Category: News

In a tournament week full of student opportunities, it all began with Chapter students Marley Pedrique, Elisa Hernandez and Gavin Palmer playing the Monday Pro-Am with PGA TOUR professional Kevin Velo and Chapter CEO Carl Mistretta Jr.

The highlight of the day was Elisa made her first hole-in-one on hole #5.  The shot never left the stick, hit a few feet in front of the hole and rolled straight in the hole like a putt.

“These teens can play,” said Mistretta. “The girls even played the same tees as me and bombed it by me all day.”

Tuesday of tournament week featured our first ever Junior Day where our students competed in a four-hole tournament on PGA National’s par-3 Staple Course.

This new event was a HUGE success, with nearly 100 kids and teens in attendance. PGA Tour professional Jackson Suber stopped by to share insights on the game and inspire the young golfers and he hit a few shots.  After the tournament, the teens had the incredible opportunity to meet Jordan Spieth. 

“This was awesome,” said one of our parents.  “We should do this every year and get them out there playing with each other and competing.”

Chapter students, staff, and Coaches attended the annual Women’s Leadership Forum on Wednesday of tournament week. The forum was an enlightening and educational event attended by more than 150 current and emerging women leaders to join in the celebration to discuss leadership development and female empowerment.

Our table members were dressed from head to toe by Marie Birdie, our new corporate sponsor and a brand dedicated to empowering women through sport.  The ladies proudly sported their signature pink jackets, shirts, and skirts or pants, embodying confidence and professionalism.

Palm Beach County Mayor and Chapter Board Member Maria Marino opened the event with a compelling speech on community and leadership, setting the tone for meaningful discussions. Paula D’Arienzo, Head of Hospitality at FIFA, delivered the keynote address, offering insights into global leadership and her experiences in the sports industry.

The event concluded on a high note with a heartfelt check presentation from Todd Fleming, Executive Director of the Cognizant Classic, to the Alliance for Women Executives (AWE), supporting their mission to advance women’s education and leadership.

Chapter staff members Savannah Mansueti, Gabbie Budd, and Nyla Sims attended alongside five Chapter students: Jenna Missett, Elise Rivas Mucklow, Reilly Friedman, Alyssa Cleckley, and Sofia Mayer.  Marie Birdie representatives Rebekah Alfond and Ellen Breighner also joined our table.

Our students have had the fantastic opportunity to serve as ball runners throughout TGL’s inaugural year. After a recent match pitting Jupiter Links against The Bay Golf Club, Kevin Kisner and Shane Lowry were kind enough to sign gloves and balls and spend time with our students alongside host Roger Steele.

Check out the interview on Instagram of Chapter student Taylor Pedrique about her experiences as a ball runner.

ur Chapter participated in Speaklife End Bullying’s inaugural golf tournament at Tesoro in Port Saint Lucie as players and a proud sponsor. President and Trustee Andrew Hunt, Director Wes Hightower, and staff members Gabbie Budd and Steven Andrade enjoyed a fantastic day supporting this cause. Speaklife End Bullying made the event even more special with the presence of NFL safety and Speaklife advocate Justin Simmons. We are delighted to stand alongside Speaklife in their mission to end bullying and empower young lives.

Driven by a profound personal experience with bullying in 2000, Dan and Rebecca Burd founded Speak Life Performing Arts Company with the mission to empower students to act beyond awareness through performing arts and digital theater in educational assembly programs. They are aiming to reach one million students in one thousand schools, fostering a culture shift towards positive change, with many more impactful stories yet to be told.

Enroll your children at one of our 10 Broward Program Locations. 

• All Golf at CB Smith Park
• The Bridges at Springtree
• The Club at Weston Hills
• Cooper Colony
• Country Club of Coral Springs
• Davie Golf Club
• Eagle Trace GC
• Palm-Aire CC
• Pompano Beach GC
• TOPGOLF- Pompano

We continue our partnership the Boys & Girls Clubs to bring kids a fun, engaging introduction to golf. Our programs combine golf fundamentals with exciting warm-up exercises and games to encourage teamwork, collaboration, and personal growth.

Through interactive activities that promote both athletic and life skills, participants build confidence while having fun. Whether they are learning the basics of grip and stance or participating in creative challenges that test their coordination and communication, each session is filled with energy and enthusiasm.

Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from the partnership through the summer. Our Coaches and students are excited about learning, playing, and growing together!

Nolan Pratt is an outstanding First Tee All-Star and an inspiration to all who know him. Nolan is currently part of the prestigious Evans Scholarship Program, where he works as a caddy at Indian Creek. Nolan also volunteers to mentor and coach up-and-coming junior golfers at our First Tee locations in Davie and CB Smith Park.

His commitment to helping others while furthering his growth is a testament to his leadership and character. Nolan, we enjoy watching you evolve and shine as a true leader on and off the course is a pleasure. Keep up the great work — your future is bright, and we are excited to see all the amazing things you’ll continue to accomplish!

Stan joined our Chapter Board in 2020.  He made an immediate and dynamic impact on our organization.  He represented and promoted our Chapter to the community and his clients.  With his love for playing, he jumped headfirst into the 100-Hole Challenge.  In his first year playing, his goal was to raise $2,000. That took about two weeks, and he ended his first year raising over $10,000.  For the next five years, he was our top fundraising individual and Board Member.  One year, he played the challenge in Scotland!  (Pictured above left: Stan on the Swilcan Bridge) We are hoping we can convince him to continue to play the 100-Hole Challenge.

Stan is a Partner at Schachne Architects & Builders, Inc., a full-service in-house architecture, interior design and construction company specializing in custom homes, house additions, interior/exterior remodeling and commercial office design. Most of their work is concentrated in Broward County. Over the past 20 years, their clientele has appreciated the hard work, professionalism and dedication they commit to every project.

“Stan was the ideal board member,” said Chapter President Greg Thompson.  “He was always dedicated, engaging and behind our mission.  We truly appreciate his five years of service to our children and veterans.”

(Pictured above right: Chapter Program Director Luis Damas and Program Coordinator Robert Ferzoco presented Stan with a gift recognizing his five years of service as a Board Member.)

We recently began our Arc Broward special needs spring golf programs. Coach Robert Ferzoco teaches the program at Arc Broward’s main campus in Sunrise.  Thank you to Tonya Ricker, Director of Children’s Services, and the entire staff for making these programs possible.

ARC Broward’s Mission is to transform the community by providing opportunities for people with disabilities and other life challenges to realize their full potential.

We are proud to announce that the South Florida PGA has selected First Tee/PGA HOPE Veteran Richard George to represent PGA HOPE South Florida as a member of Team South Florida at the prestigious 2025 PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup! This exciting opportunity showcases Richard’s dedication to the game and his remarkable journey as a veteran.

The 2025 PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup will take place on May 11-12 at the beautiful Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, NC. This two-day event will unite twelve teams, each selected through an application process by PGA of America Sections nationwide.

We wish Richard and all the members of Team South Florida the best of luck at the 2025 PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup. We’re thrilled to see Richard representing his fellow veterans, First Tee – Broward, and the South Florida PGA community in this incredible event!

Our veterans’ program recently began a 6-week session at Topgolf Pompano. Twenty-one veterans registered and attended the first class.  Coaches Michele Conte and Robert Ferzoco teach the program with help from volunteers Troy Nelson and Gary Moses each week.

Special thank you to Topgolf managers William Reynolds, Will Jones and their staff for their continued support and communication organizing these impactful programs.  Thank you to Topgolf Pompano for donating the hitting bays.

Please visit our website to learn more about our registering for our veterans’ programs.