Anyone that has true love and passion for working with youth and golf has a gift from The All Mighty! Being that true love and passion, means you do it without any and/or for very little pay. Since I hit my first golf ball at the age of 44 in 2001 and started playing real golf in 2003, the game has really impacted my life! And ever since then, I have been dedicated to making sure youth have the opportunity to experience something I did not have a chance to experience as a youth. That is why one of my mottos is “give youth a gift for life, youth golf development”.
PHOTO ABOVE: Youth golfer Carmon practicing his swing out on the course.
Out of the thousands of youth that I have had the opportunity to expose to golf, I realize this summer that all kids are special needs kids or all kids have a special need. I assume that most kids that have a physical handicap or mental disability are classified as special needs. I googled special needs and my assumptions were close to the professional definitions. For the sake of time and space, I will not go into all of the technical terms and descriptions. But just trust me; I know what I am talking about.
I work with kids that take medications for their behaviors; I work with kids that need a strong positive male presence in their lives; I work with kids that have cerebral palsy. I have worked with rich and poor kids; white, black and Hispanic kids. I remember in 2006, working with some Hispanic 4th & 5th grade kids in the Huntsville City Schools that could not speak English. But while showing them the parts of the golf club, the grip, stance, and swing and putting, and having them repeat back to me what I was saying and demonstrating, they understood the terminology and began to speak English. From there we covered the terms and meaning of Par-Birdie-Bogey and the math…it was a joy seeing them getting it! Another joy was how the other students helped me to communicate with their non-speaking English classmates. My other instructors and I were surrounded by “special needs kids”.
As you know golf is an activity that one must desire to do, not forced to do. This summer 2014, we (staff) had the opportunity to introduce and re-introduce golf to several different youth groups. Bobby McDonald, a deacon at Davis Temple Baptist Church in Tanner Alabama, made arrangements for 13-18 of their youth ages 6-18, boys and girls to participate in summer golf as part of their vacation bible school.
For the first session, I journeyed down to the deep country of Tanner, where we used part of the church where I talked about and demonstrated some golf and life skills. The students asked questions and were engaged. Our following sessions were held at the Madison Golf Center where we hit balls, practiced hitting towards a target and putting. In addition we discussed how golf and life share some of the same values. Bobby and I plan to offer more sessions and eventually get them on the course. I also had the privilege of working with kids from New Beginnings Christian Church (my church home). I have worked with most of these kids before.
One of my outstanding students is Emari. When we first met, he was kind of leery of me. But he said that he wanted to learn how to play golf. Emari is 17 years old and has two younger brothers. During the first summer program (2012) we had to overcome some serious challenges, but we had fun working through them. This year, he hit the golf ball with very little of my assistant, after we get the interlocking grip correct and he had plenty of balls, he would normally call me when he hit a good shot…he yells, “hey Mr. Bankhead look”! By-the-way, Emari has cerebral palsy and practically blind in one eye, yet this young man has more courage than any of the thousands of youth I have worked with.
I guess Cub Scout Troop 400 group of kids had more golfing or athletic ability. We had a small group totaling eight with one girl. One evening while working with the boys at Huntsville Muni Golf Course, she was sitting with her Granny when I called out to her to come and learn golf too. She came running out to us. This part is sad, the little girl is 10 years old going into the 4th grade. I asked her why she was behind in her grade; her reply was she can’t read. She has a slight stuttering challenge…reminds me of myself! If given the opportunity, I vow to work with her on her life skills and academics as well as her golf.
PHOTO LEFT: Plaque awarded in 2003 to the Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development program by The PGA of America along with a grant in recognition for being a Growth of the Game Recipient.
All of the cubs in Troop 400 are special to me. But Carmon is one that exemplified the life skills values and work ethics that remind me of my previous students that were awarded scholarships to college. I pray that I also have the opportunity to continue to help Carmon be the outstanding young man he is.
All kids are special and have needs; some just need more than others! Mainly love and time…Love the most of all.
Special thanks to The IVY Center of Huntsville for their grant to Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development .
Howard Bankhead
Executive Director
Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development
604 Jordan Lane
Huntsville, AL 35816 USA
256-604-8172
Email: youthlifegolfskills@gmail.com
http://www.golflifeskills.org/
