Growing golf in the inner city
Donation protected
8 years ago I started teaching golf in the inner city and I was amazed at how different it was from the first 11 years of my career. I have received so much appreciation for kids, young adults, and new retirees who I have introduced to a game that they never had the opportunity or means to learn or enjoy.
To give these kids a new game that opens their eyes to new possibilities for college scholarships, jobs, and advancement in life. To help young adults gain another avenue to interact with co-workers, clients, and their bosses has been amazing as well. Just this week one of them received a promotion because she had started to engage with her peers by participating in their after work golf league a year ago. Prior to golf she only had interacted with them at work and didn't have the relationships to get to know or be known by her bosses.
There are so many stories, letters, and phone messages over the years that have been so satisfying that it is hard not to continue on giving the community this opportunity to learn the game. The problem is I learned quickly my first summer that normal rates foe lessons and equipment is way more than the people could afford. One person bluntly said "your hour rate is 2 days pay", that was really a oh my god moment for me. So right away you think I will do more clinics because groups are cheaper, well when people work multiple jobs and have varying schedules its hard to signup. Which has lead me to do extremely discounted lessons.
So I started teaching at a rate that is 1/5 price so people could afford it. I also started building component clubs and refurbishing used clubs so they could have equipment to play, practice, and enjoy the game. This has lead to me having negative income my first 3 years and barely breaking even the last few while teaching 7 days a week 12 hours a day. I have already taken out a loan to pay for the supplies I need to make equipment for my new students this year.
The money I am requesting is to be able to continue offering lessons to people who would not be able to get in the game otherwise and meet people that they never would have the opportunity to meet. It will help me to help people better themselves, their kids, and enjoy a better life.
I find it hard to explain how much this means to be able to help people grow themselves and enable them to achieve things they never dreamed. To see the smiles, tears of joy, excitement of success, and hear the laughter is heart melting. Thank you so much for wanting to help me to continue to succeed.
To give these kids a new game that opens their eyes to new possibilities for college scholarships, jobs, and advancement in life. To help young adults gain another avenue to interact with co-workers, clients, and their bosses has been amazing as well. Just this week one of them received a promotion because she had started to engage with her peers by participating in their after work golf league a year ago. Prior to golf she only had interacted with them at work and didn't have the relationships to get to know or be known by her bosses.
There are so many stories, letters, and phone messages over the years that have been so satisfying that it is hard not to continue on giving the community this opportunity to learn the game. The problem is I learned quickly my first summer that normal rates foe lessons and equipment is way more than the people could afford. One person bluntly said "your hour rate is 2 days pay", that was really a oh my god moment for me. So right away you think I will do more clinics because groups are cheaper, well when people work multiple jobs and have varying schedules its hard to signup. Which has lead me to do extremely discounted lessons.
So I started teaching at a rate that is 1/5 price so people could afford it. I also started building component clubs and refurbishing used clubs so they could have equipment to play, practice, and enjoy the game. This has lead to me having negative income my first 3 years and barely breaking even the last few while teaching 7 days a week 12 hours a day. I have already taken out a loan to pay for the supplies I need to make equipment for my new students this year.
The money I am requesting is to be able to continue offering lessons to people who would not be able to get in the game otherwise and meet people that they never would have the opportunity to meet. It will help me to help people better themselves, their kids, and enjoy a better life.
I find it hard to explain how much this means to be able to help people grow themselves and enable them to achieve things they never dreamed. To see the smiles, tears of joy, excitement of success, and hear the laughter is heart melting. Thank you so much for wanting to help me to continue to succeed.
Organizer
Gil Davis
Organizer
Chicago, IL
