Category: News

FREE COGNIZANT CLASSIC TICKETS FOR VETS

The Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches is proud to honor the dedicated men and women of South Florida’s military community—active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. We are grateful for their service and sacrifice, and we look forward to celebrating them throughout the tournament!

Active duty, retired, reserve, National Guard members, and veterans verified through the military identification system, along with one dependent, will have access to claim complimentary digital tickets for Wednesday, February 26, as well as one competition day of the service member’s choice (Thursday, February 27 through Sunday, March 2), while supplies last.

Please visit the tournament website for more information and to claim your tickets.

100-HOLE RESULTS

CMAA announced that their charities raised an astounding $853,741 in the 2024 100-Hole Challenge!  Additionally, the CMAA golf tournament at BallenIsles added another $530,000, bringing their total to a record-breaking $1,383,741. With this accomplishment, CMAA has now raised over $10 million for their children’s charities since inception.

Our organization is one of the charities supported by the Seminole Region CMAA each year.  CMAA’s 100-Hole Challenge is now our largest fundraiser, impacting the lives of thousands of students and veterans each year.  In addition to the dollars we raised, CMAA awarded their supporting charities a generous check from their own fundraising efforts.  (Pictured above: Chapter staff with the CMAA Board of Directors.)

Last year’s winners supporting our Chapter were:

Top Club:  BallenIsles

Club Runners Up: Loxahatchee, Trump Jupiter, Hunter’s Run and Boca West

Top Company:  Lifetime Performance

Top Individuals: Justin and Jeremy Howard

Top Alumni Fundraisers: Tyler Mistretta and Sebastian Nachilly

Top High School Student Fundraiser: Hampton Beebe

Save the date for the 2025 Challenge: August 7th at the Palm Beach Par 3!

ENTER THE PEBBLE BEACH RAFFLE

Help us support the thousands of children and veterans we serve each year.  Our Pebble Beach Raffle features a chance to win a trip to play Pebble Beach!  For every $100 donated, you will be entered to win a 3-night stay at the Lodge at Pebble Beach (includes two Garden View rooms) and a foursome to play one round at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. The prize package also includes $1,500 towards airfare, trip expenses, etc. 

Certain restrictions apply. Drawing to be held March 3, 2025.  Please scan the QR code or visit our website to donate and for more information.

VOLUNTEER FOR COGNIZANT CLASSIC

Last year, many Chapter supporters helped us earn a grant from the tournament by volunteering in the merchandise tent.  We need your help again. Please email [email protected] to register.

And there are many other volunteer opportunities available.  The Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches is one of Palm Beach County’s marquee sports events. This PGA Tour event attracts the world’s best golfers, consisting of over 100 pro golfers competing over 72 holes at PGA National’s Champion Course. The Cognizant Classic attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators and Palm Beach County receives tremendous national and global media exposure in the sport industry and beyond.

Ready to volunteer? Please visit their website or scan the QR code to find out more!

PINE TREE SCHOLARSHIP FOR ANNIKA

The members of Pine Tree Golf Club have recently established a new foundation.  Pine Tree’s Scotty Foundation is a non-profit organization centered on supporting opportunities for the betterment of golf for those associated with Pine Tree Golf Club. The mission of the foundation is to provide educational and financial support for individuals, affiliated with Pine Tree, who are passionate about positively impacting their lives and the game of golf.

In their inaugural year the Scotty Foundation endowed an Evans Caddie Scholarship for youth caddies, funded a college scholarship for one of our Chapter students, and awarded a four-year college scholarship to Chapter student Annika Collado.  Annika has been caddying at Pine Tree for the last three years.  She is a senior at Seminole Ridge High School and works hard to maintain a 3.98 GPA and a 5.19 HPA. She started playing golf at 8 years old.  Annika credits caddying for helping her find her voice to come out of her shell, especially when communicating with adults and improving her interpersonal interactions.  She will be attending Florida Gulf Coast University in the Fall.

Pictured above left to right: Former Pine Tree Head Professional (now at Sandglass Golf Club) Justin Thompson, Annika and Pine Tree Club President Bo Gillespie.

SPECIAL NEEDS SPOTLIGHT: MARK SUSSKIND

Near the end of 2024, Mark Susskind (pictured 2nd from the left) reached out to us to start a new golf program for people affected by Parkinsons. Mark is affected by the disease himself, and, as a fan of golf, he wanted to create a program to help others learn the sport and establish camaraderie with new people. Mark enrolled in our coach training, spread the word about the program, and helped Newell Golf hold the first two classes. With the help of Newell Golf and Boca Raton Golf and Racquet Club, Mark has now started PARS for Parkinsons and will be holding two classes every month. 

ABNER ENJOYING KEISER

Chapter alumnus Abner McWilliams was awarded one of our two college scholarships to attend the Keiser University College of Golf.  He has just completed his freshman year in the program.

“As with starting anything new, especially as a freshman, it has been a challenge for me,” said Abner.  “But being the hard worker I am and with everything I learned at First Tee, I have embraced the challenges and continue to work through them.”

With this scholarship from First Tee generously provided by Keiser University, Abner can pursue his passion in the golf industry at the school of his choice.

PARENT-CHILD TOURNAMENT

Our inaugural James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Parent-Child Invitational was a tremendous success at North Palm Beach Country Club.  Teams competed in 3 divisions- Pros, Open Gross and Open Net in a unique format of 6 holes best-ball, six holes modified alternate shot and six holes scramble.

The Pro division was won by Brian and Brandt Peaper with a score of 64 (pictured above left).  The Open Gross division was won by Kevin and Conor Richardson with as score of 64 (pictured above middle).  The Open Net division was won by Richard Spangler and David Klein with a score of 56.

Special thanks to the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Parent-Child Invitational and Chapter supporter Moe Tarkinow for the generous sponsorships.

WESTSIDE CAMPUS ENJOYING SUCCESS

Our golf learning center at the The Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County (B&GCSLC) Westside Campus has become an ideal location for guidance, encouragement, exercise and fun for kids and teens.

A collaboration between two nonprofits in the Treasure Coast is teaching life lessons to children and teens.  B&GCSLC and our Chapter have long shared a mission of youth development.

In February 2022, we opened a state-of-the-art artificial turf golf facility at B&GCSLC’s Westside Campus in Fort Pierce, which was generously sponsored through the Andrew and Robin Hunt Philanthropic Fund.

Our goal is to teach young people life skills such as inner strength, self-

confidence and resilience – through the game of golf – under the guidance of trained First Tee coaches and mentors. The programs have become very popular.  B&GCSLC’s Westside Campus has rapidly grown to become our largest program location in the Treasure Coast. 

If you are located in north St. Lucie County and are interested in learning more about this golf facility and the programs we offer, please contact [email protected]

B&GCSLC OAK HAMMOCK

Coaches Devin Shaw and Trevor Tarashuk teach golf instruction and valuable life skills to the students of Oak Hammock Boys & Girls Club in St. Lucie County.

The Boys & Girls Clubs serve to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.

We truly value our relationship with Oak Hammock Boys & Girls Club and enjoy seeing all the smiles from the students. We are grateful for the staff’s support and help at Oak Hammock!!