Category: Blog

Women In Golf: All Ages and Skill Levels

The First Tee of Greater Richmond is proud to develop the lives of youth regardless of background, age level, or golf experience. In addition to the chapter’s programs, partnerships provide the ability to expand opportunities for young people to allow relationships with mentors to deepen. The LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Program & the LPGA Amateur Women’s Golf Association – RVA are two empowering organizations in which The First Tee partners with to drive females, both youth and adults, forward through the game of golf.

Girls Golf Participants attend Kingsmill

On Saturday May 25th, The First Tee of Greater Richmond‘s LPGA*USGA Girls Golf members attended a junior golf clinic and an exclusive behind the scenes tour at the LPGA Puresilk Championship on the Kingsmill River Course. Kingsmill’s Golf Academy Director of Instruction, Chris George, PGA, with special guest LPGA tour players, Katherine Perry and Robyn Choi led the junior clinic for 11 youth. Visit Williamsburg presented the behind the scenes tour of the Puresilk  Championship allowing participants to visit the LPGA fitness trailer, media center, rules office, club house, player dining, and more. Thank you Puresilk Championship tournament staff, Kingsmill Resort staff, and LPGA tour players for giving our participants a day to remember!  JOIN THE LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Program today!

downtown facility hosts women’s golf day

Women’s Golf Day serves as a day of recognition for women in the sport to network, play golf, and socialize among other female leaders in the community. On June 4th, the LPGA Amateur Women’s Golf Association – RVA attended The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range for an exclusive event for all women and girls interested in growing the game of golf. Over 35 community members and The First Tee’s Girls Golf participants gathered for an evening of golf clinics and networking to honor female participation in the sport. The First Tee is grateful for the LPGA Amateur Women’s Golf Association – RVA for seeking a thoughtful partnership within our organization!  For all questions about hosing community events with The First Tee of Greater Richmond at one of two programming facilities, please contact Kelly McAnally, Senior VP of Operations: [email protected].  

Meet the 2019 Summer Interns

The First Tee of Greater Richmond’s annual summer internship program is kicking off June 10th! We are thrilled to welcome ten college students to our chapter for a summer of coaching and mentoring our youth. 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 TEN summer interns. Click their names to learn more about each aspiring young leader.

Bradley Vespa

School
University of Alabama, 2020
Major
Marketing – with an Advertising minor.

Dylan Taylor

School
Georgia Southern University, 2020
Major
Master’s degree in Political Science

Eleshia Jones

School
University of Maryland – Eastern Shore, 2021
Major
Exercise Science with a clinical concentration

Joshua Murphy

School
Appalachian State University, 2019
Major
Parks and Recreation Management

Kristen Pratt

School
Virginia Tech, 2020
Major
Finance

Riley Kern

school
Ferrum College, 2020
Major
Outdoor recreation – with an Accounting minor

Robert Morris

school
University of North Florida, 2019
Major
Sport Management – with a marketing minor.

Sirena Walsh

School
Longwood University, 2020
Major
Business Administration

Tristan Bazemore

School
Madison University, 2019
Major
Business Administration and Management

Vivian Satterfield

School
University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Major
Communications
For all questions regarding The First Tee’s Summer Internship Program, please contact Berkley Jackson, Program Coordinator: [email protected].

Fairways for Warriors: Driven Forward by Golf

On Memorial Day, The First Tee of Greater Richmond sought an opportunity to honor our warriors. Whether their past consists of making the ultimate sacrifice for our nation or their present consists of serving throughout the community, the first annual Fairway for Warriors Memorial Tournament brought together the greatest among us. Similarly to The First Tee using golf as a method to teach life skills, Fairways for Warriors is a non-profit organization that uses golf to provide support to combat veterans for essential care. Stemmed from a partnership with veterans and service members throughout the state and Fort Lee, the connection between the two organizations is natural and mission-driven.
The camaraderie and challenges of golf aids combat wounded veteran’s journey towards rehabilitation and healing. – Fairway for Warriors 1 
Almost 60 players attended the event. Included in the pool was Command Sergeant major Michael J. Perry, III, the Combined Arms Support Command senior enlisted adviser, and two teams with The First Tee participants. Supported by local sponsors, this impactful outing raised nearly $5,000 for Fairways for Warriors towards establishing a chapter in Virginia. The First Tee seeks ways to be an asset to the RVA community and looks forward to supporting this organization and many others to honor those who have served and continue to do so.

