Year: 2017

FRANCES WINS SECOND PLACE AND MEETS THE GOLDEN BEAR

Chapter participant Frances Melendez recently played in the Student Athlete Community Service Network All America Golf Championship.   The mission of the SACSN is to provide a platform for student athletes to “stand out” and “give back” through sports and community service. The Championship is a one day charity tournament to support the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. Invitees are nominated by high school coaches from across the country.​ ​Leadership and community service are at the forefront of the Charity Invitational Series. Participants are asked to collect and donate pre-paid gas cards. The cards are donated to the Nicklaus Foundation to help families with financial constraints get their children needing medical treatment back and forth to treatment appointments. Participants are awarded volunteer hours for their efforts which can be used toward school requirements, National Honor Society, and merit scholarship applications. Frances shot a 78 to place 2nd overall.  Way to go Frances, we are very proud of you. Great score, leadership and community service- in other words: The First Tee!

PBAU STUDENT MAKES HOLE-IN-ONE

The Alumni Association of Palm Beach Atlantic University hosted its 30th Annual Golf Tournament and auction Saturday, October 7, 2017 at the PGA National Resort & Spa. Arrigo Dodge sponsored the hole-in-one car on hole #17 on the Champion Course.  PBAU golf team students hit tee shots with each group in the tournament.  The hole played 187 yards, but more like 200 yards in to the wind. On her first shot of the day with no warm-up, PBAU golf team member, Alexandra Dowd, hit a 3-wood, but because of the rising sun, no one saw the shot.  The remainder of the group teed off and then approached the green. The volunteer monitoring the hole-one-contest stated nonchalantly, “There are a few balls on the green and one went in.”  Of course, the group went crazy! Due to NCAA rules, Alexandra could not accept the Dodge Challenger, but the Arrigo family made a generous donation to the PBAU scholarship fund in her name.

OUR CHAPTER SUPPORTS NEW WEST VIRGINIA GOLF TEAM

Recently a former Board Member and long-term supporter of our Chapter, Mitch Stump, CPA asked if we could assist a new high school golf team from his home town of Stumptown, WV. The Calhoun County High School Golf team began with the hires of Coach Matt Walker and Coach Mike Stump. The team started with zero dollars, zero supplies, and zero players. After tremendous efforts in fund raising and generous donations from area businesses, the golf team bank account finally had a balance and some supplies in the closet.  After some recruiting of students within the school, the team secured five players to try something new and participate on the first golf team at Calhoun County High School since the late 1970s. Pictured above the team of Drue Goad, Jaden Swearingen, Bryson Montgomery, Cole Rogers, Mason Bennett and Reagan Lynch. Upon Mitch’s request, our chapter provided golf bags, clubs and training aids for their first-year team.  Another supporter of our Chapter, Richard Ekey, heard about the new team and donated a golf bag full of 12 dozen Pro V-1’s! The boys were very excited to be with Stump the morning they received their new team gifts.  Only one of the five students on the golf team had ever been on a golf course before up until this season.  The expectations for the season were not very high and included establishing a tournament schedule and teach the students the basics of golf.  The team scheduled a whopping 18 matches and won 10 of them! Team members even recorded a few birdies this season. During the last two matches of the season all five players shot in the 50s for their nine-hole match. Calhoun finished 10th out of 12 teams in the Little Kanawha Conference and finished 7th out of 9 teams in the Reginal Tournament exceeding all goals the team set at the beginning of the year. The team looks to build on the strides made during the 2017 season and will work hard to continue to improve in 2018.

CHAPTER CONTINUES PARTNERSHIP WITH SUNCOAST HIGH SCHOOL

Coach Molly McCann, of Suncoast High School, and several of our Chapter Coaches, teamed up again this academic year and introduced freshmen students to the game of golf during P.E.Class. Classes are held on a weekly basis throughout the school year and students learn all aspects of the game from putting, chipping, pitching, full swing, bunker shots, how to play the game on the golf course, the rules of the game and how to have fun while playing the sport of a lifetime. Along with the basics of the game, the students also learn how to incorporate the many life lessons the game teaches through The First Tee curriculum and our Nine Core Values that include: respect, honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, courtesy, responsibility, confidence, judgment, perseverance. “Our goal is for the students to take the skills they have acquired and continue to apply them to their academics and in all areas of their lives as well as their golf games,” said Suncoast PE Instructor Molly McCann.

