PLAYer is the introductory level of The First Tee Life Skills Experience for children ages 7-17 years old. All participants (regardless of age or previous ability) will enter The First Tee Golf and Life Skills Experience at the PLAYer level. PLAYer teaches participants how to play the game of golf with special emphasis on learning golf, The First Tee Code of Conduct, and The First Tee Nine Core Values™. These interpersonal and self-management skills will help out participants develop much more than their golf games.
Par Level
The Par Level builds on the PLAYer level by introducing participants to life skills that will help them both on and off the golf course. The main focus of the Par level is to assist participants in acquiring several self-management techniques and interpersonal skills that will help them in managing their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to perform at their best both on and off the golf course.
Birdie Level
Of all of the life skills addressed in The First Tee Life Skills Experience, goal-setting is one of the most important. The Birdie level affords participants the opportunity to learn how to set and pursue their own goals. This will provide participants with a greater sense of purpose, direction, and motivation in their lives.
Eagle Level
The Eagle Level is designed for participants who have demonstrated a commitment to both the game of golf and to attaining the associated set of Golf and Life Skills. An Eagle Level participant will learn about wellness, diversity, building go-to teams, and conflict management.
Ace Level
The Ace Level offers advanced instruction and practice in many of the Golf and Life Skills introduced in the PLAYer, Par, Birdie, and Eagle levels. Ace focuses on personal planning and reinforces interpersonal communication, self-management, goal-setting, self-coaching, and resilience skills that were applied in the earlier levels learned in The First Tee Life Skills Experience as they prepare for life after high school.
Certification
To progress from one certification level to the next, participants must complete a variety of Golf and Life Skills evaluations.