First Tee – Greater Charleston is rallying support for a $14 million capital campaign, Fore the Kids, to fund a Youth Leadership Campus that will serve thousands of young people.
With much of the campaign goal secured through leadership gifts and land secured in West Ashley, the organization is now inviting the broader community to help bring their vision for enhanced educational programs to life.
The new campus will feature a state-of-the-art Learning Center and a nine-hole Kids Course designed by renowned golf course architects Troy Miller and Brian Schneider. Created specifically for youth, ages 5-18, the course and campus will provide an inspiring environment where young people develop confidence, character, resilience, and leadership skills through the game of golf.
Today, First Tee – Greater Charleston serves more than 25,000 young people each year through programs offered in schools, community centers, and golf facilities across Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. As participation continues to grow, demand has outpaced capacity, resulting in a growing waitlist for the organization's flagship programming.
"Fore the Kids is about creating opportunities that will help change what’s possible for generations to come," said Bucky Dudley, CEO of First Tee – Greater Charleston. "This campus will allow us to welcome more young people and create more opportunities for them to learn, play, grow, and thrive."
The Youth Leadership Campus will become First Tee – Greater Charleston's headquarters for year-round programming, anchored by an 11,007-square foot Learning Center named for long-time supporter Cartter Lupton. The Cartter Lupton Learning Center will provide much-needed space for educational enrichment, mentoring, and community engagement. Amenities—including a nutrition center, classroom space, indoor putting/chipping areas, and hitting bays outfitted with GOLFZON simulators—will enhance program experiences while reducing weather related interruptions.
The campus will also feature a purpose-built nine-hole Kids Course and outdoor practice area that will expand the organization's capacity to serve more young people.
As Charleston's only golf course designed for kids and the Southeast’s only public course catering exclusively to youth play, the course will be open to all children ages 5–18, regardless of First Tee program enrollment. To maintain a welcoming, youth-centric environment, adults will only be permitted to play when accompanied by a junior golfer.
Thanks to generous lead donors, First Tee – Greater Charleston has acquired a 13.8-acre tract of land at 2275 Henry Tecklenburg Drive. 5.8 acres will be preserved as wetland. The site offers ample space for programming and convenient access to 526, which will streamline efficiencies for First Tee’s growing bus fleet, and local schools will be welcome to use the campus as a field trip destination. 11 schools are within 5 miles; dozens more are a short drive away.
"Our lead donors have given this campaign tremendous momentum by helping us reach nearly three-quarters of our goal," Dudley said. "Now we're inviting everyone to be part of building something extraordinary. This campus will be more than a place to play golf—it will be a place where young people discover who they are, build meaningful relationships, and develop the confidence and character to lead in every aspect of life."
The organization is seeking support from individuals, families, corporations, foundations, and community partners to complete construction of the new campus.
By way of its senior leadership, Greystar, a Charleston-based real estate platform, is supporting the capital raise campaign by pledging to match all campaign gifts, dollar-for-dollar up to $250,000, now through December 31.
Learn more about this project or make a gift at forethekids.org.