Category: News

THANK YOU IBIS LADIES’ GOLF ASSOCIATION!

In order to create growth in the game, Ibis has created the wonderful Ibis Ladies’ Golf Association (ILGA) 9-hole group to introduce their members to the game of golf. Events are hosted on select Mondays and Thursdays throughout the season.  Recently the ILGA-9 held their season opening fundraiser that benefited our Chapter. Over 70 ladies played nine holes with two of our young female participants – Jacie Goodman and Chapter Alumna Emily Valentine as the Pro on two par 3 holes. This relaxed group of ladies created a welcoming environment for all participants with a focus on having fun and meeting new friends. All ladies are required to have a USGA established, 9-hole handicap to compete within the association. After the golf concluded, the ladies then conducted a live auction during the luncheon. The ladies donated ALL proceeds to our Chapter, grand total raised – $3,800! A big shout out to Cheryl Abrams Shaller, Vice President of the ILGA-9 and the ladies at Ibis for choosing our Chapter to participate in this awesome event.

SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND THROUGH BIRDIES FOR CHILDREN

Many young people apply for scholarships throughout the year to continue their ongoing participation in the programs of The First Tee. We ask our supporters and donors to contribute to our Scholarship Fund. This year we are requesting contributions to be made through Birdies for Children to receive matching dollars. The American Honda Birdies for Children program is an exciting partnership for our chapter to team up with The Honda Classic for our supporters to have a chance to win a new Honda automobile! At the same time, our chapter receives 100% of the proceeds plus a 10% matching contribution courtesy of The Honda Classic. HOW TO DONATE: Make a donation of $20 or more to our chapter and then guess the total number of birdies that will be made by the entire field in all four rounds of the 2018 Honda Classic. Please CLICK HERE to make your donation. What Number Should You Guess? To help you along, here are the total number of birdies made in each of the last eight tournaments (all have been played at PGA National Resort & Spa – Champion Course): 2009: 1,180 Birdies              2010: 1,181 Birdies              2011: 1,041 Birdies 2012: 1,279 Birdies              2013: 1,244 Birdies              2014: 1,363 Birdies 2015: 1,168 Birdies              2016: 1,246 Birdies              2017: 1,361 Birdies GRAND PRIZE: BRAND NEW 2016 HONDA VEHICLE (Awarded to the donor who guesses the correct number of birdies) *Note – In the event of a tie, a blind drawing from all correct guesses will determine the winner. Several great prizes will be awarded based on a random drawing from all participants.

TURNER FAMILY RECEIVES A VEHICLE

Our community partner, Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, presented the Turner family with a vehicle!  Doug and his three children are active participants in our Veteran and The First Tee Life Skills programs. Wiping away tears, Doug sends his sincere appreciation to all that have blessed his family. And likewise, thank you for your service Mr. Turner.

HARRIGAN JOINS INAUGURAL CLASS OF SOCIETY OF 1457

In 2017, our Chapter unveiled a new planned giving program to support our mission and programs. Planned giving is an important aspect of our overall fund raising strategic plan and provides a simple solution for our long-time donors to assist the students of tomorrow through their estate, IRA or insurance policies. Pictured above: Chapter Trustee Patrick Harrigan generously joined the Society of 1457 as a member of the inaugural class. “Supporters of The Society of 1457 are community leaders demonstrating to others how to help ensure our future growth for many years to come,” said Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta. “Planned giving will be an important fundraising component for our chapter to help develop the future leaders of Palm Beach County.” Most people do not realize that mandatory IRA distributions at age 70 1/2 and older can be donated tax free to charity. Donors can enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that they are contributing to a worthy cause while effectively lowering their tax bill.
Recognized below are the Inaugural Members:
  • Jack Barrett
  • Erin Finnegan
  • Beverly & Frank Finnegan
  • Gary Freedson
  • Patrick Harrigan
  • Bobby Hendel
  • Maria Marino
  • Carl Mistretta
  • Ken Ohrstrom
  • Earl Puckett
  • John Rothberg
Please CLICK HERE to learn more about joining the Society of 1457.

