The First Tee México Contributes its Continued Growth to Strategic Alliances
– Director of The First Tee México Agustin (Augie) Pizá has established relationships with private golf courses, schools, resorts, companies, and organizations which includes the PGA TOUR’s México Open to support the growing non-profit-
SAN DIEGO, CA. – FEBRUARY 17, 2024 – Pizá Golf, internationally recognized as one of the most innovative golf course design firms, announced earlier today that ever-growing The First Tee México chapter will participate in the upcoming PGA TOUR’s México Open at Vidanta festivities.
“We’re thrilled that our members will experience golf on such a big stage and to meet some of the greatest players in the world,” said Pizá. “This special day and event were launched in 2017 during the WGC Mexico Championship where golfing legends like Jordan Speith, Henrik Stenson, and Dustin Johnson spent quality time with our members. We are all excited to see who volunteers this year.”
Prior to the start of the Mexico Open golf tournament on Tuesday, February 20th, fifty less fortunate young kids and their parents will celebrate The First Tee México Day. They will participate in a golf clinic hosted by two professional players.
“We sincerely thank the PGA TOUR and the México Open for this opportunity. It means the world to these children and their families. We also invite all Mexico Open visitors next week to join this wonderful program to enrich and influence future generations of children through golf as the future of our country.”
Through Pizá and his efforts The First Tee México, has ten chapters at prestigious golf courses which include Marina and Vista Vallarta, Diamante Cabo San Lucas, Puerta Cortés, Palma Real Ixtapa, Las Maravillas, El Copal, and others. Currently, there are 450 children nationwide playing golf free of charge with a 100% scholarship.
“We’re so proud of what The First Tee México has accomplished. In six short years we have six alumni working as assistant instructors at the Las Maravillas golf school, one is working as a general maintenance assistant at the Marina Vallarta Golf Course, and another built his own mini course at home to practice more often.”
These cases motivate The First Tee México us to reach more places in Mexico. The non-profit thanks Mr. Benjamín Salinas Sada, The México Open, Grupo Salinas, and the PGA TOUR for the opportunity to bring golf into the lives of less privileged Mexican children.
About The First Tee México:
The First Tee México is a non-profit organization that teaches values and life skills to children with limited resources through golf as a tool for life. It is an extension of The First Tee USA model, which has been successfully implemented for the past 26 years.
The main philosophy of the program is based on teaching and practicing ten pillars: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, responsibility, trust, perseverance, respect, courtesy, judgment, and empathy. The goal is to develop human greatness, character, education, and long-term life skills of the children.
The First Tee México has added “Empathy” to the nine pillars which is crucial today. Also, members of The First Tee México are given the opportunity to learn a trade such as golf course maintenance and operations to promote a work culture. So, when they graduate from the program, they can find employment at one of our locations or within the golf industry.
For more information, please visit www.firstteemexico.org.
About Pizá Golf Founder – Arch. Agustin Pizá, MSc:
Award-winning architect Agustin Pizá has earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from ITESM and a Master’s Degree in Golf Course Architecture from the Edinburgh University in Scotland. He is a proud member of both the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) and the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA).
Pizá, recognized with many international accolades, has garnered a reputation for “Re-defining Golf Facilities” with his unique design concepts – Wellness Golf®, Multi-purpose Golf, and Butterfly Golf. He was recognized by Forbes Magazine twice as one of the top one hundred inventive minds from Mexico. Golf Inc. Magazine featured him in 2022 as one of the TOP nine innovators in the golf industry and recently, was included as one of the Top-Five 2023 Visionaries of the Year, alongside his partner Brandel Chamblee. Sport Illustrated included Pizá in their top four golf course architects to watch. He is the Director of the First Tee in Mexico.
For 25 years, Pizá has worked on world class golf developments. His designs are known for delivering quality, aesthetic, and strategic golf courses. He and his design team have worked and have been involved in more than seventy projects on three continents.
Pizá Golf has design studios in San Diego, CA. and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
For more information on Pizá Golf, please visit the company website: www.pizagolf.com.