When The Graham Companies sponsored the 22nd Annual Corey for St. Jude Golf Tournament at the Miami Lakes Golf Club on Oct. 24, there were several reasons to celebrate.
One was raising $70,000 that day, bringing total donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. to more than $1 million over two decades, the company said.
It was also the moment for Danny Martinez, construction project manager for The Graham Companies, to thank the team of people he worked with for a year to create the beautiful golf course that was renovated with a $12 million budget.
The tournament is named for Corey Sticco, who survived cancer when he was a child and underwent surgeries on his brain and other treatments at St. Jude.
His father Tim Sticco is superintendent at the golf club.
“About a year ago I sat out here on a glorified dirt path,” Martinez told the players. “A lot of people here today made this happen.”
He addressed Tim Sticco, his contributions to the new course and presented a surprise tribute to him and his family.
“Tim, what you do out here is fantastic,” Martinez said. “It’s very hard for me to thank you for all that you do for everybody else.”
Martinez said there was no excess “furniture” on the course. Trash baskets are buried and there aren’t any benches, ball washers or tee signs.
“So we have tee markers and we have pins and that’s about it,” Martinez said. “But there’s something else that I think is essential to our golf course. From today forward, the path that connects us from our pro shop to our first tee will be renamed Sticco Way, in honor of the Sticco family and all they have done for us.”
Martinez unveiled the new sign. He also thanked Sticco’s wife Dana Sticco and their son Corey; Casey and Maritza Sticco and their sons Miles and Mason.
“Tim Sticco has been with us for 24 years now,” Martinez said. “He set the tone and culture for this place. Anyone that comes through our property tells me how much they enjoy it, how fun it is, how easy it is to be around all of us. … I think we know where that starts for us.
“It’s 24 years of service with the Sticco family here that builds our culture, and it’s the kind of thing that’s just not replaceable anywhere else.”
Martinez also thanked the golf course staff, including Charlie DeLucca III, who runs the First Tee Miami youth golf program with LPGA Professional Felicia Leftinger; Director of Golf John Reed, Head Golf Professional Mike Stern; Joey Vega, assistant pro and pro shop manager; Assistant Pro Max Wagenberg, CarlosVelez; Golf Sales Manager Dave Gergely and Assistant Pro Jen Lemus. He gave credit to the maintenance team, too.
“Everyone here on staff really cares about this place and I think it shows,” he said.
Sponsors included The Graham Companies; Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino -- Title Sponsor; Chef Peter Farrand and Duffy’s Sports Grill; Harrell’s Fertilizer; MacCurrach Golf Construction -- Gift Sponsor; PF Chestnut Jr. Electric; Bruce A. Hepner Golf Design, LLC; Florida Superior Sand; Wesco/Hector Turf; Flynn Engineering; Turf Tech; Downstream Design; BASF; Golf Turf Applications; Southern Glazer’s and Greenzkeeper Wholesale Supply Corp.