Category: In The Community

Women & Golf – A Parfect Relationship

The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range hosted an event new to its kind on Thursday evening. Capital Bank and the City of Richmond gathered the community’s Women of Influence to network and introduce The First Tee through golf games – some of which taught by young women enrolled in our LPGA Girls Golf Program. Gail Letts, Board Member of The First Tee of Greater Richmond, lead efforts alongside Patricia Foster and Jane Ferrara. The diverse group of women talked about the importance of women participation in golf and the benefits it provides in networking – both in business life and in personal life.  Thanks to local food and beverage sponsors, guests enjoyed hor d’oeuvres from Soul N Vinegar, wine from Richmond Wine Station, and beer from Stone Brewing RVA.

#INVITEHER

This empowering event, Women & Golf – A Parfect Relationship, comes alongside a new campaign launch from LPGA*USGA Girls Golf. In coordination with the LPGA Women’s Network, LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals, and the We Are Golf Women’s Task Force, #inviteHER is nationwide. The LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Program describes it as “a campaign to encourage golfers to inspire the women in their lives to play golf and will focus on the friendly invite to prospective golfers which can be initiated through a specific event, a visit to a local driving range or Topgolf, taking a lesson, or playing a few holes.” And The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range and The First Tee of Greater Richmond is a proud supporter of this invitation. 

Host your event with us!

For more information about hosting your next business outing, teambuilding activity, or networking event, please contact: Kelly McAnally, Senior VP of Operations – [email protected].
 

Thank you, Richmond Wine Station!

In June, The First Tee of Greater Richmond served as the beneficiary of Richmond Wine Station‘s Inaugural Appreciation Month. This endeavor sparked from Jeff Wells, Senior Partner of RWS, and his thirst to give back to “good organizations that are delivering high quality services to our local people.” During Appreciation Months, 10% of revenue generated at Richmond Wine Station on Wednesdays and Sundays go back to a local organization. Thanks to this generous effort, The First Tee received over $1,200 in proceeds to ensure high quality, mission-driven ongoing youth programs.

Our youth are everything. If we can change the course of one child’s life then you indirectly change the lives of ten others.”

Jeff Wells*, Senior Partner, Richmond Wine Station

*A special thanks to Jeff for his pledge to match 100% of proceeds generated for The First Tee of Greater Richmond upon completion of the Richmond Wine Station Appreciation Month. His match is included in the total received.   Pictured Left: Representing the Richmond Wine Station, Angela Hall, General Manager, & Emerson Espinoza, Assistant Manager, present checks to Madison Medlin, Senior Director of Marketing & Events from The First Tee of Greater Richmond.  

ABOUT RICHMOND WINE STATION

Locally rooted in Scott’s Addition, Richmond Wine Station brings fine wine and technology together. Through tastings or full glass options, over 60 wines poured through self-dispensing machines allow customers to enjoy themselves in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. In addition to wine, Richmond Wine Station also serves eight tap pour by the ounce craft beer options.
Visit the station: 2930 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VirginiA 23230
   

Summer Happy Hour Powered by Dominion Energy

With the Dominion Energy Charity Classic around the corner, The First Tee of Greater Richmond is collaborating with Dominion Energy for an employee volunteer event followed by the final Summer Happy Hour event of its series on Wednesday, August 29th. Connecting community service and patron engagement, this event is powered by Dominion Energy and benefitting The First Tee of Greater Richmond.

Community SERVICE

Dominion Energy is proud of its employees for their thirst to give back to RVA. Thanks to their eagerness to engage with the community, over 30 employees will enhance the Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range through a landscape revival project including weeding, planting, mulching, and picking up trash along the fence-line on School Street. Upon completion, employees of Dominion Energy will further connect with The First Tee at the final Summer Happy Hour event.

Patron Engagement

Digging deeper into a partnership with the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, The First Tee of Greater Richmond is promoting Birdies for Charity presented by Towne Bank, a fundraising platform in which all donations receive a 10% bonus.
You Donate, We both benefit
You can benefit in more ways than a tax exemption!
  • From August 1st until October 21st, all donors who give through Birdies for Charity to The First Tee will be entered to win a Callaway Odyssey Putter.
  • On August 29th, all donors who give through Birdies for Charity at the Summer Happy Hour Series will be entered to win a dozen ProVIs.
Donate today!

