Category: Palm Beaches

Jayda Dookie represented our Chapter at the John Deere Drive Your Future Academy in San Francisco. This is an all-girls event that focused on leadership development, remaining active in the game of golf, learning the value/impact of volunteerism, and recognizing the importance of teamwork. 

Jayda described her experience at the event:

“This academy was very engaging. It was an eye-opening experience. The academy featured mostly female guest speakers and they discussed different skills and gave us background on the different paths life might take us on. They offered informative discussions on how to market ourselves for college admissions and our future. We also had lots of fun. We volunteered at the Pomeroy Center, which helps with rehabilitation and education for people with disabilities. We spent a few hours teaching people how to play golf. I was very proud to make a difference in their lives. We went sightseeing at Muir Woods and took a boat tour around the Bay.  We played The Olympic Club, home of the 2012 U.S Open and 2021 Women’s Open. I just loved the course. I am so grateful to the First Tee and John Deere for the opportunity. I hope many more young women enjoy this experience next year. It really was life changing!

Our Chapter has recently welcomed a new Trustee family. 

Longtime supporters Jeffrey and Marion Webster (pictured above) support our chapter through the Webster Family Foundation. Jeff’s father, John A. Webster Jr, along with his wife Ann, established the foundation, which has generously contributed to many important causes, including the Orchard House, the New England Veterinary Medical Association and the New Bedford Whaling Museum. John was an avid golfer and a longtime member of Nashawtuc Country Club and the Johns Island Club. 

Jeff and Marion have continued the tradition of the Webster Family Foundation with a Trustee pledge. Jeff and Marion are dedicated golfers and are looking forward to attending their first Trustee meeting this fall at Pebble Beach.

Summer camps and programs in full swing. Register now!

Our program locations include: 
• Commons Park Golf Learning Center
• Drive Shack
• John Prince Golf Learning Center
• The Golf Club of Jupiter 
• Keiser University Golf Coaching Center
• Madison Green Country Club
• Michael B. Finnegan Learning Center – Dyer Park
• North Palm Beach Country Club
• Okeeheelee Golf Course
• Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course
• Park Ridge Golf Course
• Southwinds Golf Course
• Westchester Country Club
• The Village Golf Club
For more information and to register, please visit our website.

Chapter alumnus Tyler Mistretta shot three under par for two days at Hobe Sound Golf Club to qualify for the U.S. Amateur.  This was his first attempt to qualify for the U.S. Amateur. 

He shot even par in his first round. During round two, he started off hot with an eagle on the first hole. He stayed red-hot with five birdies over the next seven holes for a 32 on the front nine. He closed with a 37 on the back with eight pars and a single bogey for his final round of 69. Chapter Program Director Zack Anderton caddied for the second round.

Tyler earned the second of two spots to advance to the U.S. Amateur at the Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J. August 15th to 21st. Nearly 8,000 players from around the world tried to qualify for one of the 312 available spots in the tournament. The 312 players will play a two-day stroke play tournament to narrow the field to 64 players to compete in match play to determine the eventual champion.

“This is simply unbelievable!” exclaimed Tyler.  “So many people help make this happen from my parents, First Tee staff, the SFPGA, FSGA and AJGA, Jack Nicklaus, Bob Ford, my high school coaches to Coach White and my teammates at Florida Southern, Ed Humenick my swing coach, Drake Kelso my club fitter and Stephen Sweeney my putting coach.  I just cannot thank all the people that have helped me achieve this goal in my first attempt.”

Tyler is going into his sophomore year at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. He is a member of the Mocs golf team and is the first Florida Southern men’s golfer to play in the U.S. Amateur since Marc Dull in 2016.

Our annual golf tournament will be held on Tuesday, October 18th at The Bear’s Club. Sponsorships are now available for the event. Our day at Jack Nicklaus’ home course includes lunch, gift bag, golf, caddy, prizes, dinner and drinks. All players compete in both gross and net divisions. 