TRUSTEES JOIN US FOR 100 FRIENDS TOURNAMENT

Trustees represent the highest and most prestigious levels of giving from individuals, corporations and foundations that contribute to our chapter and the national organization. Their generosity impacts thousands of young people. Trustees Jon Clay representing Morell Studios, Andrew Hunt, Bob Simses and Ralph Stokes representing Arthur Blank joined us for dinner at The Bear’s Club. Pictured above: The Trustees with chapter directors and students.

CHECK PRESENTATIONS AT 100 FRIENDS TOURNAMENT

The Palm Beach Golf Course Superintendents continue to generously support our chapter mission through their annual Futures of Golf tournament. Pictured above left: Deron Zendt, from the PBGCSA presenting the big check. In partnership with The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Delray Beach PGA TOUR Superstore continues to contribute annual grants to our chapter. Pictured above right: Ralph Stokes and other representatives from PGA Superstore present the check from the Blank Foundation.

OUR 100 FRIENDS ENJOY A GREAT DAY AT THE BEAR’S CLUB

We extend our sincerest gratitude to Jack Nicklaus, our Chapter’s Honorary Chairman and a Trustee of The First Tee, and the members and staff of The Bear’s Club for recently hosting our annual 100 Friends’ golf tournament and dinner. The winners of the net division with a score of 53 were – Bill Dunn, Bill Owens, Jared Myers, and Michael Blum (pictured above left). The winners of the gross division with a score of 65 were Tommy Frankel, George Tamasi, Deron Zendt (pictured above right with Aliya and Connie), and Buddy Finch. HOLE-IN-ONE! Congrats to David Weener from BallenIsles who recorded our first ever 100 Friends tournament ace on hole #7. “Our sponsors and supporters simply had a wonderful time and enjoy the hospitality of the club,” said Bobby Hendel, Chapter President. “It is a fun day at a fantastic golf club.”

Thank you sponsors!

Sponsors

DENNIS WALTERS AND BUCKY COMING TO DYER PARK

Please join us this Saturday, December 9th at 10:30am for The Dennis Walters Golf Show at the Michael B. Finnegan Learning Center located at:

Dyer Park 7301 N. Haverhill Road West Palm Beach, FL 33407 *FREE ADMISSION

The Dennis Walters Golf Show is a one-hour combination of “Golf Lessons and Life Lessons.” It is great golf, great fun, along with an inspiring message. You do not want to miss Super Dog Bucky’s tricks and proficiency at math!

DID WE MENTION THERE WILL BE PIZZA TOO……

CADDIE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS

Spend time at a golf course, learn more about life and the game of golf and earn some money. In partnership with our Chapter, CADDIENOW is recruiting youth caddies for an on-demand caddie program. Think UBER for golf! Download the CADDIENOW app to get started. We have an orientation scheduled at our golf facility in Dyer Park on Tuesday, December 12th at 4pm. Please RSVP to Terry Wittek at [email protected] or 561-291-2152. CADDIENOW has partnered with multiple private courses in our area including Jonathan’s Landing, The Club at Ibis and Admirals Cove to give members the option of taking a caddie any time they play through the CADDIENOW app. Caddies are given advanced notice of the golfer’s tee time via a push notification on their device. Caddies then show up to the course, hustle and after the round, money is direct deposited into their bank account. PLUS CADDIES RECEIVE CASH TIPS! CADDIENOW is primarily seeking high school and college-age students active in the game. Our caddies need to have a great attitude and work hard to ensure a great golfer experience. Caddies are there to carry golf bags, rake the bunkers, watch their golf ball and keep the clubs and ball clean. No caddie experience? No problem. Through CADDIENOW’s partnership with our Chapter, orientations are offered, plus a graduated process to help the students succeed. Every time your child takes a loop, a donation is also made to our Chapter. How does it work? CADDIENOW operates on a first-come, first-serve basis, based on availability of the caddies. Golfers use their app to request a caddie with at least 24 hours’ notice before the tee time. A notification goes out to all the caddies in our area that have been through orientation. We realize many junior caddies are in school and can only work on weekends. No problem, there are more loops to be filled on the weekends anyway. CADDIENOW is committed to the game and our community. Many of America’s CEOs credit their success to their time as a caddie. Download the CADDIENOW app and get your students signed up for an orientation. Caddie Benefits: 1. Make up to $100+ in 4-5 hours 2. Flexible hours 3. Meet successful people 4. Free golf at our partner courses Caddie Requirements: 1. Age 14 and up 2. Must be hard working 3. Must like to make money 4. Must enjoy talking to people 5. Must be able to walk 4-6 miles 6. Carry up to 20 lbs. After taking a loop with CADDIENOW you can benefit by playing FREE golf at one of our featured courses; Jonathan’s Landing, The Club at Ibis and Admirals Cove. We are adding more courses monthly. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity. Visit www.CADDIENOW.com for more info and download the app to get started.

