For 12-year-old Maya Singh, the greatest lessons learned at First Tee are the ones that carry on long after the round is over.
Maya Singh doesn’t really remember when she played golf for the first time. However, it’s a near certainty that her first visit to the links was spurred on by her mother, Lory Lachapelle. Along with Maya’s little sister, they have regular nine-hole tee times at Palmetto Dunes, where Lachapelle passes along the gift of golf she gained playing in college.
“My mom is really good,” Singh said. “She usually wins, but that was before I started practicing every day. Now I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better.”
That’s a bit of an understatement. The young Maya Singh may not remember the first time she picked up a club, but she sure remembers her first experience with First Tee – The Lowcountry. “I’d been practicing with Mom, but we wanted real lessons. We went over there, and it was so fun, I just kept going,” she said. Four years later, that hasn’t changed. “Even now that I’m more advanced, it’s still so much fun to practice there, and the volunteers are amazing.”
When she talks about her time with First Tee, she paints a picture of an organization that gives these kids everything they need to succeed. Individual instruction from coaches like Coach Trudy comes paired with feedback and help from a bevy of volunteers who help kids break down every aspect of their game and sharpen every skill. She talks about the friendship she shares with her fellow students and the memories they’ve built together on the course.
And she’ll tell you about how those years of practice have paid off. Currently enrolled in middle school, Singh has shown herself to be one of the island’s most adept young golfers, earning a spot on the team at Hilton Head Island High School.
“The whole team has been so welcoming. I’m kind of like the little sister of the group, but everyone is treated equally,” she said. And while she doesn’t always qualify for every tournament, she’s still a vital part of the team while gaining tremendous experience. “I’m really thankful to have this opportunity now, so when I’m in high school, I’ll be set up to be a good player.”
The chance to play at the high school level while still a middle school student is not the only opportunity that has been presented to Singh, thanks to her diligence and her time at First Tee – The Lowcountry. “First Tee has opened so many doors—volunteering with the RBC Heritage, helping out with AJGA Tournaments—and now I’m on the high school team, and it’s all because of First Tee,” Singh said.
As a young golf fan, the opportunity to be a standard bearer was unforgettable. “It was a really cool experience,” she said. “I remember walking down the fairway and seeing people waiting at the next hole to get Matt Kuchar’s autograph. Usually, I’m the one outside asking for autographs, so it was interest to be inside the ropes.” And for the record, she still got Kuchar to sign a hat.
While her four years practicing at First Tee – The Lowcountry have taught Singh plenty about the game of golf and created many opportunities for her, the lessons beyond the game are among the best gifts the organization has given her.
“It’s not only golf. There are so many life lessons—cooperation, honesty, sportsmanship…. At the beginning of each lesson, they’ll talk about how to do a handshake or give you some reading that helps you stay cool even if you hit a bad shot,” Singh said. “It’s about being honest and polite in life. You always think about those lessons. You use them every second of the day.”
And it’s those life lessons that she says have the greatest impact on her, no matter where life takes her. Few 12-year-olds know for sure exactly how the future will shape up, but for Singh, she sees golf remaining a large part of her journey. If it takes her to a professional level, so be it. Otherwise, she’ll just pursue her aspirations to be a doctor when she grows up while spending her downtime on the course.
“I think the biggest lessons I’ll remember are being honest and showing good sportsmanship. You have to do that every day, so I think those will stick,” she said. “It’s important to actually take those lessons and those core values and put them into action.”
To learn more about First Tee – The Lowcountry, visit firstteelowcountry.org.
