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There' always a story Beyond the Score.

As I get older, man, this game is really probabl the greatest sport of all time.

A long term goal is to get my PGA card.

So you want to be a professional golfer?

Yes.

Our payback is the investment we put in to you because we need to see you succeed.

Oh my gosh.

All right.

Interview.

For generations, golf carried an inescapable reputation.

A sport played behind close doors defined by steep barriers, high price tags, and an exclusivity that kept golf out of reach for most young people growing up in inner cities.

In fact, historically, African Americans made up less than 3% of golfers across the country.

But today, things have shifted.

The narrativ is being completely rewritten.

Today, we are dedicating our entire episode to the game of golf and the power of inclusion.

In the first half, we dive into First Tee Greater Detroit, a program using the game of golf to build character, life skills and confidence in young people ages 6 to 17.

And in our second half, we step inside the Midnigh Golf Program to see how 18 holes are preparin high school seniors for college, corporate boardrooms, and life.

This is Beyond the Score.

Let's tee off.

At First Tee Greater Detroit, the mission extends far beyond low handicaps and perfect chip shots.

Over a five week session, kids get access to clubs, expert coaching, and core values that translate directly into daily life.

Carl, the game of golf has been historically an exclusive sport.

How is First Tee helping to change that perception?

And how have you seen the game of golf in regard to that conversation change from when you first picked up a club to where it is today?

golf continues to be, a, exclusive, sport.

Okay.

And, what First Tee does is continue to try to break that barrier down.

It is, rooted in our mission, to provide access to, underserved communities, okay.

To the game of golf.

And through that, okay, we not only are teaching kids, you know, how to hold a club.

But we're teaching them life skills, okay?

And those life skills come about, in the area of teaching and about being respectful resilient.

Teaching them ho to, collaborate and how to be, I like to say, the best humans they can be.

What are some things about these fantastic young golfers that, that maybe would surprise the audience watching this story?

I mean, we're actually a workforce development organization.

The kids really, internalized mutual respect.

We had a young kid that hit the ball.

It wasn't great.

And I could see his countenance drop, but I observed the kids around him, and one of his teammates walked up to him, patted him on the shoulder and said, don't worry, you're going to be okay.

You'll do better the next time.

Oh, man, good job.

For example, I'll give you- we might have today's word is respect, okay.

Now that respect?

We're going to translate tha to now, you're grabbing a club, okay?

Now you're approaching this club with respect because that's going to be your tool now, okay?

For delivering, you know, on the golf ball.

First time golfers often struggle with the short game, especially chipping.

But under the guidanc of program director John Page, learning to navigate a tough lie on the green becomes a metaphor for handling life's unexpected bounces.

John you spend hours with these kids.

When do you know that the program is making a difference?

it's a little bit of, you know, through the, participants and just seeing the, the, them appl the skills that they've learned, but the feedback that we get from the parents is really crucial too.

So, you know, getting that that survey research and, and measurin that I think is really important And it's that anecdotal feedback, just the parents, you know, just saying thank you and, and being grateful for the, you know, the, you know, for, for the coaches and, and the program and, and I'm just saying that, it means a lot, but it also kind of validates, you know, what we're doing.

We want to have some, you know, pa three courses, a driving range where kids in our progra can just come and practice and, experience the game and grow through the game, through their own experimentation and not just through our, you know, our, our programs.

So it provides the community with, access.

And I think that's, that's what is most needed.

Speaking of mutual respect, I found out firsthand that the students here, they don't mess around.

I challenge Shaun Horn to a five ball putting contest.

Five balls each.

Most sinks wins.

It all came down to our very last shot.

Shaun stepped up and yeah, he made it.

I lined up mine to force a playoff and I came that close.

But beyond his killer short game, Shaun represents the poster child for wha First Tee strives to accomplish.

We put on the show for you guys.

You better appreciate that.

I wan to talk about Sean for a second.

He's a fascinating young man.

Yes.

I must admit on camera that he di beat me in that putting contest.

He did?

He got m just about that much.

All right.

Yeah, well we'll show that footage, Carl.

But, he's such a a level headed young man.

He's competitive.

When I talked to him he was weighing out his college options.

What can you tell me about about Shaun and what makes him such a special young man?

Shaun is, the poster child for what we want our First Tee participants to be.

He's, I think, signed on to go to U of M. He's is actually going into engineering there.

And by the way, Shaun is a our recipient of, our scholarship this year.

Golf is life.

You know, like, whenever I talk about myself, golf is like, I have to mention golf.

It's like is no matter what I'm in, it's just that's how much out of the sport.

Mind you, I starte when I was five and I hated it.

Hated it.

My mom- I told my mom like, why?

Why do you have me do this?

I want to play football, basketball.

But she's like, no, you going go to that golf course and, you know, go play it.

