First Tee - Pittsburgh
First Tee – Pittsburgh is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that delivers golf-based life skills programs to children and teens ages 5-18 across six Western Pennsylvania counties, operating from the Arnold Palmer Learning Center at Bob O'Connor Golf Course in Schenley Park.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What First Tee - Pittsburgh does
First Tee – Pittsburgh is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization (legally C R Jrs Chip Inc.; EIN 01-0867393) operating as an affiliated chapter of the national PGA TOUR First Tee network, delivering golf-based life skills programming to children and teens ages 5-18 across six counties in Western Pennsylvania. The organization was founded in 1999/2000 and has cumulatively served over 40,000 youth, with 1,743 participants enrolled in 2025. Its home campus is the Arnold Palmer Learning Center, co-located with the publicly accessible Bob O'Connor Golf Course in Schenley Park, which provides a 9-hole course, a 3-hole short course, outdoor short-game area, two indoor Trackman golf simulator bays, and an indoor synthetic turf putting green and fitness area — enabling year-round programming regardless of weather. Beyond facility-based instruction, the product portfolio extends into Summer Camps & Teen Academy, PGA Junior League team competition (9U/13U/17U), the Junior Coach leadership track, the Ready 'Fore' Work Caddie Program presented by Groundworks, Girls Golf programming, and the First Tee mobile app.
Revenue is generated through three primary streams: program registration fees (subsidized with robust financial aid), facility and Trackman simulator rental income from the Bob O'Connor Golf Course site, and charitable donations and grants. Pricing is intentionally low-cost to maximize accessibility — clubs, bags, balls, and tees are provided at no additional charge, Youth On Course membership is offered at $25/year to access 2,000+ partner courses at $5 or less, and First Tee participants can play Bob O'Connor for $1 per round. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the organization's website registration portal, supplemented by school and community partnerships (e.g., Sto-Rox School District, Special Olympics Pennsylvania) and a presence across satellite facilities around the Pittsburgh metro.
Strategically, the organization is mid-execution on the 'Forging Our Future' capital campaign to transform the Bob O'Connor Golf Course into a modern, inclusive community asset, while continuing to layer partnerships (Youth On Course, Groundworks, PGA Junior League, Special Olympics PA, Sto-Rox School District) to deepen engagement beyond on-course hours. Marketing and participant acquisition run through the website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and a weekly email newsletter, with awareness driven largely by community word-of-mouth and institutional partnerships.
First Tee - Pittsburgh firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Tee - Pittsburgh
- Legal name
- C R Jrs Chip Inc., DBA First Tee - Pittsburgh
- Website
- https://firstteepittsburgh.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- First Tee – Pittsburgh is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that delivers golf-based life skills programs to children and teens ages 5-18 across six Western Pennsylvania counties, operating from the Arnold Palmer Learning Center at Bob O'Connor Golf Course in Schenley Park.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Tee - Pittsburgh industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Programs
- NAICS
- Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Intramural Sports & Recreational Leagues (EDALAIAC), Sport-Specific Amateur Leagues & Circuits (Non-Professional) (MPAKACAJ)
Keywords
Where First Tee - Pittsburgh is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
First Tee - Pittsburgh business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Program Registration Fees: Revenue from youth golf program registrations with financial aid/scholarships available to ensure accessibility
- Facility Rentals: Revenue from event space rental and Trackman simulator hourly rentals at the Arnold Palmer Learning Center
- Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by charitable donations and sponsorships; EIN 01-0867393
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Youth golf programs with financial assistance available |
| Subscription | Annual | Youth On Course membership for discounted green fees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Participant golf access at Bob O'Connor Golf Course |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
First Tee - Pittsburgh product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Tee - Pittsburgh is a nonprofit youth development organization that delivers golf instruction combined with life-skills and character education to children and teens ages 5–18 in the Pittsburgh region. It runs classes, summer camps, after-school programs, PGA Junior League teams, and coach training through its Junior Coach Program, using its own Bob O'Connor Golf Course and the Arnold Palmer Learning Center. Participants progress through structured levels (PLAYer, Par, Birdie, Eagle, Ace) that integrate golf skills with values such as honesty, integrity, and perseverance.
Product overview
First Tee - Pittsburgh is a 501(c)(3) youth development organization offering golf-based life skills programs for children ages 5-18. The organization operates as a unified program ecosystem centered around its core Golf Programs, supplemented by specialized offerings including Summer Camps & Teen Academy, PGA Junior League, and the Junior Coach leadership program. The portfolio includes access to physical facilities (Arnold Palmer Learning Center, Bob O'Connor Golf Course with Trackman simulators) and a digital product (First Tee App). Through the Youth On Course partnership, participants gain affordable access to golf nationwide. The Forging Our Future initiative represents a capital campaign for facility expansion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- First Tee Youth Golf Program
- Summer Camps
- After-School Classes
- PGA Junior League Teams
- Junior Coach Program
- First Tee Home Course (App)
- Arnold Palmer Learning Center Programming
- Bob O'Connor Golf Course (Facility Programs)
- Youth On Course Membership Access
Quantifiable outcome
- 73% of youth participants reported higher confidence in their ability to do well academically after 3 years in the program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use First Tee - Pittsburgh
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
First Tee - Pittsburgh technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
First Tee - Pittsburgh partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Youth On CoursecorePartnership provides First Tee participants access to play at over 2,000 golf courses across the US, Canada, and Australia for $5 or less. Membership offered at discounted rate of $25/year for First Tee participants.
