On Tuesday, July 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., professional golfer and First Tee-Greater Washington, DC (First Tee-GWDC) alum Marcus Byrd will return to his roots to host a special youth golf clinic at Langston Golf Course. The event, titled the Larry Byrd Memorial Youth Golf Clinic, honors his late father and is designed to inspire and instruct the next generation of golfers.
Marcus Byrd grew up in Bowie, Maryland, and first picked up a golf club thanks to his father, Larry Byrd. With encouragement and early practice using plastic clubs, Marcus developed a passion for the sport that would shape his life. He spent his formative golf years participating in the First Tee-GWDC program, often playing rounds at Langston Golf Course alongside his father, family, and close friends. His talent was evident early on; he finished second in the Maryland State High School Championship as a freshman.
Byrd went on to play collegiate golf at Middle Tennessee State University, where he was recognized as Conference Player of the Year in 2018. After graduating, he turned professional in 2020. Since then, he has made a name for himself on the APGA Tour and now competes on the PGA Tour Americas. His professional record includes three Top 10 finishes and seven APGA Tour wins, including a recent victory at the APGA/Port St. Lucie event.
Returning to Langston Golf Course, Byrd will be joined by a team of accomplished coaches: Demarkis Cooper (University of Maryland Eastern Shore), Jabari Cooper (Morehouse College), Tim Mitchell (University of Maryland Eastern Shore), and Lennard Long (Morehouse College). These coaches bring a wealth of experience and energy, further enriching the youth clinic’s impact.
The clinic will serve as both a tribute to Larry Byrd and a celebration of Marcus’s journey from a local youth to a professional golfer. It’s also an extension of First Tee-GWDC’s core mission: to positively impact young lives through educational programs that promote character development, confidence, and leadership using golf as a platform.
The First Tee-Greater Washington, DC chapter is part of a national network of more than 150 chapters. It reaches nearly 200,000 young people annually through programs conducted at 22 area golf facilities, in over 300 schools, and through 30 community partnerships across the region. The organization continues to create opportunities for young people in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland to access the game of golf and the values it teaches.
The Larry Byrd Memorial Youth Golf Clinic exemplifies the long-lasting influence of community programs like First Tee-GWDC and highlights the power of mentorship, sports, and family in shaping future leaders. As Marcus Byrd steps into a mentorship role himself, he demonstrates the full-circle impact of the program and honors the legacy of his father, who first put a club in his hands.
