100-Hole Challenge

We are underway!!  Are you in?

Loblolly is in the lead for the clubs with over $8,000 raised.

Peter Crocitto is in the board member lead with over $3,600 raised.

Ben Miller is in the coach lead with over $2,000 raised.

All players who raise over $2,000 earn a $500 shopping spree from:

We have multiple dates to play or play at your own club.  Please contact [email protected] for more information.

College Scholarship Awards Party

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 College Scholarship Recipients! We celebrated their awards at the PGA Tour Superstore in Palm Beach Gardens. This year we awarded $37,500 dollars to nine alumni (Pictured above right: The winners with Chapter Directors, staff, and Coaches).

From the Treasure Coast Chapter, Katelyn Harwood and Trevor Tarashuk were awarded the Erling Speer Memorial Scholarship for their 2023-2024 school year (pictured above left).  

Katelyn is attending Rollins College majoring in Business Management with a minor in Communications. Trevor is entering his sophomore year in the PGA Golf Management program at Florida Gulf Coast University.

National Amputee Coalition Annual Convention

Coach Joe Grohman, PGA, attended the National Amputee Coalition Annual Convention! This year’s conference theme was “Elevate Together Towards Tomorrow,” which highlighted the ways to build the future for the limb loss and limb difference community to ensure a world where the community thrives. 

The coalition celebrates its diverse community and aims to fully engage all people living with limb loss and limb difference to build a collective voice on critical issues, impacting the community, and to elevate the organization’s mission: to support, educate, and advocate for people impacted by limb loss and limb difference.

Second Annual Chapter Championship

Breakers West Country Club generously hosted our second annual Chapter Championship. Four person teams from the Treasure Coast, Palm Beaches and Broward Chapters competed in a one best-ball format.  

The winning Palm Beaches team players were Wylie Inman, Zoey Shamy, Valentina Guertin, and Isabella Guertin. Palm Beaches team shot a tournament record score of 65 to edge Broward with a 69 and Treasure Coast with a 76.

The Treasure Coast team included Matthew Peter, Maddox Simon, David Alvarez, Liam Ferguson, and Josh Heinemann. 

In the alumni division, Billy Reid posted a 74 to score a 3 shot victory over defending champion Tyler Mistretta and professional golfer Janelle Johnson.

Mia Has Great Time At Pinehurst – Advances At DCP

In early August, Mia “Cheetah” Baez finished tied for 28th in the Girls 7 and Under Division at the US Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, NC.  Over 2,300 kids from over 50 countries participated.

“What a brilliant performance for her,” said Coach Gabbie Budd, LPGA.  “She has only been playing golf for ten months and is still getting adjusted to new clubs.”

At her DCP qualifier, Mia was hoping for a score of mid-60s or low 70s.  But the Cheetah just killed it with a brilliant score of 93. She hit 3 awesome drives which earned her 26 points. She did well with chipping. She really shined with putting by sinking her 30-foot putt and did well on the other two putts, which earned her 55 points. She is working hard on her short game, putting, and chipping as she prepares for her DCP sub-regional at BallenIsles Country Club.

“I could thank you immensely First Tee, I could thank you a million…But I never could thank you enough!” —Mia Baez

“We give a special thank you to Coach Gabbie for her excellent coaching and communication skills,” said Mia’s father, Alf Baez. “Coach Gabbie keeps Cheetah engaged as she learns so fast. This is evident in Cheetah’s recent scores, which have exceeded all expectations.  We are so impressed with Cheetah’s progress in just 10 months of learning golf. Thank you Coach Gabbie for everything you do!”

Ken Duke Gets A Big Win!

Chapter Director Ken Duke rolled in a 5-foot birdie on the 18th hole to win the Shaw Charity Classic for his first title on the PGA Tour Champions.

“This is exciting. I mean, I’ve always dreamed about this,” Duke, said. “This is where I started my professional career up here in Canada and I always thought that I’d win up here, and here we are. I mean, 1996 to 2003, so here we are finally doing it.”

The Shaw Charity Classic is backed by a philanthropic group of Calgary business leaders known as “The Patron Group.”  Together they created the Shaw Charity Classic – the PGA TOUR Champions’ only Canadian event. 

“We are so proud and happy for Ken,” said Chapter President Andrew Hunt.  “He hit some fantastic shots on 17 and 18 to secure the victory.  Ken is one of our strongest board members.  He generously supports our many children and veterans and impacts so many lives in the Treasure Coast through his Ken Duke & Friends golf tournament.”

Chapter Awarded Teen Retention & DEI Grant

PGA Tour Superstore is a Trustee Corporate Partner of First Tee. Their generosity with First Tee is tremendous across the country.  We conduct programming in their stores, hold events and meetings and many of our students work at the stores.  In addition, they conduct a Leadership Series each year for our students in the stores.  Attending students are then nominated and selected for two Leadership Summits in Atlanta and Montana, both life-changing trips.

Recently, our chapter was awarded $26,000 from PGA Tour Superstore for teen retention and DE&I initiatives.  We are so excited that our Chapter can award more college scholarships to our alumni and continue to grow diversity in the game of golf.

Sponsor Spotlight: AWS

Amazon Web Services, First Tee, and the PGA TOUR are partnering to empower kids and teens to build inner-strength, self-confidence, and resilience through the game of golf.

Amazon Web Services joined First Tee as a Trustee in 2021. Their investment supports First Tee’s initiatives on teen retention and recruitment, alongside furthering First Tee’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. AWS is committed to the success of First Tee Chapters by inviting Amazonians to volunteer with programs in their local communities.

Field Trip With Martin County Parks And Recreation GAAP

Martin County Parks and Recreation GAAP made a guest appearance at the indoor hitting bays at Sailfish Sands. With over 60 kids in attendance, this event was a giant success. Kids had the opportunity to learn all about golf and programs that will help them succeed on and off the course. After a quick tour of this awesome facility, the kids were able to have some fun and hit some golf balls. The students were beaming with smiles as they were introduced to golf. 

Participant Highlight: Mia “Cheetah” Baeze

Mia “Cheetah” Baeze and Coach Gabbie Budd, LPGA, attended the local Drive, Chip & Putt qualifier at PGA Golf Village where Mia won big! With a total score of 93, Mia was the big winner of the day, and she will advance onto the subregional qualifiers on August 19th at BallenIsles Country Club.

Mia started off the competition with three drives that were picturesque. She hit 2 of her 3 drives 140+ yards! This gave her a high score going into the next round. At the chipping stage, she persevered after her first shot, and she scored a total of 12 points! Finally, at putting, Mia put on a show for the crowd. Her short putt barely lipped out of the hole. Then keeping a level head, she moved onto the medium putt, where she just barely missed again, but stayed within the circle to score 20 points. Then, finally on her last shot of the competition, the long putt, Mia the Cheetah sunk it! 25 points for her grand total of 93 points.