Golf, Grit, and Growing Up with Mental Toughness

What does it take to teach a seven-year-old to handle failure, control their emotions, and believe in themselves — all through the game of golf? In this episode, James sits down with John Parker, CEO of First Tee Savannah, one of the most dynamic chapters of the nationally recognized First Tee organization. Founded in the late 1990s through a partnership of the PGA, LPGA, USGA, and the Masters Foundation, First Tee exists to give every kid — especially those with the fewest resources — access to golf and the life skills that come with it.

John and James walk through the Four C's of mental toughness — Commitment, Control, Confidence, and Challenge — and how they show up every single day on the golf course with young players. John shares how mentors keep kids calm and grounded, why fun has to come first, and what it really looks like to help a child manage their emotions during a four-hour round of golf. They also dig into risk-taking, learning from failure, and why confidence cannot be taught — only built through experience and positive reinforcement. Whether you are a parent, a coach, an educator, or someone who just loves the game, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the lessons learned on the golf course are the same ones that carry kids — and adults — through life.

Key Topics:

The mission and programs of the first T in Savannah

The role of golf in teaching life skills and mental toughness

The importance of positive mindset and emotional control

The impact of mentorship and community involvement

Sound Bites:

"Surround them with people that really care about them"

"Every action has a consequence, good or bad"

"Golf teaches you to keep your emotions in check"

About the Guest: John Parker has always had a passion for making a difference in the world. He began his career as a 3rd Grade Teacher in the Bryan County School System in 2005 and worked in that role for 17 years. In his 30's, he started playing golf and quickly realized that all of the core values of the game directly relate to the character education being taught in schools everyday. He developed a plan to bring those values from the course to the students he taught and built a raised putting green in the middle of his classroom and centered his classroom behavior plan around the game of golf. From there, he captured the attention of some rather influential people in the golf industry who helped connect him to The First Tee so that he could develop an after school golf program. The first group of students that he worked with was his own class of 28 students. This program grew quickly and soon he was conducting classes after school and on a local golf course. He was recruited out of the school system to relaunch the First Tee-Savannah chapter. He started building this organization in 2021 which in that first year served 76 children in Chatham County. He has since grown that organization to serve children in Chatham, Effingham, Bryan, Liberty, and Bulloch County. Last year this organization worked with 26,429 children in schools, on golf courses, and through community programs developed through his leadership.

About the Host: James Blasco is a CTA Certified Coach, and a Certified Functional Mental Toughness and Resilience coach, and a Certified Neuroscience Coach based in Ormond Beach, Florida, with a rich background in sales, media, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, James has excelled in sales and sales coaching for some of the largest media companies, owned three successful businesses, and worked in media relations in the NFL. His diverse experiences have equipped him with a deep understanding of leadership, communication, and the drive needed to achieve success. James is also trained specifically to coach to all aspects of mental toughness and resilience.

Resources:

Website: www.chargeforwardcoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chargeforwardcoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChargeForwardCoaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chargeforwardcoaching

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChargeForwardCoaching

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/ChargeForwardCoaching

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ChargeForwardCoaching

First Tee Website:www.firstteesavannah.org