Business & Tech
Ian Black Real Estate Sponsors Inaugural “Golf Coast Drive” Beachfront Event
One-of-a-kind event was televised on The Golf Channel and featured public challenges, a youth clinic and celebrity showdown
Ian Black Real Estate, a boutique commercial real estate services firm located in Sarasota, was proud to sponsor the inaugural “Golf Coast Drive,” a unique beachfront golf experience held on April 13 at Coquina Beach. The event, hosted by the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (BACVB) and benefitting nonprofit First Tee – Sarasota/Manatee, served as the kickoff to the Senior PGA Championship at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton from April 16-19.
The one-of-a-kind event, which was televised on The Golf Channel, featured public challenges, a youth clinic and a celebrity showdown. During the event, First Tee – Sarasota/Manatee hosted a youth golf clinic, which offered children ages 4 to 18 hands-on instruction in chipping, putting and full swings.
Beyond the physical game, the clinic integrated First Tee’s Five Key Commitments: pursuing goals, growing through challenge, collaborating with others, building a positive self-identity and using good judgment.
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“Supporting First Tee is deeply personal for us,” said Nick DeVito, II, partner at Ian Black Real Estate and past board chair for First Tee – Sarasota/Manatee. “Having served this organization for years, I have seen firsthand how golf serves as a powerful vehicle for character development in children. By bringing the game to the beach, we’re removing barriers and showing local youth that the values learned on the golf course can apply to every aspect of their lives.”
The day’s festivities culminated in a sunset Pro-Am skills showdown featuring professional golfers and celebrity guests, including Happy Days star Scott Baio, LPGA champion Jan Stephenson, PGA Tour Player and Former US Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger and Stephen Nedoroscik, who won a bronze medal on the pommel horse at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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“Golf Coast Drive was a truly special way to showcase the natural beauty of our beaches while celebrating the arrival of a major PGA championship to our community,” said Elliott Falcione, Executive Director for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This event was about more than just golf; it was about community connection and environmental stewardship. We are incredibly grateful for the support of Ian Black Real Estate and our other community partners who helped us create a family-friendly atmosphere that sets the stage for an unforgettable week at The Concession.”
The 2026 Senior PGA Championship marks the beginning of a three-year residency at The Concession Golf Club, bringing world-class major championship golf and significant economic impact to the Sarasota-Bradenton region through 2028.
Photo Caption (pictured from left to right): Lisa Krouse, James Coldren, Lexi McKenney, Jordan Gorrell, Katie Jackson, Selah Hildreth and Anthony Williams.
About Ian Black Real Estate
Ian Black Real Estate (IBRE) is a boutique commercial real estate services firm located in Sarasota, Fla. The firm is one of the largest commercial brokerage firms in Southwest Florida and boasts a deep knowledge of the commercial real estate market in Sarasota and Manatee counties and the surrounding area. For more information, visit ian-black.com.
