Junior National Golf Club, "Where the Future Plays"

He was a 14 year old kid when he wandered into Sierra Estrella Golf Course in Goodyear, AZ. His parents were in the middle of a divorce, his father not a factor in his life. At the golf course, John Wall found “meaningful work at a young age” and mentors to guide him forward. Decades later, having sold a successful technology business, John wants to give other young people the same help so many gave him.

We sat at breakfast as the 64 year old Wall told me his story and the vision for taking the Junior National Golf Club non profit model nationwide.

Principally targeted for disadvantaged youth, the Junior National Golf Club is on the way to becoming a reality. Sierra Estrella Golf Course, owned by Maricopa County, had been badly neglected over the years. John has leased the course from the county, changing the name to Tres Rios.

Sierra Estrella Golf Course was designed by a top architect of his time, Red Lawrence, who also designed Desert Forest once a top 100 course. Restoration has begun with the removal of hundreds of trees.

“Young people will be members. Golf will be free for kids. We want to give kids exposure in all areas of the game from teaching them to play and caddie, to working in hospitality, the golf operation, and working on the course,” John said.

“We are going to focus on at risk youth, but all kids will be welcome.” he said. “We want to use golf to change kids lives.”

“Over the generations we have lost the mentors,” said John. The course is located in a mixed economic area of Phoenix with no caddie program. “The adult men’s and women’s club members, many of whom would not take a caddie, will be given a reduced membership fee and be given a caddie in exchange for mentoring kids. They will play golf with the kids and stay in contact.”

Caddie fees for the balance of the players will also be subsidized.

The vision for this enormous undertaking is a 36 hole complex, a boys and girls type club and safe house. It will be a safe place for kids to come, see friends, study or just hang out. It will be a public course for adults also.

Negotiations to lease acreage for an adjacent 18 holes are underway. The property already has been designed for a course by Jim Bellows, owner of a golf management company and course owner. Bellows is also part of the Junior National organization.

“The second course gives us flexibility,” said John. “We can have a fund raising event at one course and still have the other available for kids and adults to play.

A new clubhouse is also planned. “My wife and I are prepared to fund the entire project,” said John. “The clubhouse will not be a traditional clubhouse, but built around the needs of youth with a gym and study center.”

“Security is a big deal,” said John. “That’s why we are starting with a caddie program. We can run a caddie program, similar to other clubs, and have minimal security issues. We will run a caddie program for one to two years, taking two or three years to develop the entire club.”

When completed the area will be safe and secure for boys and girls.

“The Junior National Club will be growing all things in golf for disadvantaged youth,” said Brandon Rogers, newly appointed head of operations for the club.

For 24 years Rogers has been the PGA Golf Professional at Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree, Arizona. He started a caddie program at Desert Forest which has now grown to 35 young caddies.

“I wanted to get new players from disadvantaged areas into the game,” Brandon said. “We had two of our caddies awarded Evans Scholarships. After 24 years at Desert Forest I realized that working with young people was what I wanted to do next.”

It’s a big move for someone in the prime of a career, but his enthusiasm was evident as we spoke. “I got a note from a kid who lost his father. I did not realize what an impact our caddie program at Desert Forest would have in building his self confidence,” said Brandon.

“We are going to hire people who are passionate about helping kids,” said John. “Brandon is a good example. We want to have PGA Assistant Professionals on staff who want to learn about a junior program, then use that knowledge in their PGA career.”

The long term goal is to take the Junior National Club across the country. “I want to find courses that have been allowed to deteriorate in cities around the country. We then go to companies involved in golf and ask for their support. Phoenix is a good example. Sierra Estella was a golf course that had been ignored. We are going to get the Junior National Golf Club set up, then go to local golf related companies or companies interested in golf, for long term support.  For instance both Ping and PXG are located in Phoenix.”

The Junior National Golf Club will help the Phoenix area and potentially the golf world in so many ways. It will help disadvantaged kids moving on the track to success, reduce the cost of golf for volunteers, provide a safe place for at risk kids, and grow the game. It will be exciting to see the development of the Junior National Golf Club in A Life In Golf.