Category: News

Touring golf professional Brad Gehl visited Phipps Park, a city-run facility in West Palm Beach where he had skated and told the manager he wanted to help. Next, Brad bought a refrigerator, then filled it with food and snacks. He went back two weeks later and found it empty, so he filled it up again with apples and oranges and Lunchables and Crustables and popsicles – anything to keep the kids from getting hangry (a term that reflects when hunger makes someone angry.) And every two weeks since, the refrigerator has been restocked with help from friends and other local touring professionals. Shortly after the COVID quarantine started, Brad approached our Chapter about partnering on a joint golf activity for the Hangry kids. A summer golf camp over seven Thursdays was scheduled. So about two dozen Hangry kids crossed over and learned about the game of golf. “It’s maybe one of the more special things I’ve ever done,” Brad says. “The First Tee has been incredibly supportive by providing coaches, lunch and access to their golf facility. The Hangry kids brought great attitudes and their impressive athleticism. They’re really good. I was so, so impressed with them.” To learn more about The Hangry Project, please CLICK HERE to visit their website.

Junior tournament golf has been in full swing and our chapter students have experienced some fantastic success. The three following Chapter students are each leading their respective divisions in Player of the Year points.

Zoe Shamy (pictured above left) recorded first place victories in Prep Tour events at Weston Hills and the Palm Beach Par 3, 2nd place finishes at The Preserve at Ironhorse, Boca Lago and the Naples Beach Club and a 3rd place finish at Plantation Preserve. Wylie “Coyote” Inman (pictured above middle) has recorded victories in SFPGA Prep Tour events at Boca Lago with a score of 72, at Plantation Preserve with a 74, at Naples Beach Club with a two under 69, and a T2nd at the Palm Beach Par 3. Tyler Mistretta (pictured above right) has also enjoyed recent SFPGA success and has moved up to 554th place in the national Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings. He recorded his first SFPGA win with a four-shot victory at Trump National Doral posting three rounds under par with scores of 71-70-67=208. He made 3 eagles and 13 birdies over the three-day event and led the field with lowest scoring average and most holes under par.

Students, want to play middle school, high school or college golf?  Track your stats to improve your game.  Please CLICK HERE for an easy spreadsheet to enter all information from your rounds and track your stats to see where strokes can be saved.  Complete all boxes under yellow columns and Stat Tracker will calculate your cumulative averages after each round entered.  Create a separate sheet to track tournaments only. Parents, working on your game to lower your score?  Try it out to learn where there is room for improvement.

Donate a car, truck, motorcycle, RV, or boat to our nonprofit organization and we will arrange the pick-up of the vehicle donation, at no cost. You may qualify for a tax deduction while supporting a cause that is near and dear to your heart! Vehicle donation pick-up is always free and most vehicles can be picked up within 24-72 hours. Donors will receive an initial donation receipt upon pick-up and then our team will work to turn your car into cash to support our cause. Once the vehicle is sold, we will provide proper tax forms. CARS friendly Donor Support Representatives are available 7 days a week to assist throughout the process. For more information about donating a vehicle, please CLICK HERE.

Seven high school graduates received a surprise personal congratulatory message from President George W. Bush, Honorary Chair of First Tee, on their selection into the inaugural class of the First Tee College Scholarship Program. This Class of Scholars includes aspiring doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs, several of whom will be attending Harvard, Yale and Duke University. “Your hard work has paid off,” said President George W. Bush, via video message. “The coming years will bring new learning, new friendships, new challenges and new opportunities. Remembering the values you have learned through the First Tee will help you for the years to come. Laura and I join your family and friends and recognize you on this special occasion, and we send our best wishes.” The First Tee College Scholarship Program extends its impact to chapter alumni by providing support throughout their post-graduate career. Each of the scholars will be paired with a dedicated, trained adult mentor who will help encourage and guide them throughout the college experience, including virtual and in-person meetups. The program also provides scholarships up to $5,000 per year for four years, plus professional development workshops held in-person throughout the year. In addition, scholars will receive assistance with internships and full-time employment placement post-graduation. To learn about this incredible opportunity, please CLICK HERE.

