CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With the 2022 Presidents Cup in Charlotte for the first time ever, a local youth golf program said excitement and interest in the game is up, with the potential to grow even more.

At the Pineville Learning Center for First Tee of Greater Charlotte, executive director Daniel Fogarty said golf is becoming a bigger game.

“It has continued to grow, and I believe it will continue to grow. And when you have highlights like the Presidents Cup being in town, it just continues to throw fuel on that fire. We’re seeing a much more diverse — from an age perspective, from a gender perspective, from a racial perspective, golf is becoming a much more inclusive sport,” Fogarty said.

First Tee of Greater Charlotte started in the late 2000s and serves Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. It is one of 150 First Tee chapters worldwide.

Fogarty and instructors with First Tee work with about 4,500 local kids in after-school programs and provide in-school programming for 120,000 students in more than 210 elementary schools. 

“COVID really caused an explosion in golf at all ages. It has continued to grow, and I believe it will continue to grow. And when you have highlights like the Presidents Cup being in town, it continues to throw fuel on that fire,” Fogarty added.

First Tee, an affiliated nonprofit with the PGA, helps kids get access to golf clubs, courses and scholarships. The after-school programs cost less than $100 and last 8-10 weeks. The in-school programming is free for children.

Separate from golf, First Tee and its instructors say they are also teaching life skills.

“You know, we’re not building great golfers, we’re building great people for the community of Charlotte. And so, through the life skills and core values that we teach — honesty, integrity, perseverance — just teaching the kids to just be great people,” said instructor Mark Lathan, while giving a lesson to a local 17-year-old newcomer.

In fact, Lathan describes himself as a late convert to golf.

“I’ve been playing now for about six years. I picked up the game pretty late, when I was around 18. And I had good mentors that helped me through it. And, kind of fell in love with it enough that I wanted to help grow the game,” Lathan said.

After falling in love with the sport, Lathan took a job as an instructor, wanting to teach the next generation of young people how to play.

“I am the site director for First Tee of Greater Charlotte, and I’ve been working here now for a year. So, that’s teaching the kids, growing the game, and helping out,” Lathan said.

Since then, he’s been introducing kids to the sport.

“It means a lot. It means the world to me to be able to help them out. I’m trying to be able to grow the game in my community, minority communities and the First Tee is just a great segue, a great opportunity to help them,” Lathan added.

For more details on the First Tee program or to find your local chapter, click here.