First Tee Partners with Pipers Landing & Palm City Boys & Girls Club

Since the community’s founding nearly thirty-five years ago, Piper’s Landing Yacht and Country Club has been a philanthropic partner to many charitable organizations in Martin County. From hosting events for non-profits to collecting toys for children and food for the hungry, Piper’s Landing members and staff enjoy the opportunity to give back to the community. In keeping with this tradition, Piper’s has formed a new partnership with the local chapter of The First Tee, an international non-profit youth development organization that teaches a valuable Life Skills Experience using golf as the vehicle. Piper’s will be donating the use of their championship golf course so that the program can benefit children who are members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County. 

The First Tee, founded in 1997, has reached 9 million participants and engaged 17,000 volunteers in 50 states and 4 countries. The organization’s mission is to teach children how to manage emotions, set goals, resolve conflicts and communicate with others through the discipline of the sport of golf. The Palm City Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs will use Piper’s Landing stunning golf course during three nine-week programs to get the children outside, to teach them a sport and to instill values they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Through each week of the program, the children will focus on one of The First Tee’s Nine Core Values: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment.

The Treasure Coast Chapter of The First Tee was started by Andrew Hunt, Charlie D’Agata and Erling Speer in 2012. When asked about the partnership with Piper’s Landing, Speer said, “Piper’s Landing was a natural fit for this program. They have always been extremely philanthropic and community-oriented and everyone there - from Mike Eye, the Head Golf Professional to Brian Reich, the General Manager, to Piper’s entire Board of Directors - have been so supportive of our vision. The children are truly going to benefit and grow from this partnership.”

Approximately 12 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs will participate in the first after school nine-week course which will begin in early September. The program is also open to any children who are residents or visitors of Piper’s Landing. Grandchildren are all welcome!

“Our team believes in giving back to the community, and this is a perfect way to blend our experience with the needs of the local area,” said Piper’s Landing’s General Manager, Brian Reich. “By partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs to host these First Tee events at Piper’s Landing, we hope to expose this next generation of leaders to the game that our members and staff are so passionate about.”

For more information about Piper’s Landing Yacht and Country Club call 772-283-7000 or visit www.piperslanding.com. For more information about The First Tee of The Treasure Coast, visit www.thefirstteetreasurecoast.org or call 561-842-0066. For more information about the Boys and Girls Clubs, visit www.bgcmartin.org or call 772-545-1255.

Piper’s Landing Yacht & Country Club is a private, luxury gated community located in Palm City, Florida.  With only 302 residences nestled among 600 acres, Piper’s Landing is known for its lush, spacious grounds including a 6,922 yard championship golf course, secluded waterfront, 5 Har-Tru® tennis courts, nature preserves and a naturally protected private yacht basin that offers access to the Atlantic Ocean. For more information visit www.piperslanding.com or contact Membership Coordinator Pegi Austin at 772-283-7000.


About The First Tee

The First Tee is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to young people. Through after school and in school programs, they help shape the lives of young people from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect and perseverance through the game of golf. For more information call 561-842-0066 or visit www.thefirstteetreasurecoast.org.

About the Boys & Girls Clubs 

Formed in 1991, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County enables all young people, especially those who need help most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. To achieve this, trained youth development professionals offer children ages 6 to 18 a very low-cost, comprehensive and high-yield curriculum after school and during the summers. 

All of the programming takes a holistic approach, ensuring Club Members are thriving in all aspects of their lives. Programming is offered in five core areas: Education & Career Development, Character & Leadership Development, Health & Life Skills, Sports, Fitness & Recreation and The Arts. In the most recent school year, BGCMC served 1,717 registered Members. The Boys & Girls Clubs charge just $35 a year though the total cost per Club Member is more than $1,800. And they never turn a child away for his or her family's ability to pay and 70% of Members receive full scholarships to attend the Clubs.

BGCMC is supported by the Children's Services Council of Martin County, Hobe Sound Community Chest, United Way of Martin County, private foundations, corporations, and individual donors. To learn more, please call 772.545.1255, visit www.bgcmartin.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.