Category: Palm Beaches

FREE Open House on Tuesday, January 12th and Thursday, January 14th SNAG stands for “Starting New at Golf” Classes for girls and boys – ages 2 through 5 years old.

*Please come to the Open House on the same session day and time based on your child’s age.

Class starts – Tuesday, January 19th and Thursday, January 21st

We will be using specialized golf equipment. All equipment will be provided.

Session Fee is $75.00 for 6-week class for girls and boys – ages 2 through 5 years old. Register for the 6-week session online to reserve your class. Please contact Coach John Gansz at [email protected] or 561-324-2909 for more information.

PGA National Resort and Spa – The Champion Course Tee Times beginning at 7:15am, Monday, March 22, 2021

Play where the Pros play!! The Champion Course will be set up in the same conditions with the same pin placements as the PGA TOUR’s championship Sunday.

EVENT FORMAT: 18 Holes, Two Player – Best Ball Team Event. Play Your Own Ball (Not a scramble). Prizes will be awarded for Gross and Net Divisions. Special tee locations will be assigned for Seniors, Ladies and Juniors. Please register ASAP. This event sells out quickly! For more information, please contact [email protected]

The 2021 Honda Classic plans to welcome spectators once again to PGA National Resort & Spa March 15-21. With the primary focus on the health and well-being for all involved with the tournament and the local community, daily attendance will be limited. “We are being conservative in our planning as we continue to navigate the pandemic,” Honda Classic Executive Director Kenneth R. Kennerly said. “We want to do everything possible to make sure that The Honda Classic will be a great experience and continue to make a significant charitable impact on the thousands of children in our community whose lives we are able to enhance every year.” For more information, please visit thehondaclassic.com

Jack Nicklaus recently called Tim Rosaforte to congratulate him on being named the recipient of this year’s Memorial Golf Journalism Award. The award was created to honor journalists who served their profession with conspicuous honor and made a major contribution and impact on golf journalism. “It’s pretty surreal to have Jack call to tell you that you’ve won an award like that,” Rosaforte said. “I’ve known Jack for a long time, and it was an emotional moment. It means a lot to be honored at Jack’s tournament.” Rosaforte, a longtime Jupiter resident, was one of golf’s original “insiders” during his four-decade career that included stops at the Palm Beach Post, Sports Illustrated and Golf World. The 65-year-old retired from the Golf Channel a year ago because he has early-onset Alzheimer’s. “Tim has been a great friend for some 40 years,” Nicklaus said. “We first met at Oak Hill at the 1980 PGA Championship, and our paths have crossed countless times since. Tim is also one of this generation’s great golf journalists. “He has developed relationships and trust from so many in the game, and you always know that if there was an important story to be told in golf, Tim was going to be the first call you received and usually the first one to report it.” In late October, Rosaforte became the first journalist – and the 12th person overall – to receive Honorary Membership in the PGA of America. Rosaforte also received the PGA of America Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism in 2014.

Registration for the SFPGA Junior Tour is now open and offers a variety of tours for players of all skill level ages 6-18. The Links, Prep, Challenge and Championship tours provide a journey for young golfers who are just starting out to when they are competitive tournament players and perspective college golfers. Links Tour – A series of 9-hole events which provides a competitive and fun tournament atmosphere for players to gain stroke play experience and learn the game of golf. This tour is aimed at beginner-level golfers, ages 6-14. Prep Tour – Players on this tour must have some previous tournament golf experience as it is single day, 18-hole rounds for junior golfers ages 9-18. Challenge Tour – This is a series of two-day tournaments for junior golfers ages 11-18 at some of south Florida’s premier golf facilities. Championship Tour – The Championship Tour is an invitational-only tour based on the previous year’s scoring average and point standings. This tour features two or three-day events for juniors ages 13-18. Please visit the SFPGA Junior Tour website to register and for more information.

John A. Webster Jr, along with his wife Ann, established the Montsweag Foundation, which has generously contributed to many important causes, including The Home for Little Wanderers, the Orchard House, the New England Veterinary Medical Association (NEVMA) and the New Bedford Whaling Museum. He was an avid golfer and a longtime member of Nashawtuc Country Club and the Johns Island Club. He also enjoyed boating and was an active member of the New Bedford Yacht Club. John passed away in 2015. His greatest pleasure was being a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. One of his sons, Jeffrey H. Webster and his wife Marion, have continued the tradition of the Montsweag Foundation by supporting our Chapter. Recently, they have continued their support of our youth development programs and have become our latest Legacy Partners. “It has been a pleasure getting to know Jeff and Marion,” said Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta. “The support of the Montsweag Foundation during this difficult time will impact the lives of hundreds of children.”

