A free junior clinic tied to the LECOM Suncoast Classic shows how one local organization is using golf to build confidence, character, and opportunity for young players across the Gulf Coast.
There is something smart about putting a youth clinic right in the middle of a professional golf tournament. Kids get to see the game at its highest level, then step right into it themselves, clubs in hand, usually with a little less intimidation and a lot more excitement. That is exactly the idea behind the free junior golf clinic being offered by First Tee Sarasota/Manatee during the LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club.
The clinic is more than a nice side event tacked onto tournament week. It is a clear example of how youth golf can be used as both an introduction to the sport and a framework for much bigger lessons. Participants heard from Korn Ferry Tour players during a Q&A, watched demonstrations, and received instruction from First Tee coaches and Lakewood National teaching professionals. Clubs were provided, which matters more than it may sound. It removes one more excuse, one more barrier, one more moment where a child or parent might say, “Maybe this isn’t for us.”
That open-door approach has become central to what First Tee Sarasota/Manatee does. The organization serves children ages 4 to 18 throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties, blending golf instruction with a curriculum built around life skills. The language of those lessons is refreshingly practical: pursuing goals, growing through challenge, collaborating with others, making sound decisions, and building a positive sense of self. In other words, the kind of stuff every parent hopes their child picks up somewhere, and the stuff that often sticks better when it happens outside a classroom and inside an experience.
The clinic also comes with a few crowd-pleasing extras. Participating children and their parents received free admission to the tournament that day, and the first 100 kids who attended took home free Under Armour backpacks and towels. Those touches may sound small, but they add excitement and make the day feel special. And for families who may be trying golf for the first time, they create a welcoming first impression instead of a stiff, country-club one.
That broader sense of access is one reason First Tee Sarasota/Manatee has grown its reach so effectively. The organization partners with community groups including the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Newtown Connection, Girls Inc., and the Palmetto Youth Center to offer free instruction and mentorship. This year alone, it has reached more than 1,000 local young people. Some programs come with a fee, but the organization provides free opportunities to parents who indicate they need financial help, and it offers a 75 percent discount to children of veterans.
That kind of structure says a lot. It signals that the group is not interested in preserving golf as a gated activity for those already comfortable. It wants the sport to be a tool, one that can help kids feel capable, included, and challenged in the right ways.
The clinic also arrives during a busy stretch for the organization. First Tee Sarasota/Manatee participated in festivities leading up to the 2026 Senior PGA Championship at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, including a celebrity youth clinic on April 13. The timing creates momentum and keeps young players connected to big moments in the game.
Under the leadership of CEO Lisa Krouse, First Tee Sarasota/Manatee has found a way to make golf feel less intimidating and more useful. That may be the program’s real strength. Not every child who attends this clinic will become a tournament player. Most probably will not. But some may walk away with a little more self-belief, a little more discipline, and maybe even a reason to come back.
