Written CommunicationsPIRC Special Meeting
May 18, 2022
Written Communications
Item 1
Update on Fiscal Year
2021-22 City Work Program
Item Blackberry Farm Golf
Course Needs Assessment
From: Georae Maxe
To: City of Cupertino Parks and Recreation Commission
Subject: FTSV - Letter - Blackberry Farm Golf Course
Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 6:31:58 PM
Attachments: FTSV 2022 Letter Cupertino PC 05-18.pdf
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To Whom It May Concern:
Please confirm receipt of the attached letter to the City of Cupertino Parks and Recreation
Commission to be posted for Commissioners and read by the Staff Liaison during their special
meeting about Blackberry Farm Golf Course on Wednesday, May 18th (tomorrow).
Best,
George
George Maxe
President & CEO
First Tee — Silicon Valley
george a ftsv.org
408-288-2937
Tue to Fri — 10am to 5pm
Locations — Web Site
011 first tee
siiicon valley
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17 May 2022
City of Cupertino
Parks and Recreation Commission
Re: FY 2021-22 City Work Program Item Blackberry Farm Golf Course Needs Assessment
Dear Chair Xu and Commissioners,
First Tee — Silicon Valley (FTSV) urges the City of Cupertino and its Parks and
Recreation Commission to preserve Blackberry Farm Golf Course (BBF) and consider
improving it in ways that include natural habitats.
FTSV develops youth through golf at municipal golf courses throughout Silicon Valley.
We teach children important life lessons using golf as a vehicle in our golf course and
school programs. Respect for oneself, others and one's surroundings is possibly the
most important core value that we teach. This includes being good stewards of the
natural spaces in which golf courses exist.
Since 2000, we have positively impacted the lives of over 86,000 children in Santa Clara
County—16,000 in golf course classes and 70,000 in school programs. Cupertino residents
consistently comprise about 5% of our class participants. All youth — regardless of
background or ability to pay — may participate. As a result, over 35% are from low-income
families and 85% are non -white. Over 90% of our families and school teachers
consistently report seeing behavioral and character improvements in their children.
We rely upon municipal golf courses for our character building programs and for our
participants to develop into life-long golfers. We strongly encourage our participants to
play area golf courses like BBF outside of our regular classes. We are a long-time partner
of Youth On Course, which subsides rounds so that children may play BBF for just $5.
Silicon Valley ranks near the bottom nationally in golf courses per capita, so we at FTSV
are passionate about helping the Bay Area preserve the courses that we already have.
2797 Park Avenue - Suite 207 • Santa Clara, CA 95050 • 408.288.2937 • firstteesiliconvalley.org
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FTSV is fortunate to have Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course (East San Jose), Gavilan College
Golf Course (Gilroy) and Baylands Golf Links (Palo Alto) as environmentally -friendly
program locations. All three are beautiful, natural settings for the public and FTSV
participants to enjoy. Rancho del Pueblo is certified by Audubon International as a
Cooperative Sanctuary and Baylands Golf Links is a shining example of an excellent golf
course co -existing with natural habitats. We believe that Cupertino, like Palo Alto, has an
unique opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds by improving BBF while preserving
natural spaces. This would benefit all residents and give FTSV even more reason to
encourage our participants to play — and appreciate the natural beauty of — BBF.
Respectfully,
George Maxe
President & CEO
First Tee — Silicon Valley
2797 Park Avenue, Suite 207
Santa Clara, CA 95050
george@ftsv.org
408-288-2937
2797 Park Avenue - Suite 207 • Santa Clara, CA 95050 • 408.288.2937 • firstteesiliconvalley.org