The First Tee Of Central Iowa

What The First Tee Of Central Iowa does

The First Tee of Central Iowa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization operating under the legal entity The Golf Foundation of Iowa, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Norwalk, Iowa. The organization integrates golf instruction with a proprietary life skills curriculum built around nine core values, nine healthy habits, and the 5 Key Commitments framework, serving youth ages 5-18 across Central Iowa. Its program portfolio includes the Summer Certification Program delivered at seven partner golf courses (Woodland Hills, West Grand, Coldwater, Woodward, Copper Creek, Grinnell College, Golf House Iowa), the School Program active in 20+ elementary schools, the Community Program operating through YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs, the Wendy Carlson Girls Golf Program, and National Opportunities connecting participants to elite events such as the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach.

The organization's technology stack centers on a Salesforce Experience Cloud parent registration portal, the First Tee mobile application on iOS and Android (connected to a Docebo learning management system) for gamified digital learning reinforcement, MightyCause for donation processing, BirdEas for event management, and an ATH Solutions e-commerce merchandise storefront. Underlying infrastructure is conventional SaaS composition with no AI/ML components disclosed.

The business model blends participant registration fees ($110-$120 per session, with full scholarships available against a $647 cost-per-participant), charitable donations (with a $40,000 annual fund campaign goal and Charles Schwab dollar-for-dollar matching through 2026), corporate sponsorships (e.g., Girls Golf Program at $5,500/year minimum), event revenue from the Beyond the Fairways charity outing and First Tee Cup simulator tournament, equipment donations, and merchandise sales. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on trained volunteer coaches, school and youth-serving organization partnerships, and the First Tee national network. The Executive Director (Jamie Alt) and Program Director (Gavin Matthias) oversee operations supported by a 13-member Board of Directors; the chapter has cumulatively impacted an estimated 12,000-14,000 youth annually.

Name

The First Tee Of Central Iowa

Legal name

The Golf Foundation of Iowa

Website

https://firstteecentraliowa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The First Tee of Central Iowa is a 501(c)(3) youth development nonprofit, founded 2007 in Norwalk, Iowa, that integrates golf instruction with a proprietary life-skills curriculum serving ages 5-18 across Central Iowa through school, community, and on-course programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development & Sports Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Play-Based SEL & Executive Function Skill-Building Programs (EDACAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD), Family Engagement & Take-Home Learning Materials (Home Packs, Parent Guides) (EDACAJAL)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Junior golf instruction
• Character education
• Life skills curriculum
• Community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwalk

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Participant Registration Fees: Youth participants pay a $110 per session fee to enroll in First Tee programs. Scholarships are provided to those unable to afford the cost, ensuring no child is turned away.
2. Charitable Donations: Individual and corporate donations fund operations and program expansion. The actual expense to serve one participant is $647, with donations bridging the gap. The Charles Schwab Challenge Grant provides dollar-for-dollar matching through 2026. The annual fund campaign targets $40,000.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners sponsor programs, events, and specific initiatives including the Girls Golf Program ($5,500 minimum annual cost) and coaches training ($1,750 per coach per training level).
4. Event Revenue: Annual fundraising events including 'Beyond the Fairways' charity golf outing (May 18, 2026) and 'First Tee Cup' tournament generate proceeds supporting Central Iowa youth programs.
5. Equipment Donations: Accepts donated golf equipment including age-appropriate junior clubs (new full set valued at $250) and general program equipment to support operations.
6. First Tee Store: Online merchandise store accessible via athsolutions.shop for branded merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The First Tee of Central Iowa delivers golf-based youth development programs for children and teens ages 5–18, integrating on-course golf instruction with a proprietary life-skills curriculum built on nine core values, nine healthy habits, and five Key Commitments. Programs are delivered through Summer Certification classes at seven partner golf facilities, a National School Program in 20+ elementary schools, a Community Program with youth-serving organizations, and the Wendy Carlson Girls Golf Program, supported by a First Tee mobile app for gamified learning.

