Golf means so much more than just hitting a ball with a stick. And it means something different to everyone.
Mike Molloy, Program Director of The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association Junior Golf Program, started out with the program as just a parent taking his son to play golf.
“And I saw that there are so many good things that come out of this, so I volunteered to take on more and eventually I took over running the program from founder Norman Kritz,” Molloy shared.
And under Molloy’s leadership and Kritz’s vision, The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association Junior Golf Program consists of much more than just teaching kids to play golf.
“Of Course we teach kids to play, but we also help connect families of blind kids and it gives them an opportunity to spend time together and give them another resource to ask questions and see what others are doing and also gives the kids the chance to get together with 30 other blind kids and play golf and not feel so isolated,” Molloy said.
And the merits of the program can be seen in the level of success their participants have achieved, on and off the course.
“We’ve sent kids to Ivy League schools, we have kids that just competed in the Paralympics, we have kids working at Google,” Molloy shared. “Seeing their successes really makes this all worthwhile.”
Mike Molloy, Program Director of The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association Junior Golf Program
Recently, Molloy, his son and Kritz all got together to play 9 holes and they all had smiles on their faces the whole time as the participant relished in gratitude to the founder, who had the vision to put clubs in a kid’s hands and provide lessons, and the founder, who sees the participant, who is now grown up, successful, and loves the game as much as he does
And that’s what it’s all about.