Category: Treasure Coast

We are excited to announce that we recently began a new program with students from Project Lift. The program will begin for 4 weeks at Fairwinds Golf Club and then transition to our new Westside golf facility for the last 4 weeks. Coaches Willie Scott and Mark Cammarene, PGA will be coaching the 8-week program. 

Project Lift is dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk teens and their families through treatment of substance use disorders, mental health counseling, mentoring, and vocational skills training

Chapter President Andrew Hunt and fellow Director Ken Duke both personally support Project Lift and have been instrumental in their growth over the last 10+ years.

We are delighted to announce that we have officially moved into our new home at Sailfish Sands Golf Course, formerly known as Martin County Golf Course. 

“We are very excited about our new partnership with Martin County and Sailfish Sands,” said Chapter President Andrew Hunt. “The improvements and investments in the facility will allow us to reach hundreds of kids, teens and veterans each year.”

Our new office is located inside of the pro-shop at 2000 SE St. Lucie Blvd, Stuart 34996. 

Coming soon to Sailfish Sands: A state-of-the-art double decker driving range is set to be completed this summer! All hitting bays offer the latest in Top-Tracer technologies. We are excited to start programming this summer and making a positive impact on the youth and veterans of Martin County.

Golf is a sport that grandparents can play with their children and their grandchildren.

Our program locations include:
• Crane Watch Club
• The Saints at Port St. Lucie Golf Course
• The Champions Club
• Trident Golf Club
• Riverbend Country Club
• Jensen Beach Golf Club
• Fairwinds Golf Course
• Sailfish Sands Golf Course

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.

SHOUT OUT to Gary Collins, Chairman of the 100-Hole Challenge, all the participating clubs and the members of the FLCMAA Seminole Regional Charity Committee.

Pictured above, left to right, accepting the 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.

Coach Willie recently began a new First Tee session with the Pace Center for Girls, a long time chapter program partner.  Pictured above left: Coach Willie Scott demonstrates the pendulum technique to Makia, Amira, and Jasmine for speed control at our new Westside Golf Complex.

Pace Center for Girls Treasure Coast currently serves St. Lucie County and was founded in 1998 in Ft Pierce, Florida. Pace Treasure Coast is one of 21 centers across the state of Florida and serves a capacity of 56 girls. Since 1998, Pace Treasure Coast has served over 1,000 girls by providing academic, social services and transition services in a year-round day program.

Enroll your children in our First Tee programs as golf is the sport of business and the sport of a lifetime!

Our program locations include:

• Champions Club
• Crane Watch
• Fairwinds Golf Course
• Jensen Beach Golf Club
• Saints at Port St. Lucie Golf Club
• Trident Golf Club

For more information and to register, please visit our website.

Time really does fly.  For the last 10 years, our Chapter has grown significantly to serve the children and veterans of Martin and St. Lucie Counties.

In February, over 100 people gathered to celebrate the grand opening of our newest program location at the Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County, Westside Complex. The construction of this facility is by far our most ambitious endeavor in the history of our Chapter.

The project was funded by The Andrew and Robin Hunt Philanthropic Fund and included the construction of a new 35,000 square foot artificial turf golf learning facility that includes a tee line, 3 putting greens, chipping areas, colorful target greens and a multi-use field.  We have also set up a new St. Lucie County office at the Westside Club Complex.

Greg McLaughlin, CEO of First Tee, joined Andrew and Robin Hunt, Chapter and BGC staff and directors, coaches, dignitaries, and of course students to cut the ribbon on the new facility.

“Robin and I could not be more excited,” said Chapter President Andrew Hunt.  “We anticipate introducing the life skills curriculum of First Tee to hundreds of children each year at the Westside Club Complex.  We are so proud of this partnership with Boys & Girls Club and Westside Church.”

Pictured above middle, left to right:  First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin, Robin and Andrew Hunt and Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta.

