First Tee – Florida Gold Coast

First Tee – Florida Gold Coast offers golf activities for young people, including Saturday morning golf sessions. The program uses a practice facility and short course, along with the Finnegan Learning Center and a 2,500 square foot clubhouse, for its activities. The practice facility includes expanded tee areas, a short course with many playing options, practice bunkers, and putting and chipping greens.

The program is part of First Tee, a youth development organization that integrates the game of golf with a life skills curriculum. The Children’s Golf Foundation, Inc., which supports this program, dates back to 1988 and developed a golf facility on 12 acres in Dyer Park, with ground breaking in 1998 and an official opening in 2002. Hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 caused significant damage to the facility, and the economic recession of 2007 reduced the foundation’s ability to raise funds, leading to limited operations in 2008 with only Saturday morning classes. In mid-2009, the foundation hired Craig Watson, and the practice facility was renovated in the summer of 2012 and reopened in January 2013, with territory expansion into Broward County awarded in February 2014. The leadership and management over time have included individuals such as founder George McGrory; board leaders Dick Sheehan and Steve Rockoff; executives and directors including Ken Kennerly, Joe Steranka, Craig Watson, Carl Mistretta Jr., Jack Barrett, Connie Capanegra, Jack Bloomfield, and Andrew Hunt; and trustees and supporters such as Bob Simses and Leon McNair. Staff credentials include Craig Watson as a PGA Professional, Gennifer Garvin as LPGA and a First Tee Recognized Coach, Connie Capanegra as LPGA, and Anthony Coletta as a Keiser College of Golf graduate. Community involvement includes serving St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, and Broward Counties; partnerships with special needs classes from local elementary schools; work with veterans with disabilities at the request of therapists from the VA Hospital; and programming with 13 afterschool elementary programs. Founding and major supporters include The Honda Classic and the Michael B. Finnegan Foundation, along with individuals and organizations connected to golf and sports such as Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, the USGA, Jan Beljan of Fazio Golf Course Design, The Palm Beach Kennel Club, Wayne Huizenga, the Miami Dolphins, the Florida Marlins, many local country clubs, Wadsworth Golf Charities, and the Caross Foundation. Palm Beach Atlantic College golf teams also practice at the facility.

Last updated June 1, 2026.