Category: News

Wylie And Staci Bring Home The Ws!

Chapter students Wylie Inman and Staci Pla each won their respective age divisions at The Junior Honda Classic. The tournament is a premier competitive and developmental golf experience hosted at PGA National featuring players from over 20 states and 16 foreign countries.

Wylie the “Coyote” shot 68-75 for a one under total of 143 in the Boys 13-14 Division on the Fazio Course. Coyote was the only player under par in his division. Staci shot 71-72 for a one under total of 143 in the Girls 15-18 Division on the Palmer Course. Staci was the only player under par in her division. Both Wylie and Staci have set the goal to play D1 college golf.

“We have many of our students playing high-level competitive junior golf,” said Carl Mistretta, Chapter Executive Director. “But to bring home a win in a tough field is something very special. The Junior Honda always has a strong field of junior players. It is a hard tournament to win. Way to go Staci and Coyote!”

Pictured above left: Coyote with Ken Kennerly, Honda Classic Executive Director Emeritus and our Chapter Vice President.

Pictured above right: Staci with Ken and Andrew George, Honda Classic Executive Director.

It’s Almost Honda Classic Time

February 23rd to 26th

PGA National Resort & Spa, The Champion Course

Need tournament tickets or hospitality? Please visit the tournament website.

Want to play where the pros play?  We play the Sunday pins from the PGA Tour event on Monday, February 27th.  Please visit our website for more information and the registration form.

Mark your calendars for the First Tee Junior Clinic on Tuesday, February 21st. Please arrive at 3:15pm. 

Chapter Ambassadors are invited to network in our special section at the Bear Trap Reserve on Thursday of tournament week.  Parking, food and beverages are included!  For more information, please visit our website.

Winter Programs Open For Registration

Winter is here and the weather has cooled off. Enroll your children in our Palm Beach County programs. We have 16 program locations across the county.

Classes are grouped by ages. All ages (from 2 to 18 years old) are invited to Saturday classes at the Finnegan Learning Center at Dyer Park!

2-3 years old: Little Chippers
4-6 years old: Rugrats
7-9 years old
10-14 years old
15-18 years old

For more information and to register, 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.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters spent six weeks with Coach Gabbie, LPGA at Pinewood Elementary school. The bigs and littles had a blast learning how to golf and our First Tee life skills curriculum!

Girls Golf – Register Now

LPGA Girls golf is back in action! Coach Gabbie, LPGA, and her students have spent the last two weeks learning how to putt & chip. Next, they are onto full swing. Ages are 6 to 12 and 13 to 18. There is still time to register to join this girls-only Saturday morning class at Champions Club!

YMCA Program Partnership

Coaches Ben Miller, PGA and Gabbie Budd, LPGA and have been spending time at the YMCA of the Treasure Coast in Stuart with 3rd through 5th grade after school participates. Each week the Coaches spend time teaching the game of golf along with our core values. The Y kids are always ready to learn and are great participants. 

Hobe Sound Golf Club Welcomes John Persher

Hobe Sound Golf Club recently welcomed John Pershern, PGA as their new Head Golf Professional. John was happy to give of his time to the boys from Banner Lake Community Center by giving some pointers on putting technique and helping with a friendly competition. Chapter Director and Coach John Sedwitz coaches this outreach program at Hobe Sound Golf Club on Tuesday afternoons. Thanks for the great work and dedication Coach John!

Ken Duke & Friends

Chapter Director Ken Duke generously donated $50,000 to support the children and veterans of our Chapter. He surprised the attendees at our End of Year Bash with this incredible grant from his annual golf tournament.

Ken is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He formerly played on the PGA Tour and won the 2013 Travelers Championship. Pictured right: Ken gave some full-swing pointers to a student from the Police Athletic League.

“Ken has been a great friend to our organization,” said Chapter President Andrew Hunt. “He is an inspirational ambassador for the PGA Champions Tour and supports junior golf in the Treasure Coast and his home state of Arkansas. His generosity has helped fuel our growth in Martin and St. Lucie Counties.”

Sponsor Spotlight: Marsh & McLennan Agency

Marsh & McLennan Agency is a full-service commercial insurance brokerage that offers business insurance such as property & casualty, company employee benefits and private client services.

MMA has been a consistent partner of our chapter over the last 5 years. On top of serving on the board, Rob Bruce, VP of Commercial Real Estate/Hospitality for MMA, has also started a Young Professionals organization back in 2017 to support the charity. He has spent 5 years building the YP group and recently passed the torch to a fellow chairman, Mathew Kaplan, to continue the legacy.

Chapter Director Robert Bruce II is an associate of Marsh & McLennan Agency. He is a Business Insurance Producer specializing in Real Estate and Hospitality. They have supported Robert’s involvement with First Tee to ensure our local Chapter can consistently provide life changing programs for kids, veterans, and special needs individuals. Contact Robert at [email protected] for more information.

Thank you to Marsh & McLennan to their continued partnership over the years and the future to come.

Jillian Bourdage And Casey Weidenfeld Clinic

Jillian Bourdage, a chapter alumna, and Casey Weidenfeld conducted a first-class clinic for a group of our Broward Veterans. The event was held at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, hosted by their Director of Golf, Julian Gil. Jillian and Casey both grew up as junior golfers in Broward County and now play Division I golf. Jillian is a junior at Ohio State University and Casey is a sophomore at Auburn University. Both girls have won numerous tournaments and awards throughout their careers.