The most important way to grow the game of golf is to focus on the next generation. Urban Golf is an organization that is focused on doing just that. Urban Golf of Greater St. Louis was created by Jerome Harris Jr. in 2019. He started Urban Golf to continue the work he started, while at Gateway PGA Section. The organization strives on 4 pillars, the “C’s”: Competition, Competency, Character, and Connections.
Along with teaching golf, Urban Golf promotes skills that students will need after high school, like financial literacy. Currently, Urban Golf is running a six week summer camp in partnership with the Jayson Tatum Foundation. The camp takes place at Wohl Recreation Center,on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm and is completely free of charge for participants. PGA Professionals, Eric Engle and Todd Abbalt assist in teaching.
Everyone remembers the sports they played in their youth. Whether you were the star player or the kid that picked flowers in the outfield, the sport will always have a place in your heart. When you have kids, you are likely to put them in the sports that interest you. To grow the game of golf, the focus must be on the next generation. Urban Golf is an organization that is focused on doing just that.
In a conversation with Jerome, he mentioned that he wanted to continue the work he did, while he was employed by the section. “The goal of the organization is to serve and support the kids of St. Louis as well as Central and Eastern Missouri along with Southern Illinois. Along with teaching golf, Urban Golf promotes skills that students will need after high school, like financial literacy.”
PGA REACH Gateway provided Urban Golf with the inflatables and equipment for the camp. Fernando Molina, Programs Manager for the Gateway Section, was the main liaison between Urban Golf and the section. “Watching the kids interact with Jerome was a very rewarding experience,” exclaimed Molina. “The kids love him, and he is extremely passionate about the program and introducing them to the game of golf. I can still see the smile on their faces as they were taught the basics of this wonderful sport. Hopefully they continue to learn and experience all the benefits that can come from playing golf.”
To learn more about Urban Golf, please visit their website at www.ugolfstl.org.