12noon lunch and warm-up, 1:00pm shotgun. Play your own ball, no scramble, limited field. One best ball of the foursome. This is your chance to join our current sponsors of Andrew and Cindy Brock, PGA TOUR Superstore and Comcast. We are offering a variety of sponsor opportunities.

For more information contact [email protected] or call 561-307-4060.

Want to play 6 free rounds of golf? It is time again to play 100 holes in one day to support the thousands of children and veterans in our programs. Last year BallenIsles, Old Palm, Bear Lakes, Banyan Cay and Quail Ridge participated and raised over $80,000. Who else is in this year?

Country Clubs can play and so can individual golfers. For more information please visit our website or contact Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta at [email protected] or 561-307-4060.

Coach Nancy Stuart, LPGA offers First Tee, summer camps, veterans and special needs programs at John Prince Learning Center. Please visit our website for her program schedule and to register.

Coach Nancy’s student Finn Wilby (pictured above) is 8 years old and new to the game of golf. He just completed his first session in a First Tee program at John Prince. He completed his 9 week session by earning a first-place finish in his group in the final tournament. 

Contact info: Coach Nancy Stuart at (561) 628- 7354 or [email protected]

Staci won a playoff on the second hole after posting a score of 77 at Rolling Hills CC in Wichita, Kansas. She made 2 birdies in the last 3 holes to earn a spot in the playoff and ultimately qualify for the 73rd US Girls Junior Championship to be held in July at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Greene, Kentucky. Conditions were tough at the qualifier with non-stop rain, wind, and 50-degree weather. There was so much rain the field was only able to complete 5 holes the 1st day.

Coach Katrina Howard, LPGA is offering a new summer camp program at Drive Shack in West Palm Beach. Weekly camps (Monday through Friday) are scheduled from 10:00am – 2:00pm with lunch provided. The camps are open to a limited group of boys and girls ages 6 to 15. Camps are being offered in June, July and August. 

Please visit our website for more information and to register.

Contact info: Coach Katrina Howard, LPGA at (908) 930- 7978 or [email protected]

Chapter student Billy Reid has been a two-sport athlete at Palm Beach Gardens High for four years. He had an incredible career in both golf and baseball and played in the state tournament in both sports his senior year. The PBG High baseball team won Districts and Regionals and lost a very close series to Stoneman Douglas at the state championship. 

Billy received a long list of individual honors in baseball including being named to the Palm Beach All-American Team, awarded All District honors, named to the Palm Beach Post and Sun Sentinel All Star County teams, started in the All County All Star Game at Roger Dean in June and was nominated for Player of the Year. His batting average was .456, scored 25 runs on 47 hits and added 19 Runs Batted In. He also had four saves this year on the mound.

He has now turned the page on baseball and will be playing on the golf team at Keiser University on a First Tee scholarship. He concluded his high school golf career by earning an individual spot in the state tournament with a round of one under 71 at Regionals. 

They did it once again! In 2022, The Honda Classic raised and distributed over $6.4 million to 100 local charities including $2 million to the Nicklaus Children Healthcare Foundation.  Their charitable giving broke their previous record and impacted the lives of 100,000 children in 2022.

Honda Classic Executive Director Emeritus Ken Kennerly and new Honda Classic Executive Director Andrew George presented the BIG check to summer camp students and Chapter Executive Carl Mistretta, Director of Program Development Emily Valentine and Coach Gail Galin.  

The Honda Classic is a Founding Partner of our chapter and Kennerly serves as Vice Chairman of our Board of Directors.  The tournament’s financial support to our organization each year represents one of the largest PGA TOUR event donations to a First Tee chapter.  Through our many events, engagements and awarded grants in partnership with the tournament, the total amount donated to our chapter in 2022 was $170,890.00.

Summer camps and programs in full swing. Register now!

Our program locations include: 

• Keiser University Golf Coaching Center
• Commons Park Golf Learning Center
• Drive Shack
• 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
• Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course
• Park Ridge Golf Course
• PGA TOUR Superstore – Palm Beach Gardens
• Southwinds Golf Course
• Wellington National Golf Club
• Westchester Country Club
• The Village Golf Club
 
For more information and to register, please visit our website.