Phyllis Stevenson-Jenkins
(March 7, 2012)–Phyllis Stevenson-Jenkins is the model golfer and citizen. She is a wife, mother, successful business owner, and survivor who fell in love with the game, playing as a means of therapy and treatment for her illness. Now, she’s an extremely active golfer and member of many golf organizations, and mentors youths and children through her cherished hobby.
Urged by her husband, an already avid golfer, she took a swing with her first set of clubs in 1990. But she was driven in her career and admits she largely focused on work everyday.
After 14 years at the Xerox Corporation, she decided to take the leap with her own business-Paj Business Staffing, Inc., a temporary and permanent placement staffing agency that specializes in professional, office, and IT personnel, with offices located in Silver Spring and Baltimore, MA that employs over 300 people.
She had only a few years running her business before she received a wake-up call that would cause Stevenson-Jenkins to reconsider many of her priorities.
“It was in 1999 when I was recovering in the intensive care unit I made the decision to introduce this 53-year old senior citizen to some R&R and stop working 24/7. Golf, among other things, was part of my own treatment plan. So, after a full recovery, in 2001, at the age of 55, I picked up my golf clubs for the first time since 1990 and seriously started playing golf,” says Stevenson-Jenkins.
Stevenson-Jenkins loves a challenge. When she took up golf, she was challenging her illness and herself. She knew that golf could have the potential change her life and the lives of others.
“I like competing with myself and striving for goals to improve myself. What I also discovered is that in order to have a good game, I have to concentrate on what I am doing-course management. When I do that I have no time to think about problems, issues, to do list, who, when, what or how.” says Stevenson-Jenkins.
She is an active member of five golf clubs, including Wake-Robin Golf Club, the oldest African American women’s golf club in the country. She also competes often in tournaments all over the East coast, from making 3rd place in L.O.V.E. Golftech in Daytona Beach, FL to Brown Mills Ladies Tournament in Myrtle Beach, SC, where she took first.
Stevenson-Jenkins, 66, notes that one of the most beneficial aspects of playing the game is the comradery gained through her golfing peers. “Socially, it’s an excellent way to bond and expand your own outlook by meeting so many wonderful people,” she says.
She golfs with many of the other member in her golf leagues, and even travels with them during off-season to find good weather in another part of the country. She laughs, “All I need is 45 degrees and sun. As I said, I’m hooked.”
She teaches others the benefits of the game and inspires through organizations that motivate boys and girls to strive for greatness. She is currently acting as publicist for The First Tee Program of Prince George’s County in Maryland.
“It is important to understand that the mission of the program nationally is not just to assist them in their golf skills, but in their life and social skills,” she says.
A self-proclaimed techie, Stevenson-Jenkins also loves dabbling with the latest tech gadgets and games.
“I love my iPhone, Sony Reader, Nintendo, Wii and iPad, and the mind boggling games I engage in on them. Anything that helps keep me physically and mentally sharp are the activities I consistently engage in,” she says.
She’s also enjoys reading, swimming, traveling and has even taken up Spanish language.
Always out to improve herself and her game, Stevenson-Jenkins admits she could benefit from more training, and still struggles with her personal hurdles. “My biggest challenge is to stop being so hard on myself when I make a mistake. When I allow the golfing error I made affect me, my next shot suffers and so does my game,” she says, “My goal this year is to consistently average a 15-18 handicap.”
But there is nothing that will keep Stevenson-Jenkins from pursuing her golf ambitions. She notes, “God willing, I hope to play 20 more years like some of the ladies I play with. My motto is ‘Family first, Friends forever, Golf always.’”
