The love of the game began at an indoor driving range in Syracuse, New York. A few drives in, Chip Thomas was hooked.
When his family later moved back home to northeast Louisiana, Thomas wanted more than casual range sessions. His family enrolled him in the local First Tee program, opening the door to the game and its lessons beyond the scorecard.
In an era when Tiger Woods was the most recognizable sports figure on the planet, Thomas knew exactly what he wanted to do. Watching Woods play showed how golf could be fun, inspiring a passion that consumed him around the clock.
A quarter-century later, Thomas is passing that passion on to the next generation as the newly named executive director of First Tee Birmingham, introducing the game to youth across Alabama’s largest metropolitan area.
“That’s the exciting part,” Thomas said. “Every golf professional has a mission to grow the game. My mantra at First Tee is this: You’re not recycling the game – you’re growing it by exposing it to new populations.”
Chip Thomas, executive director of First Tee Birmingham, at Regions Tradition.
First Tee Birmingham is a nonprofit organization focused on introducing golf to young people while building character and life skills that help them meet challenges as they grow into adults.
The organization is one of dozens of nonprofits that benefit from the Regions Tradition’s annual Birdies for Charities program, which raises donations throughout the year. First Tee’s partnership with the PGA TOUR Champions major also includes a youth clinic featuring local golf professionals during tournament week.
This year’s First Tee driving clinic is scheduled to begin Thursday following the conclusion of first-round play at Greystone Golf and Country Club.
Paul Hodges, head of Regions Sponsorships and Experiential Marketing, serves on the First Tee board.
“I’ve been honored to serve on the board for First Tee Birmingham for the past couple of years and see firsthand the impact this organization has on the community,” Hodges said. “Regions’ relationship with First Tee is another way we show our commitment to make life better in the communicates we serve by teaching young people important life skills through the game of golf.”
Regions’ relationship with First Tee is another way we show our commitment to make life better in the communicates we serve by teaching young people important life skills through the game of golf.
Paul Hodges, head of Regions Sponsorships and Experiential Marketing
For Thomas, the work represents a way to give back.
Through First Tee, he parlayed his early passion into athletic scholarships at Grambling State and the University of Central Oklahoma, earning a college degree before embarking on a career as a PGA professional. He later spent 10 years as a teaching professional at Greystone before betting on himself – and on First Tee – for the long run.
“When I got here in 2015, we didn’t have a chapter,” Thomas said. “We restarted in 2023, and we’re growing it bigger than it was before.”
Since its return three years ago, First Tee Birmingham has served more than 10,000 young golfers and now holds regular instructional sessions at public courses throughout the metro area.
Funds raised through Birdies for Charities will make an immediate impact by helping ensure participants are properly equipped to play the game.
“We love donations,” Thomas said, “but I want to be tailored and specific so the equipment is right for kids. If you’re able to donate $200, that buys a kid a set of clubs they can own for years while also going toward club access for our students.”