Vol 64 Presents Colby Morris of the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation

May 14, 2024·30 min·2 clips

Colby Morris explains why the Payne Stewart Foundation isn't junior golf—it's 't-ball for golf' for 4-9 year olds.

Host Roe Thompson interviews Colby Morris, the Executive Director of the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation. This episode details the foundation's mission to introduce children to golf. Morris explains how his background in sports and youth ministry led him to this role. The foundation creates beginner golf experiences for kids aged four to nine, operating in gyms and on fields rather than traditional golf courses. It partners with organizations like YMCAs, churches, and schools, providing them with a turnkey package of curriculum, training, and specialized equipment. A key figure in its founding is Kelly McCammon, a Class A golf professional with 30 years of experience. The Stewart family granted permission to use Payne's name, image, and likeness to launch the foundation in 2020. The foundation's inaugural fundraising event, the Payne Stewart Invitational, was held at The Floridian in Florida and featured celebrities like Vince Carter. Currently, the program operates in over 20 states and three international locations through a partnership with the U.S. Air Force. The foundation anticipates 15,000 to 20,000 children will participate in its experiences this year. Morris emphasizes that the foundation aims to be a "feeder" program into established junior golf pathways like The First Tee or Operation 36. He shares that a common memory of Payne Stewart is his unique ability to make everyone feel like a best friend upon meeting him. A statue commemorating Stewart stands behind the 18th green at Pinehurst No. 2, where the 2024 U.S. Open will mark the 25th anniversary of his 1999 victory. The foundation's team includes Kennedy Meissner, a former golfer at Southern Methodist University, which was also Payne Stewart's alma mater. Morris clarifies that the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation is separate from the family's original Payne Stewart Family Foundation, which administers the PGA Tour's Payne Stewart Award. The tone is conversational and informative, focusing on grassroots growth and honoring a legacy. The style is interview-based, with the host asking direct questions to guide the narrative. Parents and youth sports organizers interested in accessible, character-based golf introduction for young children will find this episode valuable. Listeners seeking advanced junior golf instruction or professional swing tips might find the content too basic.

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