Congratulations to Chapter participant, Aahan Asthana, on his recent win at the South Florida PGA Prep Tour tournament at Trident Golf Club! Aahan posted a smooth score of 72 (+1)! He is a participant in Coach Wayne’s program at Jensen Beach Golf Club.
We are excited to announce that we recently began a new program with students from Project Lift. The program will begin for 4 weeks at Fairwinds Golf Club and then transition to our new Westside golf facility for the last 4 weeks. Coaches Willie Scott and Mark Cammarene, PGA will be coaching the 8-week program.
Project Lift is dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk teens and their families through treatment of substance use disorders, mental health counseling, mentoring, and vocational skills training
Chapter President Andrew Hunt and fellow Director Ken Duke both personally support Project Lift and have been instrumental in their growth over the last 10+ years.
We are delighted to announce that we have officially moved into our new home at Sailfish Sands Golf Course, formerly known as Martin County Golf Course.
“We are very excited about our new partnership with Martin County and Sailfish Sands,” said Chapter President Andrew Hunt. “The improvements and investments in the facility will allow us to reach hundreds of kids, teens and veterans each year.”
Our new office is located inside of the pro-shop at 2000 SE St. Lucie Blvd, Stuart 34996.
Coming soon to Sailfish Sands: A state-of-the-art double decker driving range is set to be completed this summer! All hitting bays offer the latest in Top-Tracer technologies. We are excited to start programming this summer and making a positive impact on the youth and veterans of Martin County.
Golf is a sport that grandparents can play with their children and their grandchildren.
Our program locations include:
• Crane Watch Club
• The Saints at Port St. Lucie Golf Course
• The Champions Club
• Trident Golf Club
• Riverbend Country Club
• Jensen Beach Golf Club
• Fairwinds Golf Course
• Sailfish Sands Golf Course
For more information and to register, please visit our website.
Scotch & Sharks recently made a generous donation of $3,000 to our Chapter.
Pictured above, Janelle Johnson, Manager of Operations, attended an event at Salute Market to receive both the big and the little check.
Scotch & Sharks was born in the Bahamas over a bottle of Lagavulin and a bull shark that wouldn’t give up without a fight. Scotch & Sharks host events to cultivate relationships and let business flow organically. Loosen up the tie, or even better lose it. Scotch & Sharks is by invitation only and proudly entertains South Florida’s executives and professionals who align with our values: Community. Integrity. Comradery.
Scotch & Sharks members recognize the inherent social responsibility that goes along with the successful business. They donate 100% of their raised funds to local charitable organizations that are making a difference in our community. They also roll up our sleeves and donate their time to these same charities.
It took a few years, but we finally broke through and took the crown as the non-profit to raise the most money participating in the annual Seminole Region Club Manager’s Association 100-Hole Challenge. Each year, clubs and supporters help us raise funds for programs by playing 100 holes in one day (some players take a little longer!).
Our three chapters (Palm Beaches, Treasure Coast and Broward) combined to raise a winning total of $201,183. With our first-place prize, matching grant and other funds raised by CMAA we received an additional $22,000 which will split among our three chapters. Look out for us in 2022!
This fundraising initiative only works with the help of participating clubs and players. If you or your club are interested in participating in 2022, please contact [email protected] for more information.
Pictured above, left to right, accepting the 2021 first-place prize: Anthony Coletta- Treasure Coast Director of Operations, Carl Mistretta- Executive Director, Emily Valentine- Director of Program Development and David Trout- Development Director.
Please mark your calendars for April 23rd and 24th. It is time to clean out the garage and your trunk of your old golf equipment. Through the generosity of local golfers and country clubs, our Chapter receives thousands of donated golf clubs each year. Some can be used by our high school students and veterans, but many are too big or too stiff for children. We partner with Blake’s Golf Shop to sell the remaining clubs and the funds raised help us to buy child appropriate clubs and to support our mission and programs in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties.
Club Drive Weekend is open to all golfers and country clubs. Golfers can make their donation at any PGA TOUR Superstore location, MoonGolf on PGA Boulevard or Blakes Golf Shop in Lake Worth. Country clubs promote the weekend to their members and pile up the donated clubs in the cart barn. First Tee will then come by the following week to pick everything up. An IRS donation receipt is provided to all donors.
