JOIN US FOR AN ADULT CHILD TOURNAMENT

Saturday, September 16, 2017 Monarch Country Club 1801 Monarch Club Dr, Palm City, FL 34990 1:00pm Shotgun Start, Lite Dinner Following Golf Two Person Teams. Scramble Format. Limited Field. All holes will be set up as par 3s. $40 per team Teams may consist of: Adult-Child, Parent- Child, Grandparent-Child, Coach- Student, any ages or combination Please CLICK HERE for the tournament invitation.

SIGN UP FOR THE HONDA CLASSIC PARENT-CHILD TOURNAMENT

Saturday, September 23rd 8:30 shotgun start, followed by awards luncheon PGA National Golf Club – The Fazio Course 18-hole scramble. No pressure! Each team will receive two complimentary tickets to attend The Honda Classic in 2018. Please CLICK HERE for the entry form. Entry fee: $160 per team. Please contact the PBCGA at (561) 625-0400 or email [email protected] for more information. The Honda Classic tickets will be available for pick up at Tournament Will Call the week of the PGA TOUR event.

CHAPTER PARTICIPANT MEETS AT&T CEO AT JAMBO

Tyler Mistretta recently attended the 2017 National Boy Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia.  The National Jamboree only occurs once every four years and is a trip of a lifetime.  35,000 Scouts attended this year and enjoyed white water rafting, zip lining, skate boarding, shooting sports and many other outdoor activities.  President Donald J. Trump, the Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America, also visited Jamboree and delivered an inspirational speech to all attendees. Tyler, a Star Scout (two ranks from Eagle Scout) had an incredible experience and arranged for the opportunity to meet Randall Stephenson, the current President of the Boy Scouts of America and the CEO of AT&T.  Stephenson is an avid golfer and AT&T is a Trustee corporate partner of The First Tee. “We talked a lot about how important math was in his career and our mutual dedication to The First Tee and Scouting,” said Tyler.  “He shared some great career advice with me and it was a privilege and honor to spend time with such an incredible leader.”

100 FRIENDS INVITATIONAL AT THE BEAR’S CLUB

Our 100 Friends support our chapter in many ways, such as:
  • Learning about our mission and programs to act as our community ambassadors
  • Helping us to identify potential donors, corporations or foundations to support our non-profit organization
  • Contributing special skills and talents to help us grow and promote our youth development programs.
Each year our 100 Friends gather for a golf tournament at The Bear’s Club.  This year’s event is Tuesday, October 24th. Please CLICK HERE to learn more about joining the 100 Friends.

CHAPTER HOSTS TRI·COUNTY TOURNAMENT

The mission of the TRI·COUNTY Women’s Golf Association is “Promoting competitive golf for the low handicap women players in Southeast Florida.”   With the leadership of TRI·COUNTY member and Chapter Director Marsha Funk, our Chapter hosted a morning tournament featuring TRI·COUNTY members and Chapter students in a scramble competition on our 9-hole par-3 golf course at Dyer Park.  TRI·COUNTY members joined the students and our staff for lunch and fellowship and presented our Chapter with a generous donation after the tournament. “The goal of the tournament was to introduce our organization and enhance awareness of our chapter to local women golfers,” said Connie Capanegra, Chapter Program Director. “Our chapter works very hard to grow female participation in the game. We had a fun morning making new friends and introducing our mission to many wonderful ladies.” Pictured right, the winning team of Frances Melendez, Ann Candido and Mary Osler.

