Time to enroll your children in our First Tee programs. Summer camps are just around the corner.
Our program locations include:
• Keiser University Golf Coaching Center • Commons Park Golf Learning Center • John Prince Golf Learning Center • The Golf Club of Jupiter • Madison Green Country Club • Michael B. Finnegan Learning Center – Dyer Park • North Palm Beach Country Club • Okeeheelee Golf Course • Park Ridge Golf Course • Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course • PGA TOUR Superstore – Palm Beach Gardens • Southwinds Golf Course • Wellington National Golf Club • Park Ridge • Westchester Country Club • The Village Golf Club
Congratulations to John Linn for winning our 2021 Volunteer of the Year award. John Linn has been volunteering at both Eagle Trace Golf Course and Weston Hills for three years. Veteran Outreach Director, Jack Bloomfield stated, “John has been an amazing volunteer with our veterans. Our Coaches along with all of our veteran participants truly appreciate John for his ongoing support of this very impactful program.”
“I thoroughly enjoy volunteering for our Mission United program,” said John. “I take great joy in serving those who served our country. It has been an especially rewarding experience for me to a part of this program.”
Picture above, left to right: Jack Bloomfield and John Linn.
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 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.
The Kiwanis Club of Tamarac invited three Chapter participants and a Coach for a complimentary foursome to their yearly golf tournament and fundraiser.
Students from our Leadership Series in partnership with the PGA TOUR Superstore were selected to play that included Jasiah Bowie, Ryan Shimony, Isabella Rubio and Coach Robert Ferzoco (pictured above middle). The event was held in February at the Woodmont Country Club in Tamarac. The golf tournament was an 18-hole scramble where our team posted a score of 61, including 9 birdies in a row. Chapter participant Isabella Rubio (pictured above right) won longest drive in the woman’s category.
A special thanks to the Kiwanis Tamarac Foundation Golf Committee for this special invitation for our students and Coach Robert. Thank you Linda Brown-Doriot, Michele McMahon, Wayne Linton, Neal Glassman, and Aneatra King.
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, we receive 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.
Club Drive Weekend is open to all golfers and country clubs. Golfers can make their donation at any PGA TOUR Superstore location or any of our drop off locations.
Country clubs promote the weekend to their members and pile up the donated clubs in the cart barn. We 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 Chairman Dan Young. “Area golfers and club members really enjoy cleaning out their trunks and garages and 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 [email protected] for more information.
Our Chapter has begun a new partnership with the Orange Bowl Committee and launched a community outreach program at the Lauderdale Lakes Middle School. The program is scheduled to introduce First Tee golf and life skills curriculum to five middle schools in Broward County over a two week time frame. Twenty-nine students attended the class taught by First Tee Coaches Karen Michaels and Robert Ferzoco.
Special thanks to Terry De’Marcus, Coordinator of the Orange Bowl Committee Outreach Program for helping us develop this new partnership to serve the students of Broward County.
Our Chapter of First Tee falls under the umbrella of First Tee – Florida Gold Coast (FGC), one of the largest First Tee organizations in the country serving Broward, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties. FGC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of representatives from the Broward, Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast chapters. Dan Young, President of the Broward Chapter accepted the role of FGC Chairman at the Board of Directors’ Annual Meeting in December.
“During his tenure as the Broward chapter President, Dan has elevated all aspects of our goals and successes,” said Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta. “I have learned a great deal from him personally. As our new FGC Chairman he has accepted the role of serving the entire organization and our thousands of children and veteran students in South Florida.”
Dan is the CEO at Young Consulting Group. Their services include Outsourced Accounting, CFO Services and Consulting for owners of privately held companies. Dan also serves as COO at Stellar Public Adjusting Services. They advocate on behalf of home and business owners to ensure they receive everything they are entitled to under their policy.
Dan is active in community service, where he serves on the board of several organizations, including First Tee – Florida Gold Coast, First Tee – Broward, Lutheran Services Florida, Tower Club Fort Lauderdale, HANDY, the Legends at Weston Hills Condominium Association, and Weston Hills Country Club.
He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Miami, a Masters in Accounting and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University. Dan has been a resident of the Fort Lauderdale area since 1998 where he presently lives with his wife Nayibe. He is committed to lifelong learning and is passionate about living a healthy lifestyle through exercise and golf.
Our Chapter recently began a new outreach program to serve the students of Children’s Harbor at their main campus located in Pembroke Pines. This new 9-week program has 10 participants.
Established in 1996, Children’s Harbor is a nationally accredited child welfare organization that is dedicated to three very specific areas within the foster care system: Keeping siblings together while they are in foster care, strengthening families who are in crisis within our community and guiding teens who have “aged out” of the foster care system alone.
Natalie Sosa tied for 3rd place in the girls’ age group 12 – 14 at a recent South Florida PGA Links Tour event held at the Jupiter Dunes Golf Club in Jupiter, FL.
“My game has approved because of Coach Sean,” said Natalie. “I really appreciate his coaching, guidance and leadership which has helped me increase my confidence and golf skills. Thank you to the entire First Tee organization for your unwavering support and for always going above and beyond for the students.”
Enroll your children in our First Tee programs as golf is the sport of business and the sport of a lifetime!
Our program locations include: – Davie Golf Club – Hollywood Beach Golf Club – Parkland Golf & Country Club – PGA TOUR Superstore – Plantation – Pompano Beach Golf Club – Cooper Colony Golf & Country Club – The Club at Weston Hills – The Bridges at Springtree Golf Club – Eagle Trace Golf Club
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.
SHOUT OUT to Gary Collins, Chairman of the 100-Hole Challenge, all the participating clubs and the members of the FLCMAA Seminole Regional Charity Committee.
Pictured above, left to right, accepting the 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.
Coach Willie recently began a new First Tee session with the Pace Center for Girls, a long time chapter program partner. Pictured above left: Coach Willie Scott demonstrates the pendulum technique to Makia, Amira, and Jasmine for speed control at our new Westside Golf Complex.
Pace Center for Girls Treasure Coast currently serves St. Lucie County and was founded in 1998 in Ft Pierce, Florida. Pace Treasure Coast is one of 21 centers across the state of Florida and serves a capacity of 56 girls. Since 1998, Pace Treasure Coast has served over 1,000 girls by providing academic, social services and transition services in a year-round day program.