I said, okay, you know, 12 years yet.

Well, 13 years later now, wow.

13 years later, I can definitely say, yeah, my mom made a great decision on making me play this sport.

So.

Yeah.

What is it about First Tee that helps you to grow?

Not just on the course, but off the course as well.

Like, what are you guys learning?

We'll start with with you, RJ.

first year taught me a lot about setting life goals for yourself.

What about you Jonathan?

What are you not just learning on the course but but off it as well.

Respec for others.

teaching me how to how to properly sa state your name when you first meet somebody and, stay confident.

Handshake.

Yep.

That kind of thing.

Yeah.

I noticed that the first thing you did when you walked over here, you said, hey, how are you doing?

I'm Jonathan.

Can you look me right in the eyes and it was a firm handshake like, hey, I got a mount Martin.

Look at that.

Yeah.

He's ready.

I love that.

I love that.

You're playing some good golf today, bud.

Thank you.

Hello!

First tee isn't just about playing.

It's about opening doors through opportunities like the Junior Caddy program at Detroi Golf Club, where students learn professional protocol, green reading, and networking.

What do you learn, RJ when it comes to being a caddy that you don't learn while playing?

It's a lot of stuff you don't learn while golfing that you learn when caddy, such as where to when to take the flag out, when the golfers you know are on the green, they need that flag pulled.

You ask them, hey guys, would you like to flag in or out?

Pull the flag.

How to read greens, which is something that I've been learning while caddying.

Very great skill to have.

Helps your game out a lot.

First Tee has been supporting me since I joined the program.

They helped me out in a lot of situations.

Connected me with a lot of great people.

Mr.

Bentley, he's been nothin but respectful and kind to me.

They're the reason that I got the scholarship with them not too long ago, and I'm very, very appreciative for what they've done for me and my family.

Seriously.

So I'm doing everything that I can to pay them back by just being here, volunteering and still staying in the program.

That drive to give back is rooted in understanding the pioneers who opened these fairways long before.

Legends like Charlie Sifford, who broke the PGA Tour's white only rule back in 1961.

Boxer Joe Louis, and ultimately, Tiger Woods.

I don't know if I would have picked up a club if it wasn't for Tiger Woods, because he influenced my neighbor to start playing.

My neighbor saw me one day in the backyard playing basketball and said, hey, you want to come to the driving range?

I went to the drivin range and I have been an addict ever since.

So when I say Tiger Woods what comes to mind.

You can't go into our community.

Okay.

And mention golf without Tiger being a part of that.

Okay.

I would say that Tiger certainly put it on the forefront.

Okay.

For, people of color, to be, in this game.

But you got to think back, okay, that I think social media, okay, kind of put it in the forefront, but people like, Sifford.

Okay.

Great golfer.

Okay.

What a lot of people don't know, Joe Louis was a fantastic golfer.

Being in the room is important and golf facilitates you being there.

You don't have to be great.

You just need to be there and be present.

Beyond developing life skills on the course., First Tee Greater Detroit is looking toward th future of golf infrastructure, aiming to open doors for urba youth into the professional golf industry itself.

Ten years from now, I am, hopeful that we will have what we're going to call a First Tee Greater Detroit Learning Center in Detroit, that will provide kids with, entrepreneurship, that will provide them with, understanding with, agronomy is okay with understanding what, designin a perfect golf club looks like.

And all the things associated with all the jobs, okay, that a, a golf career will give you.

It's a vision that ensures access isn't just limited to playing 18 holes, but extends into building lifelong careers in the sport.

What First Tee Greater Detroit accomplishes with youth as young as six years old establishes the foundation, teaching character, confidence and respect from the very first chip here at the range, to that final putt here on the green.

But as these young golfers grow into high school seniors, the game transition from a life lesson on the course into a life changing catalyst for college and corporate careers.

That brings u to the second half of our story, the Midnight Golf Program.

From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

twice a week, 250 high school seniors gather for a 30 week transformational curriculum.

and no, despite the name, they don't golf at midnight.

We do not golf at midnight.

We do not golf at midnight.

Yeah, well, you know, when I first heard about it, I'm like, oh so they're going out at midnight and and going to the driving range.

What's going on?

Okay so no golfing at midnight?

Yes.

No golfing at midnight.

That's definitely number one.

Number two, you are not required to be a golf star or golf pro.

You just have to be willing to learn.

You have to have an open mind.

So that's probably another myth, I would say.

I know that the application process to get into the Midnight Gol Program is so strenuous, right?

We're talking about thousands of young men and women hoping to hear their name called to be a part of that 250, right.

Can you talk about the competitiveness of trying to get in and what you guys go through as staff, making sure you pick the right young people who exude what you all stand for through the program?

It's fierce.

The competition is fierce.

