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.
​

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.
​

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. 
​
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.
​
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.  

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. ​

Last week, the first Cognizant Classic of the Palm Beaches was played at PGA National.  Junior student, Mateo Muñiz, was assigned to be standard bearer for the group that included David Skinns.  He was not familiar with any of the golfers in the group so he was excited to meet some new players.  David immediately introduced himself and after the first tee shot surprised Mateo by kicking off a conversation with him as they walked down the fairway to assess his second shot.  Most golfers keep the conversation with the standard bearer and walking scorer to a minimum but David enjoyed talking to Mateo throughout the round.  

The most memorable part of the round for Mateo was watching David's response to a damaged putter.  Ray, David's caddie, tripped over a tee marker on the 5th hole which caused him to take a tumble with David's clubs.  Fortunately, Ray was fine, but when it was time to putt David discovered that his putter somehow got bent during the fall.  Ray was visibly distraught since his misstep caused an important club to become damaged but David did not get angry with him.  Instead he maintained his compusure and called an official to explain that his putter needed some repair.  "I watched him bend that putter with a purpose and he never gave up.  Somehow he got it back into position and sunk an 8 ft 7 in putt with authority.  It was awesome!" said Mateo.  Ray still feeling bad, continued to apologize, but David simply replied "Forgot about it, it's in the past."  This is a great example of how to respond to a situation with dignity and acceptance.  

Mateo also enjoyed watching him interact with his son who was walking outside the ropes.  "One time, his son was complaining about being thirsty and David responded like a dad 'why didn't you tell me that at the tee box so I could get you some water?' It reminded me of something my Mom would say," giggled Mateo.  "They only walked the first 9 holes of the  round but David never lost sight of them.  He stayed focused on his game the whole time no matter what was going on," Mateo continued. "He even spoke to me a lot which was so unexpected and kept playing well. I hope to apply this lesson in my own game."  

David Skinns would finish the round tied for 3rd, by the 4th round he would be tied for lead and ultimately finish in 4th place.  That was his best finish in 33 career starts.  If you would like to learn more about David click here.  

Disclaimer: Mateo's experience as a standard bearer is not the norm.  If your golfer chooses to do this in the future they could encounter a golfer that does not interact beyond the introduction and the thank you at the end of the round.  
​

Recently, I had a parent voice a concern that my group class is too young for their middle school golfer and while I get why they might think that I decided to share my thoughts on why Beaver Golf teaches the way we do.  Golf is a sport that you can start to learn at any age, I chose 5 for my program because in my experience golfers younger than that are unable to stay focused for longer than 30 minutes and some 5 year olds may be challenged in this area as well.   

I offer one junior class weekly on Thursday evenings because to tell you the truth it is the only day that my coaching team can make work in our schedule and it has worked great for the last almost 4 years that we have been offering it.  All beginner junior golfers age 5-17 are welcome to join the class but they will be grouped by age and ability.  All golfers are taught the same way and they will also learn to become golfers of character.  That is the goal of the class.  

My Thurday junior class usually has at least two high school volunteers who are more than willing to help middle schoolers excel in this sport if they are really interested.  The question then becomes is your golfer really interested in learning this great sport or are they simply looking for a social activity?

To sum it up, we teach junior golfers to respect players no matter how old they are. We teach them the skills and the values needed to play with integrity.  We also teach our golfers to create community rather than cliques.  If your middle school golfer can thrive in this environment then they are always welcome on Thursday evenings, just be sure to register them accordingly.  ​

Our last but definitely not least, Senior Spotlight is Nathan Vertes.  He has somewhere near 700 community services hours and he still contacts me when he is not working to ask if he can come volunteer.  The more I learn about Nate, the more I am convinced that he truly understands what it means to live each day as your best self.  

When did you get involved with golf?

I attended a First Tee camp in Michigan when I was 6 years old but I didn’t do much with it until middle school when I started taking lessons with Coach Glen. Later, I decided to play competitively and I tried out for the Seminole Ridge High School team.  My freshman year was Covid year so it was a weird year.  We didn’t even have District qualifications.  My sophomore year, we came out of Covid and we qualified for Districts and continued to do so for my junior and senior year.  

What do you think about Coach Glen? 

I love Coach Glen.  He’s a really great teacher and he pushes me to do things I would not have done otherwise.  He’s firm and direct with his coaching. I like that so much more than the  “you’re doing great,” kind of feedback.  It takes time to really understand his coaching style, he’s not mean, he just wants you to be your best self.  He is a lot like my hockey coach. ​

Your senior year hasn’t been what you expected, has it?

I did not expect to be injured so much.  I have had a sprained wrist, sprained shoulder and now a fractured wrist.  Definitely learning to persevere through the different challenges that come with an injury. It was tough to be sidelined for the golf team especially since I have been playing since freshman year and have been “team captain” for the last two.  I barely had enough matches played in golf to qualify for Districts but I made it.  While at districts, I shot my best round ever.  

What’s it like being “team captain?”

As a team captain, I get to lead my teammates and help them push themselves while also encouraging them to be the best they can be. I have had my fair share of injuries but I continued to cheer them on even when I could not be part of the action. For me it is never about the title. It’s remembering that it’s not about you; it is about helping others. 

I am fortunate to have had two great coaches who were willing to invest in me so I enjoy giving back to others in the same way. ​

What other ways do you give back? 

My parents have always been involved in community outreach helping abused and neglected kids. That experience made me realize how lucky I am to have the love of family and access to basic necessities. In 2018, I started fundraising by collecting aluminum cans from neighborhood recycling bins to redeem them for money at local recycling centers and writing fundraising letters to help Project Zawadi which builds schools and educational programs for Tanzanian children. It is definitely a lot of work, but the impact is far greater than my effort.

Additionally, I personally raised $6,780 over 3 years to benefit Shands Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network while also helping raise funds for School Wide Buddy Benches to promote peer cohesiveness for students who are struggling socially. 

While fundraising is great, I also enjoy tutoring other students to help them prepare for exams or complete projects, volunteer at Community of Hope Student Ministries and most recently have had the opportunity to help Coach Glen in his junior classes. That experience in particular has helped me to really connect the dots of what I learned while attending the First Tee Event in Montana.  

How are the dots connecting for your future?

I have always been motivated to do well in my academics.  I paid attention in class so I was well-liked by my teachers which made them more willing to help me when I needed it. Through that effort, I have only received 1 B and that was in middle school when I started taking high school level classes.  As of now, I have 5.1 Weighted GPA with a 1520 SAT score.  

Since academics came easy for me, that freed me up to help.  That has been a blessing and curse since I struggle to say NO to people and opportunities.  I want to do everything which has led to me overextending myself and then I am only able to offer limited help. Now I use a calendar and think through my decisions before saying Yes.  

I believe these experiences are preparing me for my future goal of starting my own pharmaceutical company.  My Mom has a history of heart issues and Crohn's so I am motivated to find cures behind the scenes.  I would love to do just that in my home state of Michigan by attending Notre Dame or Michigan but I have some work to do to secure the scholarships.