project Q&A

  • While we’ve taken full advantage of the community facilities available to us, we are not effectively reaching parts of our community that would benefit from our programs.

    Our reach is limited by:

    • Lack of our own space

    • Reliance on partner schedules

    • Excessive demand at partnering golf course locations

    • Underserved families live furthest from partnering golf course locations

    • Inclement weather

    We offer educational enrichment opportunities beyond golf instruction. Indoor space is needed to enhance those offerings and reduce weather-related cancellations.

  • This project is about so much more than golf!  Our mission is to positively impact the lives of local youth by providing structured education programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Golf is merely a vehicle for hands-on, activity-based learning. As communicated in our annual report, program participants consistently experience improvements in confidence, social skills, and personal responsibility—strengths that are applicable to all areas of life.

    If you are eager to help young people prepare for life beyond the golf course, please consider a making a gift to this campaign.

  • First Tee - Greater Charleston is a 501(c)3 organization that relies on grant funding and charitable donations. This project, both the learning center and the kids course, will be funded and operated by First Tee - Greater Charleston thanks to generous community support.

    While we routinely partner with recreational departments to execute programming, we are a completely independent nonprofit organization. First Tee projects, including this Youth Development Campus, are not funded by tax dollars.

  • While we are grateful for the generous golf courses, who have donated their facilities for many years, we know that exclusive reliance on their increasingly stretched resources is not an effective strategy for sustainable growth and enhanced impact. As we grow, we must be confident in our own ability to provide safe, weather-protected places to learn, lead, and explore the game of golf, and to do so with the same degree of autonomy and self-reliance as we teach our kids. 

  • Absolutely. Our Youth Leadership Campus will operate as a new program location in addition to existing partner locations. Any changes to existing program schedules or capacity would be at partner discretion. Our goal is to serve as many kids at as many locations as possible, and we sincerely appreciate the generous partners who help make that possible!

  • Yes! We are pleased to welcome all young people, ages 5-18, to play the course, regardless of First Tee program enrollment, during designated open play times. Kids will be considered members. Adults will only be permitted as accompanied guests, aside from Ambassadors at Ambassador events. To learn more about Ambassador play, email Conor@FirstTeeCHS.org.

  • Kids are the members. Adults can only play as accompanied guests. And to ensure that all kids have an opportunity to play, we will not be selling tee times. Donations, which are sincerely appreciated, can be made at the discretion of each player.

    This unique membership model will be funded by generous Ambassadors. Email Conor@FirstTeeCHS.org to learn more about our Ambassador Program and campus sustainability.