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Classes Suspended | First Tee of Greater Houston Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 Update

On March 16 President Trump and the White House Coronavirus Task Force released new guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19, urging that no more than 10 people gather in any setting for the next 15 days. With this new guidance, we will suspend all First Tee classes for the recommended time period. We will update you on any further modifications to our class schedule beyond the 15 day period as necessary. 

Pure Insurance Championship Through the Players Eyes

In September,  The First Tee of Greater Houston participants Christian Rodriguez, Ethan Korock and Mallorie Luitwieler competed in the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach. Playing alongside PGA TOUR pros, they had the experience of a lifetime. Read more about their exciting week in their own words. 
Christian Rodriguez
My time playing in The Pure Insurance Championship was amazing. I started off my journey with the plane flight from Houston to Los Angeles and then a connected flight to San Jose. I hardly fly on planes, so I was a little nervous, but at the same time I was very excited. We landed in San Jose and then took the drive to Monterrey. The drive was amazing. There were so many beautiful mountains and the weather was so nice. Our first stop was Pebble Beach. I had butterflies in my stomach from just walking around all the shops and The Lodge. I went to check in and got settled with all the instructions for the week. I bought a jacket from the Pro Shop because it was cold compared to Houston. I spent the rest of the day putting around the Green between the Lodge and all the shops. I was still very nervous, and I was still trying to soak it in that I am at Pebble Beach. In the evening we had an introduction to the Tournament and a welcome at Poppy Hills Golf Course. This was the time where we met our pro that we would play with. I was paired with Grant Waite from New Zealand. We had dinner and I got to meet everybody from the different The First Tee chapters and made new friends. The second day of the trip was my practice round at Pebble Beach and I was very excited. I started off my morning bright and early at 5:30 am with some meditation and going for a jog around the beach. I had a tee time at the course at around 1:30, so right after I ate breakfast I headed straight to the course to practice and to get familiar with the area. I hit the range for a little bit but spent most of my time around the greens observing how the ball reacted. I hit the course hours later and I was so amazed of how beautiful Pebble Beach was. I played my practice round with an amateur and his caddie, and I had a really good time. I played all the holes that the legends played. I was in awe of walking in their footsteps. I finished my round and later in the evening we had another ceremony called the Legends and Leaders which we had people talk about the core values of The First Tee and what they mean to them. I was very motivated at the time because they all had a story that I could relate to and they were very inspirational. This night I met Tom Watson and that was very cool. The third day I had my practice round at Poppy Hills it was at 7:00 am. I usually like playing in the mornings because it’s so calm and quiet. I got paired with Kirk Triplett. Mr. Triplett was very nice, and I got to know him well within the 18 holes that we played. He was helping me a lot with yardages and elevation and how to read the greens better. He was telling me stories about all the places he has been and who he has played with and I thought that was cool. I played well this day and I was confident going into tomorrow. For the rest of the day I practiced and went back to Pebble Beach and just putted. We had a pizza party later called the Chevron S.T.E.M night where we learned about how science, technology, engineering, and Math and how it relates to the game of golf. My fourth day was the big day. My first round of the tournament at Pebble Beach. This is where Grant and I played our best ball round including his caddie Mr. Travis. I played well helping Grant with a few par saves to keep things going. This allowed us to shoot 3 under together. Grant and I got to know each other a little bit better and we talked about our golf game and just where we came from and so on. I really enjoyed the course because of the scenic views and how nice the course was. My favorite hole was #10 because it was right by the water and I just like the way it looked from the tee box and the green just a beautiful view. After the round we had a concert featuring the group Train near the 18thgreen at Pebble. I had a really good time watching them perform and it brought up a lot of childhood songs. I also met Bernhard Langer and that was so cool. The fifth day was the second round at Poppy Hills, which was a better fitting course for my game. Grant and I were the last tee times for the day. We started off pretty good and we kept things solid. I played very well with 4 birdies helping in our team effort. Grant and I finished our round 8 under par making the cut to play at Pebble Beach the last day. Grant eagled the last hole #18 and that was clutch for him. I was very happy to play Pebble the last day because I worked so hard the whole week practicing and studying the course and it was just a great feeling. The last day was at Pebble Beach and I was very excited and focused. I was warming up on the range and I met Fred Couples and that was amazing. He is one of my favorite players ever. We teed off two groups behind him and Tom Watson. I liked Pebble Beach a lot and I enjoyed it even though I didn’t play too well in the final round, but I was still very happy to play one of the nicest courses in the world. I made lasting memories here and enjoy myself completely. Grant and I finished up 7 under and we both didn’t have our A game, but that’s just golf not every day is going to be the same. After the round we watched the leaders come in and had some smoothies and talked to some of my friends about my time here at Pebble Beach. This was one of the best weeks of my life, just getting this opportunity to play in something special as this. I made some great memories and met some great people as well. I really enjoyed my time with Grant Waite and his caddie Travis. We had a good time with our 3 days together. I would like to thank The First Tee of Greater Houston at Law Park for supporting me in my journey to Pebble Beach. But this week is one of the weeks that I will remember forever and ever.
Ethan Korock
The time I spent in California at Pebble Beach was insane! There was so much to do during the week from speakers at the Core Values dinner to a concert put on by Train. I had the time of my life there by meeting new peclple and building new relationships, but the best time was playing with my pro, Loren Roberts. He helped me with my putting and giving me tips to improve, as well as giving me a strategy to playing Pebble. I played on the historic Pebble Beach and Poppy Hills Golf Club and had the most fun getting to know my pro and the amateurs in the little time that I had there. I was fortunate to be able to also play a practice round with Dan Forsman as well as some great amateurs. I was able to meet Tom Watson and Fred Couples, and even made the cut to play on the last day and finished 20th! The PGA TOUR Champions had the entire program set up to where we were treated just like the Pros in the tournament. It was an amazing feeling that has confirmed my dream in one day playing on the PGA TOUR. I met some great people frorn the First Tee and have memories that will last a long time and even help me in the future. I would like to say thank you to Pure Insurance, PGA TOUR Champions and The First Tee for letting me play and have the opportunity to represent The First Tee of Greater Houston.

