During a roud of play at the Harry L. Jones Golf Course in Charlotte, NC, Darry Jackson achieved an impressive hole-in-one on hole number 5. This particular hole posed a challenge with its 183-yard uphill distance. Darry’s remarkable shot was accomplished using a Greenwood GOLF ball. Darry’s playing partners, who witnessed this extraordinary feat, were Fred H., John R., and Garrett F.
On a momentous afternoon at Timberview High School, history was made as Micaiah Joubert, a talented student-athlete, completed a groundbreaking signing ceremony. On Friday, April 28 at 2:00 pm, Joubert inked her National Letter of Intent (NLI) to pursue her degree and play golf at Prairie View A&M University. This remarkable achievement marks her as the first African American student-athlete from Timberview High School to secure a Golf Scholarship.
Joubert’s golfing journey began at the tender age of 4, when her father Wendell Joubert introduced her to the sport. Her dad was also the first African American principal at the original Middle School (Rogene Worley) in Mansfield ISD. A Barbie golf set became her gateway to a lifelong passion. Alongside her father and brother, Kainan, she embraced the game, honing her skills and nurturing her love for golf. At just 7 years old, Joubert fearlessly entered her first competitive tournament, challenging girls aged 11-13. Against the odds, she claimed a commendable 4th place, igniting a fire within her to excel further.
Driven by her dedication to the sport, Joubert has continued to thrive both on and off the golf course. Boasting an impressive 3.96 GPA, she ranks in the top 8% of her class, exemplifying her commitment to academic excellence. As the captain of the golf team since 8th grade, she has displayed exceptional leadership skills. Additionally, Joubert actively participates in various esteemed organizations, including the Student Government Association (SGA), National Honor Society (NHS), and the Coaches’ Advisory Group.
While Joubert’s aspiration is to play on a competitive collegiate golf team, her goals extend beyond personal success. She aims to contribute significantly and make an immediate impact on her future team. Recognizing the importance of giving back, she initiated an annual GirlsGolfToo clinic in her community, empowering young girls to discover and embrace the sport she loves.
As Joubert embarks on this exciting new chapter, her historic signing represents a triumph for both herself and her community. Breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes, she paves the way for future generations of African American student-athletes to follow their dreams in the realm of golf.
With her talent, determination, and unwavering spirit, Micaiah Joubert is poised to leave an indelible mark on the golfing world. As she sets foot on the greens of Prairie View A&M University, her unwavering pursuit of excellence will undoubtedly continue to inspire and uplift those around her.
Micaiah Joubert
Accomplishments/Current Stats:
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CLEVELAND (AP) — Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown, the unstoppable running back who retired at the peak of his brilliant career to become an actor as well as a prominent civil rights advocate during the 1960s, has died. He was 87.
A spokeswoman for Brown’s family said he passed away peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday night with his wife, Monique, by his side.
“To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star,” Monique Brown wrote in an Instagram post. “To our family, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.”
One of the greatest players in football history and one of the game’s first superstars, Brown was chosen the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1965 and shattered the league’s record books in a short career spanning 1957-65.
Brown led the Cleveland Browns to their last NFL title in 1964 before retiring in his prime after the ’65 season to become an actor. He appeared in more than 30 films, including “Any Given Sunday” and “The Dirty Dozen.”
An unstoppable runner with power, speed and endurance, Brown’s arrival sparked the game’s burgeoning popularity on television.
As Black Americans fought for equality, Brown used his platform and voice to advance their cause.
In 1967, Brown organized a meeting in Cleveland of the nation’s top Black athletes, including Bill Russell and Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to support boxer Muhammad Ali’s fight against the war in Vietnam.
In later years, he worked to curb gang violence in LA and founded Amer-I-Can, a program to help disadvantaged inner-city youth and ex-convicts.”
