Inner-city Detriot may not be the first place one thinks of when looking to learn golf, but that is precisely where Renee Fluker founded her immensley successful Midnight Golf Program a dozen years ago. The program is a 30 week mentoring experience that not only teaches students about golf, but also about a number of essential life skills. The organization uses golf as a medium to teach children important life lessons, such as strategic thinking and how to deal with frustration and failure.

PGA of America teaching pros teach students the basics of golf at a practice facility 8 miles outside of downtown Detroit. More than half the students are able to hit below 100 by the program’s end, which is especially impressive considering most have never had the opportunity to even touch a golf club prior to joining. About 30 adult volunteers also teach the kids other valuable skills, such as proper business etiquette, interview tips, resume writing, and financial literacy and personal budgeting.

The program culminates in a week-long Spring Break trip known as the Road Trip for Success. Students are bused to nearby college campuses and play rounds of golf at different courses and attend a suit-and-tie banquet at a country club. This is the first time many of these students get the opportunity to leave Detroit, dine in high-end restaurants, or even stay in a hotel.

The statistics reflect just how important Midnight Golf is to the students. Since the program’s inception in 2001, 90% of its graduates have gone on to enroll in college, and 94% of those students have gone on to earn their degree. 

For more information, visit: http://www.midnightgolf.org/