Category: News

Broward 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!

Thank you to the members and staff of Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club in Boca Raton for hosting the event. Due to single rider carts, we could only have 40 players this year, but everyone had a fantastic time. Congratulations to the winners (pictured above left) with a net score of 54: Scott Haralson, Stina Caron, Bryce Crawford, and Chapter Director Laurie Villa, And to our winners with a Gross score of 63: Dan Sweeney, Chris Burr, Rusty Preston, and Rick Hugins (pictured above right).

Three different courses on three different days: – Country Club of Coral Springs August 10th – Club at Weston Hills August 3rd – Lago Mar C.C. October 12th 42 total players (a few pictured above):

Trent Alexander Jack Bloomfield Lily Celentano Charles Chaplin Michael Cohen Shelby Coyle Sam Dalton Drew DiAlberto John Dondey Steve Duane Marty Elberg Jake Feldman Bobby Fournier Kirphton Fray Daniel Gardner Ryan Hanslip James Hirschfeld Dylan Jacobsen Mathew Kaplan Richard Karp Jesse Ladig

Michael Lewin Braden List Bud Mansor Haris Moore Gene Perkins Michael Rajtar Lance Randall Michael Saviano Stan Shachne Kevin Shacter Ryan Shimony Cole Sidner Adam Spiegel Bryan Stutevoss Bobby True David Vernon David Vivies Scott Waldman Sean Weiss Geoffrey Williams

Over $90,000 dollars donated by over 870 individual donors. Donations are still being accepted online to support our children and veterans. https://secure.givelively.org/donate/childrens-golf-foundation-inc/2020-marathon-golf Chapter Director Stan Schachne won top honors for raising over $12,000! Special thanks to the clubs that hosted us, the 41 players and our many generous donors and a big SHOUT OUT to Drew DiAlberto for helping to chair the event. 2021 Fundraising Goal: 60 players and $120,000……………..

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: Cooper Colony Golf & Country Club Parkland Golf & Country Club Grand Palms Hotel-Spa & Golf Resort The Club at Weston Hills Hollywood Beach Golf Club The Bridges at Springtree Golf Club

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: Chapter students- the entire Turner family- accepting a $15,000 check from the Blank Family Foundation to support our Chapter. 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.

Congrats to Coach Sean Kicker, PGA Golf Professional of the Year for the Southern Chapter of the South Florida PGA Section. Sean has been a PGA Professional for over 28 years. He is an active First Tee Level 3 Coach and is the lead Coach of the Grand Palms Hotel-Spa and Golf Resort. He has many years of experience with First Tee Miami, PGA Junior League and LPGA/USGA Girls Golf. Sean has introduced the game of golf to thousands of elementary & middle school students from 2005 to present. Sean is currently teaching First Tee programs each week throughout the summer and during the school year. He has over forty students attending weekly First Tee programs at Grand Palms.

Our Chapter is currently hosting an online auction with incredible items including Spirit Airlines tickets, gift certificate to PGA Tour Superstore, a wine collection, Titleist golf balls, golf foursomes, and more… Please check it out and bid high!

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.