Category: Broward

One tiny wrinkle, the six rounds are all in one day! It is that time of year again for the CMAA 100-Hole Challenge. Our Chapter has 63 players committed to play 100 holes at one of four courses in August. Our goal this year is to raise $120,000. It is not too late to register to play, or make a donation and support these folks crazy enough to play 100 holes in one day to help fund our children’s and veterans’ programs. Ready to play? Please visit our website for more information. Ready to donate? Please visit our donation page for a secure online tax deductible contribution.

Asia Haughton is 11 years old and a chapter participant at The Bridges at Spring Tree Golf Club. “My first try at golf was in January 2020 with the First Tee. I found the program to be interesting and strategic,” Asia. “However, COVID-19 got in the way. I eventually got my mom to sign me up in January 2021 after asking her many times when I could start playing golf. I have used the lessons taught learned from First Tee to guide me with good judgment, sportsmanship, integrity, perseverance, confidence, and honesty while practicing with my peers and daily. I will continue to push myself to improve the techniques taught to us by Coach Stefan. Coach Stefan has been very patient, encouraging, and motivational. He assesses our individual needs to improve on our golf techniques and stance. My experience has been terrific participating in the First Tee.”

Weekly summer camps allow participants ages 6 to 18 to learn First Tee life skills through the game of golf. Intermediate and advanced camps also being offered! Please visit our website for locations and to register your children. Camp locations include: Cooper Colony Country Club Grand Palms Hotel – Spa & Golf Resort (*also available-Advanced Elite Training Program)

Karriem Edwards, 55 years old was with US Navy. He has been playing golf and taking lessons since 1993. Edwards has attended two veterans’ sessions now through Mission United at Weston Hills. “These sessions have become more about relaxing and connecting with people than with a golf ball. We improved our skills but also forged bonds and camaraderie. Even our competitions had the sense of ‘one for all and all for one’, If one wins, we all win. I would like to thank Mission United and First Tee for the opportunity and support as well as Coach Nick and Coach Steve for fostering an environment of collaborative learning and bonding.” Our veterans’ programs are made possible from a generous grant from The Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. Foundation.

Recently our Ambassadors gathered for a fun event at Springtree Golf Course in Sunrise. The group enjoyed nine holes of golf followed by networking, fellowship and fun! Want to network with leading professionals in Broward County and help promote the mission and programs of First Tee – Broward? Please visit our website to learn more about becoming a Chapter Ambassador.

First Tee – Metropolitan New York participant Megha Ganne, 17, showed her grit and her strength of character at the U.S. Women’s Open last week, taking an early lead over an impressive field and finishing as the low amateur. Megha has participated in First Tee since she was 7 years old, and First Tee – Metropolitan New York Chief Strategy Officer and Program Director Katie Rudolph has served as her longtime coach and mentor. Join us in continuing to root her on this summer and as she enters Stanford University in the fall of 2022. Read more about Megha in this Golf Digest story.

By the way, participants play all six rounds in one day! The 2021 100-Hole Challenge is underway. We have 56 players signed up to play soon at Weston Hills, Lago Mar, Parkland and the Country Club of Coral Springs. Interested in playing the 100 Hole Challenge? Contact Jack Bloomfield at [email protected] or at 954-740-0622. To support one of our players with a secure online pledge for their heroic golfing efforts please visit our website.

Comcast Business has signed on to be one of the First Tee – Broward newest corporate partners as a Nine Healthy Habits Sponsor. First Tee and Comcast both share a commitment to supporting the communities they serve and specific groups including local youth and the military, including veterans, service members and military families. Over the past year, Comcast Business has also stepped up its support for another group that is critically important to the South Florida community – small businesses. In October 2020, it launched Comcast RISE, a multi-year effort to provide grants and media and technology resources to small businesses negatively impacted by recent events including the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, nearly 2,500 entrepreneurs nationwide have been selected as Comcast RISE recipients, including 103 small businesses in Florida. Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support. Comcast Enterprise is also one of the leading service providers of Fiber Optics to the mid-level to large Enterprise market. Comcast Business and Comcast Enterprise has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. Comcast is also proud to be our Chapter’s telecommunications service provider. For more information, call Ed Kolo: 954-299-6815 or email: [email protected]

Our Chapter is delighted to announce our newest First Tee Trustee- Greg Thompson.  Greg has worked as a CFO with extensive global experience across many industries including chemicals, building products, medical equipment, manufacturing, technology software and services, and public accounting. Greg was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer of KEMET in December 2018.  As a result of the recent sale of the company he will be retiring at the end of June. He will also serve as a Director of our Chapter.  Greg and his wife Kathy reside in Fort Lauderdale and they both enjoy golf and boating.  He will represent our Chapter by attending the annual First Tee Trustee meeting in early October at TPC Sawgrass and a special Trustee gathering in mid-October at Augusta National and Sage Valley. “We are delighted to welcome Greg as our newest Trustee,” said Chater President Dan Young.  “His generous gift will allow us to reach even more students and veterans in Broward County and open up new strategic opportunities for our chapter.  We also look forward to his experience and insights as a new Director.” Greg brings 25 years of experience engaging with boards of directors and audit committees to enhance shareholder value through strategy development, acquisition and divestiture initiatives, capital structure optimization and operational improvements while maintaining a focus on pragmatic risk management, prudent financial controls and fiscal discipline.

Congratulations to our FIRST EVER chapter participant to be selected to a First Tee Headquarters Participant Opportunity, Ryan Shimony! Ryan was selected to attend the First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. this July in Philadelphia, PA. First Tee Game Changers Academy is an evolution of the longest standing participant event to address the challenges and experiences teens face in their daily lives and better equip them to build the strength of character to be game changers in their communities. This Academy is one of several national opportunities provided by First Tee headquarters designed to inspire and encourage high school students on a deeper level as they progress through the program and toward higher education opportunities.

Weekly summer camps allow participants ages 6 to 18 to learn First Tee life skills through the game of golf. Intermediate and advanced camps also being offered! Please visit our website for locations and to register your children. Camp locations include: Cooper Colony Country Club Grand Palms Hotel – Spa & Golf Resort (*also available-Advanced Elite Training Program)

Spirit Airlines recently presented our chapter with a $2,000 check to fund our Special Olympics program. Thank you to Chapter Director Laurie Villa, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Spirit, for in assisting with the funding for this program. The program will run nine consecutive weeks on Saturdays at the Grand Palms Hotel-Spa & Golf Resort in Pembroke Pines. Nine athletes, ages 18 and up, were introduced to First Tee with hopes to train and compete in the Special Olympics golf competitions in the Fall. Golf clubs were provided for those who needed them. Athletes also each received two sleeves of golf balls. First Tee Recognized Coaches Robert Ferzoco and James Rondeau are teaching the program along with Special Olympics Nova Agency Coordinator Greg Mingo.