Category: News

Enroll your children at one of our 9 Palm Beach County Program Locations.

For more information and to register, please visit our website or scan the QR code.

Register for summer camps at the Finnegan Learning Center in Dyer Park.

Register for summer camps at Boca Raton Golf & Racquet Club.

Register for summer camps with Beaver Golf at the Commons.

Register for summer camps at The Golf Club of Jupiter.

Register for summer camps at Keiser University College of Golf.

Erin Finnegan and her son Bradley visited the Michael B. Finnegan Learning Center in Dyer Park on a recent Saturday morning.  Chapter Founder, Director and Chairman Emeritus Dick Sheehan, Vice Chairman Ken Kennerly, Chapter President Bobby Hendel and Executive Director Carl Mistretta Jr. also come out to visit with Erin and Bradley (pictured above left).

In 2009, when we rebranded as First Tee – Palm Beaches our Founding Partners included the Finnegan Foundaton and The Honda Classic.  The Finnegan Foundation was created to support the less fortunate.  The family was interested in supporting our organization because of our programs for children with special needs.

Throwback picture (above right) from 2009 with Jack Nicklaus, our Honorary Chairman, Erin Finnegan and Dick Sheehan.

Chapter participants Annika Collado and Matthew Jimenez along with chapter alumni and Manager of Operations Savannah Mansueti (on zipline) were selected to attend the First Tee Leadership Academy in Atlanta.

In partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore, First Tee Leadership Academy builds on the 5-week local Leadership Series and provides selected teens insight on how successful teams perform. The curriculum explores leadership concepts focusing on

• building a successful team by recognizing values and identifying strengths/weaknesses,
• leading a team by developing authentic relationships and empowering others,
• supporting the team by developing awareness and acting with humility, and
• assessing based on comprehending and identifying the teams need and supporting through innovation and advocacy. 

The academy provides an opportunity for teens to explore team dynamics that enhance their future performance as they collaborate with peers and adult mentors. Activity-based workshops are facilitated by leaders from the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes Benz Stadium, and Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. 

48 teens were selected to attend the leadership academy. 30+ leaders from the Arthur M. Blank Family of Businesses facilitated 18+ hours of activity-based leadership programming throughout the academy week.

Some highlights included a self-guided tour at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, a team scavenger hunt at the College Football Hall of Fame, golf programming at the PGA TOUR Superstore’s Store Support Center that included a putting competition and the opportunity to explore the latest technology and test equipment at their state-of-the-art fitting studio, Skyline Park at Ponce City Market, soccer programming at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, and high/low ropes course and zipline at Treetop Quest.

48 teens were selected to attend the leadership academy. 30+ leaders from the Arthur M. Blank Family of Businesses facilitated 18+ hours of activity-based leadership programming throughout the academy week.

Some highlights included a self-guided tour at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, a team scavenger hunt at the College Football Hall of Fame, golf programming at the PGA TOUR Superstore’s Store Support Center that included a putting competition and the opportunity to explore the latest technology and test equipment at their state-of-the-art fitting studio, Skyline Park at Ponce City Market, soccer programming at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, and high/low ropes course and zipline at Treetop Quest.

Our partnership continued this summer with the Edna Runner Tutorial Center in Jupiter. 25 students attended three sessions with Coach Devin at Dyer Park to learn about the fundamentals of golf and our valuable life skills program.

Congratulations to chapter student Nathan Vertes from Coach Glen’s program for becoming our first student to be named a First Tee Scholar!

The First Tee College Scholarship Program supports selected alumni throughout their college career. The need and merit-based program provides scholarships up to $5,000 per year, renewable for up to four years of college admission. The program also provides professional development workshops, access to internships and full-time employment placement post-graduation. One of the key factors of the program is pairing Scholars with a dedicated adult mentor who will help encourage and guide them throughout the four years.

Fantastic showing for two of our alumni at the Palm Beach County Golf Association’s County Amateur Championship at The Park West Palm.  Chapter alumni Nashawn Tyson finished 2nd at 11 under par and Tyler Mistretta shot a final round 66 to finish tied for 5th at 8 under par. 

Sponsored by the Palm Beach Kennel Club, the Annual Palm Beach County Amateur Championship sets the stage for South Florida amateur golfers to battle for the title as the best amateur golfer in the County.

Also, Sebastian Nachilly posted a final round of 2 under par 68 to finish tied for 7th in the FSGA Public Links Championship at Dubsdread GC in Orlando.

Volunteers from the Breakers maintenance teams have been assisting us all summer with our turf programs including aeration, verticutting, bunker repairs, topdressing and landscaping.  The Breakers Palm Beach strives to make a difference in the world. Through Volunteer Time Off (VTO), they empower their staff to use work time to volunteer, and to further inspiring their employees to inject energy and enthusiasm into the local community. Chapter Director Mark Reid inspires the golf course and hotel maintenance teams to assist our Chapter by providing agronomic and landscape assistance at our Finnegan Learning Center in Dyer Park.

And to top it all off, the Breakers donated a Toro spray rig to our maintenance team.  (Pictured: Chapter Superintendent Ryan Kelly with Mack Gennette from the Breakers delivering the spray rig.)

Chapter Coaches, Tami Blanks, Danni Rocco, and Devin Shaw attended First Tee Level 2 Coach Training in Clearwater, FL. The First Tee Coach Training Program is focused on coaches having the opportunity to expand their knowledge of our curriculum and implement what they have learned within a live class setting, then receive feedback from the trainers. This is an important step of many for coaches to adopt and implement our coaching strategies. In-person coach training allows coaches to:

• Share best practices about age-based programs
• Deepen their coaching skills; and
• Interact with the refreshed curriculum.

In May, The Little Club in Gulfstream hosted an LPGA Amateur Golf Association event. The Pink Ball Tournament featured 18 foursomes in a shotgun start. Chapter students Annika Collado, Cienna Collado, and Asha Farrelly were invited to attend and had a fantastic time. 

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is again sponsoring our upcoming Chapter Championship at BallenIsles.

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission attracts sporting events and activities to Palm Beach County to enhance occupancy of hotel room nights; to maximize the positive economic impact of these events and activities on the Palm Beach County economy; to maximize the utilization of County facilities; to utilize events and activities to promote the image of Palm Beach County as a sports tourism destination on a national and international level.

Each year, the events they support are responsible for nearly one million sports visitors to Palm Beach County – sleeping in our hotels, utilizing our facilities, enjoying our attractions and eating in our restaurants.