The USGA is reinforcing its commitment to broadening golf’s reach with a new round of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) grants awarded to 26 First Tee chapters across the United States. The funding supports local programs that introduce young people to golf while intentionally instilling the game’s values, like honesty, integrity and sportsmanship.
Since the grant program launched in 2021, the USGA has provided 155 grants totaling more than $1 million. These investments are designed to help First Tee chapters expand their impact in communities that have historically had limited access to the sport, creating more opportunities for youth to learn, play and grow through golf.
“Partnering with First Tee is central to the USGA’s mission to advance golf across all communities,” said the USGA CEO Mike Whan. “The initiatives led by local chapters this year demonstrate how the game can serve as a powerful catalyst for teaching young people valuable life lessons that extend far beyond the golf course.”
"We are grateful for the USGA's continued investment in First Tee chapters and the young people they serve,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “Through partnerships like this one, we are able to reach more kids in more communities, giving them access, not just to play the game, but to tools that will help them navigate life with confidence and character. That is the heart of what First Tee is all about."
Among the First Tee chapters receiving IDEA grants this year, some notable programs that will benefit from the funds are below:
- First Tee – Phoenix and First Tee – Raritan Valley will expand their bilingual programming to comfortably introduce the game to Spanish-speaking students
- Linking indigenous youth to the game through programs like the mentor Hózhó “Walk in Beauty” initiative at First Tee – Four Corners and expansion of tribal programming with Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe at First Tee – Eastern Michigan
- Enhancement of programming with the local Boys & Girls Club at First Tee – Greater Richmond and First Tee – Lake Erie
- First Tee – Triad will continue their HBCU Summer Internship, which brings 12 diverse college golfers to the chapter for a 10-week paid internship
- Creating a bridge between classroom instruction and after-school lessons, First Tee – Greater Charleston will continue their Pathfinder Immersion Program, which focuses on golf and STEM enrichment activities
- Chapters will increase their resources, such as First Tee – Birmingham establishing a community–based learning center and First Tee – Middle Georgia hiring an additional program director
As a founding partner of First Tee, the USGA contributes $200,000 each year to grassroots initiatives focused on youth development. This ongoing support helps chapters remove common barriers to participation, such as cost and access, ensuring more young people can experience the game and the life skills it promotes.
As part of an organizational commitment to ensure the game continues to thrive for generations to come, the USGA annually invests more than $10 million into junior golf programs, including First Tee, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, Drive, Chip & Putt, and the AJGA, as well as the U.S. National Development Program, which serves as a developmental pipeline for the nation’s most talented youth.