We have roughly 2000 applicants that apply every year.

There's videos, photos on social media where you can se kids wrapped around the building holding their thei applications, holding resumes.

They're dressed in their Sunday best.

ready to show themselves as that unique student that should be a part of this program.

When students first walk in they check in at the front door, put their things in a personalized locker, and then it's time to focus.

This is the state of the art 40,000 square foot home in New Center Detroit, a historic building that once housed pioneering broadcast stations WJBK and Detroit Public TV.

Renovated to brin all programing under one roof, this facility features dedicated mentorship spaces, study rooms, a full service commercial kitchen for hot meals, and cutting edge golf simulation lanes.

Winston Coffe breaks down the non-negotiable routin that fuels every single session.

Every time you come in to Midnight Golf you're getting a life skill up front.

So the students will come in, we greet them, they get a locker room to put their things away and, and do all those things.

And then, we have whoever a professional in whatever soft skill space we're teaching for the day.

So somebod talking about money management, that person comes in and presents to the young people.

They usually get a chance to engage with them after they present.

They'll hang out for a while, maybe during dinner and get to network and get information, LinkedIn and all those kind of things we encourage them to do.

And then after they present we have dinner in the main room.

And then we split them up into two groups.

So half the group, comes down here and they do golf with PGA professionals.

We have class A PGA professionals that teach them the game of golf.

The othe half goes, into the classrooms, which we and we have small group discussion, which we affectionately call Tee Time.

So you get a chance to talk about the life skill for the day, and then they switch.

So, every time you come, you get fed, you get a life skill, you golf, and you have a small group discussion.

We do all that from 5:30 to 8:30 With cell phones put away, students learn financial literacy, practice dining etiquette, and master the sport of golf, all while buildin real face to face social skills.

If I'm giving advice to people about those who are intereste in being a part of our program that are high school seniors, it's be unique.

Be your authentic self.

Nobody can be you better than you.

The common denominator is often those students that have that level of grit to really want to take advantage of something like this.

There's always going to be a moment where you're, you know, in corporate America and guys may say, hey let's go, let's go play a round.

Right.

And a lot of business deals and meeting take place on the golf course.

What kind of conversations are happening with your, your young people when it comes to how golf translates to the real world?

Those are the conversations.

I mean, we tell them that the deals happen in those arenas.

So that's why you're being equipped with these skills so that you guys know when that opportunity comes, you're prepared.

You're not shying away from it.

Like I said, you say I got my clubs.

I know the rules.

Let's go.

Like I'm happy to do that.

And or we also encourage them to initiate those things.

Like when you get to campus, ask your president to go play a few rounds, like with, if some freshman comes to th president's office talking about they want to play golf they're like, who is this kid?

Like, who are you, where'd you come from?

And and to that point, a lot of times the vice presidents or presidents of these institutions, essentially, they're definitely the ones we partner with.

But you can tell a Midnight Gol kid, when they come to campus, you get in front of the and have conversation, you know, something different, like, where'd you come from?

Like there's this is not the norm.

So we know that you got some you had some skills, you had some conversations to understand how to navigate these waters and how to maximize opportunities, because you're moving differently than a lot of your peers move.

And for Kevin, he's witnessed the implementation of this Midnight Golf tool firsthand.

We're really trying to get them to open u and be advocates for themselves.

So to make a long story short, we're playing golf.

And I noticed them in in gear, you know, Midnight Golf gear but I'm a I'm associated with one cohort.

They were part of another cohort.

So I walked up on them and I started a conversation.

I'm like, hey, how are you guys doing?

When were you in the program?

Oh, we were here last year and they were playing with somebody and I'm like, what are you playing with?

And they said the president of our university and and I was blown away.

You know, a light bulb went off because you realize that some of those skills that you tell that you're putting into them, that they actually lef and put it to use immediately.

Your network is your net wort is what- That's exactly right.

Yeah.

My parents used to always tell me that.

Right.

It's true.

The game of golf right now is exuding the word cool in ways that I didn't see ever happening.

Right?

Not at all.

You know, we've had celebrities if they're in town, we have the we've had senators and state representatives come by.

Our lieutenant governor i a good, friend of the program.

So he's been by and spoke with the young people.

You know... Ice Man came by this year.

George Gervin.

George Gervin came here?

Absolutely.

Finger roll.

Yeah.

When folks learn about our program they think that we're creating the next Tiger Woods and we have to, you know, explain to them, actually, it's more of like a tool.

We're giving them tools that they can have in the toolbox, like the, the school's having a golf tournament snd you can get you, hey, I got a set of clubs.

I know the rules.

I can get out there.

Moreso then we're creating the next Tiger Woods.

We've I think over 25 years we've had two professional golfers, or folks that have been at that got to that level.

