b'GOLF IDAHOFirst Tee Idahomeby Shane RenIGA Administrator of Media and CommunicationsL ast fall, First Tee Idaho finalized its purchase of Pierce Park Greens, a nine-hole short course and driving range known around the Boise area as fertile soil for letting a life in golf take root. For an organization committed to sowingFirst Tee Idaho was one of 40 seeds of character in young peoplelocal charities that received a through the game, a garden of theirdonation from the Mondelez own has long been the missing piece.Tickets Support Charity When I started talking with theProgram from the Albertsons Boise Open that was held last family that owns the land, I keptAugust at Hillcrest Country making sure they understood howClub. On the left is First Tee important I knew this place was,Idaho Executive Director Nick Executive Director Nick BlasiusBlasius, and the two women said. And I would always call it ain the middle are Program community asset. Its not just a golfDirector Katie McKelvey and course. Coordinator Britnee Kemble. First Tee Idahos pursuit of its own facility goes back to its founding. When Anne WilliamsonBlasius was a signature away from giving First Tee Idaho a took the reigns as the chapters first executive director in 2005,permanent home.she says that conversation was already underway. And as theJust over a third of national First Tee chapters currently own original host site, Pierce Park Greens was always the model. or operate their own facilityand those arrangements vary I think from the get-go our hope was that we wouldwidely. Some chapters operate golf courses owned by a local eventually be able to raise the funds to have a permanentYMCA or parks department. Some own a building on land gifted location, Williamson said. Our dream was to eventually have aby a municipal golf course. Some managed to build from scratch. course to call home.Most find themselves stuck between the publics booming Blasius gave new life to the old First Tee Idaho dreamappetite for golf and the benevolence of green-grass facility during an annual goals meeting in January 2021. Coming outowners. But that wont be the case for First Tee Idaho anymore. of the pandemichis first full season on the jobBlasiusBlasius and his deputiesMcKelvey and Coordinator Britnee found himself frustrated by how ill-equipped his chapter was toKemblenow find themselves wading into the world of golf accommodate the sudden wave of enthusiasm for golf and thecourse ownership with a deal stunning lack of Covid-safe activities for kids. Building their ownthat will double their budget, facility, it seemed, was the key to scaling operations.their visibility, and their We grew from 450 registrations in 2019 to over 1,000 inresponsibility to the public. 2021. said Program Director Katie McKelvey. Now we areAnd that responsibility is pretty much maxed out at right around 1,200. the welcome consequence After a deal with the city of Boise fell through, Blasiusof having their dreams pivoted back to where First Tee Idaho began, approachingcome true.David ParkerPierce Parks former owner and renownedVisit firstteeidaho.org local swing coachabout his exit plans. Just a few monthsschedules and programs for after years of progress dissolved in a city of Boise boardroom,the 2025 season. 4 GOLF IDAHO|MAR 2025'