“Jim Brown is a true icon of not just the Cleveland Browns but the entire NFL,” said Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. “He was certainly the greatest to ever put on a Browns uniform and arguably one of the greatest players in NFL history. Jim was one of the reasons the Browns have such a tremendous fan base today.
“So many people grew up watching him just dominate every time he stepped onto the football field but his countless accolades on the field only tell a small part of his story. His commitment to making a positive impact for all of humanity off the field is what he should also be known for.”
On the field, there was no one like Brown, who would blast through would-be tacklers, refusing to let one man take him down before sprinting away from linebackers and defensive backs. He was also famous for using a stiff arm to shed defenders in the open field or push them away like they were rag dolls.
“My arms were like my protectors and weapons,” Brown said during an interview with NFL Films.
Indeed, Brown was unlike any back before him, and some feel there has never been anyone better than Cleveland’s incomparable No. 32. At 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, he was dominant and relentless, his highlights featuring runs around and right through opponents, fighting for every yard, dragging multiple defenders along or finding holes where none seemed to exist.
After Brown was tackled, he’d slowly rise and walk even more slowly back to the huddle — then dominate the defense when he got the ball again.
Off the field, Brown was a contentious character.
While he had a soft spot for those in need, and his generosity changed lives, he also was arrested a half-dozen times, mostly on charges of hitting women.
In June 1999, Brown’s wife called 911, saying Brown had smashed her car with a shovel and threatened to kill her. During the trial, Monique Brown recanted. Jim Brown was acquitted of a charge of domestic threats but convicted of misdemeanor vandalism. The Los Angeles judge sentenced Brown to six months in jail when he refused to attend domestic violence counseling.
He also feuded with Browns coach Paul Brown and later with the team’s management, although he played his entire career with Cleveland.
When his playing days ended, Brown set off for Hollywood and eventually settled there. Brown advised Cleveland coach Blanton Collier of his retirement while the team was in training camp and he was on the set of “The Dirty Dozen” in England.
Among his films were “100 Rifles,” “Mars Attacks!” Spike Lee’s “He Got Game,” Oliver Stone’s “Any Given Sunday,” and the satire “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” in which he parodied the blaxploitation genre. In 2002, Brown was the subject of Lee’s HBO documentary “Jim Brown: All-American.”
In recent years, Brown’s relationship with the Browns was inconsistent. He served as an adviser to owner Randy Lerner and was hired to counsel the team’s younger players. However, in 2010, Brown parted ways with the team after having his role reduced by incoming team president Mike Holmgren. Brown felt slighted by the perceived demotion — when the club unveiled a “Ring of Honor” inside its downtown stadium, Brown didn’t attend the ceremony in protest.
Brown was an eight-time All-Pro and went to the Pro Bowl in each of his nine years in the league. When Brown walked away from the game at age 30, he held the league’s records for yards (12,312) and touchdowns (126).
And despite his bruising style, Browns never missed a game, playing in 118 straight.
“He told me, ‘Make sure when anyone tackles you he remembers how much it hurts,’” said Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey. “He lived by that philosophy and I always followed that advice.”
A two-sport star at Syracuse — some say he is the best lacrosse player in NCAA history — Brown endured countless racist taunts while playing at the virtually all-white school at the time. Still, he was an All-American in both sports, leading the nation in scoring, and lettered in basketball.
Brown was the sixth overall pick of the 1957 draft, joining a team that routinely played for the title. He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year that season.
Running behind an offensive line featuring Hall of Fame tackles Lou Groza and Mike McCormack, Brown set a league mark with 1,527 yards and scored 17 TDs on his way to the league’s Most Outstanding Player award — a precursor to the MVP — in 1958. Over the next three seasons, he never ran for less than 1,257 yards before picking up just 996 in 1962.
He led the NFL in rushing eight times, gaining a career-best 1,863 yards in 1963. He averaged 104 yards per game, scored 106 rushing touchdowns and averaged an astonishing 5.2 yards per carry. A dangerous receiver as well, Brown finished with 262 catches for 2,499 yards and another 20 TDs.
