Category: News

Rest In Peace Coach George

We are sad to announce that one of our most loved and respected coaches, George Minnich, recently passed away. George started as a volunteer back in 2016 and within one year, became a certified coach working mostly with our outreach groups which included The Crockett Foundation, HANDY and Boys and Girls Clubs. “I will never forget an amazing gesture by George. Upon becoming a certified coach, we sent him a check for $1,100 for a number of classes that he taught and he told me he was giving it back to First Tee – Broward, as a donation for his gratitude in being able to work with us.” said Jack Bloomfield, Director of Operations. “He was a special guy and an amazing coach and the students he worked with absolutely loved him.” As his obituary reads, “While sorely missed by the multitude of those who love George, we will all get solace picturing him happily golfing in heaven. Though he is gone, he will live on forever in our hearts and minds and for all of those who were fortunate enough to know him.” We will miss you Coach George.

Under Armour Junior Tour Coming 2021

Great news! Palm Beach and Martin Counties have been selected as a potential site for The Junior Tour powered by Under Armour beginning in the Spring of 2021. There are two seasons per year, March-April and September-October consisting of 6 events each. The League registration fee covers the following items per player: -Entry into ALL 6 league, 9 hole matches -Under Armour Junior Tour Polo Shirt -Opportunity to earn points from each match to qualify for State & National Tournaments -Opportunity to be the League Champion from each division and earn FREE entry into the National Tournament. For more information, please visit https://www.uagolftour.com/ Interested? Please take a moment to fill out this survey.

Still Time To Support The 100-Hole Challenge

Each year, our chapter partners with the Seminole Region of the CMAA to raise funds to support our mission and programs. Staff and donors play 100 holes in one day and secure per hole pledges to support our chapter students from kindergarten to 12th grade, children with special needs and veterans. All donations stay in Palm Beach County to serve the thousands of children and veterans in our programs. Visit our website to make a secure online donation.

Thank You PGA TOUR Superstore And Trustee Arthur Blank

Arthur M. Blank, Chairman, PGA TOUR Superstore and The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and a Trustee of First Tee, has donated $9.5 million to the national organization to impact the lives of thousands of students across the country. “We are grateful for leaders like Arthur Blank and his family of businesses who understand the power of investing in young people and their communities through First Tee,” said Jay Monahan, Commissioner, PGA TOUR and Chairman, Board of Governors, First Tee. The new grant will help First Tee reach more children across the U.S. and strengthen First Tee’s curriculum for teenage participants. Pictured above: Joe Gorman, Manager of the PGA TOUR Superstore on PGA Boulevard presented a $15,000 check from the Blank Family Foundation to Chapter students- the entire Turner family! PGA TOUR Superstore and The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation have supported First Tee for more than a decade, helping First Tee grow from reaching 260,000 students in PGA TOUR Superstore markets in 2011 to more than 1.5 million young people in 2019. This new grant will help First Tee focus on the critical teenage years, where in the U.S. one in five public school children drop out before they finish high school.

Chapter Alumna One Step Closer To Career In Golf

Amber Steele is one step closer to a career in golf thanks to a full-tuition scholarship offered by Keiser University and First Tee – Palm Beaches. After becoming fascinated with the sport and the camaraderie it offered from watching her father play as a child, the Loxahatchee, Florida resident joined First Tee she was in eighth grade. She later competed on her Seminole Ridge Community High School Golf Team. But it was the summers spent volunteering at our Chapter that made her realize she wanted a career in golf. “After being introduced to First Tee – Palm Beaches by my dad I was taken back by how the organization transformed the lives of so many,” said Steele who began serving as the Lead Coach of First Tee’s ‘Little Chippers’ class of two-three year-olds. “The experience made me realize that I wanted to pursue a career in golf management or instruction, so I was excited to learn about the scholarship opportunity and Keiser University’s College of Golf.” Keiser’s Associate and Bachelor of Science degrees in Golf Management prepare students for a wide variety of positions in the golf industry. The programs provide students the educational background and training to provide golf instruction, manage golf course operations, ensure proper maintenance of golf facilities and equipment, as well as how to incorporate the play of golf into the broader hospitality and recreation domain.

