Members of the Miami Lakes Golf Club are participating in a new plan to encourage kids to embrace the game.
For the first time in the club’s history, 10% of members’ annual dues were given to the First Tee Miami youth golf program.
First Tee Miami is based at the historic course, which underwent a $12.5 million renovation by owners The Graham Companies and reopened in November.
The members’ contribution this year amounted to $122,300, said Danny Martinez, project manager for the club.
“A bunch of members also volunteer with First Tee and help with clinics,” Martinez said. “Our members take great pride in growing the game of golf in South Florida. We welcome young players on the course, which doesn’t happen everywhere.”
The Charlie DeLucca Memorial Golf Tournament, named for the founder of First Tee Miami, was held at the course Dec. 5.
Member Andy Miyares said the golf club has been a big part of his life.
“For me, having the junior program here at the course I grew up on, worked at, and have been a member of for years means a lot,” Miyares said. “I also volunteer with the program. So getting to see these kids learn the game and gain confidence on the same fairways I did really hits home. "I look forward to putting my boys in the program when they are old enough.”
For more information go to TheFirstTeeMiami.org; to learn about the golf club go to MiamiLakesGolf.com.
In the first photo: Tournament winners, whose prizes were Yeti coolers, from left: Member Ron Davis; Bryan Kordupel; Charlie DeLucca, General Manager and President, First Tee Miami; Member Ronnie Davis Jr.; Danny Candon Jr., a First Tee Miami participant and his father, Member Daniel Candon, former First Tee Miami participant. Title sponsors were Betty and Michael D. Wohl; presenting sponsors were Investment Management Associates with Daniel Baumgard and The Banks Foundation; platinum sponsors were Michael A. Hanzman and Robert K. Burlington and the gold sponsors were The Richter Family; The Graham Companies; Paramount Consulting & Engineering; Steve Elias; Midnight Express Boats; the Verat Family; ProEx International and Perishable Export Consultants.
In the second photo, shown from left: John Reed, Director of Golf, Vice President, Dade Amateur Golf Association; Club Members Roland Padron and Ernie Brana; Mike Stern, Head Golf Professional, Board Member, Dade Amateur Golf Association; Club Member Emilio Rodriguez; Charlie DeLucca, General Manager and President, First Tee Miami and President, Dade Amateur Golf Association; Club Member Alexander Perez; Danny Candon Jr., son of a member, First Tee Miami participant and Club Members Ron Davis Sr., Ronnie Davis Jr., Gerry Furnari, Daniel Candon, and Bradley Richter.