PGA Tour Championship Trip

Chapter staff and coaches traveled with 29 teens from our outreach programs to Atlanta, Georgia for an incredible weekend experience. Teens and chaperons participated from Fort Pierce Police Department’s Explorer Program, the Police Department’s Courageous Kids mentoring program, Gifford Youth Activity Center and Project LIFT

The group attended the PGA FedEx Tour Championship in East Lake, Georgia. They also visited the Georgia Aquarium, attended a soccer game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, spent time at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and enjoyed a tasty meal at The Varsity! We also visited First Tee – Metro Atlanta for an interactive lesson. 

Back To School – Register

Our Fall programs are beginning.  Enroll your children in our programs in Martin or St. Lucie Counties.

We have a new program location! Sign up for classes at Martin Downs with Coach Joe Grohman, PGA.  To learn more about Coach Joe’s programs and to register, please visit our website.

To review information on all 11 of our program locations, 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.

Special thanks to Chapter Director Ed Kolo of Comcast Business for their continued support of our mission and programs. 

Veteran Spotlight: Al Nigro

Al Nigro, U.S. Army, has been playing golf for the past 66 years and has participated in our programs for two years at Eagle Trace Golf Club. 

When talking about his experience in our programs, he said: “First Tee is a great program. We have about 20 students with 3 golf professionals. With today’s rates of $100 per hour for a typical golf lesson, this free program is an incredible gift! Thank you!”

Interested in joining our veterans’ programs?  Please visit our website for more information.

Mission United Summer 2023 Veterans Programs

Our summer veterans’ programs with Mission United Summer were a huge success!

These programs were hosted July through August at Weston Hills, Eagle Trace Golf Club, and Cooper Colony Golf Course. 

One veteran participant, Bob Arnold, said, “The golf professionals were great.  They are so knowledgeable and teach the techniques to get any golfer, no matter their skill level, to hit the ball better and improve their scoring.  Also, the program helped recreate some of the camaraderie between us veterans from the old days. This program was a great blessing. Thank you.”

Special thanks to the host clubs for providing the venues for our veteran participants.  This incredible program is funded by the Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. Foundation.

Register For USGA National Development Program

The USGA has launched the U.S. National Development Program. This program will identify, train, develop, fund, and support the nation’s most promising junior players – regardless of cultural, geographical, or financial background – to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game. The program’s elite juniors, amateurs and young professionals will be invited to join one of three national teams with dedicated staff and resources and compete internationally under the U.S. flag. There will also be a demonstrated commitment to reach players from underrepresented communities and ensure they have the resources to progress within the sport’s strongest competitive and developmental opportunities.

To learn more and to register your child, please visit the USNDP website.

Volunteer At TimberTech Championship

Par Caterers are looking for nonprofit groups, booster teams, sport teams, or even school clubs to volunteer in their concession stands at the TimberTech Championship.   The TimberTech Championship is one of our major sponsors and is our local PGA Tour Champions event held at Broken Sound.

Volunteers will help assist with grilling, wrapping food, serving beverages, and running our point-of-sale system. As a thank you for all your hard work they will provide a donation back to the volunteer organization.  

The dates are Wednesday, November 1st through Sunday, November 5th.  For more information, contact Kelly Isenhower at [email protected].

Fun Time At The Connect Event

We recently held a CONNECT event at PGA Tour Superstore in Plantation. Over 70 people attended this fun night of networking and golf contests, including our students. There was some fun competition for putting, closest to the pin, and longest drive. 

SHOUT OUT to the store General Manager and Chapter Director Ray Vital for hosting the event.

Program Partner Spotlight– Chiera Foundation

Recently, one of our program partners, the Chiera Family Foundation hosted its 30th Anniversary Gala fundraiser and Golf Classic at the Polo Club of Boca Raton. The two-day event raised over $275,000 with over 350 supporters in attendance.

This year, we have completed two N.I.C.K.’s golf sessions for kids undergoing chemotherapy.

“One hundred percent of what we raise goes directly to sending kids to camp and college,” Lou Chiera said. “We also run two other programs N.I.C.K.’s Golf and N.I.C.K.’s Ice Skating, which gives kids a break from their treatments and teaches them and their friends and siblings how to golf and ice skate.”

To learn more, visit the foundation’s website.

Jake Has A Great Club Drive

Jake Feldman, a high school student and long-time volunteer, organized a Club Drive amongst his personal network of friends and associates. He collected over 150 clubs and delivered them to us before going out to play in the 100-Hole Challenge. Jake has raised thousands of dollars to help support the children and veterans of our Chapter. Thank you, Jake!

POY For Rafa- Wow!

Rafa Barreto was awarded the Gold Coast Junior Golf Foundation Player of the Year in the 11-12 age division! He has been a participant at Grand Palms since 2018 and the Davie program since 2021. Rafa won 2 tournaments, finished runner-up once, had three 3rd place titles, and finished in the top five in nine out of 11 tournaments this season.

The mission of the GCJGF is to provide junior golfers under the age of nineteen the opportunity to participate in organized golf competitions or golf related events with others their age and skills level. An emphasis is placed on the benefits to life, society, and community that can be derived through Education, Leadership, Teamwork, and Fellowship by participating in a sport where each individual player is responsible for playing under the rules of golf and fair play.