“We are proud to be at the top of this list,” said Kevin Morey, Director of the Golf Dome at Family First.  “According to our estimates, there are over 150 golf domes in America. Being in the top 10 demonstrates our commitment of creating quality experiences at Family First.” 

Golf Range Magazine is the Official Trade Magazine of the Golf Range Association of America and in its 15^th year of publication. The magazine is primarily aimed at owners, operators and general managers of golf courses with teaching facilities, stand alone golf ranges and learning centers in the U.S. and Canada.  The publication is touted as the industry’s leading and widest-read trade magazine with a circulation of 12,000 issues. Golf Range Magazine is known for its award-winning editorials regarding the golf industry and nationally recognized through their annual “Top 100 Golf Ranges in America” and “Top 50 Golf Instructors in America” lists.

Determining criteria used to judge the domes against one another included facility amenities and sales figures; quality of equipment utilized inside the dome; scope of teaching and training methods; detailed Pro Shop descriptions; and style of management. 

“What really makes us stand out from other Golf Domes in America are the extra services and amenities we offer at Family First Sports Park,” said Morey.  “While our core audience is from the local area, we have been extremely successful in drawing a high number of visitors from well outside Erie County.”

Welcome to the Family First Golf Dome For too long now, golfers in Erie have had to partake in the painful ritual of putting their clubs in storage and mournfully relegating themselves to dreaming of the first days of spring, when they would once again break out their clubs and revisit the game they think about all winter.

Not any more! Our new golf dome really will change the way you think about golf — because when the weather is bad or even when the weather is good you’ll find a place where you can fine tune your game, shop for new golf equipment and spend time with the family.

Our Philosophy When you learn to play golf, there are two things we want to teach you, the fundamentals and the right attitude. When you rely on those, golf is really pretty simple and a lot of fun!

Today’s instructors talk too much about the mechanics of the game and other complexities that can make the game more confusing than it really is. We believe that this approach takes away from the game of golf, and it is the one reason we instituted our new Golf Academy.

We wanted to create a place that will change the way your think about golf- no matter what your experience or ability. At the Family First Golf Academy and Driving Range, we are passionate about helping you make golf a game you will enjoy for a lifetime.

V-1 Video Teaching System The V-1 is a state-of-the-art computer swing analysis system that allows us to video each aspect of your swing and then shows you in detailed graphics areas of your technique you can improve. This system is administered by our golf instructors who are skilled at helping to identify and correct flaws in your game. This is the same system that the PGA uses at its National Training Center. The system also has a video library allowing you to compare your swing to the swing of champions such as Jack Nicklaus, Fred Couples and Chip Beck.

We now currently have 5 golf instructors on staff at the Family First Sports Park.

Dave Smith, Teaching Instructor
Teaching experience: 21 years
Education: Miami Dade J.C. and University of New Orleans - All American 1975 at Miami Dade
Career Highlights: 3 time Erie District Amateur Champion, Pro Am Champion at Lawrence Park, Lakeview and Lakeshore Clubs.
Coaching Experience: Coached Cathedral Prep for 2 years, taught 27 Juunior EDGA Champions
Contact: (814) 882-7150

Jennifer Eberlein, P.G.A. Professional
Teaching experience: 7 years
Education: Penn State University
Golf College: San Diego Golf Academy
Career Highlights: Former Director of Junior Golf at the Hank Haney Golf Ranch in Texas
Coaching Experience: Gannon Women's Coach
Contact: (814) 572-7997

Dan Steen, Jr. Golf Camp Director and Teaching Instructor
Teaching experience: 12 years
Education: U.S. Golf Teachers Federation 1994
Career Highlights: Golf Director at Lake Erie Golf Range (adjacent to Downing) since 1994
Coaching Experience: McDowell Boy's Coach
Contact: (814) 449-0319

Group Outings & Birthday Party Packages When it comes to entertaining clients or holding a corporate team meeting, the dome is the perfect place. We offer conference rooms and food service along with customized golf privilege packages, designed to fit your group’s needs. We also offer birthday parties and picnic alternatives for families and companies alike.

Contact Lisa Conti at 814-866-5425 ext. 286 for birthday or group party information and pricing.