We recently completed our fall semester programs at the Hope Center for Autism. The class has been a great experience for these kids. They improved their fine motor functions, practiced golf skills, and most importantly learned life skills working with Coach Gabbie Budd, LPGA.
Our 2022 Participant of the Year is Chris LaGratta! Chris qualified for the Special Olympics state level games in December. There were over 300 athletes from 30 Florida counties that qualified for the event held at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course.
Coach David Fleck and Chapter Program Coordinator Steven Andrade accompanied Chris on this amazing experience. The two day event brought out the best in these talented athletes. Chris placed 4th in the “skills division” and looks forward to progressing his golf game to compete in the “on course” division next year!
This past fall we were proud to host veterans from the Stuart YMCA at Sailfish Sands Golf Course. The 6-week program helped the veterans improve their games by offering both full swing and short game clinics every Thursday morning.
Coach Ben Miller, PGA discussed the idea of not taking the game too seriously and learning to make jokes with our playing partners. This approach lightened everyone’s mood dramatically. The class also discussed realistic expectations and how most golfers set themselves up for disaster on the onset of a round by anticipating all perfect shots. Instead, Coach Ben encouraged everyone to anticipate plenty of poor shots and learn to laugh them off.
While none of the veterans entering the program were frequent golfers at the start of the program, nearly all of them ended up scheduling tee times at local courses with their newfound confidence. Coach Ben even hosted Bob and Kevin out for a 9-hole playing lesson, where he caddied for them as he played alongside them.
Congrats to Kevin on making his first par and to Bob for chipping in on the 7th hole!
Chapter Director Morgan Jewell, PGA, the Director of Golf at Floridian National Golf Club was recognized at the Club Manager’s Association of America Seminole Region’s champion’s breakfast at The Club at Admirals Cove. Morgan and many of his fellow golf professional and industry sales representatives raised the most amount of money in the Seminole Region to benefit our Chapter. In one day at Floridian National, $63,260 was raised to support the thousands of children and veterans we serve each year.
Martin County Police Athletic League (PAL) is a crime prevention community program designed to provide alternatives to youth delinquency through sports and mentoring. We hosted a diverse group of PAL kids for six consecutive Wednesdays this fall at Sailfish Sands Golf Course. None of the kids had any prior golf experience and our programming offered a perfect introduction to the game. Coach Ben Miller, PGA was delighted to introduce the students to their local golf course and the many opportunities the sport can provide.
Chapter students enjoyed an awesome morning at The Champions Club with LPGA Tour professionals Marina Alex and Ashleigh Buhai. The students asked questions about playing on tour, participated in full swing, chipping and putting stations, gathered autographs and even enjoyed some delicious, shaved Kona Ice.
We hosted many students from our program partners: Boys & Girls Club St. Lucie, Special Olympics Florida, Martin County PAL, LPGA Amateurs, and LPGA Girls Golf.
Special THANK YOU to Chapter Director Jen Hong for bringing this event to life and to Champions Club General Manager David Ladd, PGA for hosting!
Chapter President & Trustee Andrew Hunt and his wife Robin attended to support our many students and Coaches.
Winter is here and the weather has cooled off. Enroll your children in our Martin County and St. Lucie County programs.
For more information and to register, please visit our website.
Did you know that the “Golf Capital of the World” license plate supports junior golf? When you purchase this license plate you are supporting our chapter and junior golf programs across the state of Florida.
It is very easy to change over to the FJGC license plate when you renew your vehicle registration either by mail or online. Just check or click the box for the FJGC plate!
For more information, please visit the FJGC website.
The Tee Times Magazine is giving away a mountain golf trip that includes a three-night stay at Rumbling Bald Resort and three rounds of golf for your foursome at Bald Mountain Golf Course
The winning foursome will enjoy three days, three-nights at the prestigious Rumbling Bald Resort rated one of the top courses in North Carolina by Golf Channel’s Golf Advisor.
Trip Details:
– Drawing will be held on May 1st, 2023
– Winners will receive one standard fairway villa at Rumbling Bald Resort for three nights
– Winners also receive three rounds of golf for four golfers at Bald Mountain Golf Course.
– Travel expenses not included.
– Only one e-mail address per entry
We have enjoyed a long and successful partnership with the Palm Beach Golf Course Superintendents Association. Their foundation funds various capital improvements each year at our Finnegan Learning Center in Dyer Park. This year, their grant funding was used to purchase a sand spreader.
“Palm Beach County superintendents are always willing to donate supplies, flags, cups and other golf course equipment and accessories,” said Mark Reid, Chapter Director and the Breakers Director of Grounds and Golf Maintenance. “We are very proud of the turf conditions we achieve at Dyer Park with the help of many area superintendents.”
We are delighted to welcome chapter alumna Nyla Sims as our new full-time Chapter Coach! She has begun coaching programs at many different locations across Palm Beach County. Nyla played college golf at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She will be graduating next year with her bachelor’s degree from their PGA Golf Management program.
“I am so excited to be joining the First Tee as a program coach and working with the kids and teens,” said Nyla. “I look forward to serving the community through the great game of golf.”
Our veterans’ programs are game changing as we give back to those who sacrificed for our freedom. We have created programs that offer veterans of all levels the opportunity to learn and play golf. Our nation’s heroes utilize our driving range in order to enhance their games, then play our par 3 course and finally tee it up at local regulation golf courses. We also provide golf equipment and instruction.
One of veterans, Devin Shaw, said “Playing golf with the friends I have made at First Tee, is what I look most forward to during the week.”
“The First Tee Veteran program is life altering,” said John Melvin, who uses our Paragolfer that has given him and many of our paralyzed veterans an amazing opportunity to stand up and play golf.