About the Summer Happy Hour and Golf Series

New this summer, The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range began a series of happy hours targeted toward building impactful partnerships with the RVA food and beverage industry while hosting its patrons. These monthly events allowed The First Tee of Greater Richmond to benefit from local brewery partnerships, specifically Stone Brewing, food trucks such as Boka Tako, and first class golf vendors, Titleist and Callaway.
For questions about this event or partnership, please contact: Kelly McAnally, [email protected]

Caddie for a PGA TOUR Champions Pro & Support The First Tee

Are you looking for a way to have the golf experience of a lifetime caddying for one of the world’s best golfers while benefiting The First Tee of Greater Richmond? On Monday, October 15th, The Kanawha Club is hosting a morning pro-am + PGA TOUR Champions skins challenge fundraiser featuring 18 PGA TOUR Champions Professionals including: Fred Funk, Bernard Langer, Tom Lehman, Jerry Kelly, and more. Seeking a way to support our mission, hosts of this event asked The First Tee to provide the caddies for the PGA TOUR Champions.  A minimum of $1,000 paid to The First Tee of Greater Richmond secures your placement.  Each caddie will receive:
  • A bag of one of the PGA TOUR Champions for the morning pro-am and the skins shootout
  • A still and “action work” photo with you and your PGA TOUR Champion
  • An invite to pro-am luncheon at Kanawha Club following play
  • An Imperial The First Tee of Greater Richmond hat along with a Kanawha caddie bib
  Due to the anticipated popularity of this opportunity, caddie assignment is first come, first serve & determined by random drawing from the chapter. 

For all questions and to fulfill payment, please contact:

Brent Schneider, CEO, The First Tee of Greater Richmond

[email protected] | 804-378-2188

9211 Forest Hill Avenue, Suite 104, Richmond, VA 23235

 

Caraballo, Aulger Win National Par-3 Championship

The results are in! The First Tee National Par-3 Championship successfully completed its fourth year in Richmond over the weekend. 32 participants of The First Tee competed in 36-holes of individual stroke play at The Kanawha Club to determine a boys and girls champion and runner-up.

Girls Division

Saturday’s round ended in a tie with Alisa Caraballo representing The First Tee of Roanoke Valley and Jaclyn Kenzel representing The First Tee of the Sandhills (North Carolina) both at nine over par (117). In a playoff on the ninth hole, Caraballo took home the championship declaring Kenzel the runner-up.
Alisa Caraballo, Girls Champion

Jaclyn Kenzel, Girls Runner-Up

   

       

Boys Division

The boys division closed with a two-stroke difference between Ty Aulger, The First Tee of Northwest Florida, and Drew Greene, The First Tee of Aiken. Aulger clinched the championship with a score of four over par (112) and Greene finished as runner-up with a score of six over par (116).
Ty Aulger, Boys Champion
Drew Greene, Boys Runner-Up
           
Click here to view full results Thank you to all volunteers, sponsors, and staff who made this event possible for 32 deserving young adults. We look forward to continued success hosting local, regional, and national opportunities for our youth.     

Over $90,000 Raised for National Event

The First Tee of Greater Richmond is hosting The First Tee National Par-3 Championship this week at The Kanawha Club in Manakin-Sabot, VA. While this event is a national participant opportunity, it also serves as a major fundraising event for the local host chapter. 16 event sponsors, both corporate and individual, contributed over $90,000 in funds to support ongoing youth programs for The First Tee of Greater Richmond.

The First Tee National Par-3 Championship Kick-Off Dinner

The week kicked off on Wednesday evening with a celebratory dinner gathering sponsors, guests, Board members, and 32 participants of The First Tee from around the country. Special Guest Jim Dodson also joined the evening to deliver a message about the game of golf and its positive impact on his life, relating to all guests present.

The First Tee National Par-3 Championship Junior/Am Tournament

The excitement continued into Thursday as sponsor foursomes joined participants of The First Tee in a 9-hole competition spread across two waves in a best two balls format. Guests also experienced The First Tee firsthand through a putting contest with SNAG equipment. Congratulations to the following winners: 9am wave: Interface and Elena Anderson (-3), Champion; 1607 Capital Partners and Madison Harwell/Ty Aulger (-2), Runner-Up 3pm wave: Mike Walton and Courtney Cervelle/Drew Greene (-3), Champion; Spider Management and Meredith Kiernan/Bradley Wong (E), Runner-Up  
9am wave champions
3pm wave champions
             
Thank you to everyone who made this fundraising event possible. Because of you, The First Tee of Greater Richmond is able to continue positively impacting the lives of youth in our community.   

Meet Our 2018 Summer Interns

The First Tee of Greater Richmond’s Summer Internship Program is in its fourth year! Summer Interns are responsible for helping to guide and coach young people to become responsible citizens and active golfers through the delivery of daily life skill and golf instruction in summer camp. The Summer Internship Program will: introduce interns to inspiring young people; develop interactions with families, board members, staff and other constituents of The First Tee of Greater Richmond; expose interns to all elements of a thriving, growing, and successful nonprofit in the Richmond area including but not limited to marketing strategies, fundraising, and professional development.

