The First Tee of North Florida’s Taste of Golf Never Tasted Better

It was a grand evening in a grand place for a grand cause—the 10th annual Taste of Golf affair in the Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass benefiting The First Tee of North Florida! While the food prepared by a dozen local clubs was outstanding, the real story and inspiration of the evening was the presence of youngsters currently participating in The First Tee programs and activities that teach life lessons through golf. The youngest of the young greeted you at the massive front doors of the  col0ssal Mediterranean-Style Clubhouse. This interaction quickly brought you into their world of a child being a child while emerging into an adult. The moment you stepped foot into the foyer and saw the over-sized murals of THE PLAYERS Championship moments—including Tiger Woods making that better-than-most long snake putt on the 17th on Saturday of his magical 2001 PLAYERS victory—you are drawn into the purest and highest level of golf known to man. There was something special about being at the home of the PGA TOUR, the home of the Web.com Tour Championship and THE PLAYERS Championship, on a night that honors not only the North Florida Chapter but the national First Tee organization that, with American and Presidential roots that date back to its origin in 1997. Young Joshua made a speech that every parent would want their child to make. In the Sunset Room, in front of VIP contributors to The First Tee of North Florida, introduced by the Executive Director Boots Farley, 13-year-old Joshua nailed a 10 from the heart. Though there are sure to be encore speeches in this young man's life, this one served, with Mom Norvie present, as an easy replacement for next year's Mother's Day gift. I couldn't help but think about some of this young man's words—"even when eyes are not on me—I am not perfect—I am a young person wanting to give back to school, church and community"—and the realization that he was speaking in the very same room as Tiger Woods spoke to publicly apologize for his behavior in February 2010. Both speeches, in my opinion, were inspirational. No human being is perfect and we can never know what another person is going through in their lives. Wherever we are in life as long as we are headed in the right direction with the right attitude and perspective all will be fine. I can only imagine the joy felt by son Joshua and mother Norvie as they left the event last night and headed home. We all deserve peace, joy and freedom in our personal lives and it is nice to know The First Tee helps bring that inside out in the youth of the world. The evening's Honorary Chairmen were Mark McCumber and his son Tyler, Dad, born and raised in Jacksonville, won 10 times on the PGA TOUR, including the 1988 PLAYERS Championship and the 1994 Tour Championship. Son Tyler, now 24, played collegiate golf at Florida and turned pro in 2013. He immediately won the Florida Open and then twice on the the PGA Tour Latinoamérica to earn a Web.com Tour card this season. In 20 events he made eight cuts, had one Top-10 and missed the Top-75 that made the Finals. CLICK here for a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Mark McCumber, Co-Honorary Chairman of Taste of Golf. Mark McCumber graciously granted me an interview and shared his thoughts about his playing and golf design careers. With good humor with comments like—"I learned how to play (the game) before I knew it was hard," admitting after the PLAYERS win that "he couldn't believe he gets paid for doing this," and "I knew what golf did for me growing up"—he spoke of the impact Jack Nicklaus had on him, how golf is a game of adversity, that like The First Tee, can make you a better person no matter your age. If you watch any of my interviews, watch this one! Like Darlene's Diner and TacoLu's, the Taste of Golf has become the complete culinary custom at TPC Sawgrass. Many of the participating clubs come back year after year. Here is my article from the 2012 Taste of Golf with some details on the culinary delights. I would be remiss if I didn't include a link to the 2013 Taste of Golf though distracted by incredible artwork the food was incredible that year too! And is I include the first two years I have to include last year so here is the story of the 2014 Taste of Golf. Gosh I love my job! This year the new kid on the block was the Atlantic Beach Country Club. They weren't here last year because they did not exist. Though they have deep golf roots through the land of the old Selva Marina Country Club which at one time hosted the Greater Jacksonville Open on the PGA TOUR. A brand new championship golf course designed by Erik Larsen and 178 single-family home sites now occupy this historic site. If the creation of Executive Chef Marvin McClelland—smoked pork cheeks with house made bacon along with butternut squash pudding, caramelized fennel, and maple grastrique is any indication, living and playing golf at Atlantic Beach CC must be a fabulous affair! The Taste of Golf is a fun and entertaining night too apart from the food and First Tee emphasis. The Charlie Walker Band performed and captivated the crowd with his soulful blended ballads of folk and acoustic pop.  Snap Happy brought their photo booth and costumes so we could make "Happy Memories in A Snap." The 10th annual 'Taste of Golf' did not miss a sweet tooth, even with Event Chairwoman Milan Moore being out on assignment  as a Project Manager & Golf Course Designer for the PGA TOUR. Emcee Charlene Shirk of Charlene Shirk Public Relations did a fabulous job as did, of course, the staff at TPC Sawgrass. Earlier in the day I couldn't help but notice the nine core values of The First Tee arranged in a Stonehenge-like configuration at the TPC TOUR Academy practice facility for the Junior golf clinic and skills challenge. In the distance the iconic Clubhouse was yet another reminder of the synergy now demonstrated through The First Tee between golf and youth development. Those nine core values—of Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy and Judgement along with the nine healthy habits—of Energy, Play, Safety, Vision, Mind, Family, Friends, School, and Community are so important in life whether you are young like Joshua or older like you and me. Correction in the title—golf, life and food never tasted better at the Taste of Golf. Be there next year!