At First Tee – Sandhills, our mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. As a youth development organization, we combine mentorship with accessible programming and outstanding curriculum, to create active learning experiences that build perseverance, confidence, and resilience.
Participants in our program engage with trained, caring adult coaches & mentors, and interact with a curriculum that is both developmentally and age appropriate. Kids and teens in our program learn life skills that stay with them forever, such as understanding and managing emotions, resolving conflicts, setting up step-by-step goals, planning for the future, and appreciating diversity.
Through deliberate efforts to foster growth, we’ve designed a space, a Community Hub, that will benefit First Tee – Sandhills participants and our surrounding community. This permanent space will increase access to our life skills curriculum and build a permanent home to enable more kids and teens to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges.
Key Project Outcomes
- Provide year round access and engagement to Curriculum Program Participants
- Enhance School Program partnership through continued learning Field Trips with PE and Science programs A home for Community Programs with like minded youth centric organizations
- A permanent place to offer consistent weekend programs for families
- A workforce development program for teens and young adults including skill development and source of income A community classroom & a place where all are welcome
Our Community Hub will allow for high inclusion and reach with as little as 20 acres of usable space. Below is a snapshot of the amenities we would build into the footprint.
Green Space Amenities
- Multi Surface Driving Range w/Lighting
- Putting Green w/6 – 9 Holes
- Short Game Area with bunkering
- Flat Recreational Grass Space
- Oversized Pavilion
- Natural areas for STEM Learning Lab
Learning Lab Amenities
- Community Meeting Space
- Teen Tech Lab
- Indoor Putting + Full Swing Space
- Program Equipment Storage
- ReSale Store Front
- Grillroom + Small Kitchen
Providing Great Access to Character Education Programs
As a rural nine-county chapter of the First Tee network, we’ve spent the last ten years investing in laying the foundation to ‘go where the kids are’ and have strived to establish programs where kids feel included, enriched, and entertained.
This targeted approach is designed to bolster access and to support kids and teens in underserved and underrepresented areas of the communities we serve, maximizing our chapter resources and participant retention.
Today’s progress highlights include activation in 72 Elementary School Programs, 11 Outreach and Community Partner Programs and 12 Green Grass host facilities.
Facility Usage Impact Review
Once completed, we foresee the Community Hub providing access to five core groups over a one-year time window, this access would look like:
- School Program Partner Field Trips | 30 Trips for 100 Students per Trip
- Community Program Partners | 30 three-week programs for 24 kids and teens per program
- First Tee Curriculum Programs + Camps | 10 eight-week programs for 24 kids and teens per program
- Adaptive Groups | 30 Visits for 36 Adults per visit
- Public Usage | 3 Days per week for mixed usage
First Tee – Sandhills Map Snapshot Review
Over the last six (6) months we have reviewed 16+ land sites off the US 1 Corridor. This area of the community is currently being targeted as the most strategic space to invest in the Community Hub, allowing for ease of access to our current partners and new access for future partners.
- Multi-Color Circles + Red Stars have active programs at golf courses, partner facilities and schools
- Black Stars are targeted future growth communities
- Rectangular Box indicates current footprint of available land being reviewed for the Community Hub
The Present Landscape & What Comes Next
To support the design and construction of this project, we have established a committee of community advocates and key stakeholders to ensure an outcome that will meet our qualitative and quantitative goals.
Below is a snapshot of the key tasks we have accomplished since August 2023.
- Land Plan Architect Secured | Richard Mandell Golf Architecture
- Land Procurement | Review of 16+ Land Sites off US 1 Corridor in Moore Cty Community Hub Project | Development Team Planning Sessions
- Fundraising for Phase 1 & 2 | Multi Year Corporate Gifts, In-Kind Donations, and Grants Loan Applications with Bank Partners
- Best Practices Research with similar community projects
In working with financial partners, we have established budgetary needs for each phase of the Community Hub Project, taking into consideration the balance of development goals, cash flow and immediate opportunities for youth and family use on the space.
Phase 1 and 2 of the project will require a $1.3MM investment over a sixteen month period. In total, we estimate a $4.2MM investment to see all four phases of the project to completion.
Together, we are Opening Doors & Opening Eyes
We are confident the vision of the First Tee – Sandhills Community Hub will provide greater access and resources to the Sandhills while ensuring everyone has a place where they feel included, enriched, and excited to return.
Are you ready to be a part of history as we map out Tomorrow’s Opportunity?
Contact Us, today!
Courtney Stiles
Executive Director, First Tee – Sandhills
(O) 910.255.3035 (C) 904.327.1622