The Annual First Tee Mentor Outing returned to Woodmont Country Club after a bit of an hiatus but we were sure glad to share once again in celebrating the work of the First Tee of Greater Washington. 

The First Tee of Greater Washington brought 23 amazing kids from ages 8 to 17 to participate in another afternoon of fun in the sun.  We had 10 volunteers from our club along with capable professional golf staff as our guides for our array of golf clinics, a picnic lunch, and a couple of hours of course time with these young men and women.

The First Tee program has introduced these kids to the principles of golf and building relationships. It is teaching them the etiquette, course awareness, and basic skills of the game.  What you see as a result is self-confidence, poise, and grace in their ability to interact with each other and adults they have to deal with along the way.

Our volunteers provide the high fives, cheers, and a few hugs as well helping these kids understand how much they already have accomplished with this game.

It takes the help of the staff of the First Tee of Greater Washington and supportive parents who encourage their kids participate in this wonderful program to help us pull this off year after year.

As tradition would have it, the cost of today’s picnic lunch was covered by the sponsorship of The Keepers, who started this annual event a long long time ago. We are also pleased to report that over 60 generous Woodmont members contributed to our effort in raising $4,500 to support the programs of the First Tee of Greater Washington.

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The kids were split into three groups based on their golf experience and rotated through instruction clinics for full swing, short game, and putting-led by our professional staff.

Nick saw swings on the range that came in all shapes and sizes….the common denominator was good fundamentals and sheer determination.

Eric and David worked the kids at the Sidney Harman Short Game area, fine tuning their pitching, chipping, and putting.

The clinics always work up an appetite and there were plenty of healthy wraps, real chips, fresh fruit, and some chocolate chip cookies for the lunchtime chat around.

Then it was out to the South Course and The Loop, our new short course, to put what they learned to the test.  Here is where the mentor bonds are freshly made or simply renewed.

It is amazing how the First Tee prepares these kids to handle themselves on the course.  All divots are repaired, bunkers are raked, balls are marked properly and they respectfully understand who’s turn is next.

Special thanks to Event Chairs Craig Goodman, Steve Keller,  and Moe Dweck, Golf Staff Nick Owens, Eric Schwarz, and David Quattrochhi, and Roger Brown from the First for all the hard work in assembling this event.  Thanks to Woodmont Country Club for graciously hosting this picnic and the First Tee of Greater Washington for making it happen. And most important, thanks to these amazing kids who make this event such a special experience for all of us.

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August, 2025

Special thanks for the photographic contributions of Moe Dweck, Steve Keller, and David Ruben that made this posting colorful and fun

If you have any corrections to the captioning please email them to moedweck@comcast.net