Category: Palm Beaches

Chapter student Asha Farrelly will be a freshman this fall at Dreyfoos Middle School of the Arts. She earned her seat at Dreyfoos after making the All-State Middle School Band on flute. Additionally, she earned first-chair honors in the All-Palm Beach County Band.  Asha performed with an international orchestra, including musicians from 39 states, at Carnegie Hall in New York City. 

Casey joined our First Tee program at John Prince Golf Learning Center 
In 2018. He was a regular attendee and progressed through the first level very quickly.

“He called us last Spring asking if he could volunteer for Summer Camp,” said Coach Nancy Stuart. “He meant every day of the entire summer! Casey was at camp setting everything up around 7:15am every morning.”

Casey helped to teach and instill the same core values and healthy habits he learned as a First Tee student. The students really related to Casey and learned a great deal from him.

It takes three levels of training to complete the First Tee Coach training process. An incredible number of nine of our Coaches attended First Tee Level 2 Coach Training in Orlando in April. 

“Our coaches are enthusiastic and caring individuals that serve as positive mentors and role models to kids and teens of diverse backgrounds,” said Chapter Executive Carl Mistretta. “A coach’s ability to develop impactful relationships with students is the backbone of our program. We make a concentrated effort and allocate funding for coach training each and every year.”

First Tee’s training system is built on research-proven methods of positive youth development, providing coaches with the tools to make students feel safe, included and empowered.

(Picture above from left to right) Coach Connie Capanegra was a First Tee trainer with Sue Boyer, Joe Gerard, Zack Anderton, Gail Galin, Willie Scott, Steven Andrade, Hector Zapata, and Glen Beaver.

When our Chapter was formed in 2009, the members and staff at Admirals Cove were the first country club to support us in many ways, includiing through their foundation. They have continued their generous support for the thirteenth year in a row. 

“First Tee embodies all of the qualities that the Admirals Cove Foundation wishes to support,” said Dick Sheehan, a Chapter Board Member and resident of Admirals Cove. “The club has watched the chapter grow and flourish.”

Pictured above: ACF Board Members Charles Ezrine & Larry Altman with Chapter staff member Emily Valentine and Dick Sheehan.

Limited spots available. Experience what it is like to be a college athlete for 3 days at Keiser University’s Golf Coaching Center

Train on state-of-the-art equipment, play three rounds of golf, stay in the college dorms, and three meals a day are included.

Date: June 28-30

Price: $700

Registration Requirements: Open to students 14-18 years old and enrolled as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in high school

Males required handicap 12.0 or lower, females 14.0 or lower.

Please register on our website. For information, please view the academy flier or contact Connie Capanegra at [email protected]

Jack Druga, Vice President of Development and PGA Ambassador for the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation, has recently joined our Chapter as our newest Director. Before joining Evans, Jack was the longtime head golf professional of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island. 

“We have students caddying at six clubs in Palm Beach County in partnership with the Evans Scholars Foundation,” said Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta. “Caddying is a unique opportunity to meet successful business leaders, save some money for college and eventually apply for this prestigious WGA scholarship. Country clubs can start a teen caddie program even if they do not have a regular caddie program. Our staff and fellow Directors are looking forward to working with Jack to grow teen caddie programs in South Florida.”

Chapter student Jacie Goodman (pictured above with Jack Druga) is our first student to be award the Evans scholarship and she is the first female caddie from Florida. Jacie will be attending Michigan in the Fall.

Jack grew up caddying at Oakmont Country Club, so he understands what an incredible opportunity caddying can provide to high school students.

“We supply teens who are motivated with a great job,” said Jack. “Just imagine if each club allowed even one or two high school students to caddie. I do believe a golf club is improved with the presence of a few teen caddies, even if it’s just on weekends.”

Blake Leon has been a student with Coach Glen since September 2018.  From the first day of class, he has been very enthusiastic about learning and progressing in the game. Just when he was playing his best golf, Covid shut down golf courses and health concerns in his family caused him to stay away from group activities.  He was away from the game for over a year when he returned to lessons last summer.   

Since then, he has embraced every aspect of golf possible including the First Tee curriculum. When Blake finished the Birdie level his mom commented:  “This level was pivotal for Blake.  It had such a positive impact in every area of his life, through the vision casting and goal setting specifically. Golf has added so much exponential growth to all areas of his life. It is so amazing to see him evolve into all he is meant to be, through love of a sport! I’m just so grateful for what the First Tee sessions offer and the support that it provides.”

Coach Glen added: “It is an honor to coach Blake, as he is willing to put in the effort to practice his drills and he takes responsibility for his progress by working cooperatively with his family to attain his goals.  His determination and zeal for the game is electric.”

Marina got the W. She won the Palos Verdes Championship for her second LPGA Tour title, taking the lead with a two-putt birdie on the par-5, 16th hole and parring the final two holes for a one-stroke victory over Jin Young Ko.

“The hard work has paid off,” said Marina, who recently fought a herniated disk in her lower back. “I wasn’t sure if this would ever happen again and if I’m being perfectly honest. It’s been tough. We’re all getting older. I’m getting older. There are so many amazing players out here. I just didn’t know if my mind and body were going to put me back in a position that I was going to be able to do it again. Today was the day.”

Coming back from three strokes behind Hannah Green entering the final round, Marina closed with an impressive 5-under 66 to finish at 10-under 274 at the hilly and windy Palos Verdes Golf Club.

“We are so happy for Marina,” said Chapter President Bobby Hendel. “She has been a great asset to our chapter helping in so many ways. An important life skill that we teach is perseverance, which embodies everything Marina has been through to earn this victory.”

Summer camps are filling up quick. Please register soon for golf camp.
 
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 
• 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. 

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.