Remembering Jerry Tankersley

Gerald “Jerry” Hardie Tankersley of Stuart, FL passed away on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at the age of 85. Jerry is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Jerry worked in the financial services industry in the senior management ranks of both very large and very small firms including Thomson McKinnon Securities, Prudential Securities, Inc., Lebenthal and Company, Inc. and Merrill Lynch.

In 2005, he received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Securities Industry Association. Jerry had a passion for golf and served as Treasurer and Club President at Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, NY and as Treasurer and Club President at Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart, FL.

Jerry served as a role model and mentor to many. His wise counsel, optimism, generosity, and quick wit will always be remembered by his friends and family.

He was also a founding Board Member of First Tee – Treasure Coast and served as our Vice President. 

“We miss him so much,” said Chapter President Andrew Hunt. “He was always the voice of reason and considered everyone else’s thoughts and opinions before adding his own.  He was a true gentleman and helped us grow our chapter to serve thousands of residents of the Treasure Coast.”

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The First Tee – Treasure Coast, 2000 SE St. Lucie Blvd. Stuart, FL 34996 or online at
https://firstteefloridagoldcoast.org/donate.

Sponsor Spotlight: Roy A Hunt Foundation

Two generations of Hunt family members now serve as Hunt Foundation Trustees, continuing the Foundation’s mission of supporting organizations that strive to improve the quality of life. The Hunt Foundation annually grants approximately $3.8 million primarily in the United States, through smaller general grants and through the Foundation’s special initiatives. Thanks to the generosity of the Roy A. Hunt Foundation, we can fund many First Tee programs across our Treasure Coast territory.  Andrew Hunt, a 3rd Generation Trustee of the Hunt Foundation, is the founder of our Chapter and serves as our Treasure Coast Board President.

Reaching Goals With Our Vets

Three of our veterans, Homer, Diane, and Doug, are hoping to break 100 by the end of our 6-week program. The program consists of a full swing clinic followed by personal stories and sharing thoughts on current events. During our first session, Coach Ben Miller, PGA, helped Doug create more width in his swing, showed Diane how to set up and hit up on her driver, and assisted Homer with chipping and pitching with spin. 

Training St. Lucie Coaches

Coach Willie Scott, Director of Program Development Emily Valentine, and Program Coordinator Steven Andrade had the privilege of training over a dozen St. Lucie County PE teachers to deliver our programs in their curriculum at their respective schools.

These trained coaches not only introduce junior golf and an opportunity to enhance golf skills, but they also create a safe, supportive, and empowering environment to help your child prepare for life ahead, including friendships, school, college, and even their careers.

Loving The Game With YMCA Of Stuart

We truly value our partnership with the YMCA of Stuart as they share our passion for positive youth development. 

Coaches Gabbie Budd, LPGA, and Ben Miller, PGA, spent a week with over 100 summer camp participants. We delivered an exceptional program and introduced so many kids to the game of golf. 

The participant’s favorite game was soccer golf. Coaches set up a 6-hole golf course and had campers pair up in an alternate shot format. There were so many teachable moments, including honesty and integrity, as the participants were responsible for accurately keeping their own scores. As the program progressed, they were introduced to golf clubs instead of soccer balls. 

“Day In A Life” Partnership With AJGA

Our Chapter students participated in the AJGA’s “Day in a Life” program at the UNIQLO / Adam Scott Junior Championship at Hammock Creek Golf Club. The program is designed to give the younger generation an opportunity to be introduced to career paths in golf outside of playing the game. The AJGA showcases the business side of golf, such as Tournament Administration, Tournament Operations, and Communications, while having fun watching the next generation of juniors compete in a national tournament.

Fun With Samuel Gaines Middle School Grads

We recently joined the graduates of Samuel Gaines Middle School, for a fun filled day at our Westside Learning Facility! These students were taught by Coach Ben Miller, PGA and Coach Gabbie Budd, LPGA.  They learned the fundamentals of the game of golf. These short sessions offered more than enough time to spark their interest in the sport of a lifetime and the sport of business.

Game Changers At Olivet Private School

Coach Gabbie Budd, LPGA, has enjoyed teaching the children at Olivet Private School. This group is full of Game Changers! The students showed Coach Gabbie respect and gave her their full attention. By the end of the six classes, each kid had the ability to hit a golf ball, keep score, and were able to identify the parts of the golf club. This has been a great partnership for our Chapter!

Keep The Fun Going With First Tee App

It’s official… the First Tee App is now live! 

We are excited to bring a fun, interactive way for your participants to engage with First Tee away from the course! The First Tee App includes games and challenges that will enhance concepts taught during class and bring them to life in new ways. Kids and teens will earn badges and points as they complete activities within the app, motivating them to keep playing, and tracking their progress over time.

You can access the app from your Apple or Android device or tablet, or from an internet browser. The games and activities are also available to download for offline use.  

Download the First Tee App:  

Apple iOS: apps.apple.com/us/app/first-tee/id1579272763   

Google Play (Android): play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.pga.firsttee 

Bookmark this page to play online 

Join Our Summer Camps

Summer is here!  Enroll your children in our programs in Martin and St. Lucie Counties.  

For more information and to register at one of our 8 program locations, please visit our website.

We are pleased to announce our newest program partner: PGA Golf Club in Port Saint Lucie! Coach Alex Iguchi, PGA looks forward to meeting your children at an upcoming summer camp. Financial aid is available.

Please visit our website for more information on the PGA Golf Club programs and to register.