Teeing up women for success in golf and beyond
The Forward Tees Fellowship is a mentorship and networking program that works to connect business professionals with junior golfers and one another in advancement of opportunities for women in golf.
Mentorship Program Overview
The fellowship is designed as a life cycle of community support composed of junior fellows, ambassadors, and fellows. Junior fellows are young women between the ages of 13-18 who register for the program as mentees. Ambassadors are young women who have recently embarked on their own professional pursuits having completed school and are working to give back. Fellows are professionals who make a pledge of financial support and agree to serve as a mentor for a junior as they progress through a guided curriculum focused on personal and professional growth.
Junior Fellows →
The building blocks of our charity are the juniors we support through our resources and programs. Any young woman between the ages of 13-20 can be nominated to become a Junior Fellow for the Fellowship.
Junior Fellows make a pledge to undertake our mentorship program and begin the lifelong journey of giving back through the game of golf. The pathway includes three stages, each of which is supported by Forward Tees Ambassadors and Fellows as part of the mentorship program.
Ambassadors →
The engine for Forward Tees is our team of ambassadors. These young women professionals work to grow our charity through advocacy within the golf community in support of our mission. Forward Tees Ambassadors work to provide resources for women to become professionally successful through fundraising, programs, and education using golf. We draw on all the game has given us to give back to the next generation of stewards for the community of golf.
Fellows →
The foundation of the fellowship are the members who commit to serving as Fellows. Each Fellowship member (fellow) makes a pledge to raise at least $3,000 per year through financial contributions or the in-kind donation of golf rounds to be auctioned as part of Forward Tees fundraising efforts. Each member additionally commits to serve as a mentor for a junior at least once, and support junior fellows through a one year program focused on professional development and career path education.
Learn more about the Forward Tees Fellowship Program
Forward Tees Junior Fellows
2023 Class: 40 Members
Nominations Due: October 1st
Selections Announced: November 24th
Play
The “Play” stage consists of a guided curriculum for developing higher “Golf IQ.” Through the support of an ambassador and a fellow, juniors are empowered with knowledge on navigating the game of golf’s nuances. This includes golf etiquette, social skills, communications, and other best practices for navigating the community of golf. It is marked by the milestone of a golf away trip with their fellow and ambassador.
Learn
The “Learn” stage consists of a guided curriculum for developing life skills that intersect with the game of golf. These lessons are made part of a short reading list of non-fiction submissions provided by Forward Tees leadership focused on financial literacy, nutrition, and mental health. These topics are discussed with an ambassador and fellow, sharing real life feedback on takeaways from the reading list applied to their own experiences.
Grow
The “Grow” stage consists of a guided curriculum for developing a stronger sense of professionalism. This stage will help a junior fellow prepare a resume, work to grow their individual network, and help craft storytelling skills to share their own story on participating in the Fellowship. It also includes supporting the charity through networking for internship and job opportunities for Junior Fellows and Ambassadors.
Forward Tees Ambassadors
2023 Class: 40 Members
Nominations Due: [Closed]
Selections Announced: June 1st
Inspire
The first stage of the ambassador program is serving in the Fellowship mentorship program. Each ambassador is paired with a Junior Fellow, and works as a “pen pal” to provide inspiration and guidance to the young women as they navigate their own paths through competitive golf. Ambassadors are tasked with specific lessons focused on golf IQ.
Engage
Ambassadors drive the engagement within the program through fundraising and advocacy. This consists primarily of participation in several event functions powered by the charity. These include Forward Tee Times and Playing FWD events which connect supporters and Fellows to grow awareness for the mission of the charity.
Build
Ambassadors are encouraged and supported to build relationships and their own network through the program in pursuit of their own career goals. The charity provides work opportunities through paid events, fundraising contests, and a jobs network through which Fellows help to connect with employment opportunities.
Forward Tees Fellows
Admission: By Invitation Only
Guide
The first pillar of the Fellows pledge is to “Guide.” Each junior fellow admitted into the program is assigned a Fellow who works as a mentor to support the Junior Fellow’s growth of golf skills, life skills and professional skills. The fellows serve as a mentor in holding regular calls, and hosting their Junior Fellow for a golf retreat during their mentorship.
Give
Each Fellow pledges to make an annual contribution to the charity. This contribution can be a direct donation or a commitment to raise a minimum of $3,000 through the support of their network. These pledges go to underwriting the costs of participation for Junior Fellows and Ambassadors, and are the catalyst for the charity’s work to advance opportunities for women in and beyond golf.
Build
Fellows are asked to participate in various activities to help advocate for the mission of the charity. This includes participating in or leading events, engaging with other Fellows, and helping to build new chapters for the foundation around the country.