Category: News

Our Chapter has enjoyed a very long and continually growing partnership with the Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course. Each year, the Par 3 Foundation funds three weeks of summer camps for our students at the course. These funds are raised each year at the Raymond Floyd Open. Our Chapter sends a team each year to compete in the tournament. This year’s team was comprised of our pro- Coach Connie Capanegra, LPGA, chapter students Kai Francis, Asha Farrelly and Tyler Mistretta and Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta. Our team finished in fourth place on a match of cards to the third place team headed by Par 3 Foundation Board member and Chapter Trustee Bob Simses. The victory cost Mistretta a crisp $20 bill handed over to Trustee Simses during lunch. “The Par 3 Foundation and Raymond really enjoy supporting the students of First Tee,” said Bob Simses. “This golf course is truly unique and we are delighted to share it with the students whenever we have the opportunity.” Special SHOUT OUT to Tony Chateavert, PGA and Angie Young of the Palm Beach G.C. for putting on an awesome day!

First Tee – Palm Beaches was awarded the Regional Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network (FYCCN) 2021 Outstanding Partner Grand Prize Winner! Florida Wildlife Commission Commissioner Gary Nicklaus contacted our Chapter to propose a golf and fishing pilot program. As a professional golfer and avid fisherman, Gary understands that the lakes on golf courses are typically rarely fished. Combining golf and fishing presents an incredible opportunity to bring together two sports that share in outdoor recreation. FYCCN aims to uphold Florida’s outdoor heritage by educating and empowering Florida’s youth and educators with outdoor know-how and conservation concepts. Chapter students are ready to start fishing again once COVID is over and we can again visit area golf courses.

Zack Anderton – Coach of the YearZack has been a First Tee Coach for 4 years and runs multiple classes during the week at Dyer Park. Zack is a graduate of Keiser University and currently in the PGA program. In a challenging year, Zack persevered and safely delivered many First Tee programs to our participants.

Alex Holland – Participant of the YearAlex attends our Saturday morning Special Needs class. He loves to play the game of golf and interact and socialize with his peers and coaches. Alex is always willing to help his friends and encourage them to try their very best at golf and life.

Tony Mansueti – Volunteer of the YearTony has been volunteering for 3 years on Saturday mornings with the Special Needs class. He also has two children, Savannah and Anthony have been apart of our chapter for 10+ years. Tony is always willing to go above and beyond, with a smile on his face. We are so thankful for him! Well deserved Tony!

 

First Tee registration is open at multiple program locations in Palm Beach County. Summer camps are now being listed! Please visit our website to learn more about class days and times at the following locations: • Michael B. Finnegan Learning Center- 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 • PGA Tour Superstore- Palm Beach Gardens

For the last 12 years, our Chapter has conducted the Monday after The Honda Invitational. Our donors, supporters and students play the Sunday pins from the PGA TOUR event. A few crazy people even played the pro tees! “The course was in fantastic condition and the greens were lightning fast,” said Chapter Chairman Steve Rockoff. “The Monday after tournament shows our players what it is really like to play on the PGA TOUR. We are so grateful to The Honda Classic for giving us this opportunity to raise some funds and have such a memorable experience.” The tournament and Chapter students were featured on local TV in a story by our media partner ESPN 106.3. Monday after the Honda tournament results were as follows: LOW GROSS 1st – Bobby Collins & Carl Panattoni (67) 2nd – Morgan Slaton & Mack Edwards (68) 3rd – Matt Boris & Lance Gillet (68) LOW NET 1st – Katie Harwood & Jacie Goodman (54) Chapter students!! 2nd – Willie Melia & Bill Dunn (59) 3rd – Clay Surovek & John Surovek (62) Closest to the Hole #5 – Carl Panattoni 2’5″ Closest to the Hole #7 – Bill Dunn 3’0″ Closest to the Hole #15 – Mark Reid 7’10” Closest to the Hole #17 – Dan Oakes 4’8″

Tim Rosaforte has been covering The Honda Classic for more than three decades, first as a newspaper writer for the Sun Sentinel and Palm Beach Post, then as a writer for Sports Illustrated and Golf World and lastly as a broadcaster for NBC and the Golf Channel. The Honda Classic announced Monday that it will honor Rosaforte, our Chapter Honorary Vice Chairman, now retired in Jupiter, for his amazing career in golf journalism by renaming the tournament media center “The Tim Rosaforte Media Center.” In addition, The Honda Classic is creating a perpetual award in Rosaforte’s honor – The Tim Rosaforte Distinguished Writers’ Award.  Rosaforte has been named the first recipient of the award by the tournament. (Pictured above left to right: Tournament Board member Joe Steranka, Tim Rosaforte and Tournament Executive Director Ken Kennerly.)

Due to COVID, we were not able to host our Tuesday Junior Clinic this year. Instead, Kamaiu Johnson agreed to host the students on a video call. Kamaiu became a professional golfer because of the support and mentoring he has received from many generous individuals in the game. (Read more about Kamaiu’s journey.) Chapter students Larrion Howard-Henry, Asha Farrelly, Kai Francis and Staci Pla shared some of the challenges they have faced and asked Kamaiu questions regarding mentoring, education, improving diversity in golf and the difference between mini-tours and playing on the PGA TOUR.