2026 - Service to Golf Award
As the backbone of the First Tee - Roanoke Valley for almost a quarter of a century, Jennifer Blackwood is most deserving of this years’ Service to Golf Award.
Jennifer, a native of Purlear, North Carolina, graduated from Queens College. After a brief stent in Tennessee, Jennifer and her husband of 30 years, Allen, eventually made her way to the Roanoke Valley. Jennifer became involved in Center in the Square as a member of their staff.
In 2003 Allen, who was a physician with Carillion at that time, had a conversation with Tom Robertson (2007 HOF Inductee) and he suggested that Jennifer might be able to help Tom with a new project he was conceiving. Tom was interested in starting a chapter of the First Tee in the Valley and hired Jennifer to help get the project off the ground.
In 2003 the groundwork to make the First Tee - Roanoke Valley began, with Jennifer working out of borrowed office spaces that Carillion had available. In 2004 a property on Densmore Ave, adjacent to Roanoke Country Club, became available and was turned into the Scott Robertson Junior Golf Academy home of the First Tee - Roanoke Valley.
Jennifer oversaw the transformation of this overgrown and dilapidated property into the beautiful facility that it is today. Through her leadership, there have been many changes, additions and improvements to this property.
Jennifer is an excellent event planner and it has shown in many events, tournaments and celebrations that she has hosted in her 23 years with the First Tee - Roanoke Valley. She has been one of the driving sources of the famed Parent Child tournament, which will celebrate its 15th event this year.
In 2023 Jennifer was honored by the VSGA, and presented the Grow the Game Award. It was given in recognition of her efforts that have helped the VSGA and the First Tee deepen their relationship, particularly during the seven years that Roanoke’s Ballyhack Golf Club hosted the State Open of Virginia. During the tournament’s run at Ballyhack, she helped facilitate youth clinics and donations for youth development in the area.
Jennifer and the First Tee – Roanoke Valley partnered with the VSGA, in 2023, to create the Mike Wise Award, a scholarship that benefits a deserving high-school senior with ties to the First Tee – Roanoke Valley.
During her time at the First Tee - Roanoke Valley, Jennifer has seen thousands of young people introduced to the game of golf and the First Tees Core Values, including her own two children Mary Martha and Hall Blackwood.
Jennifer’s continued commitment to junior golfers across Roanoke Valley makes her most worthy of the 2026 Service to Golf Award.
