Giving Kids The Chance To Succeed Is A Universal Great Thing
Of all the things I expected to do while we are here in Jamaica doing the show for a few days, this was NEVER on the radar. Enjoying Sandals Ochi’s great food, service, and beautiful Carribean beaches? Yes. Telling you of all our adventures and imploring you to get here and make this great country, its people, and this resort a part of your life? Yes. Helping run a junior golf clinic? Uh, no.
Anyone who knows me, knows of my love (bordering on obsession) of the game of golf. The biggest reason for this is that the game has given me countless hours of entertainment and life’s lessons with my son. I’ve spent more wonderful moments in and around the junior golf scene in our country that I could ever accurately count. And the game has opened avenues for success for him that to this day he’s traveling at Coastal Carolina University. So, when we happened into this opportunity while here, it was a surprise honor and pleasure.
According to The Sandals Foundation website: The Sandals Foundation is a non-profit organization launched in March 2009 to help Sandals Resorts International continue to make a difference in the Caribbean. All costs associated with administration and management is supported by Sandals International so that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly towards funding impactful and meaningful initiatives within the key areas of Education, Community and Environment.
In all our trips with the Sandals/Beaches folks, we’ve been exposed to various aspects of their charity. We’ve always walked away impressed with The Sandals Foundation’s commitment and follow-thru. What happened at Upton Estate Golf and Country Club on Wednesday morning is something I’ll never forget. Jamaica is by no means a “rich” nation. And golf is by no means a “cheap” sport. Consequently, it’s not an activity that kids have access to. The Sandals Foundation is taking care of this. Local kids in the Ocho Rios area are exposed to the game through quality teachers, facilities, and equipment. The program has only been around for less than twenty years, yet already it has produced players that are making an impact internationally, receiving college scholarships in America, AND beginning the process of breaking in to the major professional tours.
There is nothing like that moment when you’re able to help someone hit that perfect golf shot for the first time. Getting that little ball in the air is hard. Try it some time. When it happens, the smile of accomplishment is both heart-warming and infectious. I don’t know if “Kevin” will ever want to or amount to a player of consequence in the game of golf. I do know that on this day, I was able to be a part of providing an avenue for success for him. And it doesn’t matter what country you’re in, providing as many of those avenues as possible for our kids, is a great thing.
For them, and us.
