Local First Tee donation (declined)

[esketores]

I sent an email to the local First Tee offering to donate quite a few left handed clubs.

They told me that if they were older than 2005 to forget about it. Like I told them my clubs do not carry date stamps. There was/is no junk.

A kid who can't afford to buy a set of clubs is going to turn down forged Wilson RM's? 7 out of 10? Same for a set of Mizuno MX 29's?

Ten or more wedges that are 8's. Same for some hybrids and fairway woods. Since I'm not a driver ho there are very few of them.

I can't tell you how disappointed I am. A place that depends on handouts shunning equipment. Equipment that I could only have dreamed about as a kid.

[Sean25rp]

That does seem a bit off.

[Kadin 25]

Good for you to make the offer...I say post them in the pay it forward forum...I gave a set to a 7 year old little girl...I felt great about it!

[Sean25rp]

[quote name='Kadin 25' timestamp='1357683510' post='6192699']
Good for you to make the offer...I say post them in the pay it forward forum...I gave a set to a 7 year old little girl...I felt great about it!
[/quote]

Good idea Kadin.

[esketores]

While I'm a benevolent person I'm not that benevolent. The shipping costs are not something I'm willing to absorb.

[Dr. Shankenstein]

It may seem a bit off but I have seen the storage closet at our local First Tee and it is stuffed to the gills with donations. Scores of bags filled with full sets of clubs. I imagine that they had to put an age limit on the gear they have donated or they would have to rent a second storage unit. Having also worked at a homeless teen shelter, you wouldn't believe some of the things we get donated. Even though peoples intentions are whole hearted, we would get loads of ripped clothe, outdated styles and used socks and underwear. It actually take quite a bit of time to go through these donations. So OP, I applaud your efforts to give back to the community and your gear is not junk.

[TripleGrindSole]

[quote name='Dr. Shankenstein' timestamp='1357691188' post='6193473']
It may seem a bit off but I have seen the storage closet at our local First Tee and it is stuffed to the gills with donations. Scores of bags filled with full sets of clubs. I imagine that they had to put an age limit on the gear they have donated or they would have to rent a second storage unit. Having also worked at a homeless teen shelter, you wouldn't believe some of the things we get donated. Even though peoples intentions are whole hearted, we would get loads of ripped clothe, outdated styles and used socks and underwear. It actually take quite a bit of time to go through these donations. So OP, I applaud your efforts to give back to the community and your gear is not junk.
[/quote]


I agree that when taking donations, you are likely coming to come across some junk. But in the OPs case I think that The First Tee turning away clubs is uncalled for. It really doesn't take that long to go through some clubs and toss them in a "Keep" or "Junk" pile.

[Dr. Shankenstein]

[quote name='TripleGrindSole' timestamp='1357693957' post='6193759']
[quote name='Dr. Shankenstein' timestamp='1357691188' post='6193473']
It may seem a bit off but I have seen the storage closet at our local First Tee and it is stuffed to the gills with donations. Scores of bags filled with full sets of clubs. I imagine that they had to put an age limit on the gear they have donated or they would have to rent a second storage unit. Having also worked at a homeless teen shelter, you wouldn't believe some of the things we get donated. Even though peoples intentions are whole hearted, we would get loads of ripped clothe, outdated styles and used socks and underwear. It actually take quite a bit of time to go through these donations. So OP, I applaud your efforts to give back to the community and your gear is not junk.
[/quote]


I agree that when taking donations, you are likely coming to come across some junk. But in the OPs case I think that The First Tee turning away clubs is uncalled for. It really doesn't take that long to go through some clubs and toss them in a "Keep" or "Junk" pile.
[/quote]

True. going through someones bag of clubs is a lot easier than going through someones bag of used clothing.

[esketores]

Sounds as if there is more equipment than kids. Which I can believe.
I'm under orders to clean house. The clubs are going somewhere.
The couple extra bags will go to some needy friends who's bags have seen better days. They can buy me a beer.

Is the First Tee over funded and under utilized?

[ramradhakri]

They have junior clubs for all the kids at my local first tee. The donations (adult clubs) are sorted thru and sold off to raise cash for providing scholorships. They have a $5 and $15 for individual clubs ( putters, wedges, driversetc)and I see some gems in there that people snatch up as the course gets a lot of traffic.

