A Lone Golfer’s Passion

Detroit, MI – While many high school students in detroit dream of sinking baskets or scoring touchdowns, Shaun Horne, a junior, has his sights set on a different kind of green. I only play golf, horne stated after a simulator session on Detroit’s west side. His dedication makes him somewhat of an anomaly among his peers, especially Black high schoolers in the city.

The Challenge: Bridging the Gap

Only a small fraction of Detroit’s high school students participate in golf. According to state data,approximately 50 out of over 14,000 students in the Detroit school district play golf on school teams. Coaches and community organizations are actively working to change this, aiming to introduce the sport to more students.

Jesse Hawkins, who coaches Horne at Renaissance High School, emphasizes the primary hurdle: exposure. When you go into high schools and you go into elementary schools often times we’ll hear narratives around basketball players, football games, those things, Hawkins said. And golf is really not as propagated as much for our community.

Community and Corporate Support

Efforts to increase participation among Black youth involve partnerships with major Detroit businesses and community groups. Several nonprofits offer programs designed to teach children the fundamentals of golf.

The Rocket Classic, an annual PGA event held in Detroit, has contributed nearly $10 million to local charities, with $800,000 specifically earmarked for youth golf programs. These initiatives include college scholarships for high school seniors and support for First Tee of greater Detroit, which engages over 700 children and teens annually.

Golf is the why we get them ther, but while we have them there we’re teaching them life skills. Learning how to say ‘yes sir, yes ma’am’ – shake a hand properly, how to start a conversation. We’re teaching them life skills and then we get to putting and swinging and things like that.

Carl Bentley, chief executive of First Tee of Greater Detroit

First Tee has also donated a golf simulator to the school district, further enhancing accessibility.

national Trends and Local Realities

Nationally, golf is becoming more diverse. According to the National Golf Foundation, approximately 25% of the 28.1 million Americans who played golf on a course in 2024 were Black, Asian, or Hispanic. Interest extends beyond playing, with many following professional golf through various media.

Though, Hawkins notes that this interest doesn’t always translate to Black high schoolers. You don’t hear kids talking about the latest golf shoes or the cool golf apparel, Hawkins explained. You’re not necessarily going to get a badge of honor walking into your high school and you’ve got the newest golf shirt.

Economic barriers

The cost of golf equipment and course fees can be prohibitive for many families. Detroit, with a population that is nearly 80% Black, had a median income of approximately $39,500 in 2023, substantially lower than the statewide median of $69,100. The city’s poverty level was around 32%, compared to about 13.5% statewide.

A decent set of golf clubs can easily cost hundreds of dollars,and green fees at Detroit’s public courses are $28 for juniors to play 18 holes with a cart on weekdays.

Rocket Companies’ Role

Since the PGA brought its first event to Detroit in 2019, Rocket Companies, sponsored by Detroit native Dan Gilbert, has been a key partner in promoting youth golf. Trina Scott, vice president of Civic and Community Affairs at Rock, Gilbert’s family office, emphasizes the company’s commitment to making golf accessible.

How do we attract Black and brown youth into seeing (golf) as a possibility? One way of doing that is by making it accessible (and) also eliminating the barriers – being able to have the right clothing to go on a golf course, being able to have the clubs that you need, being able to have the skillset to be confident on the course.

Trina Scott,vice president of Civic and Community Affairs at Detroit-based Rock

Building a Competitive Edge

Mike Schuchard,the golf coach at Detroit Cass Tech,has doubled his team size from last season to about a dozen players.However, only two are considered “varsity level,” making it challenging to compete against suburban schools with established golf programs.

Schuchard is actively recruiting students who already participate in other sports. These schools are loaded with grate athletes, but they just haven’t been introduced to this game, yet, schuchard said.

Ahmari Flowers, the senior captain on Cass Tech’s golf team, agrees. He discovered golf after his freshman year. I’m an athletic guy and golf like came easy to me, said Flowers, 17. For an athletic person, it’s still a sport, a lot of body movement and all you got to do is control that athleticism and use it to your advantage.