First Tee — Greater Sacramento

What First Tee — Greater Sacramento does

First Tee — Greater Sacramento is a 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit youth development organization operating under the legal name Sacramento Area Youth Golf Association and affiliated with the PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation's national network of 52 chapters. Founded in 1983 and headquartered at 3704 Marconi Ave Suite 1, Sacramento, the chapter delivers golf-integrated life skills programming to youth ages 7-18 and individuals with disabilities across the Greater Sacramento region, reaching 58,000+ participants annually with 56,000 participating free of charge through Golferships (scholarships).

The organization's service portfolio spans three core verticals: competitive junior golf (Junior Tour for ages 12-18 across 24+ area courses, Little Linkers for ages 7-12, U.S. Kids Golf Local Sacramento Tour); inclusion and equity programs (RISE Golf for underserved youth, Girls Golf clinics, California Eagles Special Olympics since 1986, Adaptive PE with UCP of Sacramento, Swing Club for the Blind, Els for Autism); and mentorship/national advancement pathways (Watson Links free-mentor golf, PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach, Game Changers Academy). Technical infrastructure is operational rather than product-oriented, comprising etapestry for donations, BlueGolf for tournament registration, Constant Contact for email, and a WordPress-based website.

The revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit structure: program registration fees (Junior Tour $125/year, California Eagles $150/year, tournament entry $30-$70) covering a small share of cost; tax-deductible individual donations channeled through BIG Day of Giving and memorial giving; corporate sponsorships for events ranging from $250 to $30,000 (Presenting Sponsor tier at the Invitational sold out); in-kind golf equipment donations; and revenue from annual fundraising events (Jr/Sr FUNvitational, Hole-in-One Shootout, Poker Tournament, First Tee Invitational). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging school PE partnerships (First Tee School Program, K-6), word-of-mouth referrals, and a Topgolf partnership as an entry funnel. The chapter operates with 18 employees, anchored by Director of Programs Michael Firpo and Junior Tour Director Ashley Noda.

Name

First Tee — Greater Sacramento

Legal name

Sacramento Area Youth Golf Association

Website

https://firstteesacramento.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Tee — Greater Sacramento is a Sacramento-based nonprofit youth development organization that uses golf to teach life skills to 58,000+ youth and individuals with disabilities annually through competitive programs, inclusion initiatives, and mentorship pathways, supported by donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Junior Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAL)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Golf instruction services
• Character education
• Junior golf programs
• Community nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Registration Fees: Fees charged for participation in various programs including Junior Tour membership ($125/year), tournament entry fees ($30-$70 per event), and program fees for specialized offerings like California Eagles ($150/year). Golferships (scholarships) are available for those who cannot afford fees.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, families, and community members supporting youth development. The organization participates in BIG Day of Giving and accepts memorial donations. EIN# 68-0023502.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporations and foundations provide financial support, brand building assistance, and in-kind contributions. Sponsorship levels for events range from $200 (Junior Sponsor) to $30,000 (Presenting Sponsor for Invitational).
4. Golf Equipment Donations: Accepts donations of golf equipment (clubs 7 years or less, bags, carts, balls) which are used for program participants who cannot afford equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

First Tee — Greater Sacramento delivers golf-based youth development programming for kids and teens ages 7-18 across the Greater Sacramento region. The organization operates tiered programs ranging from beginner clinics (Little Linkers, Girls Golf) to competitive tournament play (Junior Tour, U.S. Kids Golf Local Tour), alongside specialized inclusion and disability programs (RISE Golf, California Eagles, Adaptive PE, Swing Club for the Blind, Els for Autism) and the Watson Links mentorship program. Programs integrate the proprietary First Tee Golf & Life Skills Experience curriculum, teaching character values, self-management, interpersonal communication, and goal setting through golf instruction delivered at regional golf courses and partner schools.

Product overview

First Tee — Greater Sacramento is a youth development organization that delivers golf-based personal growth programs. The organization operates a multi-tiered portfolio of programs: core junior golf programs (Junior Tour for ages 12-18, Little Linkers for ages 7-12, and U.S. Kids Golf Local Tour); specialized inclusion programs under #AnyoneCanPlay including California Eagles (Special Olympics), Adaptive PE, Swing Club for the Blind, and Els for Autism; diversity initiatives through RISE Golf; and dedicated programming via Girls Golf clinics and Watson Links (free golf with mentors). Beyond direct programming, the organization hosts annual charity events (Jr/Sr FUNvitational, Hole-In-One Shootout, Poker Tournament, First Tee Invitational, BIG Day of Giving) and connects participants to national opportunities including the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach and Game Changers Academy. The portfolio is unified by a life skills curriculum that teaches character education through golf, with programs ranging from introductory clinics to elite competitive tours.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• R.I.S.E. Golf Program: Promoting Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion through collaboration and intentional action - Reach, Inspire, Support, Empower
• Ace Program
• Junior Tour
• Little Linkers
• California Eagles
• Watson Links