“I’ve said many times, and I will always say, Jim Brown is the best,” Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers once said, “and he will still be the best long after all his records are broken.”
Packers great Paul Hornung felt Brown was unstoppable.
“Give me Jim Brown over anybody — at anything,” he said.
Brown’s No. 32 was retired by the Browns in ’71, the same year he entered the Hall of Fame. But he rarely visited Cleveland during the 1970s and ’80s. He and Cleveland owner Art Modell were at odds over his sudden retirement; the two later patched up their differences and remained good friends.
Brown supported Modell’s decision to move Cleveland’s franchise to Baltimore in 1995. It was both a reflection of his loyalty to Modell and another sign of his fierce independence. Brown was one of the few former Browns players not angry with Modell for moving the team.
Many of the modern players couldn’t appreciate Brown or his impact on American sports.
“They have grown up in a different era,” former Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. “He’s one of the greatest players in NFL history and what he was able to accomplish in his time was tremendous. I don’t know that anybody could do what he did, the way he did it, under the circumstances that he had to operate and the things that he had to endure. And for him to go out on top, that’s something that not many guys are able to appreciate either.”
Born on Feb. 17, 1936, in St. Simons, Georgia, Brown was a multisport star at Manhasset High School on Long Island. He averaged 14.9 yards per carry in football and once scored 55 points in a game.
Brown later took up golf, and while playing with Jack Nicklaus in the 1963 Cleveland Pro-Am, he shot a 79.
Brown is survived by Monique and their child. He was divorced after 13 years of marriage from Sue Brown, with whom he had three children.
A state judge in Florida ruled in favor of Tiger Woods in his public dispute with his ex-girlfriend, Erica Herman. The judge ordered the matter to be resolved privately in arbitration, following allegations of sexual harassment and a contentious breakup between the two in October.
Judge Elizabeth Metzger’s ruling granted Woods a victory in his effort to keep the dispute out of the public eye. The court case will be stayed until the completion of arbitration, and the judge administratively closed the case.
The dispute originated from the question of whether the disagreement between the former couple should be settled in private arbitration, as stipulated in a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) they allegedly signed in 2017. The dispute escalated after their breakup, with Herman suing the trust established by Woods for the house they shared, claiming damages exceeding $30 million. Woods sought to move the dispute to private arbitration based on the terms of the NDA.
In March, Herman filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of the NDA, citing new federal laws that prohibit the use of NDAs and private arbitration in cases involving sexual harassment. However, the judge ruled that Herman had not provided enough evidence to dispute the existence of the NDA and did not sufficiently present her case on the sexual harassment issue.
Woods’ attorney argued that the NDA was valid, and Herman’s claims were baseless, referring to her as a “jilted ex-girlfriend.” The judge agreed, stating that Herman had not pursued any formal claims of sexual assault or harassment against Woods.
During the court hearing, Herman’s attorney primarily focused on questioning the validity of the NDA and requested an evidentiary hearing. However, the judge expressed skepticism about this aspect of the case, noting that Herman’s claim of not recalling signing the NDA was not sufficient to dispute its existence.
Overall, the court ruled in favor of Woods, directing the dispute to be resolved through private arbitration and keeping the details of the case out of the public domain.
Last month, Women In Golf Foundation (WIGF) hosted their 28th National Women’s Collegiate Golf Championship with a combination of D1 and D2 Women’s Golf Teams from HBCUs and predominantly Black institutions. This event is the premier fundraiser for WIGF and has been successful largely due to support from organizations and individuals who are committed to growing the game of golf. The event provides an opportunity for competition, participation in the Career Development Workshop, and for the participants to play in an 18-hole networking golf outing with participating sponsors. It is a great opportunity for the players to get access to internships, mentors, and full-time employment opportunities.
