Early in 2011, I walked into Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital for the very first time. I was going there to meet with Janine Roe to discuss this crazy idea I had. The crazy idea was to create a year-round, weekly junior golf clinic for medically complex children in a pediatric hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Sounds easy, right? Our meeting could not have gone any better and it quickly went from a discussion of "what" to figuring out "how" and "when." The end result of that meeting was what would soon turn into our weekly golf clinics at Ranken Jordan with the first of those being eight years ago today -- May 10, 2011. Fast forward through eight years, more than 425 junior golf clinics, and more than 3,500 children, and here we are celebrating our eight year anniversary!
I cannot put into words how grateful and appreciate I am for the trust Janine and the entire staff at Ranken Jordan have placed in me to allow me to spend time every week with the kids. They are truly special people doing miraculous work each and every day. The amazing advances being made every day in medicine and health care to provide more healing and more hope to more children and more families, would not be nearly as successful without each and every one of the people who pour their hearts into their work at Ranken Jordan.
After I left that initial meeting with Janine, I knew exactly what I wanted to do, but as I referenced in the opening paragraph, I had no idea how I was going to do it. Before pulling out of the parking lot I called Josh Riley, PGA, who at the time was the Gateway PGA Executive Director. For those who have not had the pleasure of meeting him, Josh is one of the greatest, most polite people you will ever meet, and he was in full support of this crazy idea to teach medically complex children in a hospital how to play golf. Following our phone call, Josh discussed the idea with the Gateway PGA Foundation president, Ozzie Smith, who was all in for providing support. Their kindness and support made this program possible and for that I will always be grateful.
While driving home following the initial meeting with Janine, I stopped at Barnes-Jewish Hospital to have one more conversation about the junior golf program we were getting ready to start. My mother was in the final weeks of her fight with cancer (she would ultimately lose her fight on March 8, 2011) and her most recent chemotherapy treatment had caused her to be hospitalized and unable to talk. When I explained to her and my dad what we were getting ready to do, I saw that familiar sparkle in her eyes that had been missing for so long, and I knew she was proud of her little boy. I hope she has enjoyed watching the last eight years of weekly junior golf clinics from her view from above as much as I have enjoyed helping with them, and I hope she is as ready for more as we are!
Looking back at the eight years of junior golf clinics, it is impossible for me to say thank you to each and every person who has contributed without leaving out someone (or many people). The staff and volunteers at Ranken Jordan, supporters of Ranken Jordan, the Gateway PGA Section and PGA REACH, fellow PGA Professionals, LPGA Professionals, U.S. Kids Golf, PGA of America staff members, my friends and family, and so many more, have all been instrumental in the success of the junior golf program. Most importantly I want to say thank you to each and every one of the children and their families for allowing me to spend time with them. They are the true reasons why we have enjoyed eight years and are looking forward to so many more. As Mary Ranken Jordan said, "consider the children first in all you do."
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