Products and services

• Junior Tour A year-round competitive golf tournament program for boys and girls ages 12-18, allowing juniors to play on over 24 different area golf courses from March through December. Junior Tour membership is $125 annually (sliding to $80 after July 15 and $40 after October 1), includes eligibility for all Junior Tour events, Youth on Course membership with $5 green fees, Life Skills classes, and eligibility to apply for national opportunities. Tournament entry fees range from $30-$70 per event, with Golferships available for those who cannot afford fees.
• Little Linkers An 8-week parent participation, competitive playing program for golfers ages 7-12 that plays from Little Linker tees at local golf courses, culminating in a Tournament of Champions. The program introduces young players to competitive play in a structured, parent-supported environment.
• U.S. Kids Golf Local Sacramento Tour Tournament golf program designed to introduce young players to competitive play with scaled courses and individual age groups, operated through the U.S. Kids Golf framework in the Sacramento region.
• RISE Golf Program A diversity, equity, and inclusion program (Reach, Inspire, Support, Empower) customized for community partners, providing meals, equipment, and golf attire as needed to remove barriers to participation for underserved and underrepresented youth.
• Girls Golf Free golf clinics for young ladies ages 7-18 to introduce the game in a friendly, fun, and educational environment, with a focus on engaging girls in the sport.
• California Eagles (Special Olympics) Program bringing over 100 young people and adults with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and other disabilities to the golf course annually since 1986, with $150 annual subscription including golf instruction, life skills instruction, on-course demonstrations, putting contest, ice cream social day, and year-end tournament. Golferships available.
• Adaptive Physical Education Partnership with UCP of Sacramento providing golf instruction to students with physical and/or mental disabilities, running 9-week sessions. UCP provides wheelchair-accessible buses for transportation, expanded program from 70 to over 100 students annually.
• Swing Club for the Blind Weekly nine-hole golf outings for blind players, accompanied by sighted volunteers, running since 1953 with 15-20 players and 25-30 volunteers annually.
• Els for Autism Partnership with Ernie Els #GameON Autism Golf program providing evidence-based practices for teaching golf to people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Classes offered at Empire Ranch GC and Emerald Lakes GC with limited class sizes for relationship building.
• Watson Links A program matching groups of three junior players with an adult mentor to play nine holes at local courses at no cost, created by 8-time Major Champion Tom Watson. First Tee — Greater Sacramento is the first expansion partner for Watson Links beyond its Kansas City base. Mentors undergo background checks before being paired with juniors ages 10-18.
• National Opportunities Program National events including the First Tee National Championship, Game Changers Academy, PURE Insurance Championship, Drive Your Future Academy, and Innovators Forum for advanced participant development. The Ace Program serves as First Tee's capstone program for teens.
• PURE Insurance Championship Annual PGA TOUR Champions event at Pebble Beach Golf Links pairing First Tee teens with golf legends for mentorship and competition for pro-junior titles, broadcast internationally on Golf Channel. Title sponsored by PURE Insurance and co-hosted with Monterey Peninsula Foundation.
• Game Changers Academy Five-day leadership and empowerment experience for teens focusing on inclusive leadership, community building, and personal development held at the University of Minnesota. Partners include AWS, 3M Open, and Topgolf, with teens participating in a clinic led by First Tee Ambassador Austin Smotherman at the 3M Open tournament venue.
• Jr/Sr FUNvitational Annual two-person scramble golf event pairing junior golfers (ages 7-18) with adult golfers (19+), held at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex. Early bird pricing (by May 31st): $150 per player / $300 per team; after May 31st: $175 single player and $350 per team. Includes green fees, golf cart, tee prize, range balls, and boxed lunch.
• Hole-In-One Shootout Charity golf event at Serrano Country Club featuring 18 par-3 holes with $20,000 hole-in-one payouts, $40,000 toward a car from Folsom Auto Mall, and closest-to-the-pin cash prizes on every hole.
• First Tee Invitational Annual fundraising tournament with VIP dinner, fireside chat, and golf tournament at Catta Verdera Country Club supporting youth life skills education. Sponsorship levels include Presenting Sponsor ($30,000, Sold Out), Partner (~$20,000), Sustaining (~$10,000), Benefactor (~$7,500), Mentor (~$5,000), VIP Dinner ($1,000), Fireside Chat Breakfast ($250), Hole Sponsorship ($500), Breakfast/Lunch ($2,500), and Putting Green/Driving Range ($1,500).
• First Tee Poker Tournament Annual charity poker tournament at North Ridge Country Club with dinner, drinks, silent auction, and prizes for top winners.
• BIG Day of Giving Annual regional giving day supporting First Tee programs including character education, specialized disability programs, and coach training.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Watson Links (Tom Watson)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2023First Tee — Greater Sacramento is the first expansion partner for Tom Watson's Watson Links program, which provides free tee times to junior golfers matched with adult mentors. The program emulates Watson's own childhood experience of learning golf through mentorship, with mentors undergoing background checks before being paired with juniors ages 10-18.
• UCP of Sacramento and Northern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2013Partnership expanded Adaptive PE program from serving 70 students to over 100 students annually. UCP provides wheelchair-accessible buses (up to 10 wheelchairs at a time) for transportation, solving previous limitations with city bus capacity of only 2 wheelchairs.
• PGA TOUR ChampionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGA TOUR Champions partners with First Tee for the PURE Insurance Championship, an official tournament at Pebble Beach Golf Links where First Tee teens are paired with PGA TOUR Champions professionals for mentorship and competition. The tournament is broadcast internationally on Golf Channel.
• PURE InsurancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPURE Insurance is the title sponsor of the PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach. The event pairs First Tee teens with PGA TOUR Champions legends and business leaders for a week of competition and mentorship.
• Monterey Peninsula FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the PURE Insurance Championship with PURE Insurance and PGA TOUR Champions, providing the venue and infrastructure for the annual tournament at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWS is a proud partner of the Game Changers Academy, providing financial support and leading activities and facilitating sessions throughout the week-long leadership event for teens in Minneapolis.
• 3M OpenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner3M Open is a proud partner of the Game Changers Academy, with teens participating in a clinic led by First Tee Ambassador Austin Smotherman at the 3M Open tournament venue.
• TopgolfmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTopgolf is a proud partner of Game Changers Academy and has an ongoing partnership with First Tee to grow golf and shape tomorrow's leaders. Topgolf summer camp programs serve as entry points for First Tee participation.
• Els for AutismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ernie Els #GameON Autism Golf program to provide evidence-based practices for teaching golf to people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Classes offered at Empire Ranch GC and Emerald Lakes GC with limited class sizes for relationship building.
• Haggin Oaks Golf ComplexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary host venue for Junior Tour events, Jr/Sr FUNvitational, and various programs including Little Linkers and California Eagles. Home base for many First Tee Sacramento operations.
• Catta Verdera Country ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for the annual First Tee Invitational tournament, hosting the VIP dinner, breakfast Q&A, golf clinic, and shotgun start for the two-day fundraising event.
• Serrano Country ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for the Hole-in-One Shootout charity golf event. Also associated with the Serrano/Serrano CC Fund for donations supporting scholarships, Golferships, and outreach programs.
• North Ridge Country ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for the annual Poker Tournament charity event, hosting check-in, dinner, drinks, silent auction, and poker competition.
• Topgolf (Player Pathway)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTopgolf facilities serve as entry points for youth discovery of golf, with summer camps leading to First Tee chapter enrollment. Sydney Purdon's story exemplifies this pathway from Topgolf summer camp to First Tee participant to junior coach and national opportunity participant.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento: Regional youth development nonprofit serving Sacramento-area youth with character-building programs. Comparable as a regional peer for youth development funding, volunteer pipelines, and family outreach in the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• First Tee (National Headquarters): The national parent network (PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation) operating 150+ chapters delivering the same youth golf and life skills curriculum. Comparable because it operates the same program model, curriculum, and brand under which the Greater Sacramento chapter delivers services.
• American Junior Golf Association (AJGA): National organization running elite junior golf tournaments and college-exposure pathways for teens. Comparable to First Tee's Junior Tour and national championship pathways as a feeder into competitive junior golf.

