Elise Rivas Mucklow is an incredible young woman.  She has always impressed me with her ability to communicate and she makes me laugh every week as she leads the morning warm-up.  When you see her in action, it will become clear that the military is a great fit for her.  I was not surprised when I heard that she received Congressional nominations to the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Both programs emphasize engineering—a passion she has pursued for years.  If for some reason those don't work out she will attend Florida Atlantic University.  

​Have you always wanted to join the military?
Not at all. I don’t come from a military family. My interest in the military began unexpectedly through STEM. I was part of a robotics team for a few years, which introduced me to various STEM and mechanical engineering opportunities. One day, I saw a flyer for the Naval Academy Summer Seminar. It seemed foreign and intimidating, but I decided to try it.

When I was accepted, I felt nervous, especially about the physical challenges. However, during the seminar, I discovered a unique community, built strong connections, and realized I have the grit and determination to achieve difficult goals. I pushed through physical challenges by thinking of my squad, who depended on me, and learned I was more capable than I had imagined. That experience sparked a desire for more of those challenges.
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Why did you leave the robotics team?
Being part of the robotics team was an amazing experience, but it was a serious time commitment. It consumed so much of my time that I couldn’t pursue other interests. In my final year, I decided to explore new opportunities, like First Tee, and focus on singing, a passion I’ve had since childhood.
I’ve always enjoyed singing and started with my local choir at a young age. I was part of the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches before joining the Schola Cantorum of Florida Choir at FAU, where I’ve received invaluable coaching. I also sing in my church choir at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Singing has been a creative outlet that complements my academic and STEM pursuits.
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What do you think about First Tee?
If I could change one thing, I would have become more involved in First Tee earlier. I didn’t realize how many great opportunities were available through the program. Initially, I didn’t fully evaluate it against my other extracurriculars.  Now, I’m working on my ACE certification but I'm most excited to volunteer as a TGL Ball Runner.

Golf, traditionally, is about being outdoors and playing a consistent game. However, TGL introduces technology to the sport, making it more accessible to people who may not enjoy the traditional format. As a STEM enthusiast, I’m excited to see how technology reshapes golf.  It could be the start of something new.

Why did you decide to learn golf?
When I joined the homeschool golf class, I was 14 years old and noticeably one of the oldest students in the class.  My grandfather was the golfer in the family and I thought it would be fun to take on a new challenge that was different yet similar to tennis. It was however, a very daunting task which filled me with a lot of self doubt since my expected level of success did not come easy.  Coach Glen was very patient and created a safe space for me to not feel judged as a late-comer to the game. 

Over the years, Coach Glen provided the proper guidance that I needed to progress, given that practicing outside of class has never been a big priority.  This is not because I do not enjoy golf but because my STEM commitments basically hijacked my schedule. Now, I can actually swing my driver 150 - 200 yards straight which is amazing growth for me and I even won a closest to the pin contest in a golf tourney for the local Junior Achievement organization. 

I think it is important to mention that I appreciate Coach Glen’s encouragement to the group each and every week. He does not want us to become brats that just show up to become talented at golf.  He wants us to develop character even outside of golf.  I really enjoy hearing all of the personal examples that he shares. 

​What have you learned about golf?
Golf is a social game that introduces you to people you might never meet otherwise. I’ve played with people whose only shared interest with me was golf, and that’s a great way to start conversations and network. One of my instructors at the Naval Academy Summer Seminar once told me, “I’ve never met a Naval Officer who didn’t know how to golf.”  That was enough motivation for me to keep moving forward. 
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I’ve also learned that golf is a lifelong sport. Unlike football or baseball, which are often played for a season in life, golf is something people enjoy well into their later years.

Final Thoughts
On Golf: Don’t be intimidated to start golf at any age, even if you’re learning alongside younger students. Casual play will introduce you to people of all ages, so embrace the opportunity with a good attitude. When the First Tee opportunities are offered, make room for them.  Finally, take advantage of resources like the Palm Beach County Junior Card to play more often and build your confidence.
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On Life: Pursue your true interests with commitment and consistency. Develop them over time and don’t be afraid to explore new opportunities. Also, consider studying economics—it provides valuable insights into how our country operates and how decisions are made.  The more you know, the more you can challenge others to think differently.  

Nelly Korda had an historic 2024 season!  It was filled with some extra memorable moments and some challenges.  The round of golf that started off the year was a testament of her ability to persevere and it set the tone for her 7 wins culminating in the  Rolex Player of the Year Award.  Watch the round below, to see how it all began.
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So many little nuggets of wisdom in this press conference.

An overview of some of the challenges that Nelly faced throughout the year. 
Listen thru 2:51. 

Sharing her thoughts after her 7th win with hall of famer, Annika Sorenstam. 

Her most memorable moment of the year is not golf related! ​

Nelly Korda is definitely someone to watch next year and beyond!!

Earlier today, PGA National was the host location for The Battle for Palm Beach, a charity event featuring members of Good Good Golf and Barstool Golf.  It was a one of a kind opportunity! Some Beaver Golf junior students along with other First Tee participants from the chapter were invited to participate in a special meet and greet before the scramble started. 

