Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range at The First Tee of Greater Richmond

Facility Amenities:

• Grass Tees (16)
• Bays with Mats (13)
• Accurate Yardage Measurements on Tees to Targets
• Short Game Practice Area
• Lighting for Night Use
• Grass Putting Green
• Covered Areas

Additional Amenities:

• Heated Bays (13)
• Golf Shop (600 sq. ft.)
• Food & Beverage
• Indoor Simulator
• Ball Flight Monitor
• Six hole par-3 golf course
• Trackman4 Simulators

Type of Range Targets:

• Flags
• Fairway Cuts
• Sonix Golf Targets
• 6 ft wedge domes spaced 10 yards apart

Instruction provided.

Number of PGA Professional Instructors: 3

Clubfitting services provided.

Total number of visits to range per year: 18,750

Number of range balls dispensed on range per year: 1,497,535

Number of range balls in inventory: 22,000 not including Virginia Commonwealth University’s Men’s Golf Team Range Balls – 6,000

New balls are acquired: Annually

Best range promotion:

The mission of The First Tee of Greater Richmond is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values, and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. The program introduces kids to the game and its inherent values through programs in elementary schools, green grass facilities, and youth centers in the region.

With the mission in mind, the Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range creates unique opportunities and events for patrons that increase revenues that further contribute to the overall success of The First Tee of Greater Richmond. When patrons purchase a bucket of balls or pay to play the 6-hole par 3 loop they are also giving back to First Tee participants who may need financial aid or equipment.

This summer, the facility continued to build off the success from the 2018 Summer Happy Hour Series, a once a month event featuring equipment manufactures, local breweries, music, and fun contests. Due to the popularity, a second Summer Happy Hour Series event was added in each month for May, June, July, August, and September. These evenings cater to the demographics of our customers and do not overlap with The First Tee classes. Typically alcohol is not permitted at The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range because this is a youth development organization, which makes the Summer Happy Hour Series more popular for regular customers, board members, donors, and families.

This summer promotion generates 30% more in sales during the Summer Happy Hour Series, but more importantly, it exposes the community to the pristine conditions of the facility, the customer service from the PGA professionals and counter staff, and serves a greater purpose of giving back to a local, youth-development non-profit organization. We partner with our loyal equipment manufactures for fitting days to increase sales, awareness, and support to our partners.

Special programs:

On June 4, 2019, the Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range partnered with the LPGA Amateur Golf Association – RVA Chapter to officially host Women’s Golf Day, an international community dedicated to engaging, empowering, and supporting women through golf. This event featured an evening of laughter, networking, food, beverages, and golf. Golfers of all skill levels were welcome to participate and learn more about golf while meeting new people at the same time. Fifty women attended this event and planning for the 2020 event is already underway.

https://womensgolfday.com/location/the-elson-redmond-memorial-driving-range-at-the-first-tee-of-greater-richmond/

The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range is the home practice facility for the Virginia Commonwealth University Men’s Golf team which continues to be a positive partnership for the student-athletes in addition to The First Tee participants seeing them practice and opportunities for them to play golf at a higher level if they work hard both in school and on the golf course.

The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range was selected for the MAPGA Southern Chapter’s first PGA HOPE Clinic. PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The clinic will begin in October 2019 and run through Veterans Day, hosting up to 30 veterans.

This facility continues to serve as a community hub for other non-profit, youth development organizations such as Boys and Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Peter Paul Development Center, local church groups, in addition to corporate team-building clinics for golfers of all skill levels.