Emerging players

• Topgolf: Operates golf entertainment venues used as entry points for youth discovery of golf. Comparable via its formal partnership with First Tee — Topgolf summer camps serve as feeders into First Tee chapter enrollment.

Direct peers

• LPGA*USGA Girls Golf: National initiative introducing girls ages 7-18 to golf through clinics and programming. Directly comparable to First Tee's Girls Golf clinics in target audience, format, and youth-development mission.
• U.S. Kids Golf Foundation: Organizes Local Tour events for young golfers using scaled courses and age-group competition — the same product First Tee — Greater Sacramento offers through its U.S. Kids Golf Local Sacramento Tour. Direct peer in junior tournament operations.
• Youth on Course: Subsidiary of the AJGA Foundation providing subsidized $5 green fees and golf access for juniors. Comparable because First Tee Junior Tour membership includes Youth on Course benefits and the organizations share a youth-golf access mission.
• Special Olympics Northern California: Operates year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Comparable as a delivery vehicle for the California Eagles Special Olympics program First Tee runs.
• The Els for Autism Foundation: Ernie Els's foundation providing evidence-based golf programming for individuals with autism. Directly comparable to First Tee's Els for Autism program partnership and #AnyoneCanPlay adaptive offerings.
• PGA Junior League Golf: PGA of America-operated team-based youth golf program for ages 17 and under. Comparable as a competing national youth golf development platform targeting similar family and school-channel audiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TFTGreaterSac
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TFTGS1
• Facebookfacebook.com/TFTGS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-tee-greater-sacramento
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstteesacramento

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Tee — Greater Sacramento