TAMPA, Fla. - With every swing, Brittany Altomare feels the power. The power of gripping a club in her hand. The force of a drive. 

The power of the game of golf.

“It teaches you how to lose, how to win,” Altomare said. “I think that’s a really good lesson to learn.

Altomare’s learned valuable life lessons and a lot about herself through golf. And she’s spreading that message to others through First Tee of Tampa Bay. As a member of the board of the directors, Altamore gets to help introduce the game she loves to kids who otherwise might not have access to it.

“First Tee is such a great program,” she said. “It teaches them values along with this great game of golf.”

Golf’s been good to Altomare. She honed her skills at the University of Virginia where she earned ACC Player of the Year honors in 2013. Later that year, she turned pro. Four years later, she gained a spot on the LPGA Tour. And just two years after that, Altomare made her first Solheim Cup team.

Now a Bay area resident, she’ll be playing on her home course at this week’s Pelican Women’s Championship. Those life lessons have come full circle.

“Failing, how to fail, how to pick yourself back up, get better,” Altomare said. “I think that’s one of the beauties of golf is that you fail more than you win and I think that’s kind of life.”

That’s why no matter how busy Altomare’s life is on the tour, she’ll make time for First Tee. Even if it’s just watching a group girls on the golf range and offering tips.

“Honestly, I feel honored just to be here and learn from her,” said First Tee alum Jordan Marin. “I think it’s really important to have, especially a woman in today’s society to really look up to.”

First Tee teaches more than just golf. They have nine core values they teach every participant. Values such as integrity, sportsmanship and responsibility.

“One of my favorite First Tee core values is perseverance,” Marin said. “And that correlates not only to golf but it also translates into life because we go ups and downs throughout life. And it’s always important to keep your head high and keep going.”

That’s what Altomare does. She keep’s going. Still seeking her first tour win, it would be poetic for it to come this week on her home course. She’s been all over this world playing the sport she loves. Golf’s taken Altomare on a journey to places she could only dream of. 

“The places golf has taken me, the people I’ve met through golf, it’s just been a great experience,” Altomare said.