When I was a junior golfer growing up in Stirling, Ontario, Canada, I had the privilege of working with some incredible golf instructors. My first coach was Ralph Kuster, and he had a way of making golf fun and memorable.

Ralph would tell incredible stories about the golf swing and come up with easy names to help us remember the fundamentals. Sammy the Shark and Earl the Worm are just a couple that still stick with me today. Sometimes, he would even sing through the entire lesson. His charisma and ability to captivate a group of seven-year-olds was truly something to see.

I grew up in a town of about 4,500 people, and Ralph would have 50 kids attending his classes on any given day. Watching him teach and seeing the number of kids he was able to introduce to the game had a lasting impact on me. More than anything, he showed me that golf could be fun, welcoming and something kids wanted to be a part of.

That experience is a big part of why I am so passionate about growing the game and making golf inviting for kids of all ages and skill levels.

A Place for Young Golfers to Grow

The Futures Golf Academy started in 2024 with a vision from Dave Armstrong and Darryl Muldoon. They wanted to create more opportunities for junior golfers in Bella Vista and help grow the game within our community.

They brought the idea to PGA Professional Rion Summers and me, and we hit the ground running. With the help and support of other professionals in our community, including Alex Sanford and Megan Vaughn, the academy began to take shape.

Over the past two years, we have developed and offered a variety of programs, including Toddlers and Tees, Intro to Golf, Operation 36, High School Prep and PGA Jr. League. Through these programs, we have now had more than 100 kids participate in at least one Futures Academy program.

For me, that number is incredibly meaningful. Every child who comes through the program has a different story. Some are picking up a club for the first time, while others are already competing and dreaming about playing golf at the next level. Our goal is to create a place where all of them feel welcome.

But the Futures Academy is about more than simply teaching kids how to play golf.

We also want to support young golfers as they continue to develop. Through our ambassador program and scholarships, we have been able to provide financial support to junior golfers in our community.

Last year, we awarded $500 (ambassador funds) to Maddie Stokes, Tyler Walsted and Graci Weems to help support their golf endeavors. We also awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Teagen Muldoon as she continues her golf career at Henderson State University in Arkansas.

We will soon begin looking for our 2026 scholarship and ambassador candidates, and we are excited to continue supporting the next generation of golfers in our community.

Bringing the Mission to Life

On July 25, we hosted the first Futures Academy Invitational, and it was everything we hoped it would be.

The weather was perfect, the kids were smiling, and there was plenty of competitive golf throughout the day.

The league is made up of junior golfers ages 6–13. Some of these players picked up a club for the first time this year, while others have been playing since they were three years old. That is one of the things that makes PGA Jr. League so special. Kids with different levels of experience get the opportunity to learn, compete and grow together with a teammate.

We invited teams from Northwest Arkansas PGA Jr. League, including Bella Vista, Fayetteville, First Tee, Pinnacle, Shadow Valley and Springdale.

The Invitational was played over nine holes using a two-person scramble format. And no, not like the eggs!

In a scramble, both players hit a shot, the team chooses the best shot, and then both players play again from that spot. The process continues until the ball is in the hole. We counted the top three scores from each team, creating a fun format that encouraged teamwork, strategy and plenty of cheering for one another.

And the kids did not disappoint.

We saw some incredible shots, great teamwork and, most importantly, kids having fun competing with their friends.

The Results

Congratulations to Fayetteville Golf Club and Coach Noah Lopez on an incredible win.

Their lead team of Andrew Covert and Levi Nelms shot 2-under par on the day and helped lead Fayetteville to the championship.

More Than a Tournament

While the golf was certainly a big part of the day, the Invitational was about much more than keeping score.

Each player received breakfast to start the morning, a tournament gift and the opportunity to win some great raffle prizes. It was a chance for kids from across Northwest Arkansas to meet one another, compete together and enjoy a day centered around golf.

That is what we hope the Futures Academy can continue to provide.

We want kids to develop their golf games, but we also want them to build friendships, confidence, leadership skills and memories that stay with them long after they leave the course.

I am incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the Futures Academy Invitational possible. A special thank you to our sponsors and supporters: Dave Armstrong and The Futures Cup, Randi Roberts, Kelly, Maddie Delia Stokes, Open Arc Corporate Advisory, Gennie and Ed White, Rion Summers, and Friends of the Academy Lori Powell.

Without the support of our community, events like this would not be possible.

As I look back on the Invitational, I can't help but think about my first coach, Ralph. He taught me that junior golf doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes, it is about telling a good story, making a kid laugh, giving them something to remember and making them want to come back tomorrow.

That is what we are trying to build with the Futures Academy.

We want to introduce more kids to golf, give them a place to grow and hopefully create some of the same lifelong memories that I was fortunate enough to have growing up.

The Futures Academy is still just getting started, and I am excited to see where we can take it next.