Special thanks to The IVY Center of Huntsville for their support!

The PGA of America awarded me this plaque and a grant in 2003 as a

Growth of the Game Recipient.

One of the most important things we have to do as a nation is developing young minds and character.

-1, -2, +2, +1, 0, -1, -1, +1, -1 = -2 2 under par

For kids, golf makes math fun!

Huntsville’s Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development have been endorsed and audited by the

leading entities in the golf industry including the PGA of America, USGA and The First Tee.

The Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development has a youth golf & life skills ministry. This unique

and innovative 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serve to improve youth ages 6-18 reading, writing,

math, science and character skills using the game of golf as the context.

For youth age 6 through grade 12. Consider the Youth Golf Development program for a safe and

fun experience that includes golf and life skills!

ALL KIDS ARE SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS

Anyone that has true love and passion for working with youth and golf has a gift from The All

Mighty! Being that true love and passion, means you do it without any and/or for very little pay.

Since I hit my first golf ball at the age of 44 in 2001 and started playing real golf in 2003, the game

has really impacted my life! And ever since then, I have been dedicated to making sure youth have

the opportunity to experience something I did not have a chance to experience as a youth. That is

why one of my mottos is “give youth a gift for life, youth golf development”.

Out of the thousands of youth that I have had the opportunity to expose to golf, I realize this

summer that all kids are special needs kids or all kids have a special need. I assume that most kids

that have a physical handicap or mental disability are classified as special needs. I googled special

needs and my assumptions were close to the professional definitions. For the sake of time and space,

I will not go into all of the technical terms and descriptions. But just trust me; I know what I am talk-

ing about.

I work with kids that take medications for their behaviors; I work with kids that need a strong

positive male presence in their lives; I work with kids that have cerebral palsy. I have worked with

rich and poor kids; white, black and Hispanic kids. I remember in 2006, working with some Hispanic

4th & 5th grades kids in the Huntsville City School that could not speak English. But while showing

them the parts of the golf club, the grip, stance, and swing and putting, and having them repeat

back to me what I was saying and demonstrating, they understood the terminology and began to

speak English. From there we covered the terms and meaning of Par-Birdie-Bogey and the math…it

was a joy seeing them getting it! Another joy was how the other students helped me to communicate

with their non-speaking English classmates. Me and my other instructors were surrounded my

“special needs kids”.

As you know golf is an activity that one

must desire to do, not forced to do. This sum-

mer 2014, we (staff) had the opportunity to in-

troduce and re-introduce golf to several different

youth groups. Bobby McDonald a deacon at Da-

vis Temple Baptist Church in Tanner Alabama,

made arrangements for 13-18 of their youth ag-

es 6-18, boys and girls to participate in summer

golf as part of their vacation bible school. For

the first session, I journeyed down to the deep

country of Tanner, where we used part of the church where I talked about and demonstrated some

golf and life skills. The students asked questions and were engaged. Our following sessions were held

at the Madison Golf Center where we hit balls, practice hitting towards a target and putting. In addi-

tion we discussed how golf and life share some of the same values. Bobby and I plan of offering

more sessions and eventually get them on the course.

I also had the privilege of working with kids from New Beginnings Christian Church (my church

home). I have worked with most of these kids before. One of

my outstanding students is Emari. When we first met Emari

was kind of leery of me. But he said that he wanted to learn

how to play golf. Emari is 17 years old and has two younger

brothers. During the first summer program (2012) we had to

overcome to serious challenges, but we had fun working

through them. This year, he hit the golf ball with very little of

my assistant, after we get the interlocking grip correct and he

had plenty of balls, he would normally call me when he hit a

good shot…he yells, “hey Mr. Bankhead look”! By-the-way, Emari has cerebral palsy and practically

blind in one eye, yet this young man has more courage than any of the thousands of youth I have

worked with.

I guess Cub Scout Troop 400 group of kids had more golfing or athletic ability. We had a small

group totaling eight with one girl. One evening while working with the boys, she

was seating with her granny when I called out to her to come and learn golf too;

she came running out to us. This is a sad story, the little girl is 10 years old go-

ing into the 5th grade. I asked her why she was behind in her grade; her reply

was she can’t read. She has a slight stuttering challenge…reminds me of myself!

If given the opportunity, I vow to work with her on her life skills and academics

as well as her golf.

All of the cubs in Troop 400 are special to me. But Carmon is one that ex-

emplified the life skills values and work ethics that remind me of my previous

students that were awarded scholarships to college. I pray that I also have the

opportunity to continue to help Carmon be the outstanding he is and achieve his

goals.

All kids are special and have needs; some just need more than others! Mainly love and time…Love

the most of all.

In order to grow and continue the success of TVYGD, we ask for your support and financial donations!

“Anything positive is possible”

Howard Bankhead, Executive Director

Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development

604 Jordan Lane Huntsville, AL 35816 USA

www.golflifeskills.org 256-604-8172

youthlifegolfskills@gmail.com

Emari

Davis Temple Tanner Alabama

Carmon

Give Youth A Gift for Life; Youth Golf Development!