About

Bio coming soon!!

Coming Soon!!

Program director

Phone: (714) 833-8221
Email: Caitlin@TheFirstTeeOC.org

Coach Caitlin grew up playing soccer and softball. It wasn’t until she attended Citrus College where she discovered her passion for golf. She played on the women’s golf team 2007-2008. In 2008, Caitlin finished 12th at regional’s which earned her a spot in the state finals where she placed 16th in California. After community college, she attended California State University, San Bernardino where she studied Kinesiology with an emphasis on Exercise Science and graduated Fall 2013. In addition to being a Lead Instructor with The First Tee, she coaches high school and college golf. She truly enjoys sharing her love and passion for golf with young players of the game. We are so fortunate to have Caitlin as our Program Director!

Lead Instructor

Phone: (714) 833-8221
Email: Jason@TheFirstTeeOC.org

Coach Jason was introduced to golf by his dad when he was 10 years old. He was hooked immediately and enjoyed playing whenever he got the opportunity. At the age of 14, Jason qualified for the Junior World Championships which proved to be the experience of a life time – playing against some of the best young golfers from all over the world! He continued to play golf in high school and college. In 2008, Jason finished his degree in criminal justice, but continued working at a golf course. He met his wife while at a golf course in 2006. Jason loves the way that The First Tee brings together the idea of enhancing a person’s golf skills as well as their life skills via the Nine Core Values. His favorite core value is Integrity. “Being able to consistently do the right thing, even when nobody is watching, is sometimes difficult but extremely impressive,” says Jason. “A person with sound personal integrity is so respected in my mind because they are easy to trust and comfortable to be around. I truly love teaching young people the essential values and skills to make them better people on and off the golf course.”

Lead Instructor

Phone: (714) 833-8221
Email: Sami@TheFirstTeeOC.org

Coach Sami loves what the game of golf can do for one’s personal development. She learned how important it was to believe in one’s self and that only you are responsible for your success on and off the golf course. Sami grew up playing golf on the island of Oahu. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in biology at Chaminade University of Honolulu, she attended Saddleback College in Mission Viejo to play competitively on the women’s golf team. She competed in both amateur and semi-pro events. Sami later became the assistant coach of Saddleback College’s women’s golf team and was inducted into the Saddleback College Hall of Fame. In 2012, she completed her certification as a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) with the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. Currently, Sami likes to focus on developing the core energy of the golfer. She believes golf is the ideal sport to help shape individuals from the inside out.

Coach Angel was born in Los Angeles CA and currently resides in Glendora, CA. Angel’s specific educational background is in Psychology and Theology. He has a master’s in theology from Liberty University. Angel’s background in golf is one that started late in his life. When he was 30 friends took him out to play a round of golf, and he caught the golf bug and has played for the last 23-years. He did try playing golf early on as a youth, but his father believed in academics as a priority over all other endeavors.

Angel began volunteering with The First Tee of Greater Pasadena in January of 2008 eventually becoming the Outreach Coordinator helping grow programming in the San Gabriel Valley. He left The Pasadena Chapter in December of 2015. He moved on to continue coaching the golf team at Maranatha H.S. in Pasadena, CA, in addition, to help build the golf team at Providence Christian College. Angel’s love for the game of golf and the coaching philosophy of The First Tee is what brought him here to The First Tee of Orange County.

Angel is married now 31 years, with three daughters, one has her masters as an MFT, another with her master’s in teaching math and the third currently in college pursuing her undergrad liberal arts studies. Angel’s wife works traveling around the world with the Christian humanitarian non-governmental organization World Vision. Angel enjoys working out, hiking, playing golf, and looks forward to traveling more with his wife.

Angel’s desire to impart life-skills to our youth through the game of golf is what drives his passion to coach and grow the game of golf. His approach or coaching philosophy to the game of golf begins with the green and working backward. The end dictates club selection, which in life means the intended goal begins with a plan. Saying this another way is course management and life management. For Angel, golf is a metaphor for life.

Timmy Dinh was born in a small town close to Aachen, Germany, on July 28, 2001 and at age 13 moved to Orange County.   One of  his biggest achievement in his life was getting awarded a $30,000 scholarship (over 4 years) to attend Long Beach State because of his involvement with The First Tee of Orange County. Timmy’s golf journey started in 2014 when his mom put him in a PLAYer 9 class with TFTOC to learn about golf. He had his doubts about playing the game but soon, he enjoyed playing golf and continued to advance in the program and junior coach along the way. The summer before his senior year in high school, he coached with the program for over 100 service hours! During that summer, Timmy fell in love with coaching our kids. When Timmy turned 18 he became a lead instructor and his former coach became his first boss.  Our chapter is incredibly proud of the young man Timmy is and we are so happy that he has found a passion for coaching while furthering his education..