Growing up it seemed as if every week a local organization or church group was putting on a pre-platted pick-up dinner event serving the ‘best’ barbeque, spaghetti or fried chicken the south has ‘ever’ tasted. And on occasion, they even did a pancake breakfast!
Many times our family would succumb to advertising and participate in that week’s event. It was a feel good experience, knowing our dollars were going to a good cause, and saved my mom from a night of cooking.
These days the weekly event has turned into a tour of golf outings benefiting organizations of various shapes and sizes, each with their own spin on how to deliver the special day. But hey, why not? We do live at the ‘home of golf’, don’t we?
The First Tee of the Sandhills marquee event for the last 12 years has been an annual golf tournament. With the generous support of four golf brands, Country Club of North Carolina, Forest Creek Golf Club, Pine Needles & Mid Pines Resort, and Pinehurst Resort, participants in the event are able to take a ‘tour’ of our areas elite courses which participate in an ‘every fourth year’ rotation.
On June 16, The Country Club of North Carolina played host to the 2015 event. A special venue with impeccable service and first class staff. It was a wonderful treat to spend a day at their immaculate facility.
The goal for the day was to raise as many dollars as possible to invest back into our youth programs, while giving the event participants a first class, special experience.
144 golf enthusiasts ranging from tour professionals to once-a-year amateurs came out on the ‘hottest’ June 16 on record, per Greg Fishel, to show their support for our mission, for where we have come and for our vision for the future.
Because of the tremendous support by many we were able to host our most successful event to date!
To provide an analogy, the funds raised could cover the implementation of 16 new National School Programs in area Elementary Schools, could provide program scholarships to over 400 participants with financial need, or could cover the expense to send 50 volunteers to national training.
What an impact we can make!
This impact would not have been possible without the support of our Title Sponsor, CADDIEMASTER, our Core Value and Healthy Habit Sponsors as well as The First Tee of the Sandhills volunteers, participants and their parents that gave of their time selflessly before, during and after the event.
The first half of 2015 has been very successful; from our program participants receiving national recognition, to new volunteers joining our family and new golf facilities opening their doors to our programs.
Though, our traction towards long range goals doesn’t end. Our desire to introduce more and more young people and their families to The First Tee of the Sandhills continues. Our Outreach to youth through partner agencies escalates. And the need to recruit new volunteers and coaches to join our family while adding new facility locations to stretch our current capacity boundaries grows.
We are excited to see where the second half of 2015 will take us and look forward to having you join us on the ride by continuing to invest your time, talents and resources in our mission. And, if you’ve got your 2016 calendar ready to go, save the date for our 2016 Open at Forest Creek Golf Club on Monday, June 13!