Many former SRM players have graduated to the PGA and LPGA tours including Paula Creamer, Laura Diaz, Natalie Gulbas, Morgan Pressel, Aree Song, Mirmian Nagal, Hunter Mahan, Kevin Na, Nick Thompson, Ben Curtis, James Driscoll and Sean O’Hair.
With such a strong presence in the national junior golf community, it was determined that the next step for the Scott Robertson Memorial was to introduce more youth in the Roanoke Valley to golf and it’s the life lessons it teaches. Goals of putting a golf club in the hand of every youngster in the Valley and providing our youth with the classroom and green grass learning opportunities for them to acquire common values and skills required for golf and a fulfilling life were established.
After reviewing the programs available, it was determined that affiliating with First Tee would allow the Scott Robertson Memorial to accomplish our goal. Upon completing the extensive process required to become a Chapter, the Scott Robertson Memorial opened First Tee – Roanoke Valley in June 2005. First Tee – Roanoke Valley’s primary mission is to provide young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship.
First Tee – Roanoke Valley provides programs year round that teach children lessons that lay the foundation needed to meet the many challenges of life. Located adjacent to Westside Elementary School in northwest Roanoke, The Scott Robertson Memorial Junior Golf Academy, home of First Tee, includes a clubhouse, a driving range, a synthetic-turf putting green and a practice bunker area. First Tee – Roanoke Valley provides need-based scholarships to those students who are interested in participating.