First Tee – Silicon Valley’s main golf course class location at Rancho del Pueblo with the capacity to serve over 1,000 youth annually may be impacted by a new lease agreement. The City of San Jose plans to combine Rancho del Pueblo, Los Lagos and San Jose Muni into one 3-course lease beginning January 1st next year (2023). We believe that the City may finish writing the lease agreement as soon as Tuesday, March 22nd when the golf courses are on the City Council agenda.
Rancho has been home to First Tee – Silicon Valley since 2000 first as the Eagles at Rancho Junior Golf Program when the course opened. Originally 18-hole Thunderbird Golf Course, Rancho was built when the Zolezzi family donated the land to the City so that East San Jose residents would always have their own golf course.
FTSV has enjoyed a 21-year collaboration with the Department of Parks & Rec and CourseCo, Rancho’s operator since its opening.
However, while FTSV has been seeking greater access for our programs, we have never been granted enough access to meet the high demand.
FTSV is seeking a new, long-term use agreement and access requirements to be included in the new lease agreement that grant us the access to reach at least 1,500 youth per year on course, building upon our historical impact of serving over 86,000 youth.
We want to help Rancho transform into a “Community Golf Center” to maximize our benefit to the surrounding community. As such, Rancho would become a more welcoming place for East San Jose residents, beginning golfers, and youth.
Stay tuned to our Newsletter and web site Stories for further updates as the process unfolds.
Contact your San Jose City Council Member or the Mayor ASAP if you would like to share your FTSV experience at Rancho or your support for FTSV’s expanded access at Rancho.
Contact George Maxe at [email protected] or 408-288-2937 if you have any questions.