The participating schools included:
Alabama State University
Chicago State University
Johnson and Wales University (Charlotte)
Paine College
Savannah State University
The women’s golf programs at these schools often lack the resources to recruit players, access quality courses with limited opportunities to play in highly competitive events, as well as other barriers to success. This year’s fundraiser was a tremendous success, enabling WIGF to work with a variety of organizations to provide each school a $10,000 grant. These funds are specifically for their Women’s Golf Programs and are intended to help remove those barriers to success and provide more opportunities to compete at a higher level.
“This year is record-breaking for our organization! As a result, we are striving to take our support of women’s collegiate golf to the next level, contributing $50,000. A special thank you to all of our sponsors, board of directors, volunteers and others for their contribution to WIGF’s support of women’s golf programs and our National Women’s Collegiate Golf Tournament. I am so grateful to our supporters and what their generosity means to elevating women’s golf!”– LaJean Gould, Founder of Women In Golf Foundation.
Partnerships with our sponsors blossom every year and we will continue to find new ways to impact HBCU women’s golf teams. If you are interested in being a supporter in our efforts to remove barriers for women’s collegiate golf and provide pathways for them to play at the highest level, you can contact us [email protected].
Contact [email protected] for media inquiries or further information.
FUNDED BY: PRIME PUTT
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level: High school senior, undergraduate, or graduate
Gender: Woman/Female-identifying
Sport/Hobby: Golf
Golf has traditionally been a mostly male-dominated sport, with limited opportunities for female athletes to gain support. In some cases, this lack of support and opportunity has caused fewer women to pursue the sport they enjoy. PrimePutt wants women golfers to receive recognition and support for their talent and love of the sport so they can continue playing golf throughout their years. The Scholarship for Women Golfers will support a female-identifying student who plays golf.
Female-identifying high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply if they play golf in any capacity, whether as a sport or recreational. To apply, write about why you enjoy playing golf and what challenges you’ve faced as a female golfer.
Selection Criteria: Essay, Golf, Passion
The application deadline is Dec 1, 2023. Winners will be announced on Dec 31, 2023.
Pro golfer Joel Dahmen pays for fan’s bar tab after accidentally hitting him with a stray ball.
During a practice round at the PGA Championship, Dahmen’s shot veered off course and struck a spectator on the leg. Instead of reacting negatively, Dahmen approached the fan in a respectful manner.
Dahmen not only checked on the fan’s safety but also went the extra mile to ensure he had a positive experience. The fan, Caleb McGuire, shared on Twitter that Dahmen asked about the price of beer at the tournament ($17 each) and promptly handed him $100, covering his bar tab.
Caleb expressed his gratitude and posted a photo of himself with Dahmen, showing the mark on his calf where the ball hit him.
Although Dahmen has earned millions throughout his golf career, his kind gesture demonstrates his willingness to personally assist someone in need. Truly a legendary move by the golfer.