Speaking o playing rounds with key leaders, since it happen to be Masters Week, I hopped on the golf simulator with Sienna Hawkin to play Augusta's legendary par 3 12th hole the Golden Bell at Amen Corner.

I dropped my first shot onto the green.

Sienna had a tough tee shot.

So being the true gentleman tha I am, I granted her a mulligan We'll give you a mulligan, Sienna.

Now, did she beat me on the replay?

What is what is up with this club?

Technically yes, My club is fine!

but my chivalry was the real winner here.

Technicalities aside Sienna's talent is undeniable.

Taught by her stepdad, she serves as captain of the Cash Tech High school girls golf team, the first all black girls golf team from Detroi to reach the MHSAA State Finals.

When I look at you, you being a young black woman playing the game of golf, you are the captain of your high school golf team, a team that is pretty successful.

You guys have gone to states twice, but you don't see too many youn black women playing golf, right?

What does that representation mean to you?

You being an example of tha representation within the sport?

Well, actually when we went to the States, there was other than our team, because we were a full team of black girls, there was one other black girl at states.

Just one other black girl, one other black girl.

And you guys have a full team.

You have to understand that there's barriers that need to be broken and there's not a lot of black girls playing golf.

You get a lot of sideways glances.

You get a lot of people when I'm playing, like when I hit the ball, like on a range or something like that.

A lot of a lot of peopl will come up to me and be like, wow, like where'd you learn how to play?

How long you been playing?

Like, what is this?

Because it just shocks when it's just like, I know what they're trying to say, but I don't say it out loud.

I'll just be like, wow.

Like, you hit the bal so, so far I'm like, yeah, like.

It's what do, yeah.

You know.

Are you seeing more black girls play?

Oh, absolutely.

And if so, why?

How is it happening?

Well, First Tee, for one reason, you know, we make sure we recruit the young girls and we expose them, to colleges.

There are some college that have scholarships that go unused for girls golf because they can't get enough girls to play.

So that's a free education.

Not to mention all the exposure, you know, that they get.

And for me I want them not only to have the exposure of golf but the business of golf.

First Tee building leaders!

It's pretty amazing just listening to your journey off camera, about where you've come from, about your family, also about the collegiate opportunit that you're about to embark on at the University of Michigan.

You have a full ride there, right?

Yes.

How much can you accredit your time here with Midnight Gol to that accomplishment for you?

I would say a lot of it, I think coming into a lot of people tell you, everybody has student loans everybody has to pay back debt.

But Midnight Golf told me the opposite.

They were lik there's enough money out there where everybody should be able to go to college for free.

However far I go, wherever I go in life, I'll definitely obviously shout out Midnight Golf.

I'll keep in touch with my mentors, let them know how I'm doing, and then, even if it means coming back to be a mentor myself after I get out of college, or yeah, after I get out of college, coming back to mentor the yout and teach them how to play golf.

Because I am one of the people in thi program who knows how to play, I will definitely come back an give them tips and everything.

What's the big life goal What do you want to accomplish?

Get rich or die trying.

That's what I'm trying to do.

Acros both First Tee Greater Detroit and the Midnight Golf program, hundreds of volunteer hours are poured into these students every single year.

The mentors don't receive a paycheck.

Their return on investment comes from when these young leaders step out into the world.

We're talking now, hundreds of thousands of kids that have come through this program and have gone on to have families, kids going to corporate America.

What does that mean to you?

It means everything.

It means everything.

I tell people they don't pay me, but I put in probably- every mentor in the program probably put somewhere between 3 and 400 hours every year, including a road trip to success.

So what's our payback?

Our payback is the investmen that we put into you because we need to see you succeed.

You need to learn golf because you know, I say thi to myself, like, as I get older, like the game of golf is because, like, man, this game is really probabl the greatest sport of all time.

Long term goals.

Jonathan, you have a goal.

A big goal as it pertains to this game, right?

What do you want to do?

A short term goal is to get all a hole in one.

There you go.

Okay.

A long term goal is to get my PGA card.

So you want to be a professional golfer?

Yes.

There we go.

What about you, RJ?

To become a successful master electrician and to become a little better at golf.

Just a little better, right?

Yeah.

Every day Just a little bit better.

Right?

Golf, muc like life, is full of good days and bad days, missed putts and second chances.

You are going to make mistakes.

But as Carl Bentley reminded us, the key is making your next move a better move.

Because once you give a young person the confidence to step up to the tee, there isn't a wall in the world that can stop their drive.

For Beyond the Score, I'm Al Martin, thanks for watching.

Be easy people.

Beyon the Score is supported in part by Capital Insurance Services offering comprehensive personal and commercial insurance, including medical professional liability to Lansing and throughout Michigan since 1980.

More resources and information about offerings at capital insurance dot com.