Engage with us!

For all questions about community events or volunteer opportunities with The First Tee of Greater Richmond  and their programming facilities, please contact Kelly McAnally, Senior VP of Operations: [email protected].

Thalhimer Gives to The First Tee RVA

The First Tee of Greater Richmond welcomes community partners seeking opportunities to engage with our organization. Through volunteer work, corporate events, or group golf outings, The First Tee’s programming facilities offer a space for collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. Thanks to Thalhimer and their “Thalhimer Gives” program, The Tattersall Youth Development Center at The First Tee Chesterfield Golf Course received needed touch-ups in preparation for the clubhouse renovation to begin this fall. The group assisted The First Tee with painting projects, clean-up inside and outside of the clubhouse, and golf cart refurbishment.
We are very grateful for Thalhimer and their employees who volunteered for various clean-up projects at The Tattersall  Youth Development Center as we prepare for the upcoming clubhouse renovation. Their efforts certainly enhanced the first-impression of the facility for our participants, families, patrons, and community partners as we gear up for our popular Summer programs and camps. – Kelly McAnally, Senior VP of Operations, The First Tee of Greater Richmond

About the Thalhimer Gives Program

Thalhimer Gives is a company initiative focused on increasing community involvement and charitable giving. Through Thalhimer Gives, associates have the opportunity to actively engage in the community by donating financially, providing much-needed supplies, and giving generously of their time to local organizations.1

Engage with us!

For all questions about community events or volutneer opportunities with The First Tee of Greater Richmond  and their programming facilities, please contact Kelly McAnally, Senior VP of Operations: [email protected].

Over $170,000 raised for The First Tee’s Youth Programs at DECC Partnership Event

Dominion Energy Charity Classic and The First Tee of Greater Richmond partnered to bring charity event to The Country Club of Virginia 

Markel presented the inaugural event which raised over $170,000 for youth programs

Winning Foursome: Hourigan Construction Group
(RICHMOND, Virginia) – On Monday, April 22nd, 31 foursomes played in a captain’s choice scramble at the James River Course of the Country Club of Virginia. Each foursome represented a community supporter of The First Tee of Greater Richmond. Title sponsor, Markel, filled three foursomes with current and prospective friends of The First Tee. Junior participants of The First Tee joined the post-play reception to assist with award distribution and present the exclusive raffle ticket winner. The Dominion Energy Charity Classic donated one foursome in the Wednesday Pro-Am to be held on October 16th this fall. This raffle opportunity raised $20,000 for the chapter with ticket sales purchased from a variety of donors. “We are thrilled to build upon an existing relationship with the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in an annual event to raise awareness for our organization,” said Brent Schneider, CEO of The First Tee of Greater Richmond. “Not only did this serve as our primary fundraising event, but it will also allow us a platform to provide our supporters with an exceptional opportunity to play such a special PGA  TOUR-ready course while we fulfill our vision: to strengthen the character of our community.” The First Tee is national youth development organization teaching life skills and character education through the game of golf and the Greater Richmond chapter alone serves over 80,000 youth annually. The organization is growing the game both on and off the course at two programming facilities, in 127 area elementary schools, and in collaboration with numerous youth-serving partners.  
The First Tee is a great partner to us at the PGA TOUR, so we are thrilled to work with the Richmond chapter to bring this important event to life in 2019. Elevating local charities in the Richmond community continues to be a driving force for us at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic and we know this event will help to continue fostering lasting and impactful charitable contributions in our community.” – Dominion Energy Charity Classic Executive Director, Steve Schoenfeld
The Country Club of Virginia is excited to serve as the host site for the inaugural event. The development of junior golf is something we are passionate about for both our members and the community. The First Tee of Greater Richmond is an outstanding organization and we are honored to be a partner in this endeavor. – Club President, Pierce Walmsley. 
In addition to this event, The First Tee of Greater Richmond is one 140 nonprofits enrolled in Birdies for Charity presented by TowneBank, a program designed to give local charities an opportunity to generate contributions through flat donations or based on the number of “birdies” made by PGA TOUR Champions players during the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

GET INVOLVED in 2020

Sponsor prospects seeking naming rights or event participation should contact Madison Medlin, Senior Director of Marketing and Events of The First Tee of Greater Richmond: [email protected]
 

Founding Board Member & National Trustee Inducted Into Robins School of Business Alumni Hall of Fame

Founding Board Member & National Trustee Inducted Into Robins School of Business Alumni Hall of Fame

Bobby Ukrop, Chairman and CEO of Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods, recognized on February 21, 2019.