REMEMBERING THE LEGEND- BOB WATSON, PGA

The game of golf, and specifically our Chapter, lost a lifelong leader and supporter in July.  Robert L. Watson, member of the PGA of America for more than 65 years, passed July 17, 2017, one week after his 94th birthday, at his home in Jupiter, FL. Pictured above: Bob with golf legends Sam Snead and Seve Ballesteros. A native of Wichita Falls, TX, Watson got his start in golf as a caddy at Wichita Falls Country Club. Upon graduation from high school he joined the U.S. Army. Following his discharge, he attended the University of Texas, playing golf for the legendary Coach Harvey Penick, and won individual honors in Southwest Conference play twice, in 1948 and 1949. Watson’s first job as a golf professional was as an assistant to Jackie Burke at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, NY. Over the next 40 years, from 1950 through 1990, Watson served as head PGA professional at the Metropolis, Ardsley, Fairview, Wykagyl and Westchester Country Clubs, all in Westchester County north of New York City. Watson also established a unique playing record by winning tournaments in eight consecutive decades. It started in the 1930s with the 1939 Wichita Falls City Junior Championship at the age of 16. His final win was in May 2000, for his age group at the South Florida Senior Open at Ibis Country Club in West Palm Beach. His biggest victory, Watson always said, was in the 1958 Panama Open with seven of the top 10 money winners on what today is known as the PGA Tour in the field, including Arnold Palmer. A few years later after winning the Colombian National Open, Watson delighted tournament officials and spectators by making his acceptance remarks in Spanish. Watson also won several Metropolitan PGA Section titles over the years and was inducted into the Met PGA and University of Texas Halls of Fame. In recent years, Watson was on the teaching staff at Jonathan’s Landing Country Club in Jupiter and helped found our Chapter. A memorial service was held at Jonathan’s Landing where the legend of Bob Watson was shared with stories and toasts from Watson’s members, staff and golf industry friends. Survivors include sons Craig Watson and his wife Wendy of Jupiter and Rob Watson of Daytona Beach, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made in Watson’s name to the Bob Watson Memorial Scholarship Fund for the men’s and women’s golf teams at Palm Beach Atlantic University coached by his son, Craig Watson.  The scholarship fund assists students from The First Tee with tuition and living expenses to attend PBAU.  Donations may be made online at www.firstteepalmbeaches.org or mailed to: The First Tee of The Palm Beaches 7301 North Haverhill Road West Palm Beach, FL 33407 Please make checks payable to The First Tee of The Palm Beaches and reference the Bob Watson Memorial Fund in your donation.

CHAPTER HOSTS THE FIRST TEE COLLEGE GOLF PREP ACADEMY

This important national academy managed by The First Tee home office is provided for advanced high school players interested in playing college golf.  24 elite junior golfers from The First Tee chapters across the country were selected from hundreds of applicants to attend the academy hosted by our chapter in July.  Applicants must have low handicaps and be enrolled in The First Tee for a minimum of three years. Pictured above at the academy closing dinner at The Breakers Hotel, the students each received a commemorative plaque from Morell Studios. Congratulations to Chapter Coaches Craig Watson, PGA and Nancy Stuart, LPGA for being selected to coach the students during the week at the academy. Participants were immersed in the routines of playing college golf by living in the dormitories at Keiser University, walking morning rounds of 18-holes while carrying their bags and participating in structured work out sessions at The Florida Institute of Performance and engaging in late afternoon practice sessions at our golf facility in Dyer Park.  The Bear’s Club, Seagate Country Club, The Palm Beach Par 3 and Jupiter Hills generously hosted the students for golf during the week.  The curriculum of The First Tee Life Skills Experience was incorporated into every aspect of the academy. Specifically, during the academy the students participated in interactive sessions in the areas of:
  • golf technique
  • education and career exploration
  • physical fitness and nutrition
  • golf equipment fitting
The academy was made possible with the help of our staff and coaches, Directors, country clubs and many community sponsors.

THE HONDA CLASSIC CARES VISITS OUR CHAPTER

Recently our Chapter received a visit from staff members of American Honda and The Honda Classic including American Honda Vice President of Community Relations Steve Morikawa, Tournament Executive Director Ken Kennerly and Tournament Director Andrew George.  The folks from Honda visited with Chapter staff and the parents and children from the Obando family, who are chapter students.  The Honda Classic Cares presented a generous “big check” donation.  The Honda Classic is a Founding Partner of our Chapter. The Honda Classic Cares mission is to give to the children of our community. While the PGA TOUR tournament strives to provide Palm Beach County with a premier professional sporting event, the ultimate goal is to positively impact youth in need, and create a brighter future for our community. Through their host organization, Children’s Healthcare Charity, Inc., The Honda Classic Cares awards grants available to local non-profit organizations in Palm Beach County and throughout South Florida to enhance the health and welfare of our children and the future of our community.