Left-to-Right: Tim Arrington, Abdel Raoul, and Chicago Park District Superintendent Mike Kelly with Signed Letters from Tiger Woods.
CHICAGO, IL (April 29, 2019)—Community members gathered for the Jackson Park Golf Course Scholarship Celebration to honor recipients Tim Arrington and Abdel Raoul at the Jackson Park Fieldhouse located at 6401 S Stony Island Avenue in Chicago, Ill. The highly anticipated program that will forever leave an indelible mark on both students.
While program organizers read a letter signed by Tiger Woods during the event, Tim and Abdel were truly moved. Woods’ letter stated:
“Congratulations to you both. I am very impressed by your accomplishments. Tim, well done earning a prestigious Evans Scholarship and I wish you the best of luck at Marquette University. This scholarship shows the hard work, dedication and academic commitment you made while working at Jackson Park.
“Abdel, my best wishes to you as you fulfill your dream of earning a Division I academic and golf scholarship. I know your scholastic and golfing talents will be evident to everyone at Prairie View A&M University.
“Along with excelling in golf, Tim and Abdel are interested in pursuing medicine and mechanical engineering, respectively. You could not ask for two better representatives of this community. Tim and Abdel, I’m proud of you.
“All the best, Tiger Woods.”
How did the two students react?
Tim and Abdel were both elated and surprised that the 2019 Masters Champion would send them such a personal tribute.
Chicago Park District General Superintendent & CEO Mike Kelly attended the event, telling Raoul and Arrington: “I dreamed about being both of you. I dreamed about being a Division I golfer, but it didn’t work out. And I applied for the Evans Scholarship many years ago but didn’t get it. What you guys are doing, and what you’re going to do for all of us, makes us all proud.”
Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO Mike Kelly presented Arrington and Raoul with the surprise congratulatory letters which had been personally signed by Tiger Woods. Chicago’s 5th Ward Alderman Leslie Hairston added personal remarks, followed by comments from the scholars and their families. Due to weather conditions, the event which was originally planned at Jackson Park Golf Course was moved indoors to Jackson Park Fieldhouse due to rain.
Abdel Raoul and Tim Arrington Show Their Signed Letters from Tiger Woods to Chicago’s 5th Ward Alderman Leslie Hairston. (Chicago Parks Golf Alliance photo)
5th Ward Alderman Leslie Hairston in her introductory remarks said, “This is a wonderful event. It lets you know that our young people are active and involved in the parks; and yes, we do play golf.” Following the presentation of Tiger’s signed letters Hairston continued, “Well…I can’t compete with Tiger Woods, but Congratulations to Tim and Abdel. You make the South Side proud. You make the City Proud. You make this Ward proud. I have no doubt that your futures are shiny and bright and the world is your oyster. Whatever it is that you want to achieve, you will achieve. I am confident in that.”
“Being a single mother, I wanted Tim to be exposed to nature, calm and God’s beautiful creation. Especially living in the inner-city, I wanted him to have an outlet and release mechanism, and
what better way to have that than out on the greens.,” said Michelle Murff, the other of Tim Arrington.
Abdel Raoul (center) displays his signed letter from Tiger Woods, with his Mother Tracy Raoul (left) and father Philip Raoul (right). (Chicago Parks Golf Alliance photo)
Onstage Abdel Raoul said, “I’ve known Tim since 4th grade. Seeing him here, and seeing everybody that came out to support us. I’m truly honored and blessed and I thank everybody.” Tim Arrington said, “Ever since I became a caddie, THIS is what it has been for. I am going to use the Evans Scholarship to change the world, since it changed my life, I have to change other people’s lives.”
Tim Arrington and his mother, Michelle Murff-Arington.
Following the presentation. regarding the letter from Tiger Abdel indicated, “Tiger has been my role model on the golf course, and with the greatness he brings, it’s an honor. I’m truly grateful. Nobody told me this would happen, and with everybody showing up, I was absolutely surprised.” Arrington remarked, “Tonight means the world to me. My mother and I have been struggling a little bit. To have this opportunity with all these people supporting me, and to have Tiger Woods noticing the progress we’ve made: That’s amazing. That’s Awesome!
(Above) The signed letter from Tiger Woods to Tim and Abdel
Interview with 5th Ward Alderman Leslie Hairston
South Shore resident Craig Bowen; President of Black College Golf Coaches Association, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor to the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance
(Below) Op-Ed submitted to Chicago Tribune by South Shore resident Craig Bowen; President of Black College Golf Coaches Association, Diversity and Inclusion Advisor to the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance
After 30+ years advocating for diversity and inclusion in the golf industry as a coach, historian and promoter; April 29th, 2019 will stand among my proudest memories. 125 Chicagoans gathered at Jackson Park Fieldhouse, joined by 5 th Ward Alderman Leslie Hairston and Park District Superintendent Mike Kelly, to honor college scholarship recipients Tim Arrington and Abdel Raoul. As reported by the Chicago Tribune’s Teddy Greenstein, highlights included congratulatory letters from Tiger Woods and remarks by Abdel’s mother Tracy Raoul: “There are hundreds of children that can benefit the same way our family has. We need more programs, and we definitely need a great golf course so these children can thrive.”
Astoundingly, within 24 hours, the Chicago Tribune editorial board characterized efforts to improve the Jackson Park and South Shore Golf Courses as “straight into a bunker.” The editorial requested more details, so please consider the following to address its misconceptions of transparency, price and access, economic development and funding.
Transparency:
Designs for the golf course and surrounding park features have been developed through collaboration between Tiger Woods’ TGR Design team, local golfers and community residents. The Chicago Park District recorded 2,300 registered attendees at 13 public meetings. Moreover, the editorial excluded that the Alderman and Park District Superintendent spent the preceding evening with patrons of Jackson Park and South Shore golf courses.
Price and Access:
As a board member for Jackson Park Golf Association, representing over 500 members of African American golf leagues and clubs on the South Side, deliberations have been thorough and passionate. Yet, consensus endures from our October 2017 letter to the Chicago Tribune, “JPGA is confident in the Park District’s pledge to keep rates below $50 for Chicago residents. Providing free golf for juniors will also continue and that proposed pricing is acceptable to our golfers.”
Economic Development:
The golf industry in Illinois has exceeded $2 billion annually, while supporting over 50,000 jobs. Only a paltry dozen of those jobs currently exist at Jackson Park and South Shore. Before devoting resources to hypothetical studies, team members have collaborated with neighborhood business leaders from the South Shore Chamber of Commerce to evaluate and prepare for new opportunities. The Chamber’s assessment: “Tiger Woods and his team have come up with a design that will give community golfers the course they deserve and thrust millions of dollars into the local economy…The influx of revenue from the new golf course will not only strengthen local businesses but stimulate job growth in a community whose unemployment rate is close to 12%.”
Funding:
Preliminary contributions to the 501(c)3 Chicago Parks Golf Alliance fostered the aforementioned achievements. Generosity of families, foundations and corporations provides testament for the philanthropic efforts ahead. Specifically, we must thank Mike and Lindy Keiser. Their participation bears credentials in the golf industry and Chicagoland philanthropy; including campaigns for Millennium Park and the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab.
The editorial also questioned public investment for infrastructure improvements in the South Shore neighborhood. The Chicago Tribune’s Blair Kamin recently complimented projects to improve lakefront connectivity on the South Side, “It can invite shifts in the fate of neighborhoods, in our patterns of movement, and even perhaps in our region’s longstanding divisions of race and class.” Kamin’s article focused on Bronzeville, but the need for safer connectivity persists four miles south at 67th Street.
While commemorating the Park District’s 85th Anniversary at the City Club Luncheon on May 1 st, Mike Kelly extolled the virtues of Tim Arrington and Abdel Raoul. Kelly pleaded, “Give us a chance. We’ve got big things coming to Chicago.” More importantly, let’s give our children and neighbors a chance!
