About

With golf experience that spans decades, Monica is honored to work with juniors and new golfers. She understands the importance of the player/ coach dynamic as well as creating a positive, safe learning environment and takes care to make sure her students are not only improving as golfers, but also truly ENJOY the game. Monica has been with First Tee for over 10 years, worked with three different chapters, has attained Recognized Coach status. She is excited to continue with First Tee of Tri-Valley for the 3^rd year and looks forward to seeing our returning players and meeting our new participants!

Mark has a passion for the game of golf, and for teaching golf skills along with life skills through the game. He has more than 33 years of coaching experience with players of all levels and ages.

Russ Dicks has been a PGA golf professional since graduating from
college in 1960. I have devoted and developed my teaching theory to
instructing the teaching of sound and simple fundamentals. This is what the
top players in the world have developed their skills around. Everyone starts
somewhere and the sooner they incorporate good habits the sooner they start
to perform. Good fundamentals will last a lifetime.
After spending 28 1/2 years at Canyon Lakes golf course as the head
professional and manager when the owners sold I then semi retired but became
involved with the Tri Valley First Tee. What a great experience this has
been to work with and develop the skills of these students.

John is a former professional golf caddy, and coached golf for twenty years at San Jose State University, retiring as the Women’s Head Coach.

His coaching philosophy is to help the player become better than they ever thought they could be. He loves watching the growth and development of our participants as they navigate all the different levels.

John Taylor is currently an elementary school PE Specialist.  He began playing competitive golf in high school and at Diablo Valley College.  At Foothill high school he has been the head girls golf coach for 15 years, and the boys head coach for 6 years.  He came to the First Tee 12 years ago, because he believe in what the First Tee teaches about the 9 core values.  He loves the game of golf and want to be a positive influence in the lives of young people.

Tom is an avid golfer who grew up admiring the game. He picked up golf from his uncle who would take him to the driving range when he was a young boy. As a practicing engineer, Tom translate his engineering philosophy of consistency to golf by sticking to fundamentals – from set up, grip, to swing plane. Tom joined TFTTV because of Joe McCarron and is inspired to continue what Joe did for the kids.

Hasfa Khan has been playing competitive golf for 17 years. Following my collegiate career for CSUEB, I turned professional the summer of 2019. Over her seven years of coaching her philosophy has been coach-player adaptability, using a player’s unique body and build to develop their golf game.

Frank has been volunteering as an assistant coach and chapter consultant at First Tee Tri-Valley since his granddaughter started at the Player level in 2015. As an experienced instructor/trainer, he immediately recognized the dedication of the coaching staff to not only teach golf, but life values as well. Frank is a strong advocate of our First Tee program, and appreciates the opportunity to share his knowledge and life experience with others.

Bob started playing golf when he was around 30, and truly believes it is a game that promotes making and developing friends, along with teaching patience and perseverance.  His coaching philosophy is simplistic: Keep it simple, no more than 2 instructions per session, always be positive, build player confidence, and help players to respect and appreciate the game. He feels fortunate to be able to be a part of The First Tee saying, “It is a special way to be able to grow the game of golf, have a positive impact on our youth, and possibly be linked to someone who makes it to Augusta National for the Drive Pitch and Putt…Priceless!”.

As a Tri-Valley native and golf alumna from Pleasanton Middle School and Foothill High School, Alex Sborov loves coaching up the next generation of local junior golfers. She utilized her greatest strengths – short game and putting – to compete at some of the highest levels of amateur golf in NCGA, AJGA, and USGA events across the country as well as for Texas Christian University’s Division I Team. Alex empowers players to use their athleticism and unique strengths (life skills & golf) to be better golfers and people.

Kortnie Maxoutopoulis Barrett grew up playing golf in Pleasanton through The First Tee of the Tri-Valley and Castlewood Country Club. She graduated from Foothill High School and went on to play college golf at Texas Christian University (TCU). She has climbed the ranks as a college golf coach and currently serves as the Assistant Women’s Golf Coach at San Jose State University. I am so grateful for those in this community that have invested in my life and made a way for me to be successful both on and off the course through this program. It is now my honor and hope to inspire, empower and give back to the upcoming generation that they may develop skills through the game of golf that will equip them to believe in anything they set their mind to achieve in life.