Shoutout to @Joel_Dahmen for hitting my calf with a tee shot today on hole #1! He proceeds to ask me how much a beer costs at the tourney and I tell him $17 a pop. He then pulls out a crispy $100 bill and says "I got your beers today." ? ⛳️ ? pic.twitter.com/oLIenCUj5q
— Caleb McGuire (@YourPalCal_) May 18, 2023
| GREENWOOD Dist. – The Black Wall Street Legacy Fest is pleased to announce its 2023 commemoration of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and celebrate the resilience, excellence, and spirit of its entrepreneurship that is the historic Greenwood community. This survivors, descendant, and community-led event will take place on Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 26, to Thursday, June 1st, on Greenwood Ave. |
| The entertainment lineup for Saturday and Sunday will showcase an exciting entertainment lineup with gospel recording artist Kurt Carr, platinum R&B recording group Club Nouveau, grammy award-winning saxophonist Gerald Albright, and singer-songwriter who was recently featured on the ‘The Voice’ Tony Mason. |
| Moreover, a series of panel discussions held at the Greenwood Cultural Center will include panels hosted by the NFL and various business and social justice leaders, both locally and nationally. |
| The Black Wall Street Legacy Fest will include a community award ceremony hosted by Rolling Out and The Black Wall Street Times, recognizing outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions since last year’s commemoration and celebration. |
| This third year of the Festival features new partnerships with Fulton Street Coffee and Books and Switchyard, who are hosting literary events, including fireside chats with two-time Poet Laureate of the United States Natasha Trethewey and local author of Built from the Fire Victor Luckerson. |
| This year’s family-friendly event includes pony rides, face painting, inflatables, food trucks, and a fleet of business vendors. |
| “We are excited to bring the Black Wall Street Legacy Festival back for its third year,” Dr. Tiffany Crutcher said. “This festival is an opportunity to honor the legacy of our ancestors who built this incredible community, survived racial terrorism, and through resilience paved the way for us and to inspire the next generation of Black business owners to continue that legacy.” |
| The Black Wall Street Legacy Festival is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.blackwallstreetlegacyfest.com and follow its social media handles: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. |
| About The Black Wall Street Legacy Fest |
| The Black Wall Street Legacy Festive seeks to spread the truth because the story of Tulsa’s Black community and history, especially the 1921 Race Massacre, is severely under-told; mistruths and erasure of this history rob the community of respectful remembrance; inspire hope and serve as a platform and incubator for Greenwood and Tulsa’s Black community, focusing on generational excellence; extended tradition to extend our legacy into the future, empowering future generations to learn and ground themselves in the story where they came from. |
Rochester, N.Y. (May 17, 2023) – Beginning this Thursday, the Corebridge Financial PGA Team—which is comprised of 20 top-playing PGA Club Professionals—will compete against the strongest field in golf at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club.
Designed by Donald Ross and recently restored by Andrew Green, Oak Hill will be hosting the PGA Championship for a fourth time.
Braden Shattuck, PGA, the 28-year-old Director of Instruction at Rolling Green Golf Club in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, won the 2023 PGA Professional Championship at Twin Warriors and Santa Ana Golf Clubs in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, on May 3. He leads the contingent of 20 PGA Professionals who earned a position to compete in the second major championship of the season at Oak Hill.
Shattuck won the PGA Professional Championship on the one-year anniversary of being elected to PGA Membership. Now, he competes in his first major championship against the likes of John Rahm, Scottie Scheffler and Defending PGA Champion Justin Thomas.
Corebridge Financial has broadened its partnership with the PGA of America to include the Title sponsorship of the PGA Professional Member teams formerly known as the Team of 20 (PGA Championship); Team of 35 (KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship); and Team of 9 (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship). Each will now be recognized as the Corebridge Financial PGA Team. The Team consists of talented PGA Professionals from across the country who earned a spot to compete in the PGA’s most prestigious Championships.
The PGA Members that comprise the Corebridge PGA Team advanced to the PGA Championship by finishing in the Top 20 at the PGA Professional PGA Championship, while competing among 312 players in the field. There are 28,000 PGA Professionals worldwide.
“The PGA of America is especially proud of the 20 PGA Professionals who have earned a spot in the PGA Championship and the Corebridge Financial PGA Team,” said PGA President John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at The Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, Michigan. “They’re PGA Members who maintain a high-level of play while ensuring golfers everywhere have a place to play and access to the game we all love.”
In all, 12 of the 20 Members of the Corebridge PGA Team will be making their PGA Championship debuts.
Alex Beach, PGA, of Stillwater, Minnesota, the 2019 PGA Professional Championship winner, will be the most experienced of the 20 PGA Professionals at Oak Hill – making his fifth-straight PGA Championship appearance and sixth overall (2017, 2019-’22).
Michael Block, PGA, the PGA Head Professional of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, is making his fourth PGA Championship appearance and his first since 2018. The 46-year old has won nine Southern California PGA Section Player of the Year Awards (2013-’21).