THE FIRST TEE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

Earlier this month, nearly one-thousand-chapter staff, coaches, educators, industry leaders, participants, partners, trustees and alumni from 160 chapters across the world visited ChampionsGate in Orlando for our biennial conference to celebrate The First Tee’s 20th anniversary. The conference also marked the retirement of CEO Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. after eighteen incredible years and the introduction of Keith Dawkins, formerly of Nickelodeon, as his successor. The First Tee’s Board Chairman, Commissioner Tim Finchem, presented Joe with a special watercolor created to recognize his contributions to our organization that will permanently hang at The First Tee home office (pictured above). “It was a great week of education and celebration of Joe Louis Barrow’s incredible accomplishments,” said Steve Rockoff, Chairman of the Children’s Golf Foundation. “We definitely had the most attendees and I am very thankful for our chapter Trustees and my fellow Directors that joined us at the meeting.” StaffOver 20 attendees from our Chapter participated in the week-long conference of classes and general sessions. The chapter hosted a reception for all of our attendees (pictured right). The team of Carl Mistretta-Executive Director, Coach Rick Hengstenberg and Coach/alum Emily Valentine won a nine-hole scramble tournament at the resort’s par three golf course.

WE WILL MISS YOU MIKE ROACH

It is with sad hearts and deep sympathy that we announce the unexpected passing of our great friend and supporter, Mike Roach.  Mike’s company upgraded our irrigation system and he visited our facility just a few weeks ago to check up on our progress and discuss some enhancements. The most important component of a golf facility to ensure healthy turf is the irrigation system.  Mike worked tirelessly during our re-grassing of 2012 to ensure our upgraded system was state of the art.  He donated many hours and equipment and asked his friends in the industry to also donate time and equipment to defray over 70% of the costs associated with the project. “We would not be where we are today without Mike’s dedication,” said Carl Mistretta, Chapter Executive Director.  “He was a great friend and we worked on many projects together during my golf course design days, including The Bear’s Club and Trump National Jupiter.  Mike was a fantastic advocate for our golf and youth development programs.” We will miss him dearly and ask that everyone involved in our Chapter to please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. Services are expected to be held later this week in South Carolina.

JOIN US AT THE INAUGURAL BEAR TRAP BASH

Replicating the energy of the famed Bear Trap at The Honda Classic, this Halloween party will be raising awareness for philanthropy in Palm Beach County. Join us for spirits, brews and bites, live music, an exciting auction and prizes for the best costume!

Date: Saturday, October 28th Tickets: $225 per person ($100 Tax Deductible) TICKET AND PACKAGE OPTIONS AVAILABLE Time: 7pm – 11pm Location: PGA National Resort & Spa Attire: Casual Dress – Costumes encouraged!

Please select: “Charity to Support” – The First Tee of The Palm Beaches

CAN’T ATTEND AND WOULD LIKE TO DONATE? CLICK HERE!