The First Tee of Greater Houston teens selected to play in official PGA TOUR Champions event

 Mallorie Luitwieler, Ethan Korock, and Christian Rodriguez head to Pebble Beach for PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee, which is celebrating its 15thAnniversary 

 Tournament To Air Internationally on Golf Channel this September

The First Tee of Greater Houston is sending Mallorie Luitwieler, Ethan Korock, and Christian Rodriguezto compete in the 2018 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee, an official PGA TOUR Champions event to be contested at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California, September 24-30. The tournament, which is hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, will be televised internationally on Golf Channel September 28-30.

The PURE Insurance Championship is the only event of its kind in which 81 junior golfers from The First Tee are teamed with 81 PGA TOUR Champions players and 162 amateurs during an official PGA TOUR Champions tournament.Luitwieler, Korock, and Rodriguezwill be competing for the pro-junior title. They will join 80 other participantsfrom The First Tee chapters, selected by a national panel of judges. The participants, which represent 22 states, were selected based on playing ability and application of the Nine Core Values and life skills learned through their involvement with The First Tee’s programs. The junior field was announced July 11 on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive. The show included surprises from PGA TOUR winner Jason Gore, Web.com Tour member Cameron Champ, Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards, Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais and Golf Channel’s Charlie Rymer. “We are proud to be a part of such a prestigious event that supports so many deserving young men and women from The First Tee throughout the country,” said Katherine Frattarola, Chief Marketing Officer of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies. “They are what make this tournament so special, and it’s humbling to be a part of something that has such a profound impact on their lives both on and off the course.” “We are proud of the junior golfers selected to play at this year’s PURE Insurance Championship,” said Keith Dawkins, Chief Executive Officer of The First Tee. “These 81 teens, and the event, embody The First Tee’s beliefs around the importance of fan engagement, diversity and inclusion and having a sense of civic responsibility that is expressed through our Nine Core Values.” As of July 11, players committed to compete in the PURE Insurance Championship include defending champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member Bernhard Langer, as well as fellow World Golf Hall of Fame members Colin Montgomerie, Mark O’Meara and Sandy Lyle. Players have until Friday, September 21 to commit, with additional commitments to be announced in the coming months. Mallorie Luitwieler, 15, is a Freshman at Cinco Ranch High School in Katy. Outside of golf, Luitwieler plays competitive soccer, is her school mascot and works as a crewmember for her school’s play. She loves golf because she gets to play with her family and friends and meet new people. Ethan Korock, 16, is an Eagle level participant with The First Tee of Greater Houston. According to Korock perseverance is the in The First Tee Core Value that best represents him, “I have been through many challenges in my life including being dyslexic, moving often due to my parents jobs, and having to transfer schools. The First Tee has always taught me never to give up and to persevere through it all.” Christian Rodriguez, 17, is a Senior at Waltrip High School. Rodrigues, who volunteers as a mentor for The First Tee of Greater Houston, says “Golf has taught me many life lessons, and has allowed me to meet many people from all walks of life. Golf has allowed me to see new things and travel to different places.” “The First Tee of Greater Houston is thrilled to have three young people selected to participate in the Pure Insurance The First Tee tournament. We are proud of Mallorie, Ethan, and Christian and know they will represent our chapter” said Doug Earle, executive director, The First Tee of Greater Houston. “This opportunity, no doubt, will be a mountaintop experience, one they will never forget. Our entire chapter wishes them well.” In this 15th tournament year, more than 870 kids from The First Tee have played in the tournament while learning from PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs in the field, all while showcasing The First Tee’s Nine Core Values and the leadership and life skills they have acquired. Houston Golf Association holds the charter for The First Tee of Greater Houston, which is one of 165 chapters around the country. Serving the Houston community since 2004, more than a million local youth have been impacted through chapter programs. The golf-based programs are delivered through elementary schools, nine green grass facilities and other youth organizations like the YMCA. The curriculum is focused on helping participants build character through The First Tee Nine Core Values: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. To request an interview or photos of Mallorie Luitwieler, Ethan Korock, or Christian Rodriguez, please contact Melissa DeGrand at [email protected] or 281-459-8722.  About The First Tee of Greater Houston  The First Tee of Greater Houston has been operating under the Houston Golf Association since 2004. The Houston chapter has expanded its reach into 461 area elementary schools and nine green grass facilities. More than 300,000 Houston-area youth benefit annually from the organization’s learning facilities and educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. Visit www.firstteegreaterhouston.org for more information.