“We have about one-half of the courses in our territory helping out with Club Drives each year,” said Chapter President Bobby Hendel. “Club members really enjoy donating their old clubs and bags to a great cause that serves thousands of children and veterans in South Florida.”
Country clubs interested in participating or hosting a Club Drive this year should contact David Trout, PGA at [email protected] for more information.
The annual First Tee Leadership Series in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore concluded last month at the Palm Beach Gardens store. 10 students from our chapter participated.
The program is an interactive five-week series designed to provide teens the opportunity to discover their personal values and emerging leadership strengths. Through the series, teens also begin to explore potential career fields based on those findings and frame out multi-year goals to guide them as they navigate future career opportunities.
The Leadership Series – which was co-created between First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore – is being hosted in communities across the country where there is a store and a First Tee chapter. PGA TOUR Superstore general managers will facilitate the interactive sessions either virtually or in stores.
Once the participants complete the series, they will be eligible to apply for the First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA TOUR Superstore. The Summit will be held this summer at PGA TOUR Superstore Chairman Arthur M. Blank’s West Creek Ranch in Montana. Forty teens will be selected for the Summit where they will take part in interactive workshops and outdoor leadership trainings.
Calling our nation’s heroes. Did you know that we offer FREE programs for veterans six days a week? Any skill level welcome, including beginners. We provide instruction, golf equipment and the opportunity to play on area courses. Please contact Coach Dave McNulty, PGA at 561-324-4176 or [email protected] for more information.
Staff Sergeant Shaw stated, “Being able to connect with my veteran brothers through the First Tee veterans’ program has improved my life.”
Our veterans have significantly improved their golf game, but more importantly, they have improved their life and are inspired by their fellow veterans and coaches that are involved in our program. Several of our veterans have additionally began volunteering for us, continuing their service to give back to the community through the greatest game- golf.
Douglas added, “This program has changed my life and the life of my children who are also involved with the First Tee program.”
In 2021, we served 179 veterans with generous grants from Pratt & Whitney and the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation.
Jacie started with our chapter in fifth grade. Wasn’t that just yesterday? Now she is a high school senior playing on the Palm Beach Gardens golf team and will be attending college starting in August!
Chapter student Jacie Goodman has enjoyed an incredible eight years as a First Tee student. She attended the Game Changers Academy in Boise, Idaho and the John Deere Drive Your Future Academy in Detroit, Michigan. She has volunteered as an Assistant Coach and worked at the Els Center of Excellence serving students on the autism spectrum.
During her sophomore year she asked about joining our caddie program. There was an opening available at Old Marsh Golf Club and her journey began to become an Evans Scholar. Through the Western Golf Association, the Evans Scholars Foundation awards full tuition and housing scholarship to deserving caddies. There are currently 1,070 promising young men and women at 22 leading universities across the country.
To earn this prestigious and very competitive scholarship candidates must demonstrate:
– A strong caddie record………Jacie will have over 160 loops in 3 years.
– Excellent academics…………How about a 3.7 GPA.
– Financial need………………..Jacie grew up in a single parent household.
– Outstanding character……….First Tee, Sports Management Magnet, Els for Autism volunteer, National Honor Society, Golf Team Captain.
“The members at Old Marsh simply love Jacie,” said Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta. “It has been an incredible three-year experience for her. We are so appreciative to the members and golf staff at Old Marsh, especially Caddie Master Ron Letellier who played such an integral role in her success. She is not only our first chapter student to win the scholarship, but she is also the first female caddie from Florida to become an Evans Scholar!”
Jacie applied to 9 Evans Scholar colleges and was accepted to Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and many others. The last step was earning the Evans Scholarship. During her scholarship interview, there was not a dry eye in the house. She was awarded the scholarship and will be attending the University of Michigan in the Fall. Go Blue!
“Michigan was always her first choice, and her dreams have come true,” said Jacie’s mom Paula Goodman. “She worked so hard for this scholarship. It took so many people to make it happen for her- First Tee for the opportunity, the members of Old Marsh and the Evans Scholars Foundation. These generous people have changed Jacie’s life.”
Pictured above, left to right: John Braniff- Evans Foundation Director and Old Marsh member, Jack Druga- VP Development Evans Foundation, Paula Goodman, Jacie, Ron Letellier, Carl Mistretta and Emily Valentine.
