First Tee - South Puget Sound

Name

First Tee - South Puget Sound

Legal name

Fore the Kids South Puget Sound

Website

https://firstteesouthpugetsound.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting youth programming and scholarships
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from events like Harbottle Golf Classic and Schmalz Scramble
3. ELEVATE Membership: Annual membership at $200 providing access to clinics, playing opportunities, and discounts
4. Program Registration Fees: Session-based programming fees for youth ages 5-18, with financial aid available
5. Youth on Course Membership: $15 membership enabling $5/round play at participating courses
6. Corporate Matching Gifts: Matching gift programs through employer donation matching

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

First Tee - South Puget Sound delivers youth development programs for ages 5-18 that integrate golf instruction with a life skills curriculum grounded in the Nine Core Values (Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Courtesy, Confidence, Sportsmanship, Judgment, Perseverance, Integrity) and the CARE communication framework. Programs are delivered by trained volunteer coaches and PGA Professionals at partner golf courses throughout the South Puget Sound region, with paid annual memberships (ELEVATE, Youth on Course), per-session program registration, and accessible financial aid.

Product overview

First Tee - South Puget Sound is a youth development organization that uses golf as a vehicle to build character and life skills in children ages 5-18. The organization operates a portfolio of programs centered on its core Junior Golf Programs, which integrate golf instruction with a life skills curriculum teaching Nine Core Values. The portfolio includes the ELEVATE Membership as a premium year-round program at Meadow Park Golf Course, national competitive opportunities (PURE Insurance Championship, National Championship), leadership programs (Game Changers Academy, Ace Program), scholarship opportunities (College Scholarship Program), and community fundraising events. Programming is delivered at multiple golf courses throughout the South Puget Sound region, with financial aid available to ensure accessibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Junior Golf Programs Core youth development programs for ages 5-18 that integrate golf instruction with a life skills curriculum built on the Nine Core Values, delivered by trained volunteer coaches and PGA Professionals at partner golf courses throughout the South Puget Sound region.
• ELEVATE Membership Annual premium membership for ages 7-18 at Meadow Park Golf Course providing year-round clinic access, PGA Professional instruction, playing opportunities, 25% off program session registrations, Youth on Course membership, GHIN Handicap, equipment discounts (TaylorMade, US Kids Golf, Callaway), and access to First Tee National Opportunities.
• Ace Program Capstone teen program focused on career exploration, college preparation, and creating a game plan for life after graduation, involving mentorship and personal development planning.
• PURE Insurance Championship Opportunity National competitive opportunity where First Tee teens ages 15-18 compete at Pebble Beach Golf Links alongside PGA TOUR Champions professionals, with exemptions earned through the First Tee National Championship.
• Game Changers Academy National leadership workshop for teens focusing on inclusive leadership, voice elevation, and becoming advocates for positive change in their communities, featuring workshops, reflective activities, and immersive golf experiences.
• First Tee National Championship Annual 54-hole stroke play championship bringing together 48 of First Tee's top male and female players ages 14-18, held at college campuses to provide collegiate golf experience while awarding exemptions to the PURE Insurance Championship.
• Financial Aid Program Need-based financial assistance available to all families for program registration, with a simplified application integrated into the registration checkout process.
• First Tee College Scholarship Program Scholarship program providing financial support, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for exceptional First Tee alumni selected based on academic achievement, service commitment, and chapter involvement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of parents agree that sports coaching should inspire their child to excel both on and off the field
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• TopgolfcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Topgolf serves as a gateway partner introducing youth to golf, including summer camp programs. The partnership supports Game Changers Academy and shares alumni stories like Sydney Purdon who discovered golf at Topgolf as an 8-year-old.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026AWS is a proud partner of Game Changers Academy, providing financial support and leading activities and facilitating sessions throughout the week-long leadership event.
• 3M OpenmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 20263M Open is a proud partner of Game Changers Academy, with teens participating in a clinic led by First Tee Ambassador Austin Smotherman.
• Bright Harbor Wealth ManagementmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting sponsor of Harbottle Golf Classic and supporter of 2026 programming opportunities for First Tee - South Puget Sound.
• Timberland BanksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProud sponsor of the ELEVATE Membership program at Meadow Park Golf Course.
• Charles SchwabmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharles Schwab Challenge Grant program providing matching donations to amplify donor impact in the community.
• Youth on CoursesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing $15 membership enabling youth to play for $5 per round at participating courses, with First Tee participants receiving discounted rates.
• Club ChampionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf equipment partner supporting junior golf development in the South Puget Sound community.
• PURE InsurancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting sponsor of PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee, which pairs First Tee teens with PGA TOUR Champions at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
• Monterey Peninsula FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost organization for PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course.
• PGA TOUR ChampionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGA TOUR Champions partners with First Tee for the PURE Insurance Championship, providing mentorship and competition opportunities for teens.
• PGA TOUR SuperstoresupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSupported alumni meetup at Travelers Championship, bringing together First Tee alumni from across the network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LPGA-USGA Girls Golf: LPGA Foundation initiative introducing girls to golf through instructional programs, with site locations across the U.S. Targets a complementary demographic (girls) and competes for the same parent-sponsor and golf course partnership pool in select markets.
• The ANNIKA Foundation: Annika Sorenstam's non-profit focused on youth golf development, junior tournaments, and school programming (Golf in Schools). Directly comparable mission of growing youth participation in golf through instruction and life-skills integration.
• TGR Foundation: Tiger Woods' youth development foundation that combines golf instruction with STEM education, college access, and character development. Directly comparable mission and population served (underserved youth), with national reach and high-profile brand equity.
• First Tee (National HQ): The national parent organization (PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation, Inc.) that licenses and supports the South Puget Sound chapter. Operates the same Nine Core Values curriculum, manages national partnerships, and runs national programs like the PURE Insurance Championship and National Championship.
• Youth on Course: Non-profit that subsidizes youth golf access ($5/round at participating courses) and is integrated with First Tee. Collaborates with the South Puget Sound chapter to enable affordable play; serves as both a strategic partner and a comparable member-supported youth golf organization.
• Drive, Chip & Putt: Joint PGA of America, USGA, and Masters Tournament Foundation initiative that introduces youth ages 7-15 to golf through skills competition. Targets the same age demographic with a competitive, recognition-oriented pathway culminating at Augusta National.
• First Tee - Fort Worth: Texas-based First Tee chapter with the same life-skills curriculum and youth golf programming model. Has produced national-caliber participants (e.g., Sydney Purdon reference) and runs comparable event fundraising and corporate sponsorship pipelines.
• First Tee - Triangle: North Carolina-based First Tee chapter operating the identical program model, curriculum, and revenue streams (donations, ELEVATE-style memberships, sponsorships). Comparable mid-sized chapter with similar participant scale and grassroots fundraising approach.
• First Tee - Greater Seattle: A fellow Washington-state First Tee chapter serving the Greater Seattle area with the same curriculum, business model, and chapter structure. The closest geographic peer and direct competitor for participants, sponsors, and golf course partnerships in the Pacific Northwest.

Broad incumbents

• PGA Junior League: PGA of America's team-based youth golf program for kids ages 13 and under. A broader incumbent in the youth golf space that competes for parent attention and registrations, though focused on team recreation rather than First Tee's life-skills curriculum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FirstTeeSPS
• Facebookfacebook.com/FirstTeeSPS
• Instagraminstagram.com/FirstTeeSPS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-first-tee-of-south-puget-sound

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 - South Puget Sound