The El Paso Chapter was formed in 2008.

Kristi Albers was active on the LPGA tour for 22 years. She didn’t want to retire until she found something else to do that would be worthwhile. At the urging of Henry Sandles, a regional director for First Tee and Kristi’s former golf coach at the University of New Mexico, she started to pursue the idea of First Tee in El Paso.

Henry kept telling Kristi that El Paso would be a perfect place for a First Tee Chapter and Kristi started looking for the perfect venue for the Chapter’s Clubhouse. She settled on the Ascarate Golf Course in central El Paso and started talking to the County officials to see if they would support such a program. The county and Ascarate Golf Course were very excited about this idea of such a wonderful program coming to their golf facility.

After a year of planning and much paper work First Tee – Greater El Paso had its grand opening on June 2, 2008. The County of El Paso signed the use agreement with First Tee – Greater El Paso to use Ascarate Golf Course and the Delta Nine, a par 35 nine-hole course. There is also a full size lighted driving range, chipping area and putting green.

The Chapter uses a 3,000 sq. foot clubhouse for their classroom activities. Children ages 5-18 from the El Paso area and its surrounding communities can join the organization for low annual and session fees. Scholarships are available to those who require it.

The fees allow members to utilize the golf courses, learning center, and enters them into First Tee Life Skills Program; paying for their Life Skills materials.

The Ascarate Golf Course gives students of First Tee – Greater El Paso a 60% discount on range balls and green fees in non-programming hours.

For more details about our facility and programs, please contact us at (915) 252-6511 or e-mail us at info@thefirstteegreaterelpaso.org.