[Kadin 25]

[quote name='esketores' timestamp='1357685250' post='6192875']
While I'm a benevolent person I'm not that benevolent. The shipping costs are not something I'm willing to absorb.
[/quote]Just post Free to a good home requester needs only to pay for shipping. That way your not out anything... Send them economy for like $20

Edited....I sent jr clubs so they only cost me $12 to ship.

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='esketores' timestamp='1357678986' post='6192255']
I sent an email to the local First Tee offering to donate quite a few left handed clubs.
They told me that if they were older than 2005 to forget about it. Like I told them my clubs do not carry date stamps. There was/is no junk.
A kid who can't afford to buy a set of clubs is going to turn down forged Wilson RM's? 7 out of 10? Same for a set of Mizuno MX 29's?
Ten or more wedges that are 8's. Same for some hybrids and fairway woods. Since I'm not a driver ho there are very few of them.
I can't tell you how disappointed I am. A place that depends on handouts shunning equipment. Equipment that I could only have dreamed about as a kid.
[/quote]

Good of you to make the offer. Sad, that they rejected it, and even worse their expectations feed entitlement growth in our youth.

[naws-golfer]

fact from a local first tee: We have hundreds of clubs, and about 20 full sets. We've done a club sales in the past and the only that sells are drivers and putters. after our last sale, we took the worst 50% of the clubs to the dump and traded them in for their scrap metal value, and still have more used clubs than you can imagine. The first tee needs financial donations more than anything. The more staff they can pay the more classes/ kids they can supervise. Its unfortunate, but the current state.

[esketores]

How many left handed sets?

[TripleGrindSole]

[quote name='esketores' timestamp='1357936222' post='6211327']
How many left handed sets?
[/quote]

You make a good point. I bet not many quality sets floating around the first tee for the little lefties.

[Thrillhouse]

[quote name='naws-golfer' timestamp='1357926227' post='6210409']
fact from a local first tee: We have hundreds of clubs, and about 20 full sets. We've done a club sales in the past and the only that sells are drivers and putters. after our last sale, we took the worst 50% of the clubs to the dump and traded them in for their scrap metal value, and still have more used clubs than you can imagine. The first tee needs financial donations more than anything. The more staff they can pay the more classes/ kids they can supervise. Its unfortunate, but the current state.
[/quote]

This is what I was going to post. Good on you for making the offer op, but it sounds like they have more than they can handle.

Just an FYI, the special Olympics does golf too, and they may be in need, maybe give them a call and see if they want your old equipment.

[duffer987]

My local first tee is the same - they won't take clubs because they simply do not need them.
They've had too many people who were "under orders to clean house. The clubs are going somewhere."
Not to diminish someone's attempt at thinking of others, but they aren't a recycling centre for unwanted stuff after spring cleaning.

I've volunteered a few times at my local foodbank sorting/packing food and also doing some IT work for them and see similar situations.
The two best ways you can donate to a volunteer organization, and make a difference, is either with your time or your money

[TripleGrindSole]

Beggars cannot be choosers?

[Thrillhouse]

[quote name='TripleGrindSole' timestamp='1358067037' post='6218957']
Beggars cannot be choosers?
[/quote]

It's weird how sometimes they are though.

[Skaffa77]

[quote name='Thrillhouse' timestamp='1358068029' post='6218967']
[quote name='TripleGrindSole' timestamp='1358067037' post='6218957']
Beggars cannot be choosers?
[/quote]

It's weird how sometimes they are though.
[/quote]

Before you know...those "beggars" will have a wish list for like-new 712 MB's for their local First Tee.

Here's my persepctive with the response. If the First Tee said they had too many clubs and couldn't take any more donations...fine...that's understandable. But to preface the statement with a filter on the age of clubs they will accept rubs people the wrong way. I get it...it's a quick way to filter out someone's old junk, but I think something more along the lines of "the condition" of the donation would seem less like it was based on the value of the clubs or the perception of pickiness by those who will receive the donation.

For an organization that depends on donations/funding, the message delivered just doesn't ring with sincerity. Just my thoughts.

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='TripleGrindSole' timestamp='1358067037' post='6218957']
Beggars cannot be choosers?
[/quote]

Sadly, the "entitled" mind thinks its acceptable, and the problem is exacerbated by people not telling them otherwise.