Young golfers learn the game with First Tee

     Over 200 students from across Miami-Dade County practiced their skills at Miami Lakes Golf Club on Oct. 5 and 12 as part of a tournament for athletes in the Special Olympics program. 

     The event was hosted in part with Special Olympics and First Tee and invites students and adults to practice different golf skills. This is the first year the tournament was held at the Miami Lakes Golf Club. 

     The late Charlie DeLucca Jr. began the program in 1982. His son Charlie DeLucca III is carrying it on. The kids practice putting, chipping, driving and other golf skills. 

     Eleven schools and a recreation program participated. The competition will allow the young athletes to advance to contests at the county and state levels.

     Volunteers from Bank of America and American Express helped students from Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School; Palm Springs North Middle School; City of Hialeah Parks and Recreation; Southwest Miami Senior High School; Miami Palmetto Senior High School; Our Pride Academy; South Dade Senior High School; The Learning Experience; Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School; Cutler Bay Middle School; Brownsville Middle School and Edison Park K-8 Center.