Product overview

The First Tee of Central Iowa is a youth development organization offering a multi-channel portfolio of programs centered on teaching life skills through golf. The core offering is the Summer Certification Program, which operates at seven golf course locations (Woodland Hills, Des Moines Driving Range, West Grand Golf, Coldwater Golf Links, Woodward Golf Club, Copper Creek Golf Course, and Grinnell College Golf Course) for youth ages 7-18. Complementary programs include the School Program (implemented in 20+ elementary schools), Community Program (partnering with YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs), and Wendy Carlson Girls Golf Program (exclusive programming for junior females). The First Tee App serves as a digital learning companion with gamification features including badges and points. National Opportunities connect local participants to elite events like the PURE Insurance Championship and Game Changers Academy. Major annual fundraising events include the Beyond the Fairways Charity Golf Outing and First Tee Cup tournament. The organization also operates an online merchandise store. All programming emphasizes character development through five Key Commitments and maintains strict youth safety protocols including SafeSport compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wendy Carlson Girls Golf Program: A program exclusively for junior, female golfers to help provide them with the confidence and skills to become tomorrow's leaders and athletes for life.
• Building Game Changers Academy

Products and services

• Summer Certification Program
• National School Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12,000 youth impacted annually in Central Iowa since inception in 2007
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• West Grand GolfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost golf course partner providing programming location for First Tee — Central Iowa. Located in the Des Moines metro area.
• Coldwater Golf LinkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost golf course partner in Ames, Iowa for First Tee programming at Central Iowa State University area.
• Woodland Hills Golf CoursecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary golf course partner located on north side of Des Moines with 18-hole regulation and Executive 9 courses.
• Woodward Golf ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSemi-private golf course partner open to public with priority tee times for members.
• Grinnell College Golf CoursecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric golf course partner at Grinnell College, one of the oldest college golf courses in Iowa (est. 1899).
• Copper Creek Golf CoursecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolf course partner for First Tee programming in Central Iowa.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting the Game Changers Academy with financial support and activity facilitation throughout the week-long event.
• 3M OpenmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPGA TOUR event partner supporting Game Changers Academy with clinic led by First Tee Ambassador Austin Smotherman and participant access to tournament.
• TopgolfmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEntertainment partner providing activities during Game Changers Academy week.
• PURE InsurancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee, an official PGA TOUR Champions event at Pebble Beach Golf Links pairing First Tee teens with tour professionals.
• Monterey Peninsula FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost foundation for PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
• PGA TOUR ChampionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional golf tour that hosts the PURE Insurance Championship, pairing First Tee teens with tour professionals for competition and mentorship.
• Iowa Golf AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState golf association partner providing foundation support and industry connections.
• YMCAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Program partner implementing First Tee curriculum at youth-serving facilities.
• Boys and Girls ClubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity Program partner implementing First Tee curriculum at youth-serving facilities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• After-School All-Stars: National nonprofit providing after-school programming to underserved youth; comparable in mission and youth-development-with-character framing, though not golf-specific (industry knowledge).

Others

• YMCA of Greater Des Moines: Community-program partner that implements First Tee's curriculum inside YMCA branches; a peer through partnership rather than competition, and a comparable youth-services nonprofit in the same Central Iowa market.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa: Direct community-program partner hosting First Tee curriculum at its clubs; relevant as an enabling distribution channel and as a comparison point on youth-development programming scale in Central Iowa.

Direct peers

• Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals: Joint PGA of America / USGA / Augusta National youth skills competition for ages 7-15; comparable because it competes for the same parent attention, junior golfer pipeline, and youth-golf sponsorship dollars (industry knowledge).
• U.S. Kids Golf Foundation: Family of youth golf tournaments, equipment (age-appropriate clubs), and coaching curricula serving the same junior golf demographic; comparable as both a competitive program and a potential partner/overlap for First Tee families (industry knowledge).
• Youth on Course: Subsidized-access program offering juniors $5 rounds at participating courses; comparable because it targets the same affordability-driven junior-golf use case that First Tee's scholarship model addresses (industry knowledge).
• PGA Jr. League: PGA of America's team-based youth golf league for ages 17 and under with similar parent-paid registration model; directly comparable as a competing channel for the same junior-golf participant pool (industry knowledge).
• The First Tee of Greater Atlanta: Sister First Tee chapter serving metro Atlanta with the same curriculum, age tiers, school program, and girls-golf track; most directly comparable chapter peer for benchmarking on school penetration and sponsorship mix (industry knowledge).
• LPGA*USGA Girls Golf: National girls-only junior golf program with site-based chapters; the closest direct substitute for the Wendy Carlson Girls Golf Program and a benchmarking target on female-participation growth.

Broad incumbents

• First Tee (National Network): National parent network of 150 First Tee chapters reaching 2.2M youth annually; comparable because Central Iowa is one of its chapters and inherits its curriculum, brand, and PGA TOUR-aligned programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/firstteecia
• Facebookfacebook.com/firstteecentraliowa
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstteecentraliowa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-first-tee-of-central-iowa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The First Tee Of Central Iowa