Meet our Interns

We are pleased to introduce our EIGHT summer interns. Click their names to learn more about each aspiring young leader.

Lain Barclay

2017 Summer Interns
School: The University of Georgia Major: Economics

Peyton Broach

School: Radford University Major: Marketing

Kathryn Cardenas

School: The University of Virginia Major: Commerce

Reynolds Griffith

School: Washington and Lee University Major: European History

Luke Guenther

School: The University of Georgia Major: Communication Studies

Morgan Hoff

School: Virginia Commonwealth University Major: Public Relations

Trey Kelleher

School: James Madison University Major: Sports Management

Josephina Oh

School: The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Major: PGA Golf Management

RVA to Host National Participant Opportunity

Each year, The First Tee of Greater Richmond welcomes 32 participants from around the country to attend The First Tee National Par-3 Championship. Hosted at The Kanawha Club, this national participant opportunity not only provides deserving youth with a platform to showcase their golf skills, but also highlights the good work behind The First Tee’s mission: teaching life skills and core values beyond the course.
This year, participants arrive in Richmond on June 12th to begin their six-day experience consisting of three main components:

1. life skill development

Participants will work on life skill development through dorm living at the University of Richmond, interaction with participants from around the country, and engagement with local supporters. On Wednesday, June 13th, a Kick-Off Dinner brings sponsors and friends of the Richmond community gather to meet The First Tee participants and hear from special guest, American Sportswriter James Dodson. The First Tee National Par-3 Championship Junior/Am Tournament on Thursday, June 14th provides participants an opportunity to engage with event sponsors in a 9-hole.

2. East vs. West: The Territory Cup

Prior to individual stroke play, participants will represent their territory, East and West, in a team match-play format. The Tattersall Youth Development Center at The First Tee Chesterfield Golf Course is set to host this year’s Territory Cup the morning of Wednesday, June 13th.

3. THE FIRST TEE NATIONAL PAR-3 CHAMPIONSHIP

The purpose of The First Tee’s National Par-3 Championship is to provide a top-tier player experience for exemplary participants of The First Tee from around the country. This event provides 32 participants the opportunity to play in a 36-hole competition – 18-holes of individual stroke play on Friday, June 15th and 18-holes of individual stroke play on Saturday, June 16th. Total scores determine the Boys’ and Girls’ National Par-3 Champion.
The First Tee of Greater Richmond is proud to host this annual event to celebrate The First Tee mission fulfilled in the lives of young people. Event support directly benefits annual operations and programs. For all questions about supporting this event, please contact Madison Medlin, Senior Director of Marketing and Events: [email protected].  

Winter’s Harsh Reality

400 School Street, Richmond, VA 23222
Last fall, the Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range re-opened after receiving a $1.2 million facelift which included renovations to the clubhouse, the addition of two TrackMan 4 simulators, reshaping and re-sodding of the driving range, and converting the greens on course to Champion Bermuda grass. The Richmond community, golfers and non-golfers alike, embraced these improvements with ease showing increased use of the public golf facility, thus confirming the great work accomplished through the renovation. But unfortunately, Mother Nature welcomed us to the reality of living in a transition zone state – a place where extreme weather in all seasons poses challenges for each turf species. This winter was no exception.

THE EFFECT

According to a study1 between the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Virginia Cooperative Extension, “We had spring in February, revisited winter during March, then went through the weather roller coaster ride that is April and early May in [Virginia].”  And our upgraded turf, specifically Champion Bermuda, took a hit. While we saw improvements over the last two weeks, further evaluation proved selective tees and other areas could not rebound to its original, immaculate condition.

The RECOVERY

The Latitude Bermuda Practice Tee Remains Open
As we recover from the winter damage, all greens at the Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range will undergo re-sprigging with Champion Bermuda. During this time, we will also further enhance the practice facility by leveling out the putting green. This course renewal project is estimated to begin early June and continue for an eight-week period. The main practice tee and driving range were not affected and will continue to operate as normal throughout the summer. Your patience is appreciated as we close the 6-hole golf course and practice greens during this time of re-grassing. All youth programs (classes & camps) and community-wide events will be unaffected and will proceed as normal.

 OUR COMMITMENT

The First Tee of Greater Richmond is committed to maintaining a premier facility for our youth, our patrons, and our partners. In the meantime, we welcome you to utilize the grass tee driving range and the indoor TrackMan 4 simulators to improve your game. For club fitting or private lessons please see a member of our professional staff. Click here to stay informed about this process. For all questions, please contact: Kelly McAnally, Senior VP of Operations – [email protected]
1 2018 Turfgrass Winterkill Update    

Local Seeks Local

The Richmond community is filled with businesses and organizations seeking a common goal: serving the community to strengthen its local connections and diversify its consumer base. In this endeavor, no business or organization is too unique to make a difference – and thanks to Richmond Wine Station, The First Tee of Greater Richmond will be beneficiary of their inaugural Appreciation Month in June.

