Category: News

100 FRIENDS AT THE BEAR’S CLUB TO HONOR ADAM DONER

Our 100 Friends support our chapter in many ways, such as: • Learning about our mission and programs to act as our community ambassadors • Helping us to identify potential donors, corporations or foundations to support our non-profit organization • Contributing special skills and talents to help us grow and promote our youth development programs. Adam was the perfect example of a dedicated member of the 100 Friends. He not only financially supported our Chapter, but he told everyone about us, brought in new supporters and put his children through our programs. Each year our 100 Friends gather for a golf tournament at The Bear’s Club. This year’s event is Tuesday, October 22nd. Tournament Itinerary: Noon warm-up, 1:00pm shotgun start, concluding with dinner and cocktails. Please CLICK HERE to learn more about playing The Bear’s Club and joining the 100 Friends.

CHAPTER MOURNS THE SUDDEN LOSS OF ADAM DONER

If you knew Adam, count yourself as a very lucky person. He was the life of the party, lived for each day and loved being a father most of all. “Adam above all else, just wanted to talk and tell stories and jokes. He was the only person I have ever met that could continue a conversation through his golf swing!” said Bobby Hendel, Chapter President and close friend of Adam. Adam loved to play golf and was a long-time supporter of our Chapter. Both of his children, the source of his pride of joy- Brandon and Eden- were students in our programs. Brandon represented our Chapter and played in the Pure Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach. Pictured above middle: Brandon, second from left, enjoying a golf tournament with his father and friends. Above right: Brandon at Pebble Beach. Chapter staff were very close to Adam and his family and we will be dedicating our upcoming tournament at The Bear’s Club to him and the memories he helped us all to create.

TYLER HAS GREAT TIME AT PURE INSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

It was the trip of a lifetime for 78 First Tee students, including Chapter participant Tyler Mistretta. The tournament allows the students to step into the spotlight of a nationally televised golf tournament and show off their life and golf skills learned in The First Tee program. ” I knew it was going to be incredible, as I have met others who have already played,” said Tyler. “But it was actually one hundred times better then you could ever imagine. This is an experience that all students of the First Tee should strive for.” The teens played with Confidence and Perseverance on two world-class golf courses in Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills, while being mentored by legends of the game – their PGA TOUR Champions partners. (Pictured above right: Tyler with his pro partner, Carlos Franco) Tyler and Franco shot 6-under best ball the first day at Poppy Hills and then faced 40 miles per hour winds at Pebble the second day. They managed to grind out a one over par round at Pebble in the tough conditions but missed the cut.

Pictured above left: Tyler standing near 8 green at Pebble and right: enjoying the Ghost Trees of 17 Mile Drive.

Just being selected to play in this unique event was the real prize, but two of these teens are bringing home some nice hardware for winning the Pro-Junior title.  Congratulations to Sam Sommerhauser from First Tee of Greater Sacramento, who was paired with Kirk Triplett.  They finished at 23-under, winning the male Pro-Junior title. And Ashley Menne from First Tee of Phoenix, paired with Tom Lehman, won the female Pro-Junior title with a score of 18-under.

PEBBLE BEACH! TUNE IN THIS WEEKEND

Tune in this weekend to watch Chapter student Tyler Mistretta and 77 other students from First Tee chapters across the country compete in the 2019 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee.  The tournament is an official PGA TOUR Champions event to be contested at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, California.   Below are the telecast times on GolfChannel: Fri, Sep.27 3:00-6:00 pm (Live) Sat, Sep.28 3:00-6:00 pm (Live) Sun, Sep.29 3:00-6:00 pm (Live) Want to apply to play in this tournament when you reach high school? Stay active in The First Tee! The PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee is the only event of its kind where 78 First Tee teenagers from across the country are paired up with 78 PGA TOUR Champions players and 156 amateurs during an official PGA TOUR Champions tournament. Tyler will compete for the Pro-Junior Team title. Participants were selected by a national panel of judges based on their understanding and application of the values and life skills learned through First Tee’s programs, as well as their playing ability. This year’s field of professionals will include World Golf Hall of Fame Members Bernhard Langer, Mark O’Meara, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen, as well as defending champion and recent KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship winner Ken Tanigawa. Clint Eastwood serves as chairman of the PURE Insurance Championship.  Play will be conducted on Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course on Friday and Saturday, with the final round contested solely at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Sunday, where 23 First Tee juniors will compete based on their 36-hole performance. The tournament will crown one male and one female First Tee Junior Champion on Sunday. Nearly 1,000 teens from First Tee have played in the PURE Insurance Championship, experiencing the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet, play and be mentored by PGA TOUR Champions players and amateurs in the field. 

