At First Tee – Sandhills, our growth has always been powered by people who show up not just with their time, but with their whole hearts. Tom Heinrich is one of those people, a devoted supporter, community leader, and passionate believer in the power of golf to shape young lives, whose enthusiasm continues to energize our chapter today.
Meet Tom
Tom Heinrich has spent a lifetime finding ways to give back, from leading golf leagues across two states to volunteering at two Winter Olympic Games. Long before First Tee – Sandhills, community involvement was already second nature to him. In 2021, Tom and his wife, Theresa, relocated to the Mid South neighborhood in search of a more active lifestyle and more time on the golf course. That search led them straight to Courtney Stiles and First Tee – Sandhills, and the two of them were hooked almost immediately.
A Life Rooted in Golf and Service
Originally from Burlington, VT, Tom later spent over 20 years in Lake Placid, NY, the place where he met Theresa, who now shares his passion for supporting First Tee – Sandhills. He studied at the University of Vermont and went on to build a career in technology, all while golf remained a constant thread throughout his life. He served as league president in both Vermont and New York, and his contributions to the sport earned him a place in Vermont’s YMCA Golf League Hall of Fame. His commitment to community extended well beyong golf too, from chairing the Lake Placid water ski competition to leading the Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce board and serving on the Lake Placid Sports Council. He also volunteered at both the 1980 and 1988 Winter Olympic Games, a legacy that followed him even after he left, a New York state senator once publicly recognized him for it.
Life with First Tee – Sandhills
Since settling into the Mid South community, Tom has thrown himself into supporting Drive 4 Kids year after year, energized by First Tee’s focus on giving every kid, no matter their background, access to top-quality coaching. Ask him about his favorite moment with First Tee – Sandhills, and he’ll point to the Community Hub: “watching its growth and excitement for what the future holds for all participants.”
Thank you, Tom, for the time, heart, and hands-on support you continue to give this community.