(RICHMOND, Virginia) – Last week, Founding Board Member of The First Tee of Greater Richmond and National Trustee of The First Tee received recognition through the University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business. The Robins School of Business Alumni Hall of Fame award and induction are given annually to recognize an alumnus or alumna of the University of Richmond who graduated 10 or more years previously and has made significant accomplishments in business and service 1. In addition to his 40-year career at Ukrop’s Super Markets, Bobby Ukrop is an accomplished community leader. Not only did he serve as a catalyst in starting The First Tee locally 20 years ago, he is currently an Emeritus Board Member of The First Tee of Greater Richmond offering annual support and guidance to chapter.
“Bobby Ukrop is a great example to us all; he’s a man who truly lives The First Tee’s Nine Core Values. He is a strategic visionary for good and has a unique ability to bring people together. Over the years, through his passion and nonstop energy Bobby has positively touched the lives of thousands of people in the Richmond community.”

– Brent Schneider, CEO, The First Tee of Greater Richmond

Thank you, Bobby, for your commitment to The First Tee of Greater Richmond and the surrounding community of RVA.

MORE NEWS RELEASES

Robins School of Business
       

Downtown Facility Hosts Dominion Energy Charity Classic Charitable Impact Announcement

Downtown Facility Hosts Press Conference To Announce Charitable Impact Of 2018 Dominion Energy Charity Classic

Richmond-area charities receive more than $1.2 million as a result of last year’s event.

(RICHMOND, Virginia) – On February 12th, tournament officials announced that the 2018 Dominion Energy Charity Classic generated more than $1.2 million for charities in the Richmond region. The PGA TOUR hosted this event at The First Tee of Greater Richmond’s Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range. 
Over 40 members of the community gathered at The First Tee on Tuesday morning.
  The PGA TOUR Champions tournament, currently in its fourth year, is dedicated to giving back charitably in the local community, with a special focus on military support. As a result of the 2018 event, the tournament will distribute funds to the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation to benefit the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Virginia Values Veteran’s program, the Richmond Fisher House, as well as 144 additional non-profit organizations in Central Virginia, including The First Tee of Greater Richmond. “As its name suggests, the Charity Classic is all about goodwill and good works,” said Dominion Energy Chairman, President and CEO Thomas F. Farrell II. “That is why our company sponsors the event: We believe in helping others. The outpouring of generosity from the 2018 Classic is extremely gratifying, and it will make a lasting difference in the lives of veterans, their families, children in need, artists and countless others.” The Charity Classic offers area non-profit organizations the opportunity to participate in the Birdies for Charity program presented by TowneBank. This program provides participating 501(c)3 organizations the ability to generate donations that the PGA TOUR bonuses by 10%. Patty Merrill, Vice Chair of The First Tee of Greater Richmond Board of Directors, spoke on behalf of Birdies for Charity. Patty is also the volunteer chair of Birdies for Charity and is leading a task force around the 2019 Dominion Energy Charity Classic Community Invitational benefitting The First Tee of Greater Richmond.
As the Dominion Energy Charity Classic continues to grow, so does our pursuit to maximize the charitable impact to the Richmond area. Our team feels a great sense of pride that the tournament serves as a conduit for charitable giving in our community and it’s encouraging to see the growth of the Birdies for Charity program each year.”

Steve Schoenfeld, Executive Director, Dominion Energy Charity Classic

The 2019 event will return to The Country Club of Virginia, James River Course, October 17-20.

