Over the years, some of the senior golfers of color noticed that the demographic of youth golfers in Seattle, Wash., was slowly changing back to a predominately white majority enterprise. With Seattle’s rapid gentrification, historical and cultural people of color neighborhoods were being most affected.
Organizing and starting a Junior Little League golf program was a dream Lenard (Bo) Reeves held for years. After four years of research and 11 years of working with youth golf programs, Reeves’ dream manifested into reality in 2019 at Jefferson Park Golf course—the Hi-Tee Jr. Little League Golf Program, the first youth golf organization that serves predominantly youth of color in the Seattle and King County communities. Hi-Tee Jr. LLGP exposes youth ages 8 and up to the wonderful world of golf.
Founder Reeves partnered with Fathers And Sons Together (another community nonprofit organization) to hold Hi-Tee Jr. LLGP’s first golf camp, enrolling 65 youth in the golf program. According to Reeves– now Hi-Tee Jr. LLGP’s chief executive officer– “Hi-Tee is more than just a place to learn the game of golf. It provides opportunities for young people to experience a positive and safe environment surrounded by caring adults. All of the coaches are skilled African American golfers and have worked with youth for the majority of their lives. Hi-Tee Jr LLGP youth and adult participants learn the value of giving back to their community and the true meaning of respect and responsibility.”
Reeves added that in Hi-Tee Jr. LLGP’s mission to reintroduce this sport to young African American youth, our goal is to introduce the youth to the billion-dollar industry that is golf. Reeves said, “We want to expose the youth to all aspects of golf—from learning how to play to learning how to caddie. We want to expose them to the business of golf—from learning how golf courses are designed and how to maintain the groups; to learning how to produce and fit clubs.”
It is estimated that 30,000 gangs and 800,000 gang members live in our communities across the country, with an additional 147,000 living in U.S. prisons or jails. The mission of the Hi-TEE Jr Little League Golf Program is to take guns out of the youth’s hands and replace them with golf clubs– teaching them to take a shot with a 9-iron golf club in their hand and not a 9mm gun. We encourage and empower youth through fun and challenging experiences that will help them develop and learn life skills on-and-off the golf course.
CEO Reeves emphasized, “I am happy and blessed to have an opportunity to work with a group of youth; keeping them focused to stay in school; to stay out of trouble, and to learn and enjoy the game of golf.” Reeves said Hi-Tee Jr LLGP is always looking for resources to help expand the program.
Hi-Tee Jr Little League Golf Program is a nonprofit corporation and a Washington State Charitable organization. We are exempt from Federal Income Tax under 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code; contributions to us are deductible under Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the code.
To learn more about the HI-TEE Jr. Lttle League Golf Program visit https://hi-tee-littleleaguegolf.org
