First Tee – Florida Gold Coast
First Tee – Florida Gold Coast / Michael B. Finnegan Learning Center, 7301 N Haverhill Rd, Riviera Beach, FL 33407
About
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 that includes expanded tee areas, practice bunkers, and putting and chipping greens, along with a 2,500 square foot clubhouse at the Michael B. Finnegan Learning Center.
• Schedule: Saturday morning golf sessions
First Tee – Florida Gold Coast is part of a youth development organization that integrates the game of golf with a life skills curriculum. The mission of First Tee is to enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges by creating active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience.
The program’s practice facility and short course were built by The Children’s Golf Foundation, Inc. and later fully renovated, and a new clubhouse at the Finnegan Learning Center was funded to meet growing needs. The Children’s Golf Foundation dates back to 1988, leased 12 acres in Dyer Park in 1996, broke ground on the golf facility in 1998, and officially opened the facility in 2002. Hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 caused significant damage, the economic recession of 2007 reduced the foundation’s ability to raise funds, and by 2008 the facility was operating only Saturday morning classes. In mid-2009, CGF hired Craig Watson, expanded staff in 2011, renovated the practice facility in the summer of 2012 and reopened it in January 2013, expanded its territory to Martin and St. Lucie Counties in 2012, received funding to replace the clubhouse in the summer of 2013, and was awarded a territory expansion into Broward County in February 2014.
The leadership and management team connected to First Tee – Florida Gold Coast and The Children’s Golf Foundation includes founder George McGrory; CGF Board Member and Chairman Dick Sheehan, the first Chairman Emeritus; Vice Chairman Steve Rockoff; CGF Board Member Ken Kennerly, who is Executive Director of The Honda Classic; Joe Steranka, President & CEO of The PGA of America; Craig Watson, who serves as Executive Director, Program Director, and Development Director; PGA Professionals Earl Puckett and Dave McNulty; Executive Director Carl Mistretta Jr.; Development Director Jack Barrett; Trustee Andrew Hunt, who is also President of First Tee – Treasure Coast and an officer on the CGF Board; Director of Operations for First Tee – Treasure Coast Gennifer Garvin; First Tee – Treasure Coast Director of Operations Anthony Coletta; Program Director Connie Capanegra; Director of Operations of First Tee – Broward Jack Bloomfield; First Tee Trustee Bob Simses; and Leon McNair, President of Wadsworth Golf Charities.
Staff credentials at the program include Craig Watson, a PGA Professional; Gennifer Garvin, who is LPGA and a First Tee Recognized Coach; Connie Capanegra, who is LPGA; Anthony Coletta, a Keiser College of Golf graduate; and Jack Bloomfield, a former sales representative for Callaway Golf.
First Tee – Florida Gold Coast serves St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, and Broward Counties and runs junior golf programs focused on personal growth, life and leadership skills. The program includes activities for young people with special needs and disabilities and also offers programs for veterans with disabilities, including work requested by therapists from the VA Hospital. It partners with special needs classes from local elementary schools and runs programming in partnership with 13 afterschool elementary programs. The Honda Classic is a Founding Partner of the chapter, and The PGA of America, Jack Nicklaus, and the Michael B. Finnegan Foundation are Founding Partners. The program receives partnerships and support from individuals and organizations involved in golf and sports, including 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, George S. May International, Dorothy May Campbell, Wadsworth Golf Charities, The Toro Company, Superior Golf Concepts, Roach Irrigation, The Breakers, and the Caross Foundation. The Palm Beach Atlantic College men’s and women’s golf teams practice at the facility.
Last updated February 14, 2026.
• Schedule: Saturday morning golf sessions
First Tee – Florida Gold Coast is part of a youth development organization that integrates the game of golf with a life skills curriculum. The mission of First Tee is to enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges by creating active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience.
The program’s practice facility and short course were built by The Children’s Golf Foundation, Inc. and later fully renovated, and a new clubhouse at the Finnegan Learning Center was funded to meet growing needs. The Children’s Golf Foundation dates back to 1988, leased 12 acres in Dyer Park in 1996, broke ground on the golf facility in 1998, and officially opened the facility in 2002. Hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 caused significant damage, the economic recession of 2007 reduced the foundation’s ability to raise funds, and by 2008 the facility was operating only Saturday morning classes. In mid-2009, CGF hired Craig Watson, expanded staff in 2011, renovated the practice facility in the summer of 2012 and reopened it in January 2013, expanded its territory to Martin and St. Lucie Counties in 2012, received funding to replace the clubhouse in the summer of 2013, and was awarded a territory expansion into Broward County in February 2014.
The leadership and management team connected to First Tee – Florida Gold Coast and The Children’s Golf Foundation includes founder George McGrory; CGF Board Member and Chairman Dick Sheehan, the first Chairman Emeritus; Vice Chairman Steve Rockoff; CGF Board Member Ken Kennerly, who is Executive Director of The Honda Classic; Joe Steranka, President & CEO of The PGA of America; Craig Watson, who serves as Executive Director, Program Director, and Development Director; PGA Professionals Earl Puckett and Dave McNulty; Executive Director Carl Mistretta Jr.; Development Director Jack Barrett; Trustee Andrew Hunt, who is also President of First Tee – Treasure Coast and an officer on the CGF Board; Director of Operations for First Tee – Treasure Coast Gennifer Garvin; First Tee – Treasure Coast Director of Operations Anthony Coletta; Program Director Connie Capanegra; Director of Operations of First Tee – Broward Jack Bloomfield; First Tee Trustee Bob Simses; and Leon McNair, President of Wadsworth Golf Charities.
Staff credentials at the program include Craig Watson, a PGA Professional; Gennifer Garvin, who is LPGA and a First Tee Recognized Coach; Connie Capanegra, who is LPGA; Anthony Coletta, a Keiser College of Golf graduate; and Jack Bloomfield, a former sales representative for Callaway Golf.
First Tee – Florida Gold Coast serves St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, and Broward Counties and runs junior golf programs focused on personal growth, life and leadership skills. The program includes activities for young people with special needs and disabilities and also offers programs for veterans with disabilities, including work requested by therapists from the VA Hospital. It partners with special needs classes from local elementary schools and runs programming in partnership with 13 afterschool elementary programs. The Honda Classic is a Founding Partner of the chapter, and The PGA of America, Jack Nicklaus, and the Michael B. Finnegan Foundation are Founding Partners. The program receives partnerships and support from individuals and organizations involved in golf and sports, including 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, George S. May International, Dorothy May Campbell, Wadsworth Golf Charities, The Toro Company, Superior Golf Concepts, Roach Irrigation, The Breakers, and the Caross Foundation. The Palm Beach Atlantic College men’s and women’s golf teams practice at the facility.
Last updated February 14, 2026.
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