In 2025, the national First Tee organization is celebrating the many years that have been dedicated to positively impacting young people through the game of golf.
In a press release that was sent out last November, First Tee announced several different initiatives that it would be focused on throughout the coming months. Top items on the to-do list included prioritizing teen and alumni engagement, as well as ongoing education for adults in the network. The inaugural First Tee Week is being planned for May 19-25, and will celebrate the valuable contributions of youth sports coaches. Finally, the organization is launching the First Tee Alumni Network and First Tee University, which will serve as “an enrichment program for the many thousands of adults who are involved in the network,” while also providing “a continued investment in academic research and coach training.”
First Tee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA Tour. Its 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.” In our region, these goals are being achieved through First Tee Pine Mountain, the southeast Kentucky chapter that uses Wasioto Winds Golf Course in Pineville as its base of operations.
Donnie Caldwell is the resident golf pro at Wasioto Winds, and has served as the director of the First Tee Pine Mountain program since it first began in the early 2000’s.
“First Tee is all about youth development through the game of golf,” Caldwell said. “It offers life skills and educational opportunities, using golf as a platform. It is kind of like an outdoor classroom for kids. We get them hooked on the game of golf, and then teach them life lessons along the way.”
Currently, Caldwell and his crew at Wasioto are gearing up for another spring and summer season full of youth competition and instruction. This includes First Tee, as well as Competitive Edge, which is a program offered to golfers between the ages of 12-18 that focuses on developing the skills necessary to succeed at the high school and collegiate levels.
Speaking of college golf, Caldwell is proud to point out that, thanks to First Tee, dozens of young men and women have been able to earn scholarships that are collectively valued at over $4 million to continue playing after high school.
But don’t just take Caldwell’s word for it… Russ Tolliver is a Corbin High School graduate who had the experience of being involved with the First Tee program. He said, “First Tee of Pine Mountain has a great track record and provides some best-in-class mentorship to young people. I am very honored to have participated. Today, I live in Lexington and work as a process development engineer for Kindeva Drug Delivery where I help to create life-saving medications. Golf is still a big part of my life, and I can thank First Tee for that.”
Another First Tee alum, Danielle Hardin, is the current girls golf coach at CHS. She said, “First Tee is an incredible program that teaches golfers not only the game itself, but also life skills like respect, integrity and perseverance. As an alum of the Pine Mountain chapter, I still find myself using many of the lessons that I learned, especially while coaching the Corbin girls golf team. There have been plenty of times when I have pulled out my First Tee yardage book to incorporate those valuable teachings into our practices. It’s been rewarding to see how those core life skills continue to shape my life, and even more fulfilling to pass them along to the next generation of golfers.”
Registration is now open for this year’s First Tee program at Pine Mountain State Park. Anyone interested is encouraged to sign up, as nobody will be turned away. To find out more, visit Wasioto Winds Golf Course, located at 114 Hwy 190 in Pineville. More information can also be obtained by calling the course at (606) 337-1066 or by going online to www.firstteepinemountain.org.
Another exciting opportunity that will be returning to Wasioto Winds later this year is the Drive, Chip and Putt competition, presented by Kentucky Junior Golf, which is an arm of the Kentucky Golf Foundation, a nonprofit affiliate operating under the Golf House Kentucky umbrella. Caldwell said that this competition presents young golfers with a great opportunity to showcase their skills in three different areas on a regional, state, or potentially even national level. To learn more, go online to www.kyjuniorgolf.org.
Finally, Caldwell has put out the call to all First Tee alumni who would be interested in learning about how they can help to ensure the future of these programs at Pine Mountain. Additionally, he said that sponsorship opportunities are available to area businesses who would like to financially support the good work that is being done at Wasioto Winds with young golfers across southeast Kentucky. Contact him at the course to find out more.
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