Pleasanton Preps: First Tee Tri-Valley golfers proceed to face out | Information

I’ve detailed many a time on this house how I really feel athletics play a serious a part of the maturation of kid to teenager to younger grownup.

Every sport can carry other ways of creating a youth athlete. Some train teamwork, together with accountability to your teammates and coaches.

Others cowl completely different bases — it is an integral a part of the expansion of a teen.

After which there may be golf.

I’ve usually mentioned I can discover out extra about an individual in a single spherical of golf than in per week of conferences. There’s nowhere to cover when it is you, the others in your foursome and the golf course.

Your character is on full show.

Folks within the golf trade have additionally embraced utilizing the life abilities the game presents to assist the youth of right this moment develop not solely as golfers, however equally as vital, as an individual.

The First Tee is on the forefront of that, with phrases reminiscent of honesty, integrity, respect and courtesy being 4 of the 9 core values taught by the group.

The First Tee of the Tri-Valley has been one of many prime chapters within the nation and commonly shares its success tales.

Two extra have come to the forefront lately, as Taylor Maurer and Sophia Bardunias are moving into the limelight. Each are at present golfers at Monte Vista Excessive College in Danville and each have come by means of the First Tee program in Pleasanton.

Bardunias, a junior at Monte Vista, has been chosen to the PURE Insurance coverage Championship occasion in September at Pebble Seashore Golf Hyperlinks. The event takes place Sept. 20-25.

An official PGA Tour Champions occasion, the PURE Insurance coverage Championship on the Pebble Seashore pairs one First Tee junior with a PGA Tour Champions participant and two amateurs.

First Tee members are offered a once-in-a-lifetime alternative to attend the Legends & Leaders speaker program, which options notables from the enterprise, sports activities and leisure industries.

This occasion additionally gives the teenagers a singular mentoring expertise on the golf course with their PGA Tour Champions participant and two amateurs. The relationships fashioned throughout event week are real and deeply rooted.

“I started {golfing} at 7 years previous and shortly after joined the First Tee,” Bardunias mentioned. “There not solely did I enhance my golf sport, however I additionally realized useful life abilities that I carry with me in all facets of my life.”

Maurer was chosen as one in every of eight members to be on the 2022-23 First Tee Participant Advisory Council.

She traveled to the First Tee headquarters in Florida this week for the primary kickoff council assembly. Maurer represented the Tri-Valley chapter and was a voice for members throughout the nation. The aim of the council is to advise First Tee decision-makers on issues pertinent to First Tee members.

The council consisted of a various group of eight present First Tee members, together with two alumni who served as advisors for this system.

Maurer has been a participant with the First Tee of the Tri-Valley for the final 11 years and is at present on the ACE degree.

A senior at Monte Vista, Maurer mentioned the First Tee has performed an integral half in her life. The 9 core values are the inspiration of the younger girl that she has grow to be. Along with being an ACE degree participant, she additionally teaches TARGET courses for the Tri-Valley Chapter.

She created a well being and wellness e-book for youths of all ages for use as part of the First Tee life abilities expertise courses. This was a challenge she did for her Woman Scout Gold Award, which is the very best award a Woman Scout can earn.

Maurer’s e-book was a results of the COVID-19 pandemic to offer children with workouts, diet ideas and recipes, and psychological wellness ideas.

Editor’s notice: Dennis Miller is a contributing sports activities author for the Pleasanton Weekly. To contact him about his Pleasanton Preps column, e mail [email protected]