Category: News

Friends Honor Phyllis Capparelli

Friends of Margaret “Phyllis” Capparelli played a memorial 9-Hole scramble in her honor at Southwinds County Golf Course. The group raised money for a memorial bench plaque at Southwinds Golf Course and to support the children and teens of our Chapter.  As her friends know, Phyllis loved playing golf.  She also loved children and taught her own grandsons the game of golf.  She believed everyone should have a chance to learn golf, enhance their skills and develop their life and leadership skills. Her friends raised over $1,800.00 in her name to support our mission and programs.

2022 Participant And Volunteer Of The Year

Congratulations to our 2022 Participant of the Year, Jayda Dookie (pictured above left). Jayda is a long-time participant at Glen Beaver’s Commons Park Golf Learning Center program. She volunteers her time as an assistant coach and mentor’s younger teen participants. Jayda attended the 2022 John Deere Drive Your Future Academy in San Francisco, CA where she was one of 24 girls selected to grow their leadership skills. Jayda is also a finalist for the Evans Caddie Scholarship after caddying four years at Seminole Golf Club. She is a senior at Suncoast High School and hold at 4.7 GPA.  Total Rockstar!

Mike Mean (pictured above right with Coach Glen) volunteers with Glen Beaver’s program at Commons Park. Mike really enjoys working with the kids and is their biggest cheerleader. It took two tries to present him with this award, and he was completely unaware of what was happening at the time. When asked why he volunteers, Mike said, “Giving back is the greatest lesson, no matter how or when. I have found it to be the greatest reward that I have experienced in my life.”

Wylie And Staci Bring Home The Ws!

Chapter students Wylie Inman and Staci Pla each won their respective age divisions at The Junior Honda Classic. The tournament is a premier competitive and developmental golf experience hosted at PGA National featuring players from over 20 states and 16 foreign countries.

Wylie the “Coyote” shot 68-75 for a one under total of 143 in the Boys 13-14 Division on the Fazio Course. Coyote was the only player under par in his division. Staci shot 71-72 for a one under total of 143 in the Girls 15-18 Division on the Palmer Course. Staci was the only player under par in her division. Both Wylie and Staci have set the goal to play D1 college golf.

“We have many of our students playing high-level competitive junior golf,” said Carl Mistretta, Chapter Executive Director. “But to bring home a win in a tough field is something very special. The Junior Honda always has a strong field of junior players. It is a hard tournament to win. Way to go Staci and Coyote!”

Pictured above left: Coyote with Ken Kennerly, Honda Classic Executive Director Emeritus and our Chapter Vice President.

Pictured above right: Staci with Ken and Andrew George, Honda Classic Executive Director.

It’s Almost Honda Classic Time

February 23rd to 26th

PGA National Resort & Spa, The Champion Course

Need tournament tickets or hospitality? Please visit the tournament website.

Want to play where the pros play?  We play the Sunday pins from the PGA Tour event on Monday, February 27th.  Please visit our website for more information and the registration form.

Mark your calendars for the First Tee Junior Clinic on Tuesday, February 21st. Please arrive at 3:15pm. 

Chapter Ambassadors are invited to network in our special section at the Bear Trap Reserve on Thursday of tournament week.  Parking, food and beverages are included!  For more information, please visit our website.

Winter Programs Open For Registration

Winter is here and the weather has cooled off. Enroll your children in our Palm Beach County programs. We have 16 program locations across the county.

Classes are grouped by ages. All ages (from 2 to 18 years old) are invited to Saturday classes at the Finnegan Learning Center at Dyer Park!

2-3 years old: Little Chippers
4-6 years old: Rugrats
7-9 years old
10-14 years old
15-18 years old

For more information and to register, please visit our website.

Sponsor Spotlight: Comcast Business

Comcast and NBCUniversal are committed to giving back to the communities our customers, employees, and viewers call home. Through a network of nonprofit partnerships and innovative programs, we invest in lasting change, foster diversity and inclusion, and keep communities connected.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters spent six weeks with Coach Gabbie, LPGA at Pinewood Elementary school. The bigs and littles had a blast learning how to golf and our First Tee life skills curriculum!

Girls Golf – Register Now

LPGA Girls golf is back in action! Coach Gabbie, LPGA, and her students have spent the last two weeks learning how to putt & chip. Next, they are onto full swing. Ages are 6 to 12 and 13 to 18. There is still time to register to join this girls-only Saturday morning class at Champions Club!

YMCA Program Partnership

Coaches Ben Miller, PGA and Gabbie Budd, LPGA and have been spending time at the YMCA of the Treasure Coast in Stuart with 3rd through 5th grade after school participates. Each week the Coaches spend time teaching the game of golf along with our core values. The Y kids are always ready to learn and are great participants. 

Hobe Sound Golf Club Welcomes John Persher

Hobe Sound Golf Club recently welcomed John Pershern, PGA as their new Head Golf Professional. John was happy to give of his time to the boys from Banner Lake Community Center by giving some pointers on putting technique and helping with a friendly competition. Chapter Director and Coach John Sedwitz coaches this outreach program at Hobe Sound Golf Club on Tuesday afternoons. Thanks for the great work and dedication Coach John!

Ken Duke & Friends

Chapter Director Ken Duke generously donated $50,000 to support the children and veterans of our Chapter. He surprised the attendees at our End of Year Bash with this incredible grant from his annual golf tournament.

Ken is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He formerly played on the PGA Tour and won the 2013 Travelers Championship. Pictured right: Ken gave some full-swing pointers to a student from the Police Athletic League.

“Ken has been a great friend to our organization,” said Chapter President Andrew Hunt. “He is an inspirational ambassador for the PGA Champions Tour and supports junior golf in the Treasure Coast and his home state of Arkansas. His generosity has helped fuel our growth in Martin and St. Lucie Counties.”