Spots Available For Timbertech Championship Pro-Ams

Want to support our chapter and play with the Pros on a course the Pros play? The TimberTech Championship has limited Pro-Am spots and foursomes available. Dates: Play on either Wednesday, October 28th Or Thursday, October 29th • Access to play on the tournament course – The Old Course at Broken Sound • Each group is comprised of four (4) amateurs and one (1) PGATOUR Champions Player • Premier Gift Package • Invitation for each participant to the Virtual Draw Party (Tues night) • Food and beverages provided during the Pro-Am event Pro-am benefits include: • Enhance Client Relationships: Showcase client appreciation and build more • productive relationships with current clients. • Business Development: Perfect opportunity to network, diversify and create new • business relationships. • Employee Recognition: Great incentive or thank you gift for employees. Please review the Pro-Am flier and entry form for more information or contact Anthony Greco at [email protected] or 561.241.4653

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: Dyer Park- Finnegan Learning Center John Prince Golf Learning Center Madison Green Country Club Riverbend Country Club Royal Palm Beach Commons Seagate Country Club Wellington National Golf Club

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE HONDA CLASSIC PARENT-CHILD TOURNEY

The 33rd Annual Palm Beach County Golf Association Parent-Child tournament is filling up fast. The event is sponsored by our Founding Partner- The Honda Classic. All Participants will receive two complimentary any-day tickets to The Honda Classic in 2021! North Palm Beach Country Club Sunday, September 20, 2020 8:00am Entry Fee includes Lunch and Awards $175 per team WHO CAN PLAY? PBCGA Members, Non-members and Professionals welcome! Parents-Grandparents-Children all ages invited Three Divisions: Open Amateur, Amateur Under 13 and Professional WHAT FORMAT? 18-hole Scramble (two-person teams) All teams are welcome to pick up their ball after they have already made a double bogey for the hole. No pressure! Team registration online requires both players to have a PBCGA player profile (no fee to create a non-member account). To add the second player without going through the process of creating a player profile, please contact PBCGA at (561) 625-0400 or email [email protected] to have the second player added to the team. Please CLICK HERE to register and pay online or, Please CLICK HERE for the paper registration form. Two most common words heard during this tournament: C’mon dad, or mom!

BIRTHDAY COMING UP? PLEASE SUPPORT JUNIOR GOLF

Palm Beach County golfers have no doubt taken notice of the “Golf Capital of the World” license plate proudly displayed on thousands of local automobiles. Many golfers do not know that the benefitting charity of this license plate is junior golf. Created in 2002 by the Dade Amateur Golf Association, the Florida Junior Golf Council was formed for the benefit of Florida’s junior golf programs. Through the efforts of the late Charlie DeLucca, the “Golf Capital of the World” license plate was passed into law by the Florida legislature and Governor Jeb Bush. All revenue generated supports junior golf programs. To date, over $8.7 million has been distributed to support junior golf. The FJGC license plate grant program is designed to assist organizations that introduce young people to golf, through instruction and competition, teach the values and Rules of Golf, stress integrity, courtesy, self-discipline, and other life skills.  Additionally, the grant program assists junior golf organizations that serve economically disadvantaged youth, children with special needs and the general population.  The FJGC is planning to significantly increase the size of grants for the next year because of the impact of COVID-19 on junior golf programs. “We are now seeing that junior golf programs have to offer smaller class sizes, pay for more coaches to ensure safety and spend unbudgeted funds on thermometers, sanitizer, masks and gloves,” said Charlie DeLucca III, Executive Director of the First Tee of Miami and board member of the FJGC. “After speaking with several junior program executive directors and administrators it became obvious that the FJGC needed to step in and assist these important programs. All Florida golfers recognize the license plate, but many do not understand the incredible impact it has on junior golf. (Pictured above: Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta with one of his two FJGC license plates.) The easiest way to purchase the license plate is during your birthday month by renewing your tag registration. The plate can be purchased online or in person at the office of the tax collector or tag agency. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

CHAPTER ALUMNAE WORKING AT THE NEW SUPERSTORE

Nyla Simms and Alison Santini recently joined the team at the newly opened PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE on PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens. Both young ladies have been involved with our Chapter as young students and now as volunteers during the summer and in between semesters (pictured above washing golf balls after a day at summer camp). They are also receiving college scholarships from our Chapter. Nyla is a junior at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and is enrolled in the PGA Professional Golf Management Program and plays on her college golf team. Alison is a sophomore at Palm Beach Atlantic University. “Nyla and Alison really appreciate the opportunity to work at the SUPERSTORE,” said Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta. “It is a fantastic experience for them to work in the golf industry and make some extra money for college expenses. We are very appreciative of our partnership with PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE and the continued generosity of First Tee Trustee Arthur Blank.”