Month: December 2020

Save The Date For Jupiter Hills

Our spring golf tournament will be held on May 11th at the Hills course at Jupiter Hills. The course underwent a significant renovation including re-design of a few holes. The club hosted the 1987 U.S. Amateur Championship and the 2018 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. The Hills course is one of the highest ranked golf courses in the country. More information on the tournament will be released soon in an upcoming newsletter and on our website.

Veteran Spotlight – Julio Gomez

Vietnam veteran Julio Gomez is even par: 72-years-old, and participates in our First Tee Veterans Program at Jensen Beach Golf Club. He served four years in the Marines in Vietnam and is a Purple Heart recipient (Wounded in battle TWICE in the same day). “I really enjoy the golf instruction we receive from First Tee Coach Wayne Huffines,” said Julio. “We also have a great time because we have the opportunity to play 9 holes after our lessons at the club.” Hats off to Jensen Beach Golf Club for hosting our nation’s heroes.

Golf Is A Social Distancing Sport – Register Now!

First Tee registration is open at multiple program locations in St. Lucie and Martin Counties. Please visit our website to learn more about class days and times at the following locations: Crane Watch Club The Saints at Port St. Lucie Golf Course The Champions Club Riverbend Country Club Jensen Beach Golf Club Fairwinds Golf Course Coming Soon: The re-designed and brand new Sailfish Sands!

Annual Appeal

Our chapter serves thousands of students to teach them to play golf and advance through our Life Skills curriculum. We are thankful that golf is a social distancing sport as we have been very busy. We also serve students with special needs and disabled veterans in our golf programs. Like most organizations, our fundraising efforts have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many more parents are applying for financial aid due to unemployment or underemployment. We hope that you can support our children and veterans this year through a secure online donation. Small donations are greatly appreciated! Checks may also be mailed to: First Tee – Treasure Coast Children’s Services Council of Martin County 101 SE Central Pkwy Stuart, FL 34994 The chapter can also accept money wire transfers or stock donations.  If you wish to donate this way please reach out to Carl Mistretta, our Executive Director at [email protected] for wiring instructions.

Sponsor Spotlight – BankUnited

Miami Lakes-based BankUnited has been a longtime supporter of our chapter and we recently asked three questions to Gerry Litrento, Senior Executive/Consumer and Small Business Banking, who is also a Director of First Tee – Broward and a Board Member of our chapter governing board, The Children’s Golf Foundation. With so many worthy organizations in South Florida, what drew you to support First Tee? First Tee offers more than golf lessons for kids, it offers life lessons and I genuinely believe in our curriculum. Learning golf takes an incredible amount of patience and mental focus. If you take the time to develop those skills when you are young it will bode well for you in later life. Being able to play golf is also a wonderful professional asset to help young people in their future careers. Why do you believe First Tee’s mission is important? First Tee is achievement oriented and it engages students outdoors away from the computer screens. As a kid, my mother used to tell me to go find something that I could do by myself, that would bring me peace and that I could continue on as a became an adult. She was right, and golf was the answer to her advice. What do you foresee as golf’s future? I recently took part in our chapter’s annual golf tournament at Royal Palm County Club. It was different this year without the pre- and post-round gatherings and dinner, but the four hours to spend with friends to support First Tee is what really matters. We help make a difference in many young people’s lives. As long we introduce golf to a new generation, they will find their own passion for the game and keep it alive. About BankUnited BankUnited, N.A.,is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BankUnited, Inc., and is one of the largest independent depository institutions headquartered in Florida, providing a broad range of consumer and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations and institutions. BankUnited operates convenient banking centers throughout Florida and New York, along with 24-hour digital access. As of December 31, 2019, BankUnited N.A. has $32.9 billion in total assets. At BankUnited we are committed to giving back to the communities in which we live, work and conduct business. We collaborate with a broad range of partners on an ongoing basis to identify community needs and impactful solutions. Our dedication to building strong communities through the Community Reinvestment Act supports low-and moderate-income individuals and families, as well as small businesses.

Golf Is A Social Distancing Sport – Register Now!

First Tee registration is open at multiple program locations in Broward County. Please visit our website to learn more about class days and times at the following locations: Grand Palms Hotel-Spa & Golf Resort Hollywood Beach Golf Club Parkland Golf & Country Club Pompano Beach Golf Club Cooper Colony Golf & Country Club The Club at Weston Hills The Bridges at Springtree Golf Club Eagle Trace Golf Club PGA TOUR Superstore- Plantation

Annual Appeal

Our chapter serves thousands of students to teach them to play golf and advance through our Life Skills curriculum.  We are thankful that golf is a social distancing sport as we have been very busy. We also serve students with special needs and disabled veterans in our golf programs. Like most organizations, our fundraising efforts have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many more parents are applying for financial aid due to unemployment or underemployment. We hope that you can support our children and veterans this year through a secure online donation. Small donations are greatly appreciated! Checks may also be mailed to: First Tee – Broward Eagle Trace Golf Club 1111 Eagle Trace Blvd. Coral Springs, FL 33071 The chapter can also accept money wire transfers or stock donations.  If you wish to donate this way please reach out to Carl Mistretta, our Executive Director at [email protected] for wiring instructions.

