BLACKFOOT — The sanctity of golf is one of America’s pastimes.
The quiet of birds chirping, a perfect swing, 18 holes — it’s just you and your clubs. The people who play at Blackfoot Golf Course feel the same way, and they just got some much-needed additions.
To improve everyday play and bring more golfers out to the course, Rod Albertson, president of Timepiece Homes, and Michael Johnson, CEO of Get Found First, donated more than 6,000 golf balls to the course and driving range.
Johnson, a Blackfoot native, grew up on the golf course and wanted to give back to the fond memories he’s made there.
“I learned to play golf at Blackfoot,” Johnson said. “My wife has won several club championships here. This course is part of our family’s story, so giving back to it was an easy decision.”
With the city facing budget constraints, Johnson thought this was a necessary donation.
“With the city facing budget pressure, we wanted to do something simple and useful,” he said. “Thousands of golf balls on the range means anyone can come out and practice, and we hope it helps keep this course a great part of Blackfoot for the next generation.”
The donation might seem minor, but to people who love to pick up their golf clubs, it can mean everything: another chance to play the game they love.
That love has been on the grounds of Blackfoot Golf Course for generations, starting with the George Von Elm tournament, which has been played on the course since the early 1960s, with the first one held in 1961 in honor of Von Elm.
Von Elm was an amateur golfer in the 1920s who won the U.S. Amateur championship in 1926, then settled in Blackfoot to finish out his career. Afterward, he couldn’t let go of his passion for golf and helped design golf courses, including Blackfoot Golf Course, which was built and opened in 1960.
The tournament showcases great talent and honors Von Elm’s memory. This year’s event was held June 27 and 28.
Sixty-six years later, Blackfoot continues to honor the man who helped build its golf course and laid the groundwork for golf lovers across the state to come play.
Katie Harris, partner at Get Found First and also a Blackfoot native, said she’s excited they were able to make the donation and give back to the community.
“This is home base for us, and so there’s some things that we really love to invest in around the community that we think are important,” Harris said. “That driving range is one of them, we thought that we could make a difference.”
The difference isn’t about money or revenue from the donation. It’s about exposure and creating more opportunities to get young golfers on the course and keep the sport alive.
“Blackfoot and this golf course are a big part of who we are,” Johnson said. “We believe Blackfoot deserves great facilities, and we want our kids and everyone in the community to have the same opportunities we had to learn the game and enjoy this course.”