First Tee College Scholarship Program

A multifaceted scholarship and mentorship program designed to support First Tee alumni through higher education and beyond.

Program Details:

• Geographic Scope: National (operates across First Tee chapters throughout the United States)
• Target Participants: Recent high school graduates who are First Tee alumni and demonstrate commitment to excellence both on and off the golf course
• Selection Process: Competitive national pool; rigorous application and interview process
• Program Year: Launched in 2020; now in its sixth year as of 2025
• Current Cohort Size: 27 new Scholars selected in 2025; program now has 121 current or former members, including 21 college graduates

Support Components:

• Financial support for college expenses
• Pairing with trained adult mentor to guide through higher education and beyond
• Pre-college retreat at First Tee Headquarters in July to meet Scholar class peers
• Annual professional development conference in winter for all active First Tee Scholars
• Assistance with summer internship and employment placement after graduation

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be First Tee alumni
• Academic performance (2025 class averaged SAT score of 1450)
• Financial need
• Chapter involvement
• Community service
• Average nearly 10 years in First Tee program

Recent Scholarship Cohort (2025):

• 27 Scholars selected from 22 unique First Tee Chapters
• 16 young women and 11 young men
• 6 first-generation college students
• 5 collegiate golfers
• Attending universities including Princeton, Duke, University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, Georgetown, and others

Supporting Campaign:

• In October 2024, a $5 million campaign was launched to support an additional 100 First Tee Scholars in honor of founder Tim Finchem's Lifetime Achievement Award

Application Process

Timeline and Process:

1. Participants across the First Tee Network submit applications
2. Online application process completed
3. Finalists selected by committee for one-on-one interviews

Selection Criteria:

• Academic performance
• Financial need
• Chapter involvement
• Community service
• Other relevant criteria

Note: Specific application deadlines and detailed application requirements are not provided on the website. Contact First Tee – Greater Austin for current application details and deadlines.