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The First Tee of Greater Seattle celebrated a significant moment in its seven-year history last weekend with the opening of the First Tee Clubhouse at Jefferson Park GC. Located in the upper floor of the course's main clubhouse in what used to be the general manager's apartment, the First Tee facility features a classroom for life skills training, a video golf swing analysis area and club repair workshops as well as administrative offices. 'It will be open year round, and offer space for mentoring and life skills training,' said Heidi Wills, Executive Director of the First Tee Greater Seattle, who officiated at the weekend's ribbon cutting ceremony.
The First Tee, a national program founded by the USGA, PGA of America, Augusta National GC, PGA Tour and LPGA, arrived at Jefferson Park in 2003 since when it has offered mentoring, goal-setting and leadership skills as well as golf coaching to well over 1,000 kids a year. 'We hope the clubhouse will be come a haven for kids from Beacon Hill and indeed all of Seattle,' added Wills who also thanked the many sponsors and supporters involved in the project; Seattle Parks and Recreation and their Director of Golf Andy Soden, the First Tee's former board president Doug Armintrout who orchestrated all the renovation, former general manager at Broadmoor GC Steve Hall who had the original idea, Ivar’s for providing free clam chowder all day, Dunn Lumber for donating all the materials and Island Security for donating the security system. Wills reserved special thanks for community partners FSN and FSN STARS who not only provided much needed financial assistance but were also heavily involved in the development of the project.
 Jen Mueller addresses the crowd
Also present at the ceremony were two kids who have benefitted greatly from The First Tee program; 11-year-old Rachel Weros who spoke about the importance of its nine core values, and Stephen Fosha who has been with the First Tee at Jefferson since the start and who attended The First Tee Life Skills Academy in Kansas where he was selected to receive a $10,000 college scholarship as a result of being a First Tee Scholar. He is now on the Dean’s List at Hampton University in Virginia where he is majoring in Finance.
Tom Dunn of Dunn Lumber cut the ribbon and declared the clubhouse officially open after which a nine-hole, 120-team scramble was played with a father and child making up the pairs. Each hole was dedicated to one of the core values with a pin flag on the green and poster boards at each of the tees. Kids were asked to write down an example of how they exhibit each of those values in their lives, either on or off the golf course. “My favorite,” says Wills, “was an eight-year old’s example of displaying confidence: ‘I singed in school.’”
.jpg "Image") Jay Thompson conducts an art class
Other activities included a one-hour short-game clinic, art projects going on inside the new clubhouse, and live dixie music with Randy Burgeson, Jefferson’s lead golf coach and coordinator, on the trumpet. |
