Category: Palm Beaches

Summer is over and we are beginning our Fall programs. Golf is the sport of business and the sport of a lifetime! Our program locations include: – Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course – College of Golf – Keiser University – Commons Park Golf Learning Center – John Prince Golf Learning Center – The Golf Club of Jupiter – Madison Green Country Club – Finnegan Learning Center- Dyer Park – Okeeheelee Golf Course – Park Ridge Golf Course – PGA Tour Superstore- PBG – Southwinds Golf Course – Wellington National Golf Club For more information and to register, please visit our website.

Birdie Participant, Mateo Muniz recently competed in the 2021 Toski Junior Tournament at Boca Grove last week! When Mateo arrived, he learned that the tournament did not allow caddies. He was up for the challenge! The course was very challenging, and Mateo had to play a few holes in the rain. “It was a great experience and fun course to play,” said Mateo. “Meeting Mr. Toski was so cool! I answered a question correct and received a signed copy of his book!”

It started with a tie for first shooting 74 at the AJGA Visit Tallahassee Junior All-Star event. Staci advanced to the tournament and finished tied 6th, carding two under par 70 in her final round. She then placed 3rd in the AJGA Harold Varner III tournament in Clemmons, NC by going low the last day with a score of 68. Staci finished 2nd in the US Kids World Teen Championship including a first round one under par score of 71. To top it all off, she was selected as the IMG Junior Golf Tour Player of the Year in the Girls 11-14 age division. Way to go Staci!

Where: Keiser University Flagship Campus (Home of 5-time NAIA National Golf Championship titles) College of Golf indoor and outdoor training facilities 2600 N. Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33409 Dates: August 2-4, 2021 Time: 8:30 – 12:30 Ages: Boys and Girls, ages 7-17, all ability levels welcome Price: $210 (Includes instruction, lunch and goodie bag) Sibling discount 50% Please visit our website to register. Questions? Please contact: Peter Crocitto at [email protected]or by 561-519-9740.

Pratt & Whitney staff that included Mary Anne Cannon and Matthey Enochs visited the Finnegan Learning Center in Dyer Park during one of our daily veterans’ programs to meet the group and present a very generous program grant. Chapter veterans proudly accepted the check from the team from Pratt & Whitney. Honda Classic President John Domenico, Executive Director Ken Kennerly, Tournament Director Andrew George and other tournament staff members also participated in the presentation. “We are very grateful to Pratt & Whitney for continuing their support of our veterans’ programs,” said Chapter Chairman Steve Rockoff. “They stepped up to serve our community during a very difficult year for non-profits. We now have the capacity to grow our veterans’ programs this year.” The Honda Classic is a Founding Partner of our Chapter. Their total impact of our organization exceeded $200,000 in 2021. The Honda Classic awarded $5.1 million to 100 South Florida philanthropic organizations in 2021, a number that approaches tournament record levels despite the widespread impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The $5.1 million distribution impact the lives of more than 100,000 children and provide a much-needed boost to South Florida community charities that faced their own fiscal challenges in a tough year. The Honda Classic has now surpassed $55 million in charitable contributions as American Honda approaches its 41st year as title sponsor of the PGA TOUR event, including almost $40 million in the 15 years since Children’s Healthcare Charity, Inc. became the host organization and moved the event to PGA National Resort and Spa.

Billy heading to Pebble Beach! Congratulations to chapter ACE participant, Billy Reid, for being selected to the 2021 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach, the pinnacle experience of First Tee participation. An official PGA TOUR Champions event, the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach pairs one First Tee junior with a PGA TOUR Champions player and two amateurs. The tournament is televised nationally on Golf Channel. Jacie heading to John Deere Academy! Congratulations to chapter ACE participant, Jacie Goodman, for being selected to the 2021 John Deere Drive Your Future Academy. This all-girls event focuses on learning the value and impact of volunteerism, understanding the significance of values and skills learned through playing golf, and recognizing the importance of building a strong network. The academy will take place in Detroit, where participants will be immersed in both its historic and modern culture and participate in workshops and playing golf with new mentors. Tyler heading to Montana! Congratulations to chapter ACE Participant, Tyler Mistretta, who was selected to attend the First Tee and PGA TOUR Superstore Leadership Summit at West Creek Ranch in Montana in August! The weeklong event will include collaborative workshops as well a dynamic outdoor and team-building activities that will explore concepts of relationship building, positive risk taking, and identifying character strengths.

