Expanding to Surrounding Counties – Wee Course Academic Center to Close

The First Tee of Greater Knoxville, which has offered life skills training to young people for more than 15 years, is streamlining its operations to better focus on maintaining the highest quality of experience for its participants and expanding its core program into the surrounding region. Now offering its nationally recognized program in Knox, Blount and Sevier counties, The First Tee of Greater Knoxville has set a goal of reaching the remaining six surrounding counties by the year 2021.

The First Tee of Greater Knoxville is committed to impacting 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. In 2017, more than 21,000 were reached through its in-school programs, and 650 children participated in its Life Skills Clinics. Additionally, the program has now generated six college graduates from among its participant ranks and anticipates another dozen young people who have completed its program will be entering college and pursuing a degree over the next few years.

As part of its expansion plan, The First Tee of Greater Knoxville will restructure its operations by closing some services which duplicate services offered by other organizations and the City of Knoxville. On June 8, 2018, the Wee Course Academic Center, which offered after-school and summer programs for grades K through 5 as an enhancement and precursor to the core First Tee programming, will close its facility on The First Tee Dandridge Avenue campus. There are five Knoxville Parks and Recreation centers near the Wee Course Academic Center offering a wide range of similar programs, including summer camps.

All Wee Course Academic Center participants who may be affected by the center’s closing will be offered a free alternative for a limited period of time. Participants can either sign up for The First Tee of Greater Knoxville’s summer clinics at no cost or receive a voucher covering the cost of registration and first week’s fee at any of the 10 Knoxville Parks and Recreation sites offering its Outdoor Recreation Experience.