Chris French, PGA, the PGA Head Professional at Aldeen Golf Club in Rockford, Illinois, is making his PGA Championship debut, after largely giving up the game for most of his 20s to pursue a career in the music industry. He’s just the second Rockford native in more than 40 years to play in a major championship.
Chris Sanger, PGA, of Red Hook, New York, is the PGA Head Professional at Woodstock Golf Club. Making his PGA Championship debut approximately 250 miles away at Oak Hill, Sanger is a two-time winner of the Northeastern New York PGA Section Match Play Championship (2019, ‘21); and a two-time winner of the Section’s Assistants Match Play Championship (2015, ‘17). He has also won the NENYPGA Assistants Championship in 2017.
2023 PGA Championship: Corebridge Financial PGA Team
Alex Beach, PGA – Stamford, Conn., Westchester Country Club, Metropolitan PGA Section
Michael Block, PGA – Mission Viejo, Calif., Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Southern California PGA Section
Matt Cahill, PGA – West Palm Beach, Fla. Seminole Golf Club, South Florida PGA Section
Anthony Cordes, PGA – Johns Creek, Ga., Cherokee Town & Country Club, Georgia PGA Section
Jesse Droemer, PGA – Houston, Texas, Lakeside Country Club, Southern Texas PGA Section
Chris French, PGA – Rockford, Ill., Aldeen Golf Club, Illinois PGA Section
Russell Grove, PGA – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, North Idaho College, Pacific Northwest PGA Section
Steve Holmes, PGA – Moorpark, Calif., Rustic Canyon Golf Course, Southern California PGA Section
Colin Inglis, PGA – Creswell, Ore., Shadow Hills Country Club, Pacific Northwest PGA Section
Ben Kern, PGA – Bloomfield, Ohio, Hickory Hills Golf Club, Southern Ohio PGA Section
J.J. Killeen, PGA – Lubbock, Texas, Red Feather Golf and Social Club, Northern Texas PGA Section
Greg Koch, PGA – Orlando, Fla., Ritz-Carlton Golf Club-Grande Lakes Orlando, North Florida PGA Section
Kenny Pigman, PGA – Ontario, Calif., Arrowhead Country Club, Southern California PGA Section
Gabe Reynolds, PGA – Dallas, Texas, Topgolf-Dallas, Northern Texas PGA Section
Chris Sanger, PGA – Red Hook, N.Y., Woodstock Golf Club, Northeastern New York PGA Section
Braden Shattuck, PGA – Glen Mills, Pa., Rolling Green Golf Club, Philadelphia PGA Section
Josh Speight, PGA – Locust Hill, Va., The Club at Viniterra, Middle Atlantic PGA Section
John Somers, PGA – New Port Richey, Fla., Southern Hills Plantation Club, North Florida PGA Section
Jeremy Wells, PGA – Estero, Fla., Cypress Lake Golf Club, South Florida PGA Section
Wyatt Worthington II, PGA – Reynoldsburg, Ohio, The Golf Depot At Central Park, Southern Ohio PGA Section
The 2023 PGA Championship, played Thursday-Sunday, May 18-21, will feature wire-to-wire, 72-hole coverage via CBS Sports, ESPN, ESPN+ and Paramount+, while the PGAChampionship.com website, App and Social Media channels are also providing comprehensive coverage.
This polo shirt not only delivers on style but also provides exceptional comfort and flexibility on the golf course.
The 100% polyester fabric used in this polo shirt is not only lightweight but also accentuates your biceps, allowing you to showcase your athletic physique. The muscle man all-over print is a unique touch that adds a standout design element, ensuring that you’ll turn heads wherever you go.
One notable feature of the Muscle Flex Polo is its 4-way stretch technology, which allows for a full range of motion during your swing. Whether you’re teeing off or making that crucial putt, this polo shirt won’t restrict your movement. It’s perfect for golfers who value comfort and flexibility on the course.
