The Washoe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to transfer ownership of Wildcreek Golf Course to the First Tee Northern Nevada earlier this month. First Tee will be required to operate the golf course, on Sullivan Lane in Sparks, for charitable or civic purposes for the community. If the property ceases being used as agreed upon it will revert automatically to Washoe County. “This is such a fantastic opportunity for First Tee Northern Nevada – our branch of this amazing national organization will now be one of just 10 across the country that has a course of its own to call home,” said Chris Dewar, executive director of First Tee Northern Nevada. “Every year we teach more than 20,000 youth ages 5 to 18 life skills through the game of golf, in schools and on golf courses; having a home course will allow us to reach many thousands more,” she said. “The core values we teach – honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment – serve our young people well for the rest of their lives.” The First Tee Northern Nevada, a nonprofit youth development organization, has started fundraising to remodel the current clubhouse so it can be used as an after-school tutoring center. The balance of the funds the county has earmarked for the Wildcreek Golf Course at the time of transfer will be donated to First Tee Northern Nevada to be used as a dollar-to-dollar match for the organization’s fundraising efforts to make facility improvements that better support the organization’s mission. “I know I speak for the entire board when I say we are so excited to share this opportunity with First Tee,” said Vaughn Hartung, chair of the county commission. “Our whole community benefits when we have young people who participate in character-building programs like the ones offered by First Tee.” Mazz Golf Management will operate Wildcreek for First Tee; during daytime hours when kids are in school, the course will be open to the public. “This is the best thing that has happened to public golf in Washoe County in a very long time,” said Mike Mazzaferri, owner of Mazz Golf Management. For information, visit https://www.thefirstteenorthernnevada.org.
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