MORE NEWS RELEASES

Richmond Times Dispatch PGA TOUR
Host your next event at our facility! Contact Mark Lynch, Senior Director of Golf of The First Tee of Greater Richmond: [email protected]      

Training + Certification Coming to RVA with New Program Launch

Operation 36 to Host 2019 Certification in Richmond, VA

The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range

(RICHMOND, Virginia) – Operation 36, a player development program for new and beginner golfers, announces their 2019 Certification, which will take place at The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range on March 4th. Participants will spend the day working directly with the Co-Founders, Matt Reagan and Ryan Dailey, learning how to build out their programs for the year. Matt Reagan said, “We are excited to announce that we have upgraded the Level 1 and Level 2 Certification into into one day of training that we are coining simply the ‘2019 Operation 36 Certification.’” “This day of training will not only combine the best of Level 1 and Level 2 training, but also showcase exactly how the we would build, plan, and execute the programs with the latest features, programs and technology that are available to coaches. Our plan is to upgrade the training each year as we innovate, learn, and help coaches become more efficient at creating golfers and growing the game. We want coaches to walk out of the training knowing exactly how to implement cutting-edge strategies to build coaching programs that actually grow their business and the game.” Coaches are welcome to spend a day with the Operation 36 team and others in the Network as they cover the latest information and how to increase efficiency and to create golfers and grow the game. The curriculum will include:
  • How to plan and execute the Op 36 Golf Programming Model
  • How to actually measure you are creating golfers
  • How to create value for all – The Business & Science of Group Coaching
  • How to leverage Gamification & Engage Golfers with technology
This certification training is available to all coaches. Click here to sign up Operation 36 Network was founded by PGA golf pros Ryan Dailey and Matt Reagan to provide the #1 golf improvement experience for beginner and intermediate golfers. Operation 36 is used in over 380 golf facilities world-wide, with over 20,000 players actively using the curriculum and platform. The First Tee of Greater Richmond is launching the Player Development Academy powered by Op36 this spring.

Training + Certification Event Information

Date: Monday, March 4th, 8am to 5pm Location: 400 School Street, Richmond, VA 23222 Cost: $249 per person – this includes breakfast and lunch
For all questions regarding Operation36, youth programs, or this training, please contact Berkely Jackson, Program Coordinator of The First Tee of Greater Richmond: [email protected]      

Values Instilled in Participant Tia MacDonald

The First Tee of Greater Richmond is proud of participants seeking outside opportunities to highlight their golf skills but with great excitement, we highlight participants expressing the life skills learned in our programs in other aspects of life. Tia MacDonald, Par Participant, sought an opportunity to share her understanding of core values honesty, sportsmanship, and integrity through the Annika Foundation “Share My Passion” Letter Contest. At a young age of 9 years old, Tia shares her insight to values, friendship, and the importance of practicing.

Annika FOUNDATION “Share My passion” Letter Contest

  This fall, along with Meg Lavinder, Tia mailed an letter into the Annika Foundation “Share My Passion” Letter Contest. Girls aged from 8-13 who reside in the United States are invited to write an open letter about their love of golf and why other girls should learn to play. The top 40 letters, as handpicked by LPGA Tour legend Annika Sorenstam and her selection committee, will then be invited to attend the “Share My Passion” LPGA*USGA Girls Golf clinic. Not only was Tia chosen as a finalist but she also was selected to participate in the 2019 LPGA*USGA Girls Golf “I Can!” PSA!  Click the image below to play the video – Tia comes in at 16 seconds. Her full letter reads:
Hi! My name is Tia! I am 9 years old. I love golf! In golf, you need lots of things. You need honesty because you keep track of your own score, so you need to be honest and tell the truth about it. You need sportsmanship because even if you lose, you need to be nice to your competitor. You need integrity because even if you are playing alone, you need to do the right thing. I learned all of these thins from playing golf. Golf gives you lots of friends. I have lots of friends from golf. It’s good when you have golf friends because you always have someone to practice with. You always learn from them and they always learn from you. Practicing is important. You don’t need to practice too much but you can. I learn a lot from practicing. My mom takes a video of me on her phone and we look at it, find out what’s wrong, and fix it! You might not notice your swing get better but it will. Golf is hard, but once you learn how to swing, you will get the hang of it. Practice every now and then… ta-da!! It’ll be a piece of cake! Who knows? You might be a pro! Sincerely, Tia MacDonald, Age 9
The First Tee of Greater Richmond is proud of you both on and off the course – you will continue to inspire girls with your encouraging attitude and handwork. Thank you, Tia, for sharing your insight and your passion.
To learn more about the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Program or The First Tee of Greater Richmond’s programs, please contact: Berkley Jackson, Program Coordinator – [email protected].

