There was a time, more than three generations ago, when golf was a major part of the Miami professional sports landscape. In fact, it was the only professional sport in town if you didn’t count minor-league baseball or jai-alai.
Starting in 1962, the PGA Tour held a tournament on Doral Resort & Spa’s Blue Monster course, and it was a great source of public pride for the culturally diverse city during its more than a half-century run. The resort’s name came from a combination of its founders – Doris and Alfred Kaskel – and the Tour event was won by a dozen Hall of Famers … icons such as Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Raymond Floyd, Billy Casper, Lee Trevino, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite.
But when the tournament was moved to Mexico in 2017, golf soon took a backseat in the Magic City to title-winning franchises such as the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins and Miami Heat.
Now it’s not even in the backseat. In a place aptly known as the Sunshine State, where golf is one of the more popular attractions, the sport has become an after-thought in Miami-Dade County. Consider that in an area where 2.7 million people live, there are only six public golf courses in Miami.
The PGA of America is attempting to make golf front and center again by providing access for the next generation. This spring the PGA of America REACH Foundation funded its first Opportunity League at Miami Springs Golf & Country Club – situated less than 5 miles from Doral. The eight-week Opportunity League is an extension of the Association’s PGA Jr. League program offers boys and girls between the ages of nine to 13 an opportunity to learn and play the game in a fun team-oriented environment at no cost to them or their families. The Opportunity League provides equipment and, most importantly, golf-course access, to many kids who have never swung a club before and don’t know a birdie from a bogey.
Selecting a city such as Miami Springs, just north of downtown Miami and Miami International Airport, was intentional, says John Moscoso, PGA, the Director of Instruction at Trump Golf Academy Doral who spearheaded the project that also includes Redland Golf & Country Club in Homestead.
“Miami Springs is like old Miami, where things were in 1975,” Moscoso said. “It’s a town that doesn’t like much change. Many of the families live below the poverty level.”
Golf is not a cheap game to play, but the values gained usually far outweigh the costs. PGA Jr. League and the PGA of America REACH Foundation Opportunity Leagues are removing any barriers for families to access those values.
“The testimonials we have received from the parents are so grateful,” Moscoso said. “Their kids have never gotten involved with golf, and it has sparked an interest for them in the sport. The parents realize this is something their children need to pursue.”
As Moscoso mentioned, change doesn’t come easy. Most of the kids in the program aren’t looking to become the next Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy. When Grayson Aldama showed up for the program’s final session, he wore a uniform with his name and the No. 17 on his back. That’s the number that belongs to his favorite athlete, Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar. Grayson is also looking to play two sports, baseball and golf.
“He enjoys being a dual-sport athlete,” said Grayson’s father, Jason. “He doesn’t want to be a single-sport athlete.”
Doing both is better than doing neither, right?
Grayson does have a favorite golfer -- Bryson DeChambeau. Why?
“Just because he’s fun,” Grayson said. “He connects with the fans. He waves at the fans. He’s just cool.”
Miami Springs mayor Walter Fajet, a longtime resident, said he didn’t pick up golf until he was in high school, and he didn’t make a big deal of it because it wasn’t considered “cool.” The Opportunity League targets younger kids, providing a meaningful introduction to the game early in their life in hopes of creating lifetime golfers.
“We’ve been kind of dreaming of having a youth program that really thrives here,” said Fajet, who became mayor in April and was on-hand with several councilmen to watch the Miami Springs Golf & Country Club PGA Jr League’s final session. “You look around, seeing all these kids, the support is just amazing. This area is really hungry for this type of youth program. We’re just delighted.”
Golf programs, like someone’s golf game, don’t develop overnight. It takes time, money – the city recently bought the golf club from Miami-Dade County – and a coordinated program to grow the game. Helping the area high schools field golf teams is a step in the proper direction.
“We just want to introduce youngsters to the game of golf,” Fajet said. “It’s a beautiful game. And we’re just really, really happy to have this kind of support.”
Kevin Morris, PGA has seen first-hand the importance of getting a golf club in kids’ hands, especially those who don’t have the resources. The PGA Director of Golf at Miami Springs not only helps run the program, his two children, Kevin and Sophie, are regulars. He knows the impact it has made on their lives.
“We obviously started with zero kids and we’re up to 48 here today, along with their parents and family members, so it’s pretty incredible,” Morris said. “This is one of the biggest things in all my years as a PGA Professional that has helped grow the game. You can’t be prouder than that. And then seeing my kids be a part of it, that’s even better, because that’s something I can do with them every week.”
The League’s final session celebrated the progress the kids made over the eight weeks, allowing the players to test their skills at driving, chipping and putting. They even had a launch monitor to see how far their drives traveled and check their swing speed.
The goal is not to produce the next DeChambeau, Rory or Tiger. It’s to help the kids want to become the next DeChambeau, Rory and Tiger, knowing that golf provides the guidance to make the proper decisions in life.
“The core values that golf teaches you are the key,” Morris said. “Things like honesty, integrity, sportsmanship. They get that with a lot of team sports, but the fact that this is an individual sport, as well as in a team atmosphere here, that’s a huge piece of it, right? As long as they’re coming out here and having fun, that’s the biggest thing. The way I see it with this program is the sky’s the limit.”
Watching the kids interact, high-fiving after a good shot and giggling after a bad one, shows the need for this program. Having one of the young girls show up with a unicorn headcover is a reminder they are just kids, after all.
Another girl was asked which was her dominant hand after she hit a poor shot right-handed and threw the ball in frustration left-handed.
“Which hand do you write with?” the instructor asked. “I write with both!” she yelled. “I write with one hand until it gets tired, then I write with the other.”
Golf may no longer be the most popular sport in Miami Springs these days, but things change, especially with attention to detail. Another intentional decision by Moscoco is to make sure the instructors can relate to their students.
“We have coaches who are Black and Asian,” he said. “One of the reasons the program is successful is the diversity of the coaches and their ability to connect with all the kids.”
Once the final training session was over, it was time for the kids to be kids – an ice cream truck was brought in for free treats, and hamburgers and chicken wings were provided for lunch.
Then came the real treat that brought smiles to everyone’s faces – every child received a pair of FootJoy golf shoes, their own size, much to their joy and amazement. The sky may be the limit, but having free FootJoys on the ground is one way to end this generational golf gap in one of Miami’s oldest areas. After the appearance of the PGA of America REACH Foundation Opportunity League, of course.
We envision a world where golf is accessible for every child, everywhere – regardless of their background or circumstance. Through PGA Jr. League and Opportunity Leagues, the PGA of America REACH Foundation is committed to opening the game to all by providing wrap-around support to young golfers in high-need communities. Learn more →