Jim Tobin recently received the New England PGA Youth Player Development Award due to his work in developing young golfers through the First Tee program. 

The Lynnfield resident doesn’t do it for the recognition – or awards – that may come his way. He does it because he believes in growing the game and giving kids an opportunity to play golf. 

First Tee began in 1997 as a partnership among the LPGA, the Masters Tournament, the PGA of America, the PGA TOUR, and the USGA to make golf affordable and accessible for all kids. As the program grew, its mission expanded to include teaching what it identifies as the core values of life including honesty, perseverance, respect and integrity.

First Tee Boston is an umbrella organization under the Massachusetts Golf Association. First Tee, according to its website, is a youth development organization that enables kids and teens to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges.

“I’ve been with the First Tee for about 10 years down at Franklin Park Golf Course. It’s a unique First Tee program because it’s only for kids in Boston. We get a tremendous amount of activity from them,” Tobin said. “During the summer, I’ll have about 200 kids a week. We play Monday through Thursday during the summer and then we also play on Sundays in the spring and the fall.” 

Now in his 49th season as a member of the P.G.A of America, what Tobin loves about it is seeing the game grow and kids getting hooked to the game while learning life lessons through golf.  

“It introduces the kids to the game, but it also introduces them to life skills and key skills you need for success. We try to teach them life skills such as perseverance, responsibility, honesty, respect, and courtesy all through golf,” he said. 

First Tee Boston helps introduce kids to golf who may not otherwise have ever picked up a club.

“Sixty percent of the kids are minorities and it’s great to see them take up golf. Some don’t really know much about golf, so they don’t get the opportunity to play golf,” Tobin said. “This is what it’s about – building bridges for them to play golf. First Tee is a great program. It’s under the umbrella of the Massachusetts Golf Association. They collaborated with the city to get a First Tee in Boston, and they allowed me to help get it going.” 

Golf doesn’t come naturally to many, which is why Tobin loves teaching and helping people of all ages develop and improve their games.. 

“The game is an individual sport and requires so many disciplines to be successful like perseverance, responsibility, and respect,” Tobin said. “These kids haven’t had a chance to get to a golf course before, so this is a great experience for them too. We’re just giving them another outlet. The kids just gravitate to it when they get to the course.” 

“It’s rewarding to see these kids get together and grow into the sport. I have kids who started with me when they were 8-9 years old and you see them develop and play at high school, and some even go to play at college,” Tobin said. “It gets kids off of the streets and gives them the skills they can use for the rest of their lives.” 

Tobin knows a thing or two about that. He grew up in Lynn and learned to play the game as a caddie at then Happy Valley G.C., now Gannon G.C. A graduate of St. Anselm College, he served as head golf professional at Far Corner G.C. and Bellevue G.C. A past president of the N.E.P.G.A, these days he hangs his hat at Patriot G.C. where he is a teaching professional, working with veterans and running the P.G.A. Junior League program.

Tobin acknowledged that golf is more expensive than most sports, which is why he’s proud that First Tee supplies clubs for kids to use while at the course. 

As for the life lessons that are taught during sessions, Tobin said it’s not like summer school, rather, they learn the lessons while on the course. 

“You’re not going into a classroom to teach these kids. When you go on the golf course, you have to be aware of the people around you. You have to take care of the course. You have to be safe,” Tobin said. 

“This game is about perseverance. You don’t have to explain it to them as if they were in a classroom,” Tobin added. “Golf is hard and you have to keep going and persevering so when they do overcome it, you look back at them and say, ‘Look how you persevered,’ and that’s where they get the life lessons from.” 

Jesse Menachem, who is the executive director and CEO of Mass Golf, praised Tobin for his work in youth development and knew from the start that Tobin would be the perfect coach at First Tee. 

“I’ve been with Mass Golf since 2005. I’ve known Jim for a long time. We’ve been a First Tee chapter for over 20 years, but in 2015, we launched a First Tee program in the City of Boston at Franklin Park,” Menachem said. “Jim was someone we identified as our lead coach. We wanted him to champion our program. We knew how invested he was in junior golf and the future of the game. It’s just grown and evolved since then.”

“He’s been an absolute all-star for us. He’s a fan of the program, but he’s added other elements. I think he’s known as a champion in the junior golf space,” Menachem said. “I’m thrilled for him to be recognized in this fashion.” 

As for what makes Tobin such a great teacher, it’s his patience, according to Menachem. 

“To be able to make the experience fun and engaging is what sets him apart from the rest. That and patience,” Menachem said. “Every youth and student has a way to learn. He has a nimbleness to accommodate that and support that to work through it successfully.” 

And for Tobin, it’s always been about seeing kids get better. 

“To see the kids develop is really neat,” he said.