The attention to detail is evident in the design. The “Let’s go play” with BMG flag accented on the right side of the collar adds a touch of personality, while the signature “Black Muscle Golf” logo patch on the left sleeve showcases the brand’s commitment to quality.
Easy To Care For
This polo shirt is machine washable and doesn’t require any special maintenance, making it convenient for regular wear. The supreme comfort it provides is a testament to the high-quality craftsmanship put into this garment.
In terms of aesthetics, the combination of white and black colors gives the Muscle Flex Polo a sleek and sophisticated look. It pairs well with various bottoms, allowing for versatile styling options both on and off the golf course, whether you are a professional golfer or a casual player.
At a price of $59.95, and available in sizes small to XXL, the Muscle Flex Polo offers excellent value for its quality and style. It’s a worthwhile investment for golf enthusiasts who want to look and feel their best while playing the game they love.
You can purchase the Muscle Flex Polo and explore other products from Black Muscle Golf at their website: blackmusclegolf.com
JEVON KEARSE SPORTS BMG POLO
Jevon Kearse, born on September 3, 1976, and nicknamed “the Freak,” is a former American football player who had an illustrious career as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) spanning eleven seasons from the late 1990s to the 2000s. Prior to his NFL journey, Kearse showcased his talents in college football as part of the University of Florida, where he earned All-American honors and was recognized as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 1998.
After retiring from professional football, Kearse has found a new passion in golf. As a regular golfer, he has developed a fondness for Black Muscle Golf (BMG) attire. Known for his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tennessee Titans during his NFL days, Kearse now enjoys hitting the golf course while sporting stylish BMG clothing.
Howard Bankhead, a 1981 Alabama State University graduate, dedicated servant member of his community, and Founder of several youth development programs including the Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development, The First Tee of Huntsville, and Par Excellence Youth Development (PEYD) in the metro Huntsville, AL, area. Howard will be recognized and inducted into the 19th Annual African American Golfers Hall of Fame during its annual event being held in Palm Beach County, FL, May 25-29, 2023.
The multi-day program is packed full of activities and includes a leadership conference, golf skills camp and tournament, reception, awards dinner celebration, auction, and the 13th Annual African American Collegiate & Youth Golfers Hall of Fame, all hosted by Malachi Knowles, founder of Inner City Youth Golfers Inc.
The mission is “to celebrate and honor the history and achievements of Black Americans and other significant supporters who have contributed to growing the game of golf since the early 1800’s.” said Knowles, in a press announcement.
Howard attended Alabama State University on a track scholarship earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with a minor in Management with additional studies at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama. The natural leader uses his Marketing degree in unique ways, he creates and shares things that he enjoys in life including creating the Huntsville Apartment Tennis Circuit, the Tennessee Valley Jazz Society-Huntsville, and the youth golf development programs.
Through the Tennessee Valley Jazz Society, Howard created “Jazz Education is Cool in the Schools,” to counteract the negative music of pop culture. The art form of jazz music includes history, math, and democracy. From 1998 up to the present day, over 38,500 individuals, students, faculty, and staff in Huntsville and Madison County schools have benefited from the program.
A zealous tennis player for years, fortunately, Howard’s tennis days ended due to knee problems. That lead him to discover golf. However, Howard wasn’t enthusiastic about the sport, because he thought it was a game for rich white people.
But that all changed when Howard became enlightened on the rules of golf and the history of the sport. His life completely changed at the age of 44. From the experience of volunteering in the schools and realizing the negative images and influences of other sports, Howard was inspired to give youth alternative sports options to choose from. In addition, in the late 60’s, and early 70’s when Howard was growing up in Florence, Alabama, he like many other Black youth was denied access to the golf world, simply because of social structure and historical norms. Therefore, in 2001, Howard convinced the Tennessee Valley Jazz Society Board of Directors to expand their mission from art to include health and sports. With that Howard created the Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development.