Making the connection

Locally rooted in Scott’s Addition, Richmond Wine Station thirsted for an opportunity to tie themselves to the RVA community. As a result, Jeff Wells, Senior Partner of RWS, began an endeavor to give back to “good organizations that are delivering high quality services to our local people.” Richmond Wine Station Appreciation Month will engage customers, old and new, in a mission to connect with the RVA community.

Why The First Tee?

While The First Tee is a national organization, the Greater Richmond chapter is making a difference locally – and Jeff Wells is not shy to unveil his experience. “The First Tee is a great program and the youth I’ve met are incredible. This is a program that really affects a life,” he says. Collaborating with The First Tee of Greater Richmond will meet the goal behind Richmond Wine Station Appreciation Month and proceeds will ensure high quality, mission-driven ongoing youth programs at The First Tee.
Our youth are everything. If we can change the course of one child’s life then you indirectly change the lives of ten others.” – Jeff Wells*, Senior Partner, Richmond Wine Station
*A special thanks to Jeff for his pledge to match 100% of proceeds generated for The First Tee of Greater Richmond upon completion of the Richmond Wine Station Appreciation Month. He’s challenging YOU to join him!

join us in june

The First Tee of Greater Richmond will receive 10% of revenue generated at Richmond Wine Station on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the month of June. Visit their website to view food and beverage offerings. Hours of Operation: Wednesdays, 4pm to 11pm; Sundays, 3pm to 8pm Location: 2930 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230 For questions regarding this partnership, please contact: Madison Medlin, Senior Director of Marketing & Events – [email protected]    

Make Summer Count

Looking for something your child can do this summer that is both fun AND educational? Consider an activity that keeps them active while learning values and life skills that will help in school and at home: GOLF.  The First Tee of Greater Richmond is the perfect fit. We offer camps and 8-week programs all summer long – all skill levels welcome!

three reasons why your child should learn golf this summer

ANYONE CAN PLAY

Golf is for everyone – and it’s a lifelong sport! We offer youth golf programs and summer camps to youth ages 4 to 17, no matter their background or experience – and scholarships are available! Our policy is to provide access to programs regardless of a participant’s ability to play.

MORE TIME OUTSIDE

Studies1 show that kids are spending less time outside these days. Coaches at The First Tee teach participants the game of golf through experience-based learning – on the driving range, the practice greens, or the golf course.

golf is more than a game

While learning the game of golf, The First Tee delivers seamless lesson plans teaching life skills, core values, and healthy habits through the game of golf. This character education program provides a fun, active environment to teach youth how to set goals, resolve conflicts, communicate, and manage emotions.

make your summer count

Registration is open! Give us an opportunity to teach your child more than a sport this summer – we will teach life skills that last.

The First Tee golf Camp

We offer seven weeks of camp, both half day and full day options available. Click here to learn more! The First Tee Golf Camp FAQs

8-week Summer Programs

Summer programs begin June 19th at both programming facilities – click the links below to view class schedules: The Tattersall Youth Development Center at The First Tee Chesterfield Golf Course The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range
Sources:
  1. https://www.childinthecity.org/2018/01/15/children-spend-half-the-time-playing-outside-in-comparison-to-their-parents/
     

The 2017 Annual Review

The First Tee of Greater Richmond shares annual reviews to summarize the great achievements of our work. Because of your support of our mission, our programs help kids become better golfers – but even more importantly – better people who strengthen the character of our community.

The 2017 annual review: A Summary

Impact. Positively impacting the lives of young people through character education using golf as its context. Collaboration. Collaboratively connecting with the RVA community through intentional partnerships with other youth-serving organizations. Expansion. Expanding the footprint of The First Tee National School Program to 127 total elementary schools. Innovation. Integrating innovative initiatives in renovation efforts to provide the utmost experience for the youth, patrons, and investors in RVA. Investment. Ensuring partner investments provide the chapter with new opportunities to strengthen the character of our community.

Click here to read our 2017 Annual Review

From our leadership

This publication is a chance for us to share our achievements and progress over the past year, while also highlighting all the special people committed to our great mission. We delight in the opportunity to thank you and other supporters by showcasing how we’ve invested your dollars and other commitments. – Mike Walton, Board Chair I am excited to share with you the 2017 Annual Review. With your support, The First Tee of Greater Richmond will continue to expand its reach to impact the lives of more young people. Thank you for investing in the youth of our community. – Brent Schneider, CEO
Pictured from left to right: Mayor Levar Stoney, Ed McLaughlin, VCU Vice President & Director of Athletics, Brent Schneider, CEO, and Mike Walton, Board Chair at the Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range grand reopening in October.