TheNextStepForwardfor FirstTee-PittsburghandThe
BobO’ConnorGolfCourse
Overview
Since2000,FirstTee–Pittsburgh(FTP)has beenavitalforceinshapingthelivesofmorethan 40,000youngpeopleacrossthegreaterPittsburgh region.Throughlow-costaccessiblegolfprograms designedforyouthages5to18FTPhelpschildren buildconfidence,developcharacter,andlearn
essentiallifeskillsinasafe,supportiveenvironment.In2025alone,FTPserved1,743 participants,makingitoneofthetopchaptersinthenationalFirstTeenetworkof 150chapters.
BasedattheBobO’ConnorGolfCourseinPittsburgh’sSchenleyPark,FTPusesan age-appropriatecurriculumthatseamlesslyintegratesfunandchallenging activities,drills,andgames.Thisuniqueapproachhelpsensureprogram participantsreturneachseason,feelingexcitedtogrow,safetofail,andprepared toovercomeadversity.
Tobuilduponitsdecadesofsuccess,FTPenvisionstransformingthehistoric125year-oldBobO’ConnorGolfCourse—affectionatelyknownas“TheBob”—intoa modern,inclusive,andsustainablecommunityasset.Thistransformationwill significantlyexpandFTP’sabilitytoservemoreyoungpeopleacrossthegreater Pittsburgharea,offeringthemasafe,inspiring,andaccessiblespacetolearn, grow,andthrive.
ArnoldPalmer LearningCenter
Opportunity
WiththeopeningoftheArnoldPalmerLearningCenterinApril2021,FTPcompleted thefirstphaseofitslong-termvision.Themodernfacilityenablesweather-proof deliveryofyouthdevelopmentprograms,providesstate-of-the-arttechnologyfor areagolfers,andoffersprogramandeventspaceforthecommunity.
FTPisnowpoisedtoinvestinthenextphaseofitsvisioncalledForgingOurFuture. ThisprojectisdesignedtocomplementFTP’snewlearningcenterand programmingcapabilities,whilefurtherstrengtheningitscommunityoutreach.The designteamconsistsofDaveDelsandroformerSuperintendentwithOakmont CountryClub,andCo-OwnerofAgronomicsAdvisors,andPittsburgh-basedgolf coursearchitect,JasonSloan,ofStrategicGolf.Jasonledmanysignificantprojects locallyatSt.ClairCountryClub,LaurelValleyGolfClub,andSouthpointeGolfClub, whilerecentlyfinishingacompletebuildoftheWeeCourseatHarborShoresGolf Club,inBentonHarbor,MI,anotherFirstTeefacility.GilHanse,oneoftheworld’s leadinggolfcoursearchitects,whojustcompletedarestorationprojectat Oakmont,hasagreedtoactasanadvisor.
TheteamwilltransformthehistoricBobO’ConnorGolfCourse,expanding accessibilityandyear-rounduseofthecourse,therebyensuringFTP’slong-term financialandenvironmentalsustainability,whilefulfillingitscommitmenttoserve thecommunitylongintothefuture.
Goals
FTPleadershiphasidentifiedthreeprimarygoalsfortheForgingOurFutureproject:
1. designedto improveFTP’syouthdevelopmentprogramforthediversegroupofchildrenand teensitserves.Anew6-hole,par3course,andnewshort-gamepracticeareasthat willbelocatedadjacenttotheArnoldPalmerLearningCenter.Thesecourse enhancementswillboostFTPprogramming,expandoutdoorprogramsforFTPyouth, whileincorporatingadultinstructionandattractingbroadercommunityuseofthe facilities.
2. Asstewardofoneof thecity’smostreveredcommunityassets,theproposednew9-holedesignwill includeimprovedgreens,tees,andfairways,aneco-friendlyirrigationsystemand enhancedstormwatermanagement,andtheinstallationofcartpaths.Inaddition, TheBobwillintroduceitsfirst-everelectricgolfcartfleettoimproveaccess,enhance theplayerexperience,andsupportFTP’sfinancialhealth,allwhileconnectingthe coursetoexistingtrailstoservethelocalcommunityyear-round.
3. thatFTPprojectswill significantlyincreaseearnedrevenueswiththeintroductionofnewgolfcartsanda full-swingpracticearea.Withstrengthenedfinancialfootingourchapterwillbe positionedtoinvestbackintothegolfcourseandmoreimportantlyutilizeDonor allcapacity,andprogrammatic
Benefits
BymovingforwardwiththeForgingOurFutureprojectattheBobO’ConnorGolfCourse, FTPwillexpanditscapacitytoofferhigh-quality,year-roundyouthprogrammingthat buildscharacter,teacheslifeskills,andpromoteshealthychoicesthroughgolfand enhancingthecommunity.
Additionally,theupgradedfacilitywillimproveaccessforyoungerparticipants, individualswithspecialneeds,andentry-levelgolfers,whilecreatingmoreadvanced opportunitiesforolderyouth.Enrichedprogrammingwillincludementorship, educationaltraining,andjobreadinessthroughinitiativeslikethe“ReadyFOREGolf” program,whichintroducesyoungpeopletocareersinthegolfindustry.
BeyondbenefitingFirstTeeparticipants,theprojectwillenhancetheplayingexperience forallgolfersbymaintainingaffordableaccess,improvingcoursequality,and incorporatinginclusivefeaturessuchasshortertees,adaptivegolfoptions,and accessiblepathways.Therenovatedcoursewillalsosupportregionalschoolprograms andbroadencommunityuseforyearstocome.
FTPfurtheranticipatesadditionalcommunitybenefitsandenhancements,including:
ExpandedpartnershipwiththeCityofPittsburgh,theParksConservancy,andothers willsupportsustainablemaintenance,stormwatermanagement,andconservation efforts,reinforcingthecourse’sAudubonCooperativeSanctuarystatus.
Anupdatedinfrastructurefeaturingthelatesttechnology,includingirrigation systems,turfmanagement,andclubhousefacilities—willimproveoperational efficiencyandprovideanenhancedexperienceforFTPparticipants,staff,golfers, andthecommunity.
Increasedoptionsandaccessforareaschools,universities,partnernonprofits,and faith-basedgroupswillpromotegreateraccessibilityandinclusion.
Plan economicimpactthroughjobtraining opp eds,highergolfshopsales,newtaxrevenue, and
Conclusion
TosustainFirstTee–Pittsburgh’sgrowthandprovideasuperioroutdoorclassroom foritsyouthdevelopmentprograms,areimagineddesignthatincorporatesa sustainable,long-termvisionforthehistoricgolfcourseisneeded.ForgingOur Future:TheNextStepForwardforFirstTee–PittsburghandTheBobO’ConnorGolf Courseisdesignedtomeetincreasingpublicdemand,improveaccess,and incorporateenvironmentallysustainablepracticesandcoursemanagementby FTP.
ArenovatedBobO’ConnorGolfCourseisnotjustforgolfers.Itwillserveasa welcomingvenue,makingapublicfacilitybetterandmorefunctional,aswellasan attractivespaceforcommunityeventsandgatheringslongintothefuture.
Welookforwardtofollowingupwithmoreinformationasneeded.