All First Tee participants were given VIP passes which allowed them to relax in cushy chairs while watching the golfers warm up.  A couple of the players cautioned the First Tee participants, "We are not the people to watch if you want to learn how to play golf, we are out here to have fun."  While that might be true, they are pretty good players in their own right with several shooting in the 70s at least once in their lifetime.   

Two teams competed and only one team prevailed.  Fortunately for the First Tee of the Palm Beaches Team Riggs prevailed over Team GM.  That's $10,000 that will be used to further the mission of First Tee.  You can watch the entire match below: ​

When you meet and greet, you get autographs and pictures.

The Match started on hole #10 of the Champ Course with a draft!

It was a perfect weather day and we all had a blast!!

A common goal for junior golfers learning the sport is to join a high school team.  Quite honestly, since we live in FL it is something that both Coach Danni and I discuss with our teen golfers quite often.  For those who are serious about it, we adjust our lessons accordingly and also encourage them to become a real student of the game so they can become a leader on their team.  

Since 2017, Beaver Golf has developed many high school players and some of those high school players also play in competitive tournaments, check out the video below.  Not all high school players are competitive tournament players and not all competitive tournament players play on high school teams but both provide great development opportunities depending on the goals of your golfer.

In like manner, high school golf coaches and golf coaches like Coach Danni and myself provide different development opportunites for your golfer.  A high school golf coach is generally going to oversee the tryout process, select players that will best represent their school and develop a team environment.  Most high school golf coaches have a love for the sport but they are not trained as golf professionals nor is it their full-time job; making it very important to maintain your schedule of private lessons with Coach Danni or myself.  

In rare instances, a high school golf coach may be trained as a golf professional and they use the opportunity to convert the high school players into their private students.  While this can be a great marketing tool, it can easily become an unethical practice when the coach fails to recognize that the player already has a golf coach.  It is easy to fall prey to their promises especially, if they are offering bells and whistles that you think your golfer needs.  ​

In the past, a couple of junior golfers have made the decision to leave Beaver Golf and work soley with their high school coach or simply coach themselves but that decision has been detrimental to their golf aspirations.  Bells and whistles do not guarantee progress.  Solid coaching practices coupled with a player who is committed to doing the work is a better bet.

Now, if the high school golf coach is reputable, they will accept the fact that the golfer has a coach and may offer general guidance to the golfer. The key in these instances is to always share those tips with Coach Danni or myself to ensure that long-term goals are not compromised. 

If your golfer is considering playing for a high school team, please speak to Coach Danni or myself before making any decisions.  Coach Danni played for Oxbridge Academy so she brings a personal element to this important decision making process that is invaluable. One last note, always be sure that any golf coach that you are considering is in good standing with our local First Tee office. ​

Annika Collado was selected to attend a First Tee Leadership Summit in Atlanta hosted by the PGA Superstore in June.  Here's what she had to say about the entire experience:

A pre-requiste for applying to the Leadership Summit is participation in the Leadership Series at the PGA Superstore in Palm Beach Gardens.  How was that experience? 
The leadership series at the PGA Superstore gave me the opportunity to not only meet some great people within my local First Tee chapter but also to see how important leadership is to create a successful and positive environment in a work place.  The 6-week class was very beneficial and I encourage others to do it if given the chance.

Once selected to participate in the Leadership Summit what expectations did you have for the event?  Were those expectations met?
I wasn't sure at all what would be part of the Leadership Summit. I just knew I'd be able to understand how to become a better leader. The trip, however, blew my expectations away! I met some great people from all around the country that were just like me. We have continued to stay in contact and we are building strong friendships even after the event.

It also was an incredible opportunity to meet with successful leaders that apply their core values to shape their companies which allows them to be successful.  More importantly, they are making the world a better place through the work that they do. From CEOs to NFL managers, we heard about how important good leadership is especially when turning failure into success. I will never forget the opportunity. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I am extremely grateful for it. ​

While at the Summit, you were able to hear from leaders representing different fields.  What speakers impacted you the most?
The first most impactful speaker would be Mr. Ralph Stokes. He is a board member for the PGA Superstore and he is the person who advocated for this experience with First Tee. He had a massive impact on me because he encouraged all of us to make the most of the experience we were given and to have fun. Mr. Stokes also attended all of the events with us so we could get to know him more.  True to his encouragement he always had fun and his jokes made us laugh a lot.

Another impactful speaker was Mrs. Maya Moore, a professional basketball player who has won countless national championships. It wasn't specifically her professional sports career that made her so impactful to me but why she stop playing at the height of her career.  Mrs. Moore learned that someone from her hometown had been wrongfully imprisoned and she decided to invest her time and money to get him freed.  This man eventually became her husband and they now have a son together.

One of her challenges was going from being the best in her career to taking on a task where she essentially knew nothing.  She had to overcome not being the best by trusting people who were the best in their field, the legal arena, in order to be successful. 

Any final thoughts?
The Leadership Summit was an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity. When I wasn't learning from some great leaders, I had a blast!  We did so much: ziplining, office mini-golf, soccer, Civil Rights Museum and other stuff I can't remember right now. Sharing this experience with the other participants that I now call friends made it even better. Overall, it was an amazing time and I can't recommend it enough.