Coach Chip Inks’, PGA, class at the Village Golf Club in Royal Palm started back in 2022 with 3 kids. Now, in 2023, 13 kids and teens ranging from ages 7-15 are now attending. One of his students, Sayonee, started lessons when she was 12 years old and played on the varsity team at Royal Palm High School as a freshman. She is now volunteering at our summer camps at Dyer Park.
Please visit our website to learn more about Coach Chip’s programs at Village Golf Club.
We are back in the Glades! Programs are off and running in partnership with Project Lift in Belle Glade! Special Thank you to Mrs. G and Vic Miller for believing in our program and bringing it to the teens of Project Lift!
Program Coordinator Zack Anderton has been coaching a PAL program at Dyer Park. The group from Cabana Colony PAL started off by learning about the fundamentals of golf and even decorated golf balls for some extra fun!
Coach Glen Beaver is very proud of his student Abriella Morrison who recently finished 1st at Jupiter Dunes and has three other 2nd place finishes this year. She is putting in the work and it is paying off. Way to go Abriella!
Coach Chip Inks, PGA, has enjoyed teaching the children at Bethlehem Learning Center. This group is full of Game Changers! The students showed Coach Chip great respect and gave her their full attention. By the end of the classes, each kid learned the ability to hit a golf ball. We are excited about this new partnership.
What a huge month for Chapter students Zoe Shamy and Wylie “Coyote” Inman. We mean HUGE!
COLLEGE GOLF CAMPS: To start out the month, both attended college golf camps at Florida State University (Zoe) and the University of Florida (Wylie). This experience was funded by the Buttercut Country Club Scholarship. BCCC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2021 with the mission to support passionate young golfers with scholarships to Division I Golf Camps with the aim of developing friendships and life experiences on the course.
About the camp experience, Wylie said, “Florida Gator Golf Camp was one of the best weeks I have ever had. Spending time with fellow golfers and Division I golf coaches was an incredible opportunity. Winning the long drive competition and the camp tournament was very cool as I was able to see the work I’m putting in on and off the course is paying off. Thank you Buttercut for this scholarship.”
Zoe expressed, “I had a great time at FSU and learned a lot. I met some great coaches and was introduced to the top level of collegiate golf. I am very thankful to the people at Buttercut who made this experience happen for me.”
FIRST TEE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Next, Zoe and Wylie represented our chapter at the First Tee National Championship at Stanford. Zoe shot rounds of 76–73–76 to finish tied for 12th. Wiley shot 71 the first day and fired a final round of one under 69 to post the lowest round of the tournament in the boys’ division and was the only boy to break 70 for the entire event. He finished in 14th place.
PURE INSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP: Finally, congratulations to the duo for being selected to the 2023 Pure Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee- WOW! We cannot wait to see them play and perform at Pebble Beach in September.
Enroll your children in our Palm Beach County programs. We have 16 program locations across the county. Classes are grouped by ages.
For more information and to register, please visit our website.
The Spirit Charitable Foundation believes change starts by giving back. They are committed to inspiring positive change in the communities where they live and work. The Foundation invests in organizations that have a meaningful social impact on the lives of children and families, service members and the environment, through team member volunteerism, monetary, and in-kind donations. The foundation has given us a generous grant and donated airline tickets for our event raffles.
Veterans participants, Matthew Martinez, Tim Fitzgerald, Tom Kruse, and Kevin Sutton, recently played at Doral Golf Course in Miami, FL thanks to the generosity of the Price Family Foundation. The veterans played in a charity golf tournament raising funds for “Tee Off 4 a Cause – A Safe Haven for Newborns”
William H. “Doc” Dewberry Jr., Air Force, has been playing golf for 60+ years. He has participated in multiple programs with our Coaches for the past 4 years.
When talking about his experience in our programs, he said: “I must give special recognition to my two coaches, Nick Cupper and Steve Voguit. They have helped me tremendously to re-learn how to swing. I was a very good player at one time but due to injuries while serving in the military, I lost much of the use of my lower body when swinging a club. They both have given me expert instruction and I am now hitting the ball exceptionally well. Thank you First Tee – Broward!”
This program is generously sponsored by The Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. Foundation.
Chapter Participant Jahsiah Bowie has been accepted to the First Tee Game Changers Academy in Philadelphia, PA. First Tee Game Changers Academy Honoring Joe Louis Barrow, Jr. is a five-day learning and empowerment academy. Participants selected to attend the academy will participate in important conversations around issues of identity, racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Chapter Participant, David Sandino, has been accepted to the 2023 First Tee Leadership Summit in partnership with PGA Tour Superstore in Montana. The Summit builds on the 5-week local Leadership Series and is designed for teens to explore leadership concepts including building authentic relationships by developing awareness, growing through challenge via positive risk taking, and developing positive self-identity through dynamic outdoor and team building activities.
We cannot wait to hear from these students after they return from these incredible trips!
We held a Connect Event on the 28th floor of Tower Club Fort Lauderdale overlooking the city. Over 70 people attended this fun night of networking.
Coach and Titleist Performance Institute Certified Instructor Jason Taylor gave a presentation on the study of how the human body functions in relation to the golf swing.
Hollywood Beach Golf Club participant Laila Anderson, who started playing golf in the Love Our Nation Outreach program, spoke to the crowd about her growth from our programs. She was even gifted a pull cart for her high school golf team events.
