First Tee Honorary Guest Program

Columbia’s First Tee Honorary Guest Program

The Columbia Foundation is a proud partner in Columbia’s First Tee Honorary Guest (HG) Program, the first of its kind in the United States. Conceived by Columbia member Richard Steinwurtzel, the Honorary Guest Program partners with First Tee-Greater Washington to provide First Tee participants with an opportunity to experience our Club as Honorary Guest members.

5 Years of Success

As of 2026, 14 First Tee young women and men have received HG status since the program’s launch in 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, providing our HG’s a chance to experience all that our Club has to offer, enriching the Columbia family, and serving as a model for other private country clubs to follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • First Tee Greater Washington is the youth part of the national PGA program for golfers of all ages. Our partnership with First Tee Greater Washington covers the District of Columbia, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County. First Tee offers golf and other activities to more than 2000 participants, and their 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.  

  • The Club is proud to have partnered with First Tee on this initiative since 2021.

  • 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. 

    The 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.

  • Columbia is proud to have had 14 young women and men receive honorary membership through this program.

  • Honorary Guests retain their membership throughout the course of their high school journey. We require a minimum one year membership.

  • Members are invited to play golf with Honorary Guests at any of the seven HG golf event days between April and October. Additionally, if interested, Club members can opt in to the HG membership program or join the HG Committee.

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.