Spring Registration In Full Swing

Our spring programs are under way.  Enroll your children at one of our 11 Martin and St. Lucie Counties program locations. 

For more information and to register, please visit our website by scanning the QR code.

LPGA Champions Clinic

LPGA Tour champions Marina Alex and Ashleigh Buhai with Chapter Director Jennifer Hong hosted a junior clinic for over 50 of our students on The Champions Club’s driving range and short game area. Marina, Ashleigh and Jennifer interacted with the students and offered instruction on their full shots, putting and chipping with help from our Chapter Coaches. Our friends from the new girls’ clothing line of Marie Birdie passed out gift bags and cookies. The Kona Ice truck topped of the morning with cold treats. SHOUT OUT to David Ladd, PGA and the entire staff at The Champions Club for making our junior golf clinic with the pros such a great day!

Chapter Award Winners

Student of the Year Malachi Davis. Malachi started playing golf through our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs – St. Lucie County. Malachi caught the golf bug and started attending classes at Fairwinds Golf Course. His drive combined with coaching led to him start playing on the golf team at his school.

Student of the Year Mia Baez. Mia started playing golf by attending Coach Gabbie Budd’s LPGA golf classes at The Champion’s Club. In less than a year, Mia participated in the local qualifier of Drive, Chip, and Putt. She was also invited to play in the US Kids at PGA Golf Club Invitational where she placed second.

Coach Wayne Huffines leads a great junior program on Saturday mornings at Jensen Beach Golf Club. Wayne also has a passion for helping veterans, including our veteran of the year, Norman Brush.

Norman has been playing golf for over 30 years and has been participating in the veterans’ program at Jensen Beach Golf Club for several years. Norman served in the Army from 1970-1972. We thank him for his service.

ARC At Champions Club

The Champions Club graciously hosts our programs for ARC of Martin County. Coach David Fleck leads the program each week. He teaches golf fundamentals while making the session fun and exciting! Coach David brings years of experience from his tenure instructing golf programs at the Els Center of Excellence. Serving children and people with special needs is our founding mission.

Jeffrey And Suzanne Citron Chapter Trustees

Jeffrey and Suzanne Citron believe in the power of the individual and how one person can inspire a group and then a community to realize even greater goals. As both are successful entrepreneurs, the couple recognizes that creativity, innovation, and risk taking are essential to achieve meaningful outcomes.

After being introduced to the curriculum and programs of First Tee, they became our second Chapter Trustee by providing a grant from The Charles Lafitte Foundation.

“Jeff and Suzanne’s generous gift have shaped the future of our community,” said Chapter President and fellow Trustee Andrew Hunt.  “First Tee and the game of golf is experiencing incredible growth in every segment of society.  Their generous support has helped us grow and expand to impact the lives of thousands of young people in the Treasure Coast.”

The Charles Lafitte Foundation (CLF) was established in 1999 by the Citrons to support innovative and effective ways of helping people help themselves and others around them to achieve healthy, satisfying, and enriched lives.  CLF supports four primary causes: education, children’s advocacy, medical research & initiatives, and the arts.

EOY Bash With Dennis & Gussie

Poor December weather pushed our End of the Year Bash back a month, but 100 students, donors, board members and coaches still had a blast with the Dennis Walters golf show and the talented Gussie, who can also hit some big drives.  Dennis shared his inspirational story of perseverance and following your dreams.  The students enjoyed contests, the Dune Dog food truck and Kona Ice.

Last Chance To Enter The Pebble Beach Raffle!

Help us support the thousands of children and veterans we serve each year.  Our Pebble Beach Raffle features a chance to win a trip to play Pebble Beach!  For every $100 donated, you will be entered to win a 3-night stay at the Lodge at Pebble Beach (includes two Garden View rooms) and a foursome to play one round at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. The prize package also includes $1,500 towards airfare, trip expenses, etc. 

Visit pebbleraffle.com to enter.

Certain restrictions apply. Drawing to be held March 4, 2024.  Please visit pebbleraffle.com to enter or scan the QR code to donate and for more information.

The PGA Tour Is Coming To Town!

Our local PGA Tour event held at PGA National is right around the corner February 29th through March 3rd.   We welcome a new sponsor, Cognizant, in 2024.  Check out all the incredible options to engage with the largest sporting event in Palm Beach County.  Need tournament tickets?  Please visit thecognizantclassic.com for tickets and hospitality options.

Play where the Pros play!!  We have a few foursomes left to play in our Monday after the Cognizant tournament. 

The Champion Course at PGA National will be set up in the same conditions with the same pin placements as the PGA Tour event’s championship Sunday.

EVENT FORMAT: 18 Holes, Four Player Teams One Best-Ball 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. 

TIME: 11:45am Registration, warm-up and continental breakfast., 1:00pm Shotgun Start. Limited Field to ensure a fast pace of play. 

For information and registration, please review the tournament invitation.

Alumni Sharing Our Mission

Coach Gabbie Budd, LPGA, and First Tee alumnus and professional golfer Sasha Lobel hosted classes at The Baron Academy. The students are incredible and always come to class excited and ready to learn! They spend the entire class smiling, laughing, and making memories. The students are learning new skills, achieving milestones, and have truly developed into Game Changers. 

The Baron Academy is a K-8 private learning academy specializing in custom learning for children with unique and special needs.

From Student To Coach

Chapter alumna Annery Abreu is now a Chapter Coach and conducts the junior programs at Fairwinds Golf Course. Recently, Annery visited the Calvary Christian Academy and held a program for grades K-6. The students totally enjoyed the program and cannot wait to have Coach Annery pay them another visit. We are proud to see our alumna giving back to their community.

Annery hosts multiple First Tee programs at Fairwinds, and if you are interested in enrolling your child, please click here.

Sponsor Spotlight: Club Managers Association 100-Hole Challenge 3Peat

For the third year in a row, our organization won top fundraiser in the Seminole Region’s CMAA 100-Hole Challenge.  In combination with our Broward and Palm Beaches Chapters, we raised over $380,000.  The Treasure Coast Chapter played at the Medalist Village Par-3 Course and raised over $119,000 with 4 golf and country clubs participating.  SHOUT OUT to the members of Loblolly for winning the golf club division with over $13,000 raised.  Special thanks to the members of Hobe Sound Golf Club, Turtle Creek Golf Course and Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club for their support and sending staff to play.

“We are so thankful to our participating clubs and the CMAA committee,” said Chris Burr Co-Chairman of our Country Club Committee.  “This is our largest fundraiser of the year.  The club staff that participated had a great time playing and impacted the lives of many children and veterans in the Treasure Coast.”

Interested in playing in 2024?  Please contact [email protected]