THE MONDAY AFTER THE HONDA TOURNAMENT FILLING UP FAST!

The Monday after The Honda Classic, the Champion Course is yours for the taking! This is your chance to experience what PGA TOUR professionals do on Championship Sunday. The Champion Course will be set up in the same condition with the same pin placements as it was for the final Sunday tournament round the day before our event.

ENTRY FEE  $675 per person / $1,350 per team. Entry fee must accompany the registration form. Your tournament Entry Fee in includes greens fee, cart, practice balls, continental breakfast, awards luncheon, gift bag and a Honda Classic tournament hospitality. Each team member receives one (1) Champions Club credential providing access to the Champions Club hospitality pavilion (which includes food and beverages) for one weekend day of their choice at The Honda Classic, plus one preferred parking pass. CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FORM INFORMATION THE CHAMPIONS CLUB AT NICKLAUS VILLAGE The Champions Club at Nicklaus Village is an upscale, all-inclusive entertainment venue located on the 18th fairway of the Champion Course for The Honda Classic. This hospitality marquee features outdoor observation decks providing premium views and with high-end catering and full bar service. AMENITIES INCLUDE
  • Climate controlled with unique furnishings, round tables, wooden chairs, linens and wait staff
  • Multiple color televisions with in-tent coverage of The Honda Classic plus online scoring terminals
  • Complimentary copies of Honda Classic Publications
  • Multiple upscale bar and buffet areas
  • Preferred parking pass
Please Contact Carl Mistretta at 561-307-4060 or [email protected]

COUNTDOWN TO THE HONDA CLASSIC

Ringing in the New Year means one thing, The Honda Classic is right around the corner! The Honda Classic brings the world’s best PGA TOUR players to Palm Beach County, providing a week of entertainment for the entire community, with a greater goal of supporting South Florida charities, including our Chapter. Mark your calendar and join us for the following:
  • January 20 – 5K Run/Walk on Champions Course
  • February 15 – Kick-Off Party At The Gardens Mall
  • February 20 – Junior Clinic with PGA Professional on Champions Range
  • February 19 – 25 – 2018 Honda Classic Tournament at PGA National and Spa
  • February 26 – The First Tee Invitational
Please CLICK HERE to purchase tournament tickets and for all the details and more information.

FRANCES WINS SECOND PLACE AND MEETS THE GOLDEN BEAR

Chapter participant Frances Melendez recently played in the Student Athlete Community Service Network All America Golf Championship.   The mission of the SACSN is to provide a platform for student athletes to “stand out” and “give back” through sports and community service. The Championship is a one day charity tournament to support the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. Invitees are nominated by high school coaches from across the country.​ ​Leadership and community service are at the forefront of the Charity Invitational Series. Participants are asked to collect and donate pre-paid gas cards. The cards are donated to the Nicklaus Foundation to help families with financial constraints get their children needing medical treatment back and forth to treatment appointments. Participants are awarded volunteer hours for their efforts which can be used toward school requirements, National Honor Society, and merit scholarship applications. Frances shot a 78 to place 2nd overall.  Way to go Frances, we are very proud of you. Great score, leadership and community service- in other words: The First Tee!

PBAU STUDENT MAKES HOLE-IN-ONE

The Alumni Association of Palm Beach Atlantic University hosted its 30th Annual Golf Tournament and auction Saturday, October 7, 2017 at the PGA National Resort & Spa. Arrigo Dodge sponsored the hole-in-one car on hole #17 on the Champion Course.  PBAU golf team students hit tee shots with each group in the tournament.  The hole played 187 yards, but more like 200 yards in to the wind. On her first shot of the day with no warm-up, PBAU golf team member, Alexandra Dowd, hit a 3-wood, but because of the rising sun, no one saw the shot.  The remainder of the group teed off and then approached the green. The volunteer monitoring the hole-one-contest stated nonchalantly, “There are a few balls on the green and one went in.”  Of course, the group went crazy! Due to NCAA rules, Alexandra could not accept the Dodge Challenger, but the Arrigo family made a generous donation to the PBAU scholarship fund in her name.