Turkey Scramble A Huge Success!

Our Chapter hosted a two-person scramble tournament the Saturday after Thanksgiving on our par-3 course. We were sold out with 32 teams and 64 players. First place teams received a $100 gift card and second place received a $50 gift card to the PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE in both divisions. 12 and under Division: 1st Place: Namo Sae-Chiw & Alyna Yensabai – Score 25 (2 under par) Pictured below left. 2nd Place: Reed Jackson & Pat Jackson – Score 27 (even par) 13 and over Division: 1st Place: Felipe Obando & Deron Zendt – Score 23 (4 under par) Pictured below right. 2nd Place: David Ladd & Skylar Ladd – Score 24 (3 under par)

Golf Is A Social Distancing Sport – Register Now!

First Tee registration is open at multiple program locations in Palm Beach County. Please visit our website to learn more about class days and times at the following locations: Michael B. Finnegan LC- Dyer Park John Prince Golf Learning Center Seagate Country Club Commons Park Golf Learning Center Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course Madison Green Country Club Village Golf Course Okeeheelee Golf Course Wellington National Golf Club The Golf Club of Jupiter Southwinds Golf Course

Life Changing Month For Tyler Mistretta

COVID has caused many event cancellations such as the inaugural First Tee National Championship and participating in the High School State Championships for public school students. But there have also been many positives. Chapter student Tyler Mistretta was invited to play in the TimberTech Pro-Am by tournament staff as they heard about the many opportunities he missed this year due to COVID. He played with PGA Champions Tour Professional Joe Durant. Tyler joined him to play from the tips and shot 69. “It was my best ball striking round ever,” said Tyler. “Mr. Durant was awesome to play with and helped me with my game. I am extremely thankful to Mr. Hollis Cavner, Mr. Ken Kennerly and Mr. Eddie Carbone from Prolinks Sports for offering me this opportunity.” A few weeks later Tyler signed his letter of intent to play college golf at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. It is an incredible achievement considering he was ranked 3,000 in the country in 2019 and improved his ranking to 500 in six months. “Mr. Kennerly introduced me to Rocco Mediate and Lee Janzen at the TimberTech,” said Tyler. “Both are major champions and Florida Southern alumni. That was pretty special.”

Instead of competing in the FHSAA State Championship, the Palm Beach County School District conducted a County Championship at Wellington National (pictured left). Palm Beach Gardens High won the event by three shots over Boca Raton to advance to the Tri-County Championship with teams from Broward and Dade counties. PBG senior Jack Hasson lead the team with 73, while senior Tyler Mistretta and junior Aidan MacFarquhar each posted 75s. Junior Davis Dickinson shot 80 for the fourth team score to secure the championship. With his first SFPGA win this summer at Doral, Tyler has been leading The Honda Classic SFPGA Player of the Year points race all summer. With 3 tournaments to go he held a ¼ point lead over Jonathon Mourin. James Hassell and Tyler Stachkunas were also in the hunt. At the Junior Tour Championship this weekend at Banyan Cay, Tyler shot 75 the first round with a cold putter to tie for 21st place. At the conclusion of the Saturday round, he was awarded the SFPGA Most Improved Player for lowering his stroke average this year by 5 shots to 71.5 (pictured below left). On Sunday, he played fantastic and Tyler shot 1-under 71 with a birdie on the eighteenth hole to tie for 8th and secure Player of the Year (pictured below right).

“There are so many people to thank- my parents, coaches, First Tee, Jack Nicklaus, the SFPGA, FSGA and AJGA, Seminole, The Honda Classic, TimberTech Championship, North Palm Beach Country Club, and more. I will have to sit down and make a list,” said Tyler. “My goal is to be able to give back one day as an adult and help other students the same way so many people helped me.”

12 Days Of Brooksmas

The Brooks Koepka Charitable Fund has announced the “12 days of Brooksmas.” Brooks Koepka’s foundation will be giving $1,200 to 12 different nonprofits, both locally and nationwide! Our Chapter was selected as one of the 12 charities. “We are very excited for this generous support from a local legend, major champion and one of the greatest players in the game,” said Steve Rockoff, Chapter Chairman. “Brooks grew up here and continues to live here. It is inspiring to our students, staff and board members to see him supporting our organization.” Follow @Bkoepkafoundation on Instagram to learn more.