Hook a kid on golf

This is a program sponsored by Palm Beach County, endorsed by Raymond Floyd, a retired professional golfer. The concept behind the program is to supply underprivileged children with knowledge and equipment about golf, also provide a venue for them to play free of charge. There are 15 to 20 children from the boys and girls club of Riviera Beach are attending from Monday to Friday, 3 hours each day and I am volunteering as one of the coach. There would be speakers to teach the kids about rules of golf, drug awareness and positive living...etc.

Most of the children are African American, a few of them are Hispanic, hey I am not racial profiling, I myself is an alien to this country. But once the kids arrive to the Par 3 golf course on Ocean Blvd at Lake Worth, they noticed I am the only *not* American coach. So they asked:

"Are you Korean?" "Are you Chinese?"

I replied, "Yes I am Chinese, you are very smart."

"Do you cook Chinese food?" they asked with their eyes wide open.

"Yes, I cook Chinese food, also Italian food too." I answered with a smile.

"Do you do Kungfu too?" They jumped on me like I am someone very special coming out from ShaoLin Temple.

"No, I am sorry I don't do Kungfu. But I do golf very well." I replied.

We separate the kids in 3 groups and rotate them in 3 section of teaching - putting, chipping and full swing sections. They collect their junior golf clubs sponsored by a local golf store, could not believe the whole set of brand new clubs would be theirs if they attend everyday for 5 days in a row. One girl asked me, which one of the golf clubs is she taking home, I told her all of them, her eyes sparkled and asked me again: "All of these?!" "Yes, this new set of club with the bag is yours, see? your name is on the bag, this is your bag now and you have to take care of it and use it well." I told her. I could sense she has this feeling that she is not worthy for the brand new set of golf clubs, I replied emotionally yes you are worthy of everything.

The goal of this program is to introduce them to this sport - Golf at no costs, through the program we would also teach them sportsmanship, integrity, honesty, respect, etiquette, focus, courage and determination along with technical knowledge; the idea behind is to hope that one day they would choose a sport to focus on rather than drugs or gangs.