(August 2014) After watching some old videos of “Outside The Lines” with commentators including Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner, African American Golfer’s Digest’s Senior Editor Edward Wanambwa, Sports Writer Kelvin Blackistone, and Jackson State University’s Golf Coach Eddie Patton, I must say that I agree to some extent with all of the panelists.  Although having Commissioner Tim Finchem and Tiger himself publicly address this issue would be a wonderful starting point.

Rich Lerner’s comparison of Boston Red Sox’s David Ortiz not having any moral obligation to speak out on behalf of Latino ballplayers in the Major League isn’t even close to Tiger’s obligation to African American kids in golf.  There are hundreds of Latin American baseball players who came before, and after, Ortiz.

For example, Since Roberto Clemente— one of my all-time great ball player and strong humanitarian— came into the League, there’s been a flood gate of players of his origin who have followed.  So David Ortiz doesn’t need to address that issue.  There’s even been quite a few Latino Managers. Golf as an elitist sport has digressed like no other sport.  Before Tiger was born you had maybe over a dozen African American PGA card carrying members on tour.  Now, there’s only one. Something is definitely wrong with golf.

Also as Eddie Patton stated, Tiger doesn’t have to be proud that he’s African American, but he does have to recognize it.  When the country’s first African American President declares it, in spite of his mixed ancestry, it’s certainly time for Eldrick “Tiger” Woods to do the same.  Let’s delete the term “Cablazation”, or whatever Tiger referred to years ago….And call it like it is.

Just think, how long did sports writers, black & white, avoided asking him any questions pertaining to Earl Woods Jr., his longtime half-brother and father of Tiger’s niece Cheyenne Woods.  What was so taboo about that fact?  I also remember when Ken Griffey Jr. and Native American Notah Begay was Tiger’s close golfing buddies, until they appeared to be replaced by a much older and married with children, Mark O’mera.  Nothing against Mark O’mera, I’m sure he’s a wonderful person.  As a matter of fact, I was standing within ten feet of Mark’s wife and kids behind the eighteenth green at the 1968 Master’s, at Augusta National, when he drained an unlikely putt, to win it and avoid a 3-way playoff.  I’ve always considered him a classy guy and nothing has changed.

Also, I thought Tiger ‘dropped the ball’ by not attending a ceremony honoring the late Jackie Robinson early in his career—this didn’t help his Image among African Americans in the least bit.  Robinson’s widow Rachel Robinson was in attendance for the occasion.  Although out of all fairness to Tiger, I don’t think that he carries this responsibility completely alone, especially when you have so many other Iconic African American sports figures who play, and has been playing, this wonderful game called golf for a very long time.

Players such as Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Julius Erving, Bill Russell, Jim Brown, Jerry Rice, Lynn Swann—who is currently on the PGA Board Of Directors, just to name a few.

The list goes on, and on, and on…. Just about every African American Hall of Famer of any sport
plays this great game.  It’s mind-boggling to me that with all these super sports heroes they can’t somehow, collectively, pool their resources, or persuade Corporate America and Madison Avenue to get behind some of these young African American golfers who have great potential, but lack the financial backing necessary to sustain a pursuit of their dream to become a professional
golfer.

As Rich Lerner also stated, it takes about $100,000 a year just to maintain that goal. Having said all that, I still wonder how much of the decisions coming from Tiger’s corner is exclusively his own and how much is Mark Steinberg’s (Tiger’s Agent).  Earl Woods once predicted that Tiger’s influence would one day rival those of Ghandi, or MLK, and I’m sure there’s still time for that to prove to be more than a proclamation.  Who knows how his final Legacy is gonna be written, but, I’ll bet cash money that it’s gonna be for the betterment of mankind.  Being a part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Tiger is to most African Americans what Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis, Hank Aaron, Jim Brown, Bill Russell, and Muhammad Ali were, and are, to us.  Our heros—with a face that we, as black people can identify with.

