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Pensacola's Oyola Golf Course celebrating a century of birdies, bogeies, and lifelong memories. In this week's Amazing America 250, Laura Hussley headed to the course and learned its biggest impact may have nothing to do with golf. Ryan Maddox first played Oyola Golf Course as a 10-year-old, already showing competitive promise. Now as course manager, his biggest thrill is seeing young people discover the game just like he did. There's a good one. Tucker Henson and his dad Josh exemplify what Oyola is all about. Creating memories with family and friends, keeping golf affordable and accessible for everyone and forming bonds in the community. As a city municipal, we can give back to
the community in different ways. uh because we're not a private entity trying to look for u a profit. So we could have new golfers out here, young golfers out here trying to expose them to the game and then hopefully creating a future customer for generations to come. In 1926, just a few years before this photo was taken, Oyola opened as a public course. There were nine holes and a round of golf cost a dollar. Today, the hundred acres of greens and trees tucked away off of Mobile Highway still lures golfers from near and far. And all of them seem to have a story, including parks and recreation director Tanya Bird.
I learned how to play here. Um, Adrien Stills gave me my first lessons. So, I think that was probably back in 2021. So, he probably taught my son before he taught me. So, you're on the pro tour now? No, not going on pro tour. For Bird and Maddox, golf at Oyola is more than a game. It's an outreach. Through a program called First Tea and a close partnership with neighboring Sherwood Elementary, they teach golf skills to kids who might not otherwise step on the green with a few life lessons thrown in. The game of golf is a delayed gratification game. It is delayed gratification. You're not going to come out here and be good at it right away.
You're going to take time to build skills. And I think in our younger generations coming up, we have to teach delayed gratification more so they can see the long-term deal. During the 100th anniversary celebration this weekend, Forsomes can hit the links for $100, including cart. Maddox hopes the occasion will make lots more people aware of Oyola Golf Course and the rewards of the game that go way beyond the scorecard. So, you're using a sport that I love to do and you're using that sport to build relationships with people and put people in positions to be successful. Not only just in golf, golf is golf is the avenue, but golf allows
people to come together and but it builds relationships with people, people with people. And that's what this is all about. It's what our world's all about. Anyway, on Oyola Golf Course in amazing America, Laura Hussy, W News.