Our recently formed Athlete Ambassadors have agreed to volunteer their time to help us introduce the game of golf to students in our community. MLB player Heath Slocumb and NFL player Nick O’Leary have agreed to help. Both Heath and Nick, accompanied by Symmetra Tour player Jessica Dreesbeimdieke, hosted 25 students from West Palm Beach PAL. Heath answered questions about his playing career (pictured above left) and then the 3 athletes hit shots for the students (pictured above right). The students then tried out 3 golf stations of hitting, putting and chipping. Heath ended the day by signing baseball cards for the students. A group from West Palm Beach PAL is visiting our facility weekly to learn the game of golf and the life skills of First Tee. Our second group hosted by the Athlete Ambassadors included 25 members of the Sigma Beta Leadership Club. Heath spoke with them about his passion for the game and how golf has helped him in life and business. The teens from the Sigma Beta Leadership Club (pictured below) plan on attending a 9-week program with their mentors in the fall.

Weekly summer camps allow participants ages 6 to 18 to learn the First Tee life skills through the game of golf. Camps are offered at golf courses located throughout Palm Beach County. Please visit our website for locations and to register your children. Camp locations include: Finnegan Learning Center Dyer Park Keiser College of Golf John Prince Learning Center Madison Green Country Club Okeeheelee Golf Course Palm Beach Par 3 Park Ridge Golf Course Seagate Country Club The Golf Club of Jupiter

Chapter Ambassadors held their first event of the post-COVID-19 calendar year at Drive Shack in West Palm Beach. This event was a great opportunity for current and potential members of the group to network and get to know one another while enjoying great food, drink and contests. The Ambassadors (formerly our Young Professionals) are a group of active Palm Beach County based professionals of all ages dedicated to the mission of First Tee. The Ambassadors support our chapter through fundraising, volunteer efforts, and by broadening awareness in Palm Beach County as representatives of our local chapter. Events will be conducted throughout the year and are open to all Ambassadors and their guests to encompass a variety of golf and social venues. Also, a weekly golf league has been formed by Ambassador Board Members as an additional benefit to their members to promote growth and networking among the group. If you are interested in joining the Ambassadors, please contact David Trout, PGA, at [email protected].

Our hearts go out to the family of Dr. Pamela Cunningham, a founding board member of our Chapter. She recently lost her nine-year battle with a rare form of salivary gland cancer. “Pam was a great board member for First Tee,” said Chapter Chairman Steve Rockoff. “She was a courageous woman that overcame sexism and racism in her career through grace and dignity. She was a pioneer in the medical industry and embodied the mission and values of First Tee serving our community.” Dr. Cunningham established the first African-American anesthesiologist group in Dallas, her home town. She took great pride in being a dedicated and skilled physician who provided exceptional care for her patients. She was loved by her patients. Despite the trauma of the disease and her ongoing radiation treatments, she never lost her optimism or her faith.

Four years ago, our Chapter was approached by John Hand, a member of Seminole Golf Club about starting up a caddie program for students. The goal was to introduce students to caddying to eventually apply for a full tuition and room and board Evans Scholarship from the Western Golf Association. Chapter Participant, Harry Hutchings, began caddying his freshman year and was selected as a 2021 recipient of the Evans Scholarship. Harry attended Palm Beach Gardens High School and graduated in June. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic he caddied 65 loops at Seminole Golf Club this season. “Mr. Hand had more than just the development of high school students as caddies in mind,” said Harry. “He wanted to offer us an opportunity to enhance our entire life.” Harry’s next goal is to graduate from the University of Michigan and then go on to medical school. To learn more about the Evans Scholarship program visit www.wgaesf.org

Thank you, members and staff of Frenchman’s Creek, for the generous donation of golf bags and clubs from their end of season Club Drive to support our children and veterans. Frenchman’s Creek members support many local non-profits through their foundation and their Volunteer Match Program. Members are matched up as volunteers for local non-profit organizations and schools to help serve the needs of the community. “We really appreciate the support of our area country clubs,” said Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta. “The members of staff of Frenchman’s Creek are very generous to our organization and make a real difference in Palm Beach County.”