Michael Jordan is a super iconic sports figure, but we already had Wilt, Russell, Oscar, Elgin, Dr. J. and  Magic, as far as basketball royalty goes.  Sorry Mike, we’ve been well represented in basketball.  Golf is a whole other animal.

I’ll be 66-years old on my next birthday.  I’ve been following Tiger since those early days of being on The Mike Douglas Show with Jimmy Stewart and Bob Hope.  I was at Augusta in 1995, when Tiger stepped onto the first tee box there.  The electricity in the air was something I will never forget, particularly after his three-hundred –and-something yard drive was found the middle of the fairway on number one.  I’ve practically lived and died on almost every shot Tiger’s ever hit since he’s turned Professional and a few during his Amateur days.  I’ve sat in many a 19th hole, surrounded by other golfing buddies of color who oohed and awed, and hooped and hollered, trying our best to will his ball into the hole from our bar stools, or drinking tables, and trust me, you couldn’t ask for a better rush.

Tiger, I’ve defended you man, with every breath in my body, to the naysayers and skeptics alike.  You’ve gotten me into more verbal debates than I even care to mention— and close to a few fights.  I kid you not, my brother.  I’ve truly been one of your loyal fans and followers.  I’ve walked outside the ropes at Augusta (four times), Bethpage Black (two times), Baltusrol (once), Plainfield Country Club (once), Ridgewood Country Club (twice), Liberty National (twice), Medinah (once), and Merion (once).  I was at Pinehurst this year, but you weren’t.  I was at the Master’s in ‘97 on a Friday afternoon when you eagled hole number 13 to take the lead, that went on to become a part of golfing history.

Tiger, I’m not writing this blog message to criticize you, as much as just trying to give you food for thought.  The next time you’re standing in front of the mirror look very hard and carefully at the guy staring back at you.  It might not be a “swing change” that you need; it could well be an “identity change”.  Love you Bro. I know you’ve put a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and hard work into becoming the superb golfer that you are, but don ‘t dismiss the thought that the spirit of Charlie Sifford, Teddy Rhodes, Bill Spiller, James Black, Lee Elder, Calvin Peete, Jim Thorpe and countless other African American golfers weren’t with you through it all.

The spirit is a powerful resource.  You’ve been moving the needle for nearly the last 20 years in golf, but now, it seems to be getting stuck more times than not.  I’m sure you’ve noticed.  Father time, as we know, is still undefeated.  I just hope that when you walk away from the game, you walk away as an African American.

So in closing, I must say that I do agree that the powers-to-be are not looking hard enough when it comes to putting African American kids and minority youth inside the ropes.  Similar to Pro Football Scouts not looking hard at the smaller colleges, particularly the HBCU, for potential NFL recruits.  More attention is always placed obviously on the Big 8, PAC 10, SEC, ACC, Big East, etc.  When you have players like a Jerry Rice–Mississippi State and Doug Williams—at Grambling University punching holes in that theory, you would think they’ve learned by now.  What if Branch Rickey (baseball), Red Auebach (basketball), and Scotsman Willie Dunn (golf) had of felt that way, back in the day?  What chance would Jackie Robinson, Bill Russell, and John Shippen have ever had?

ABOUT JOHN PERRY

John Perry is a freelance writer, poet and active golfer with a passion for calling shots like he sees them and, then, telling it like it is. He resides in Vauxhall, NJ. Email: [email protected]

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 4^th & 5^th 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 4^th 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: [email protected]
http://www.golflifeskills.org/

(August 2014)

As the golf season starts to heat up, I often find myself watching the action on Saturdays and Sundays while marveling at what professional golfers can do with a golf ball.  They play on courses that are usually well over 7,000 yards long, hit tee shots upwards of 300 yards and stick approach shots within feet of the flag stick with ease.  I am sure that I am not alone in thinking that if they can do it then surely I can do that when I play golf.  Unfortunately, for the average golfer, making the same kinds of shots that the professionals make come few and far between.  At the same time, making a professional type shot is probably doing more harm for our golf game than good.