REGISTER FOR STEAM

IMG’s Honda Classic team will host a Family STEAM Golf Day at The First Tee of The Palm Beaches. (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) When: October 17th, 2019 Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Cost: FREE! Location: The First Tee of The Palm Beaches 7301 N Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33407 Along with receiving golf skills instruction, student participants will have the opportunity to learn about different golf course grasses, learn how to properly cut a cup, identify plants, preserve wildlife habitats, and learn about the ecology, conservation and environmental aspects of golf courses. The First Tee of The Palm Beaches’ Michael B. Finnegan Learning Center par-3 course and practice range will be used as an environmental learning lab to facilitate the connections between golf courses and STEAM education. The Honda Classic will also be hosting their annual Kids Ticket contest at Family STEAM Golf Day where the participants can draw, color or paint designs to be selected as the highlighted artwork on the Honda Classic’s kid ticket for the 2020 tournament. CLICK HERE to RSVP. Space is limited.

REGISTER FOR STEAM

IMG’s Honda Classic team will host a Family STEAM Golf Day at The First Tee of The Palm Beaches. (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) When: October 17th, 2019 Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Cost: FREE! Location: The First Tee of The Palm Beaches 7301 N Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33407 Along with receiving golf skills instruction, student participants will have the opportunity to learn about different golf course grasses, learn how to properly cut a cup, identify plants, preserve wildlife habitats, and learn about the ecology, conservation and environmental aspects of golf courses. The First Tee of The Palm Beaches’ Michael B. Finnegan Learning Center par-3 course and practice range will be used as an environmental learning lab to facilitate the connections between golf courses and STEAM education. The Honda Classic will also be hosting their annual Kids Ticket contest at Family STEAM Golf Day where the participants can draw, color or paint designs to be selected as the highlighted artwork on the Honda Classic’s kid ticket for the 2020 tournament. CLICK HERE to RSVP. Space is limited.

NEW COACH TRAINING FOR PLAYER LEVEL

Recently, our Chapter held our first PLAYer Coach Training at Parkland Golf & Country Club. A new group of 23 Coaches are now certified to teach The First Tee program at the PLAYer level. Ten of the Coaches were from the Palm Beach chapter. Conducting local training of new Coaches is a welcome addition implemented by The First Tee home office beginning this year. Training Coaches at a chapter level will allow us to grow even larger. The training was led by Chapter Staff Connie Capanegra, LPGA, Rick Hengstenberg, PGA, Robert Ferzoco and Emily Valentine. Thank you to our Host Coaches Drew Dallanegra, PGA and Jonathan Smith, PGA at Parkland. The First Tee Coach Program is developed with input from leading experts in the field of positive youth development. The program focuses on empowering participants through decision-making and exploring options. This helps foster positive relationships between coaches and young people, inspiring the golfers of tomorrow to look to the future, set goals, and unlock their potential.

PALM BEACH GARDENS WINS PRESEASON SHOOTOUT

The second annual High School PreSeason Shootout was recently hosted by Admirals Cove Village Course. The Palm Beach Gardens High School Junior/Senior team (featuring chapter student Tyler Mistretta) won the boys’ scramble event at 14 under par and the Gardens sophomore team (featuring chapter student Billy Reid) came in second place at 11 under par. Suncoast won the girls’ division with a one under par round of 70. Huge SHOUT OUT to the staff and members of Admirals Cove for hosting this fun event that kicks off the local high school golf season.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS EXPANDING MEMBERSHIP

Members of our Chapter’s Young Professionals (YP) wrapped up the summer at a recent golf event at North Palm Beach Country Club. The group is open to golfers and non-golfers wishing to support our chapter from ages 21-39. For more information on joining the YP, please CLICK HERE.

FREE OPEN HOUSE AT SEAGATE COUNTRY CLUB

Join us at Seagate Country Club to learn basic golf instruction, play fun games and receive information about the upcoming First Tee Fall Programming.

When: October 8th, 2019 – 4pm Where: Seagate Country Club 3600 Hamlet Drive Delray Beach, FL 33436 Cost: FREE

Please call the Seagate CC golf shop to register at 561-498-8298 or contact Coach Whitney Young at [email protected]

CHAPTER HELPING TO SUPPORT GRAND BAHAMA

South Florida was extremely lucky to be spared by Hurricane Dorian. However, our neighbors in Grand Bahama were totally devasted. Chapter Director Joe Davis is a Bahamian citizen residing in the State of Florida. He is the Executive Chairman, CEO of Aerologistc Group Limited & Bahamas Development Bahamian Group Limited. Joe lost many family members and friends to the storm. Because of his relationships with the airline industry and the Bahamian government, Joe is helping to bring in needed supplies to Grand Bahama. The U.S. has done a fantastic job sending traditional relief supplies such as water, clothing, tarps and grocery items. However, Grand Bahama is desperately in need of the following items:
– Pickup trucks – Tools for contractors, carpenters (i.e. power tools, skill saws, drills, hammers, etc.) – Ladders – Extension electrical cords – Portable generators – Multiple power outlet surge protectors – SAT phones – Toolboxes – Tool belts – Chain saws – Jerry Jugs 5 gal – Scrubs S,M,L – Table saw – Tile cutter – Tile wet saw – Nail guns – Compressor – Cordless drill – Router bits
If you wish to donate, please drop off any of the above small supplies at our Chapter in Dyer Park located at 7301 N. Haverhill Road in Riviera Beach. We will arrange to have the supplies flown or ferried to Grand Bahama. Please contact Joe Davis to donate any vehicles or large items at [email protected]