First Tee — New Hampshire Staff

Chris Sargent has a passion and love for golf, and truly believes in the inherent values that the game offers.  He attended Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL where he received a BA Degree in Sport Management in 2005.  As a young professional, Chris spent 6 years hosting corporate and group outings for the Boston Celtics Front Office, where he was fortunate enough to experience a World Championship in 2008.  He was also an “In-Staff” golfer and would play in tournaments with Celtics players during Community Events.  Chris played golf at Triton HS in Newbury, MA, and was the Captain of his team for two years. He was the coach of the Winnacunnet High School golf team for the past several years.  Now the Executive Director for FTNH, he hopes to spread his passion to young people across the state, in order to contribute to the future of the game and our youth.

Brian Bachelder,  PhD, has been teaching and practicing sports medicine for over 35 years.

Brian specializes in teaching, and program development.  Brian joins the First Tee of NH following seven years at TB12 where he managed the clinical services including the hiring, training, and professional education of all the Body Coaches and Clinical staff.  Prior to TB12, Brian ran the medical aspect of Aline, Inc dealing with medical providers and professional athletes including the PGA Tour. In addition, Brian was a college professor at the University of New England for 16 years.  Brian is an avid golfer and lives in Hampton Falls.

Dr. Brian Bachelder
Program Manager
603-964-3033
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Jim was introduced to the game of golf at the age of 10, and had the opportunity to learn golf at its highest levels by following his sister, Jane Blalock, who was a top LPGA tour professional.   He graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1972, received a BA in liberal arts from Rollins College in 1976, and an MBA from the Crummer School of Business in 1977.  Jim owned, operated, and managed The Old Ferry Landing restaurant in Portsmouth for 25 years.  In 2014, Jim earned his Ph. D in Depth Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute, in which his dissertation highlighted both First Tee philosophy, and Jim’s coaching experiences.  He is currently serving as Lead Coach and Certified Coach Trainer for First Tee of New Hampshire, and site Director for our LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Program.

Tom Tennant
First Tee Level 1 Coach
603-964-3033

Aria Kleimola
First Tee Program Manager Intern & Level 1 Coach
603-964-3033

Bob moved to the Seacoast in 2009 from the Philadelphia area, where he had lived and worked as an attorney for over 30 years. He is a lifelong golfer, caddied at Inverness Club in his hometown Toledo, Ohio and graduated from Ohio State, which he attended as an Evans Scholar (the premier scholarship foundation in golf). Bob went on to graduate from Northwestern University School of Law. Lead Coach, Jim Blalock says “I met Bob when he volunteered to assist me in coaching a First Tee Class. Then Bob demonstrated a profound understanding of golf’s qualitative essence, the games Core Values and Life Skills”. Blalock goes on to say, “More so, Bob intuitively knew how to communicate these values to our young participants through clever playful activities. Since then, Coach Bob has continuously cultivated his knowledge and love of golf through First Tee coaching. The children who attend his classes, the coaches who assist Bob, and the game of golf itself, are all beneficiaries of his care and dedication.” Bob has three adult children and lives with his wife Barbara Franzoso in Portsmouth. “Having learned and fallen in love with golf as a child, I am thrilled to have the chance to pass along my feelings for the game and the values it embodies to a new generation through First Tee”, says Bob. Parents and participants alike appreciate Bob’s good nature and his love of the game. Thank you Coach Bob for your time and dedication to First Tee of NH over the past several years.

Tom grew up in New Jersey and Connecticut, playing baseball right through his college years. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in mass communications, taught school, and earned masters degrees in secondary English and school counseling. After teaching, he worked extensively in publishing and marketing in the healthcare management field. Shortly after taking his first teaching position, and now curious about taking up golf, Tom accompanied a friend to a PGA tournament.   He came away so impressed and inspired, he immediately took up the game. Some 30 years later, as he recalls, “A co-worker told me she had taken a volunteer position with this organization called The First Tee.  After learning that the program used golf as a vehicle to help young people develop life skills, and having taught school for 11 years,  I knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of this.”  To date, he has both volunteered as served as a First Tee coach for 14 years, both in Massachusetts and currently at the North Hampton location.

Aria grew up along the New Hampshire seacoast, where she quickly found her love of sports. Aria is now pursuing a major in Sport Management at the University of New Hampshire, with an expected graduation of December 2025. Alongside academic pursuits, Aria has gained hands-on experience working at a local daycare and nannying. She finds great joy working with children, especially being able to help them learn the game of golf!