Coach Wayne Huffines (pictured above left) uses swing analysis technology to make golf more enjoyable for veterans’ programs.

Bob Truckenmiller (pictured above right) is a combat wounded Vietnam veteran and a participant of our Jensen Beach Country Club veterans’ program. Bob has been attending our programs for several years which enhances his physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being through the game of golf.

James Rosaforte III, 66, of Jupiter, joined the Lord on Jan. 11, 2022 after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. 

“He was golf’s best friend and a big supporter of our organization and our students,” said Chapter Executive Director Carl Mistretta. “He was a dear friend to me and served as our Honorary Vice Chairman. We will miss him greatly.”

Tim, as his mom called him, attended Brewster High School and became the second person in his family to attend college, at the University of Bridgeport and the University of Rhode Island, where he also played on the football teams. 

Tim graduated from URI in 1977 with a Bachelors of Science in Journalism. HE moved to Tampa where he worked as a sportswriter for the Tampa Times and Clearwater Sun, before moving to Fort Lauderdale in 1981 to work for the Sun-Sentinel. Tim married his wife, Genevieve Stewart, in Fort Lauderdale in 1983. They moved to Palm Beach County after their first daughter Genna was born in 1987, which is when he started writing for the Palm Beach Post. Their second daughter, Molly, was born in 1991. 

Tim started writing for Sports Illustrated in 1994, then Golf World/Golf Digest in 1996 as his family moved to Jupiter. Tim also started working as a TV announcer for Sunshine Network in the 1990s. He appeared on PGA Tour Sunday on USA Network from 2003-2007 before he became a regular on Golf Channel, where he served as the sport’s first true “insider.”

Tim covered almost 150 majors and 17 Ryder Cups, wrote four books, won dozens of writing awards, served as president of the American Golf Writer’s Association, and received the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Tim retired in late 2019, not long after he had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. 

Among his many honors: The PGA of America made him their 12th honorary member and the first journalist; he received the 2021 Memorial Golf Journalism Award from Jack and Barbara Nicklaus; his hometown Honda Classic named the Media Room after him and created the Tim Rosaforte Distinguished Writers’ Award; and the University of Rhode Island endowed a scholarship in Tim’s name in the neuroscience department. 

Tim is survived by his wife Genevieve, daughters Genna (Nick) Bezek and Molly (Mason) Colling; grandchildren Graham, Finn and Saylor James; brothers Andy (Kim) Rosafort and Michael (Kathi) Rosafort, sister Shirlyn (Scott) Malley and his many nieces and nephews.

The family will hold a celebration of life Thursday, Feb. 17, (2pm) at Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens on 5343 Northlake Boulevard. The service will be live-streamed at funerals.online.church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to Nantz National Alzheimer Center | Houston Methodist, and the Tim Rosaforte Scholarship, University of Rhode Island Foundation and Alumni Engagement, P.O. Box 1700, Kingston, R.I., 02881.

Park at Mirasol Park at 3:15pm and take the free shuttle to the Champion Range at PGA National for a fun, interactive clinic with a PGA TOUR Professional and the Dennis Walters Golf Show! 

Mirasol Park is located one mile north of PGA Blvd on Jog Road.
Food and drinks will be provided. All ages and families are welcome.

Join us on Saturday, February 19th at Fairwinds Golf Course as World Golf Hall of Fame Member Dennis Walters (pictured above) performs his inspiring show. Starting at 1 PM, the Dennis Walters Golf Show will be followed by the Inaugural Wee Links Junior Invitational at 2:30pm. Register your child by calling 772-462-4653 or emailing [email protected]. The field is limited.

The Wee Links is a creation of golf course architect Erik Larson of BrightView Golf Services. It is a 6-hole chipping and pitching course designed to help players improve in all those super important short shots from inside 50 yards. Wee Links will become the home of our First Tee program at Fairwinds. The venue will provide an opportunity for new players to learn the fundamental skills necessary to become a golfer.