The classes are offered in the spring and fall in an eight-week, after-school program held at local golf courses. The charge is $75, and we offer scholarships. There are eight golf courses in Brunswick County to choose from, and one in Columbus County. We have a lead coach and three other coaches, all volunteers, at each location. I train the lead coaches how to deliver the curriculum for the various age groups, and they all do a fantastic job.

We believe in experiences that are just as fun as they are meaningful, where kids feel excited to grow, safe to fail, and better equipped for whatever comes their way. Just about everyone who participates benefits in ways that they’ll carry with them throughout life.

One of our former students was considering dropping out of Brunswick Community College, and I asked him ‘Where is your confidence?’ A day later he called to tell me he was going into diesel mechanics, and now he’s happy and making a very comfortable living. And although the program is designed to build life skills, we’ve had more than a few who, after college, have gone on to be professional golfers. It’s so gratifying to celebrate our students’ successes.

We also provide an in-school program to all Brunswick County elementary schools, and Whiteville Primary School. It’s a national program called SNAG, “Starting New At Golf,” that PE teachers are trained to deliver. We get the equipment through sponsors – plastic clubs, tennis balls, Velcro targets. Eventually our coaches come to assist the PE teachers and integrate real golf, hitting some balls outside and incorporating life lessons. We reach 6,000 local children each year.