Golf is about more than long drives and perfect putts. The game challenges the individual physically, mentally, and emotionally. That's why it's the perfect tool for the Detroit-based Midnight Golf program to develop its young participants into empowered, socially responsible adults—able to navigate their lives as well as the game. The program pairs inner-city African American students with PGA of America pros and business, human services, and education professionals, resulting in nearly 80 percent of participants going on to college.
This is Midnight Golf. Photographed by
Nearly 500 students have participated in the Midnight Golf program since its inception in 2001. Students and volunteer mentors meet twice weekly at the Beechwoods Golf Course in Detroit, Michigan, to learn to appreciate the game, but equally important is how the students learn to expand their life choices, make better decisions, and increase their self-sufficiency. Financial literacy, college preparation, and community activism are just some of the skills these underserved students learn.
The Midnight Golf program also dispels the myth that African American kids don't like golf and instead sends them into the world with a skill they love and that will be a professional asset as well. You can learn more about the Midnight Golf program at www.midnightgolf.org.