OUR CHAPTER SUPPORTS NEW WEST VIRGINIA GOLF TEAM

Recently a former Board Member and long-term supporter of our Chapter, Mitch Stump, CPA asked if we could assist a new high school golf team from his home town of Stumptown, WV. The Calhoun County High School Golf team began with the hires of Coach Matt Walker and Coach Mike Stump. The team started with zero dollars, zero supplies, and zero players. After tremendous efforts in fund raising and generous donations from area businesses, the golf team bank account finally had a balance and some supplies in the closet.  After some recruiting of students within the school, the team secured five players to try something new and participate on the first golf team at Calhoun County High School since the late 1970s. Pictured above the team of Drue Goad, Jaden Swearingen, Bryson Montgomery, Cole Rogers, Mason Bennett and Reagan Lynch. Upon Mitch’s request, our chapter provided golf bags, clubs and training aids for their first-year team.  Another supporter of our Chapter, Richard Ekey, heard about the new team and donated a golf bag full of 12 dozen Pro V-1’s! The boys were very excited to be with Stump the morning they received their new team gifts.  Only one of the five students on the golf team had ever been on a golf course before up until this season.  The expectations for the season were not very high and included establishing a tournament schedule and teach the students the basics of golf.  The team scheduled a whopping 18 matches and won 10 of them! Team members even recorded a few birdies this season. During the last two matches of the season all five players shot in the 50s for their nine-hole match. Calhoun finished 10th out of 12 teams in the Little Kanawha Conference and finished 7th out of 9 teams in the Reginal Tournament exceeding all goals the team set at the beginning of the year. The team looks to build on the strides made during the 2017 season and will work hard to continue to improve in 2018.

CHAPTER CONTINUES PARTNERSHIP WITH SUNCOAST HIGH SCHOOL

Coach Molly McCann, of Suncoast High School, and several of our Chapter Coaches, teamed up again this academic year and introduced freshmen students to the game of golf during P.E.Class. Classes are held on a weekly basis throughout the school year and students learn all aspects of the game from putting, chipping, pitching, full swing, bunker shots, how to play the game on the golf course, the rules of the game and how to have fun while playing the sport of a lifetime. Along with the basics of the game, the students also learn how to incorporate the many life lessons the game teaches through The First Tee curriculum and our Nine Core Values that include: respect, honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, courtesy, responsibility, confidence, judgment, perseverance. “Our goal is for the students to take the skills they have acquired and continue to apply them to their academics and in all areas of their lives as well as their golf games,” said Suncoast PE Instructor Molly McCann.

TRUSTEES JOIN US FOR 100 FRIENDS TOURNAMENT

Trustees represent the highest and most prestigious levels of giving from individuals, corporations and foundations that contribute to our chapter and the national organization. Their generosity impacts thousands of young people. Trustees Jon Clay representing Morell Studios, Andrew Hunt, Bob Simses and Ralph Stokes representing Arthur Blank joined us for dinner at The Bear’s Club. Pictured above: The Trustees with chapter directors and students.

CHECK PRESENTATIONS AT 100 FRIENDS TOURNAMENT

The Palm Beach Golf Course Superintendents continue to generously support our chapter mission through their annual Futures of Golf tournament. Pictured above left: Deron Zendt, from the PBGCSA presenting the big check. In partnership with The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Delray Beach PGA TOUR Superstore continues to contribute annual grants to our chapter. Pictured above right: Ralph Stokes and other representatives from PGA Superstore present the check from the Blank Foundation.