First Tee – Florida Gold Coast, the parent organization of First Tee – Palm Beaches, Broward and the Treasure Coast, held its Inaugural Celebrity Pro-Am at the Breakers Ocean Course in December. The event began with lunch at the Flagler Steakhouse with the players, our Chairman Steve Rockoff, Vice Chairman Ken Kennerly and Executive Director of the David Burke Foundation, Ryan Burke. The winning team shot a 13-under par score of 57 in a format of one best-ball net of the foursome. The winning team consisted of the Breakers Ocean course architect- Rees Jones, Peter Helie, Phil Restino and chapter students Felipe Obando and Billy Reid. “We had an incredible day at the Breakers,” said Steve Rockoff, Chapter Chairman. “Everyone had a great day, and it was a lot of fun to have Rees tell the group about the course re-design. It is such a fun course to play.” The proceeds of this inaugural event will benefit our 2021 college scholarship fund and veterans’ programs.

First Tee registration is open at multiple program locations in Palm Beach County. Please visit our website to learn more about class days and times at the following locations: • Finnegan Learning Center- Dyer Park • John Prince Golf Learning Center • Seagate Country Club • Commons Park Golf Learning Center • Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course • Madison Green Country Club • Village Golf Course • Okeeheelee Golf Course • Wellington National Golf Club • The Golf Club of Jupiter • Southwinds Golf Course • PGA Tour Superstore- Palm Beach Gardens

Our Chapter hosted a two-person scramble tournament the Saturday after Thanksgiving on our par-3 course. We were sold out with 32 teams and 64 players. First place teams received a $100 gift card and second place received a $50 gift card to the PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE in both divisions. 12 and under Division: 1st Place: Namo Sae-Chiw & Alyna Yensabai – Score 25 (2 under par) Pictured below left. 2nd Place: Reed Jackson & Pat Jackson – Score 27 (even par) 13 and over Division: 1st Place: Felipe Obando & Deron Zendt – Score 23 (4 under par) Pictured below right. 2nd Place: David Ladd & Skylar Ladd – Score 24 (3 under par)

Our local chapter of the CMAA has been a fantastic supporter of our chapter. Their annual gala at Boca West was cancelled this year. To help raise money they are conducting an online auction with awesome prices such as golf foursomes, wine collections and jewelry and many more! Place your bids as the online auction is NOW OPEN!

First Tee registration is open at multiple program locations in Palm Beach County. Please visit our website to learn more about class days and times at the following locations: Michael B. Finnegan LC- Dyer Park John Prince Golf Learning Center Seagate Country Club Commons Park Golf Learning Center Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course Madison Green Country Club Village Golf Course Okeeheelee Golf Course Wellington National Golf Club The Golf Club of Jupiter Southwinds Golf Course

COVID has caused many event cancellations such as the inaugural First Tee National Championship and participating in the High School State Championships for public school students. But there have also been many positives. Chapter student Tyler Mistretta was invited to play in the TimberTech Pro-Am by tournament staff as they heard about the many opportunities he missed this year due to COVID. He played with PGA Champions Tour Professional Joe Durant. Tyler joined him to play from the tips and shot 69. “It was my best ball striking round ever,” said Tyler. “Mr. Durant was awesome to play with and helped me with my game. I am extremely thankful to Mr. Hollis Cavner, Mr. Ken Kennerly and Mr. Eddie Carbone from Prolinks Sports for offering me this opportunity.” A few weeks later Tyler signed his letter of intent to play college golf at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. It is an incredible achievement considering he was ranked 3,000 in the country in 2019 and improved his ranking to 500 in six months. “Mr. Kennerly introduced me to Rocco Mediate and Lee Janzen at the TimberTech,” said Tyler. “Both are major champions and Florida Southern alumni. That was pretty special.”

Instead of competing in the FHSAA State Championship, the Palm Beach County School District conducted a County Championship at Wellington National (pictured left). Palm Beach Gardens High won the event by three shots over Boca Raton to advance to the Tri-County Championship with teams from Broward and Dade counties. PBG senior Jack Hasson lead the team with 73, while senior Tyler Mistretta and junior Aidan MacFarquhar each posted 75s. Junior Davis Dickinson shot 80 for the fourth team score to secure the championship. With his first SFPGA win this summer at Doral, Tyler has been leading The Honda Classic SFPGA Player of the Year points race all summer. With 3 tournaments to go he held a ¼ point lead over Jonathon Mourin. James Hassell and Tyler Stachkunas were also in the hunt. At the Junior Tour Championship this weekend at Banyan Cay, Tyler shot 75 the first round with a cold putter to tie for 21st place. At the conclusion of the Saturday round, he was awarded the SFPGA Most Improved Player for lowering his stroke average this year by 5 shots to 71.5 (pictured below left). On Sunday, he played fantastic and Tyler shot 1-under 71 with a birdie on the eighteenth hole to tie for 8th and secure Player of the Year (pictured below right).

“There are so many people to thank- my parents, coaches, First Tee, Jack Nicklaus, the SFPGA, FSGA and AJGA, Seminole, The Honda Classic, TimberTech Championship, North Palm Beach Country Club, and more. I will have to sit down and make a list,” said Tyler. “My goal is to be able to give back one day as an adult and help other students the same way so many people helped me.”