Each summer, our chapter partners with the Seminole Region of the CMAA to raise funds to support our mission and programs. Chapter staff and supporters play 100 holes in one day and secure per hole pledges to support our First Tee 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. CLICK HERE to make a your donation. Our students, staff and coaches are playing and pledges can be made directly to their fund-raising efforts. Want to play 100 holes in one day? It is fun and a little crazy! CLICK HERE to learn more about creating your own fundraising web page and joining us for a day on the links. Please email [email protected] with questions.

Keiser University and our Chapter are pleased to announce a new scholarship program. Designed to support members of The First Tee who wish to become golf industry professionals by earning Keiser University College of Golf degrees, the renewable awards will be made available to up to two students annually. “We are excited about this partnership, as it will present The First Tee members the opportunity to acquire their education at Keiser University while further pursuing their passion for the game of golf. The scholarship recipients will also be able to give back to The First Tee organization by returning to serve as Certified Assistant Coaches while they are earning their degrees,” said John McMurry, Keiser University’s Flagship Campus Vice President and Director of The First Tee of the Palm Beaches and a Certified Level 1 First Tee Coach. Located at Keiser University’s Flagship campus, the College of Golf offers a 1,500-square-foot indoor training facility, which includes a putting area, advanced launch monitor technology, V-1 and Swing Guru video analysis systems, an interactive golf simulator powered by Sports Coach Systems, a Motion Analysis Technology by TaylorMade (MAT-T), a 3-D swing analysis system, and a golf club repair lab equipped by Mitchell Golf Equipment. Keiser University’s PGA-credentialed faculty are available to College of Golf students for individual and group instruction, and those same faculty are available to assist the Seahawk intercollegiate squads to improve their golf skills. 
In addition to the indoor facility, students also have access to a 6-acre outdoor, on-campus golf range facility with 12 hitting stations, a 9,000 square foot putting green, and a 14,000 square foot chipping/pitching/bunker green. 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. Members of The First Tee who have obtained a high school degree with a 3.0-grade point average are encouraged to apply. To learn more and to obtain a scholarship application, potential candidates should contact Carl Mistretta, Executive Director of The First Tee at [email protected].

Martin J. Stack – 59, passed away on June 5, 2020 in Jupiter FL after a brief illness. He supported our chapter since inception and was a regular playing in our fund-raising golf tournaments. “Marty not only donated, but visited our chapter and attended our many events,” said Carl Mistretta, Chapter Executive Director. “His brother Ed is a Trustee of The First Tee and Dick’s Sporting Goods has been a tremendous supporter of chapters across the country. Our hearts go out to Marty’s family. Marty was a true ambassador of the game of golf.” Marty is survived by his wife of 28 years, Stacey. Marty is also survived by the love of his of 32 nieces and nephews, along with 6 great nieces and one that’s on the way. He was known to them as “Unkie Skunkie”, Unkie or Uncle Marty. He is also survived by his best friends Mike McCarthy and Tom Delmarter, plus the many close, dear friends from Binghamton NY, and Jupiter FL. His loyal companion, his golden retriever Clover. Marty graduated from Binghamton North High School and attended Palm Beach Junior College in Boca Raton before returning back to Binghamton to work in the family business of Dick’s Sporting Goods. Marty worked for Dick’s for over 25 years before leaving the company to pursue his own businesses; Northeastern Water Conditioning (Culligan) in Taylor, PA and Atlantic Coast Water Conditioning (Kinetico) in Stuart, FL. Marty was a member of Vestal Hills CC, Genegantslet Golf Club, Binghamton CC and Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club since 2003. His love for the NY Yankees brought him to test his ability at several Yankee Fantasy camps in Florida and Arizona. He played with legends – Don Larson, Frank Howard, Mickey Rivers, Ron Guidry and becoming great friends and fishing buddies with Joe Girardi and his daughter Lena. His other love of sports teams included the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, Syracuse Orange, the Boston Celtics, the NY Giants and the Masters Golf tournament. His absolute love of the water created a fisherman like no other – he enjoyed fishing, taking many young ones on “Pinstripes 2” and would often be given the title of “Captain Marty”. Marty will be remembered as a kind, gentle soul, who would do anything for anyone. He was surrounded by his family, played like a champion and left us peacefully too soon.

• All Students and Coaches temperatures will be taken before each class. • Students are required to bring their own water. • Limited class sizes. • Students and Coaches will follow all social distancing guidelines. Please CLICK HERE for our new safety programming protocols.