First Tee Box

I was once asked by a golfer that I didn’t know (who was going to play the same course that day) which tee box that he should play from.  He stated that he hadn’t played in quite some time and that he was probably going to shoot in the 100’s.  I told him that he should play a tee set of tees that were about 5,400 yards.  He took my information and proceeded to play the set of tees that were about 6,100 yards.  I asked myself why he even bothered to ask me if he was going to do what he wanted to do anyway.  Even before our round begins, the choice of which set of tees to play is one that is often made with no real thought at all.  We often rationalize, if our buddies are playing a set of tees then they must be good for us too.  We know what shape our golf game is in on a particular day, so it would make sense to choose a set of tees that will at least give you somewhat of a chance to play well.

Par 5’s

Getting a birdie is very nice but scoring an eagle is a thing of beauty.  Some courses have par 5’s that can be reached in two shots, but average golfers often have so much stacked against them that getting home in two is almost unheard of.  The problem is that we see the pros hit greens in two shots, from 235 yards away like it is nothing, and then we go into our next round thinking that we’re entitled to that same level of skill simply because we own golf clubs.  Can it be done from time to time? Yes.  But you are probably better off (most of the time) getting to the green in regulation and working on a birdie, and hopefully a par, if your short game cooperates.

Greenside Bunkers

Stick it close, stick it close is what we all want to do from a green side sand bunker.  But how many times have you tried to stick it close and ended up taking 2 or 3 shots just to get out of the bunker at all?  So many times it is better for weekend warriors to get their ball out of the bunker and onto the putting surface without the headache of losing strokes digging holes in a sand bunker.  Most amateurs would happily take getting out of every bunker in one shot and take their chances holing out in two more strokes, than hoping to get it close with that magical bunker shot of a lifetime each time their ball finds the beach.

Par 3s & Approach Shots

On so many par 3 holes, as well as on many approach shots, the flag is placed in a place where going directly for it is downright foolish.  It is heavily guarded by bunkers or, close enough to a hazard, that hitting your shot in hopes of getting it close to the flag turns out to be more about getting lucky than being skilled.  But this doesn’t stop many amateurs from attempting to hit that ‘hero’ shot that they can brag to their buddies about for years to come.  But why not just play for a safe place on the green in hopes of making a par and sometimes even a birdie.  I would much rather be able to brag about how well I did for an entire round than what I was able to pull off on one hole.  Unless of course it was a hole-in-one, then all bets are off!

Taking Your Medicine

So many times throughout a round a golfer is faced with the decision: “How risky of a shot should I play in trying to advance my ball?”  The decision is, of course, so much easier when you are hitting that shot from the fairway.  But what about when you are stuck behind a tree or just inside a hazard or have no clear shot into the green?  Logic and potential goose scores say that you should make your way back to safe ground on your current shot in order to play your next shot from a more favorable position.

But the riverboat gambler in all of us comes out and we easily talk ourselves into attempting a shot that even the most skilled golfer would look at and choose a safer route.  Again, we are faced with the near impossible, yet, come to the conclusion that we can play magician and pull a rabbit out of our hat and make a shot ‘work’.  Life would be soooo much simpler if we just ‘take our medicine’, sacrifice a stroke and get into position to finish the hole with an acceptable score.  Unfortunately, grinding for a bogey or maybe still making a par is not as sexy as hitting a ball under the trees, rolling it onto the green and stopping within a few feet on the cup.

The game of golf is filled with numerous twists and turns within a single round.  The fact that we actually pay to play should be reason enough to want to enjoy the game as much as possible.  It is pretty hard to do that from deep in the woods or standing in a water hazard.  So the next time that you tee it up try to make some decisions that will help you score well and not throw your clubs into the nearest lake.  After all, the golf gods are not as generous as we think they are.

ABOUT ANTHONY L. WILKINS

Anthony L. Wilkins is a national Academy of Sports Medicine & Titleist Performance Institute Certified Personal Trainer an avid golfer from New Jersey who currently resides in the metro Atlanta area with his wife and son.
Send Anthony an Email Message!
[email protected]

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