LEWISTON, N.Y. — The Jim Horne Golf Foundation teed off on its sixth annual Scholarship Golf Tournament on Wednesday, with its mission to bring the sport to underprivileged kids and communities.
The University at Buffalo basketball record-holder, former Harlem Globetrotter, and Buffalo Sports Hall of Famer Jim Horne now uses his time to give back to the underserved communities of Western New York, including raising money for future endeavors at Wednesday’s event at Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course.
“The purpose of this is to provide golf to young people, particularly minority students because it's not available,” he said.
Horne has been providing free golf lessons, equipment, and facility access through his foundation for over 25 years. Over that time, he has helped students get to college and taught them lessons on and off the course.
Horne said he hasn’t “failed yet.”
“A lot of the graduates through his program have been successful in their general life, they’re executives of businesses, a lot of them go on to college on scholarship,” said deputy executive director of the Jim Horne Foundation, James Cunningham.
The funds raised through Wednesday’s tournament will be used for clubs, golf balls, facilities, and whatever else kids need to succeed in golf.
“Kids want to hit two or three buckets … and I don’t want to tell them no,” Horne said.
His impact is not lost on the students he teaches. North Tonawanda’s Sebastian Vitale was in Horne’s golf program for eight years and said Horne’s lessons have influenced his life.
“He’s a mentor to me, he's taught me everything. He shows me discipline, he shows to have a great strong work ethic and I think I apply that to whatever I do wherever I go,” Vitale said.
It is a similar message seen from many of his students.
“He’s taught me a lot about discipline and morality through golf, working on myself better, benefitting myself through discipline,” student Gyan Wiggins said.
“He’s had a huge influence on how my demeanor is and how respectful I can be around others,” added student Jonathan Evans.
Horne’s teaching approach is stern, but “all love,” former student Jordyn Sims said.
Added Horne: “I make sure they're there to learn how to play golf and not to fight. After a period of time they begin to enjoy the game of golf so therefore it eliminates all the hostility they have."
Sims is a former student and college golfer who has experienced Horne’s teaching firsthand. She said he is “such a special person.”
“He just wants to see you be the best version of yourself,” she added.
Ron Langhorne started in Horne’s golf program when he was 10 years old. Now over 20 years later, Langhorne is a golf coach and named as a PGA Reach WNY Fairway Futures Trustee.
“I wouldn’t be who I am or where I’m at if it wasn’t for Jim Horne. He's got me started, he’s my role model, he played a role of a grandfather to me, he’s the epitome of success,” he said.
Langhorne uses Horne’s lessons to continue Horne’s legacy as a golf coach at First Tee Western NY. The youth development organization is aimed at building character and teaching life skills through golf.
“Bringing golf to Buffalo like never before and picking up the torch and keeping it going,” he said.
The Jim Horne Golf Foundation breaks through barriers of entry that prevent minorities from playing and accessing the sport.
“We’re all the same when we’re on the course,” Langhorne said.