First Tee of Greater Washington, DC

Columbia’s Honorary Guest Program

The Columbia Foundation is a proud partner in Columbia’s Honorary Guest (HG) Program. The HG Program is the first of its kind in the United States. It was conceived by Columbia member Richard Steinwurtzel to join forces with First Tee-Greater Washington in a meaningful way. First Tee’s mission is to seamlessly integrate the game of golf with life skills curriculum, creating learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids carry to everything they do. The HG Program is intended to enhance that curriculum by providing First Tee participants an opportunity to experience our Club as Honorary Guest members.   

Developing the Honorary Guest Program

The HG Program, which is entering its sixth year, was developed in 2019-20 by six founders –  Bob Dolan (now Head Professional Emeritus), Larry Fisher (former Foundation President), Clint Sanchez (Executive Director, First Tee-Greater Washington), and Club Members Kathy O’Brien and Richard Steinwurtzel.  That group developed a Program framework:  the Program would be need-based; applicants would be active First Tee participants and meet certain achievement criteria; First Tee would then nominate certain applicants to an HG Scholarship Committee; and the Scholarship Committee would then select the most qualified applicants for presentation to Columbia’s Board of Governors for review and admission to the Club as Honorary Guests.  Adopting this framework, First Tee Greater Washington, the Columbia Foundation, and Columbia Country Club agreed to partner together – and the HG Program was born.

5 Years of Success

To date, 14 First Tee young women and men have received HG status since 2021. With that status, HG’s receive a stipend from the Foundation, and full privileges to all Columbia’s facilities and events, as well as formal and informal mentorship from staff and members. The HG Program has been a success on many levels. It provides our HG’s a chance to experience all that our Club has to offer, their presence enriches the Columbia family, and the Program has become a model for other private country clubs to follow. 

  • First Tee Photo & Caption here….

  • First Tee Photo & Caption here….

  • First Tee Photo & Caption here….

  • First Tee Photo & Caption here….

Contact Us

Interested in learning more about the Columbia Foundation and volunteer opportunities? Submit a contact form or send a message to columbiagivesback@gmail.com and we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible.