The Training With Pay organization held its 2nd annual Celebrity Golf Classic Tournament Fundraiser on February 13, 2015 at the historical 18 hole Chester Washington Golf Course located in South Los Angeles, California.
(photo L-R: Frank Robinson and Don Buford)
It was a typical perfect, sunny California, February day, with “let’s go play golf” written all over it. Thanks to golfer Donna Castron, member of “Different Strokes”, a newly formed golf club organization based in Los Angeles, for referring me to the Training With Pay Org., from that referral, I was requested to participate, as a blogger, in their Celebrity Golf Classic.
Upon my arrival at Chester Washington, to do my job as a blogger, I was greeted warmly by Mr. Miles Grayson, Recording Artist, Musician, Arranger, Composer, and Founder of Grayson Productions. 
Grayson in turn introduced me to Alesia Ellis, President of Training with Pay and the organizer of this Celebrity Golf Classic. Alesia shared with me the purpose and mission of Training With Pay and the logistics of the days’ Classic Tournament.
Partnering with Miles Grayson in a golf cart, watching him peruse the golf course–while monitoring the needs of the golfers–was not only fun and exciting, it also afforded me the opportunity to get to know him better, and to take photos of a few celebrity golfers. I must say that Miles Grayson is a hoot !!–as well as very entertaining, and knowledgeable of the world of golf.
Now, I was told from the beginning of the day, that all of the registered golfers, including the celebrities were men except for one. A 16-year old young lady. To my surprise, and “trust me” when I tell you that I had absolutely no clue that, this 16-year old young lady would be none other than Kasey Torres. However there she was, out on the green swinging that golf club with conviction, and empowerment, while being fussed over and admired for her golfing abilities, by former Major League Baseball Legends. Now you ask me, who is Kasey Torres, and who are those Major League Baseball Legends?
Kasey Torres is an amazing 16-year old golfer, with great talent, skills and potential, a lovely, soft spoken prize product of South Los Angeles’ Maggie Hathaway’s First Tee program.
I had the honor of introducing her in my November 2014 golf blog, and if you didn’t read it, make sure that you take the time to do just that. In December 2014, Kasey was also selected to be published by the African American Golfers Digest in its popular “Golfer of the Week” series. You might want to take a look at that as well.
(photo: Barbara Taylor and Kasey Torres)
Now, I presume you want to know who were the Baseball legends, and other celebrities in their own right ?
Well let me start with, to mention a few: Frank Robinson, former Outfielder, played with the Orioles, Angels, Dodgers, and Indians. In 1975, became the first Major League African American manager and joined the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. (Photo above L-R): Miles Grayson with Kasey Torres
Don Buford, Infielder/Outfielder-switch hitter, played for the Chicago White Sox, and the Baltimore Orioles ,1968-1972. Darrell Jackson, former Pitcher with the Minnesota Twins, 1978 –1982, Johnny Lee “Blue Moon” Odom, Pitcher, former Major League Baseball won three consecutive World Series Championships with the Oakland Athletics in 1972, 1973, and 1974.
I had an opportunity to talk with Blue Moon Odom, about his love for golf and he stated that he has been playing golf for 40 years, loves the game, and, playing in tournaments–especially with his former baseball teammates, because playing with teammates gives him the opportunity to engage in the “I can hit farther than you” bragging rights.
This tournament format was setup with one celebrity paired with four players to create a team. I don’t know if it was by design, or the luck of he draw, that our girl Kasey Torres was paired with Frank Robinson, John Buford, Daryl Iwasakai, and Ron Chenier.
The Tournament ended with an awards luncheon, that included a live band. Historically the awards luncheon ceremonies draw more non-golfers than golfers, which was the case at this celebrity classic, however the luncheon and entertainment was enjoyed by all. Speaking for myself, I had a wonderful time. However, I do regret not taking the opportunity to chat with more celebrities; for some reason I got stuck on conversing and taking pictures, on only one side of the room. I’m still learning !!!
The 1st place winners of the tournament were Johnny “Blue Moon” Odom, Hubie Brooks, Ray Burn, and Rudy Law.
(photo: 1st place winners displaying their bragging rights, Blue Moon Odom (center)
Second place winners were Darrell Jackson, Charles Carr, Joseph Smith, Luis Batson. Now I would be remissed in not reporting what was, and what should have been, so I will share with you that the second place winners “woulda/shoulda” have been Frank Robinson, Don Buford, Daryl Iwasaki, and Ron Chenier, and Kasey Torres. However, since their score card was not turned in to the score keeper– which was a classic case of the right hand, not knowing what the left hand is doing–they were disqualified.
Oh well!! So Kasey Torres was not rewarded with a trophy for her day of golfing achievements, however, at the end of the day Kasey Torres was truly an award winner. Kasey was awarded the opportunity and the honor to play, connect , and benefit professionally from playing golf with Legendary Giants, who have promised to, and excited about, following and supporting her throughout her golfing career. My personal feeling is, okay, so she wasn’t handed a trophy, however, she was awarded for her talent by two of the most influential people in America, my friends that is priceless!!
On the subject of former baseball celebrities, and in honor of Black History Month, let’s remember another baseball Hall of Fame “Gentleman” Mr. Minnie Minoso, outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, and the first black major league player in Chicago. Minoso was born Saturnino Orestes Arrieta, in Perico, Cuba. He was a seven-time, all-star. A three-time Gold Glove award winner and finished his career with numbers (.298 average, 186 home runs, 1,023 runs batted in). That some consider Hall of Fame worthy, given that he might have reached the majors earlier, if the game hadn’t been segregated before 1947. Minoso was also one of only two players to appear in Major league games over five different decades.
Minoso died Sunday morning, March 1, 2015 at the age of 90. And so it is ….
Until next time!
Barbara Taylor is a freelance writer who enjoys golf and is living the golf lifestyle! She is based in Los Angeles, California. | Email