Top 50 Stand Alone Facility

The First Tee of Greater Richmond facility named among top 50 driving ranges 

The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range

(RICHMOND, Virginia) – The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range has been named among the nation’s top 50 driving ranges in the Stand-Alone category by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA). This marks the first time the facility has been recognized by the GRAA. This prestigious recognition in the golf industry comes only one year after reopening The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range after a $1.2 million renovation featuring turf improvements to the six-hole par 3 course, greens with Champion Bermuda grass, upgraded bunkers, upgraded practice tees, a clubhouse with youth-centric spaces, and two TrackMan 4 simulators to analyze swings or participation in Trackman Leagues. The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range at The First Tee of Greater Richmond was featured in the December 2018 issue of Golf Range Magazine alongside other recognized golf courses in the Richmond area including Independence Golf Club (Public Range category) and Kinloch (Private Range category).
The Golf Range Association of America takes this time to recognize the practice facilities and teaching professionals whose accomplishments stood out over the year.

– Golf Range Magazine, December 2018

To join the Winter Trackman League, book a tee time, or inquire about corporate outings and lessons, please contact Mark Lynch, Director of Golf at The First Tee of Greater Richmond: mark@thefirstteerva.org or call (804) 728-3857. For all questions regarding facility renovations or operations, please contact Kelly McAnally, Senior VP of Operations of The First Tee of Greater Richmond: [email protected]
 

Three Goal Setting Steps to Make A Dream A Reality

Setting goals and working hard is the only way to make dreams a reality. Learning to set challenging, but realistic goals is a vital skill youth must learn. These three steps can help youth successful turn their dreams into achievable goals:

1. DEFINE YOUR DREAMS AND GOALS

Goals start with dreams. What do you dream of accomplishing in life? Where do you envision yourself? Once you clearly visualize where you want to be or what you want to do, start thinking about small goals to help you get there.

2. SET GOALS THAT ARE POSITIVE AND IMPORTANT TO YOU

It is easier to reach a goal that is stated positively. Stating what you WANT to happen in positive terms rather than what you don’t want to happen. Think about the WHY of your goal. If a goal is important to you, then you can pull from that motivation and will work harder to reach it.

3. SET GOALS THAT ARE SPECIFIC AND UNDER YOUR CONTROL

A goal that is specific says exactly what you want to accomplish so you will be able to measure it and know when you have reached it. As you begin to hit those goals, you can build off of that momentum and gain confidence.

OUR PROGRAM

At The First Tee of Greater Richmond, we encourage youth to dream big and practice effective goal-setting techniques they can use for life. From aces to triple bogeys, golf is a perfect platform for helping kids and teens develop character as it closely parallels real life. Just like in life, junior golfers experience the highs and lows of the game. Our curriculum was developed by experts in the field of positive youth development and is delivered by coaches trained through The First Tee Coach Program. Our goal is to help prepare kids and teens of all backgrounds for success in school, at home and in their community. Our locations offer fulls scholarships and reduces fee programming for those with financial needs so no one is ever turned away for inability to pay. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS  

A Message From Our CEO

The First Tee of Greater Richmond is strengthening the character of our community by providing programs that build resilience in our youth, teach critical life skills, and provide caring adult supervision in a safe environment. All of our programs are based on The First Tee Nine Core Values, which are essential for young people to make positive choices and overcome challenges. In a study of participants, 82% felt more confident in their engagement with peers because of their involvement with The First Tee, while 85% of alumni credit the program for helping them become better students. Our participants are learning more than just golf. We are impacting the lives of young people by providing programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values, and promote healthy choices. In addition to our program offerings, we operate two public golf facilities: The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range near downtown Richmond and The Tattersall Youth Development Center at The First Tee Chesterfield Golf Course. Both facilities provide an inclusive environment for both program participants and thousands of golf patrons annually, making our organization a multi-faceted resource for youth and families in our area. The time is now. Please join me by making an annual gift to The First Tee of Greater Richmond. Your support will allow us to continue addressing the needs of young people in our community by providing high-quality, positive youth development programs that build up children of all backgrounds. Sincerely, Brent Schneider, CEO [email protected] Click here & join our mission