Golf ball image via Pexels user Thomas Ward

For nearly 20 years, First Tee – Fresno has used golf as a way to teach life skills, confidence building, responsibility and respect to younger generations. The nonprofit reached over 40,000 kids last year across Fresno, Madera and Tulare counties.

Morgan Berling, the executive director at First Tee – Fresno, has been with the organization since 2014 and has overseen its growth into a Central Valley leader when it comes to youth development.

Hold a club, shake a hand

“We use golf as the tool to teach life skills,” Berling said. “We’re teaching honesty and responsibility, even when no one’s looking, and the etiquette side of it — we’re not yelling, we’re not running.”

Berling said one lesson teaches kids how to hold a golf club. They then use that approach to teach them about shaking hands.

“I know people that come watch the classes, they’re like, ‘you have a five-year-old shaking hands.’ I’m like, ‘I know — it’s something you don’t see very much anymore.’ So, to have children doing it is a cool concept,” Berling said.

First Tee incorporates its lessons through golf while focusing on character development. Participants progress through age-based programs that encourage self-confidence, goal setting, conflict resolution and positive social interactions.

Go where the kids are

The curriculum is provided by the PGA Tour’s First Tee Foundation and ensures consistency across all of its programs, including its Fresno locations. The Fresno chapter has locations in Fresno, Madera, Dinuba, Chowchilla and Lemoore.

Berling said that a majority of classes take place at schools or community centers. Of the 40,000 kids served, only around 1,000 have lessons on the green.

She noted that most classes are held away from golf courses due to accessibility.

“We go right where the kids already are,” Berling said. “It’s a better reach for us just to go to them, because a lot of kids have transportation issues. When the kids are here, they don’t care — they’re all just kids having fun, learning golf and life skills, and it doesn’t matter their background outside of here.”

 

Partnerships, fundraisers

As a nonprofit, First Tee – Fresno relies heavily on partnerships with local businesses, school districts and golf courses.

One of these partnerships is with the Cinco de Mayo Golf Tournament, one of Fresno’s most recognized charitable events. The tournament started in 1963 and began as a casual conversation between regulars at Casa Canales Restaurant. The event raised modest funds for local charities in its early years.

Over the decades, beneficiaries have included St. Agnes Hospital, Valley Children’s Hospital, the Arthritis Foundation and the Chaffee Memorial Zoo Hospital. In 2008, the tournament shifted its focus to youth development and partnered with First Tee – Fresno.

“The tournament allows us to finance kids to be here, so we never turn a child away because they can’t pay the registration fee,” Berling said. “These fundraisers provide the registration fee for the child, and we provide all the equipment so nobody should feel left out.”

The Cinco de Mayo Tournament became fully absorbed by First Tee in 2021. Since 2022 through 2025, the tournament has donated $605,000 to the First Tee – Fresno chapter.

Expanded programming

This year’s tournament will be held at Copper River Country Club on May 4, 2026. In addition to regular golf, it features fun elements like donkeys on the course. Every dollar raised goes toward program support.

The partnership has also allowed First Tee to expand its community programming, hosting free seasonal events at Riverside Golf Course, including Easter egg hunts, Fourth of July festivities and Halloween trunk-or-treats.

For Berling, the most rewarding part of her work is seeing the impact on kids and the confidence they gain.

“Golf is just not an easy sport, and people tend to think it is. So, when kids actually make contact, they are just so excited — you can see the confidence light up on their faces,” Berling said. “And then I hear parents tell me afterwards, ‘So-and-so walked up to their teacher and shook their hand because they learned it at golf yesterday.'”

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IF YOU GO

63rd Annual Cinco de Mayo Charity Golf Tournament

When: Monday, May 4, 2026

Where: Copper River Country Club, Fresno

Who can participate: Open to all golfers — foursomes and sponsorship opportunities still available

Benefiting: First Tee – Fresno, serving 40,000 children across Fresno, Madera, Tulare and Kings counties

Funds support: Equipment, green fees, travel and college scholarships for local youth

More info/register: firstteefresno.org

Contact: Morgan Berling | 559-277-9565