Through Howard’s leadership, in 1998 the Tennessee Valley Jazz Society, a nonprofit organization, used the art form of Jazz to introduce the music style to youth in schools while giving youngsters other positive music to choose from.
In 2002, Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development partnered with Huntsville City School’s Camp Success programs. “From 2002 to 2007, we introduced over 2,100 students in 2nd-6th grades to golf and life skills,” says Howard. “Camp Success was an after-school program where we visited several schools including Colonial (now Martin Luther King), Rolling Hills, Lakewood, Terry Heights (now Sonny Hereford), and Lincoln Elementary Schools.” Along with learning golf skills, the program supplemented students’ academic curriculum with reading, writing, math, life skill, and character behavior.
“I was new to golf and didn’t know a lot about the golf industry. But from learning to play the sport I naturally gleaned some powerful stuff that I call ‘spiritual tenets’ to include integrity, perseverance, civility, and confidence. It’s amazing how I found these spiritual tenets in golf before I heard of The First Tee program. It’s a great and powerful experience having the opportunity to help pour into our youth these life skills using golf skills as the context,” says Howard.
“Since I’ve ventured into the wonderful world of golf, I relate to the ‘Mother to Son’ poem by Langston Hughes: ‘Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.’ When I started the youth golf program in 2002, I faced opposition from both the white and Black golf communities. But like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said at the end of the Mother to Son poem, ‘If you can’t run walk if you can’t walk crawl, but by all means keep moving,’ and yes, I’m still moving on,” reiterates Howard.
Due to the music programs in the school and the afterschool golf program, auspices under the 501(c)(3) Tennessee Valley Jazz Society, reaching directly serving underrepresented and underserved youth, the organization was awarded a grant for equipment with Hook-A-Kid on Golf. Howard continued, “In 2002, I applied for the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of America Growth of the Game grant and our friend, Earnie Ellison (a retired PGA Executive) supported our program. We were awarded several United States Golf Association (USGA) For the Good the Game grants with the support of Judy Bell.”
Howard humbly shares that “In 2004, with the support of a good friend Dr. Michael Cooper (retired First Tee Executive), we were awarded The First Tee of Huntsville chapter. Under The First Tee of Huntsville, I helped several of our participants receive the RBS Achievers Award scholarships. In addition, The First Tee of Huntsville was featured on the Golf Channel, twice. Also on May 12, 2005, Huntsville City Council and Mayor Spencer, because of our efforts, presented a Resolution to The First Tee of Huntsville. But the biggest transformation success stories are when I encounter former students and they remember me from the experience of being introduced to golf in elementary and or middle school and the values that they learned.”
Today the Par Excellence Youth Development serves Alabama youth and their families in rural Madison County and urban Huntsville. Through seamless programming, youth are instilled with character-building factors such as good manners, critical thinking, etiquette, public speaking, punctuality, thinking green, and environmental and energy consciousness. Fitness and good eating habits are also integrated into the program.
PEYD was awarded a matching grant from National Alliance for Accessible Golf. The grant and program provide great opportunities for individuals, with and without disabilities, to integrate into the social fabric of their community while engaging in and building a healthy lifestyle.
Since 2021, Par Excellence Youth Development (PEYD) has been selected to receive funds through the golf industry’s “Make Golf Your Thing” Grassroots Grant Program. Par Excellence Youth Development is one of 81 organizations across the U.S. receiving grants through the “Make Golf Your Thing” DEI Initiative. “Make Golf Your Thing” was created and funded by The American Golf Industry Coalition grassroots grant programs.
A pillar in his community, in 2018, the Arts Fellowship recipient and Vista Volunteer was awarded the Key To The City by Huntsville, Alabama Mayor Tommy Battle. Howard is a keen journalist and contributes as a blog writer for the African American Golfer’s Digest and writes for Junior Golf USA.