- GroundworkscorePresenting sponsor of the Ready 'Fore' Work Caddie Program, supporting workforce development opportunities through golf for youth participants.
- PGA Junior LeaguecoreTeam-based golf league for First Tee Pittsburgh participants to play on numbered uniform teams against other teams in a fun two-player Scramble format. Leagues available for 9U, 13U, and 17U age groups.
- Sto-Rox School DistrictminorSchool partnership expanding access to golf programs and life skills opportunities for students who may not otherwise encounter such experiences.
- Special Olympics PennsylvaniaminorPartnership creating inclusive and meaningful golf opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
- PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (First Tee Headquarters)coreFlorida-based national parent organization that First Tee Pittsburgh is affiliated with as a chapter of the larger First Tee network of 150 chapters globally.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
First Tee - Pittsburgh competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- First Tee (PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation): The national umbrella organization of which First Tee - Pittsburgh is an affiliated chapter; operates the standardized curriculum, national brand, and network-wide partnerships across 150 chapters globally, directly comparable in mission and offering.
Emerging players
- PGA REACH: The PGA of America's charitable foundation delivering youth golf programming, military programs, and inclusion initiatives; comparable mission to drive youth access through golf but operating at the national association level.
- National Links Trust: Nonprofit focused on affordable, community-oriented access to municipal golf in the U.S.; comparable nonprofit-driven community access model, though operating primarily in the Washington, D.C. region rather than in Pittsburgh.
Direct peers
- TGA Premier Youth Golf: Franchised youth golf instruction and after-school programs delivering age-appropriate coaching to ages 3-18; directly competes for the same parent-paid youth golf instruction dollars in overlapping geographies.
- LPGA-USGA Girls Golf: National youth golf development program focused on introducing and retaining girls in golf through instruction, life skills, and league play, overlapping with First Tee - Pittsburgh's age-appropriate, character-building curriculum for ages 5-18.
- PGA Junior League: Team-based recreational league for ages 9U, 13U, and 17U that First Tee - Pittsburgh explicitly partners with and fields teams in; same target demographic, same sport, similar recreational format.
- Youth On Course: Subsidized green-fee program providing youth affordable course access at 2,000+ partner courses; First Tee - Pittsburgh integrates Youth On Course membership into its offering, making it a tightly coupled peer in the youth golf access ecosystem.
- Drive, Chip & Putt (PGA of America): A PGA of America–backed youth golf skills competition pipeline for ages 7-15; comparable audience and developmental model to First Tee - Pittsburgh's junior programming and tournaments.
Others
- U.S. Kids Golf: Provider of youth-sized golf equipment, age-based tournaments, and the Longleaf Tee System adopted by many junior programs; an adjacent enabler in the youth golf ecosystem rather than a direct instruction competitor.
- Special Olympics Pennsylvania: Active First Tee - Pittsburgh partner delivering inclusive programming for athletes with intellectual disabilities; comparable nonprofit youth-development operating model and Western Pennsylvania footprint, though multi-sport rather than golf-specific.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
First Tee - Pittsburgh social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Tee - Pittsburgh financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Tee - Pittsburgh leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
First Tee - Pittsburgh funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Tee - Pittsburgh M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about First Tee - Pittsburgh
What does First Tee - Pittsburgh do?
First Tee - Pittsburgh is a nonprofit youth development organization that delivers golf instruction combined with life-skills and character education to children and teens ages 5–18 in the Pittsburgh region. It runs classes, summer camps, after-school programs, PGA Junior League teams, and coach training through its Junior Coach Program, using its own Bob O'Connor Golf Course and the Arnold Palmer Learning Center. Participants progress through structured levels (PLAYer, Par, Birdie, Eagle, Ace) that integrate golf skills with values such as honesty, integrity, and perseverance.
Is First Tee - Pittsburgh a public or private company?
First Tee - Pittsburgh is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was First Tee - Pittsburgh founded?
First Tee - Pittsburgh was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is First Tee - Pittsburgh based?
First Tee - Pittsburgh is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does First Tee - Pittsburgh make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Program Registration Fees are the primary driver. The others are facility Rentals and donations and Grants.
Who are First Tee - Pittsburgh's main competitors?
First Tee (PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation) is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are PGA REACH and National Links Trust. Direct peers are TGA Premier Youth Golf, LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, PGA Junior League, Youth On Course and Drive, Chip & Putt (PGA of America). Others are U.S. Kids Golf and Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
Does First Tee - Pittsburgh have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Tee - Pittsburgh.
What industry is First Tee - Pittsburgh in?
First Tee - Pittsburgh's product category is Youth Development Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAEAD, Golf Courses & Golf Facilities, with a secondary code of EDALAIAC, Intramural Sports & Recreational Leagues. Its NAICS code is 713910 and its SIC code is 7997.