.
All Thanks to Carini Heating and Air Conditioning
Pr Kids Board Member Gabriel Carini and his company, Carini Heating and Air Conditioning, continue to come through for Pro Kids by stepping up with $5,000 to sponsor the Pro Kids PGAJL teams. THANK YOU! Because of this, we’re able to offer this formative life experience at absolutely no cost to our members.
Please donate today to so that we may build upon this investment and continue to offer PGAJL participation to more of our members in the future.
Most notably, this year Champions For Youth helped charities focus on growing and maintaining their donor base, and Pro Kids saw an increase of over 100 percent based on previous Champions for Youth campaigns, thanks to the strategic peer-to-peer format of this years’ competition, and dedicated board members, staff, parents, volunteers, and donors. With the support of these gracious parties, Farmers Insurance and The Century Club, over 700 kids throughout San Diego will have continued, year-round access to over 2,500 hours of golf and life skills education at no cost.
“We are proud that the Champions For Youth program has so positively impacted Pro Kids | The First Tee of San Diego, and in turn the youth they serve,” said Peter Ripa, CEO of the Century Club of San Diego / Farmers Insurance Open. “We look forward to seeing the resources and awareness generated through this year’s program support their mission now and long after the last putt drops at the Farmers Insurance Open.”
The mission of Pro Kids is to challenge underserved youth to excel in life by promoting character development, life skills, and values through education and the game of golf. For more information, please visit https://www.thefirstteesandiego.org.
