How Passing the Torch Truly Began
Passing the Tee was shaped by two defining moments in Camden’s early golf journey. These moments revealed both the absence and the power of legacy.
The Question That Started It All
At just five years old, Camden attended the US Kids Golf World Championship for the first time. As part of the experience, golfers participated in the Parade of Nations, a beautiful display of children from across the world proudly representing their countries and cultures.
Camden watched in awe as kids from nearly every background walked by, flags held high and identities on full display. Then he turned to his dad and asked a simple yet heartbreaking question:
"Where are the kids who look like me?"
In that moment, it became clear that while golf claimed to be global, it did not yet reflect Black presence in a way a child could see, feel, or recognize as belonging. The absence was not unnoticed by him and it could not be ignored by his father.
Determined that Camden would never feel isolated in a space that he loved, his dad organized a golf meetup at the World Championships the following two years. He intentionally gathered Black junior golfers and families together so Camden could see his community, stand beside them, and know that he was not alone in this sport.
That act was not just about comfort. It was about visibility. It was about saying you belong here too.
The Shot That Awakened Purpose
Years later, Camden was invited to hit the ceremonial tee shot at the Tup Holmes 70th Anniversary Celebration. This event honored one of the men who fought tirelessly for Black golfers to even have access to the game.
Standing on that tee box, surrounded by history, Camden realized something deeper than competition or achievement. He understood that his ability to play freely today came at the cost of someone else’s struggle yesterday.
This moment shifted his perspective. He recognized that his journey was not just personal. It was tied to a lineage of resilience, courage, and trailblazing. He began to carry a new awareness that it was his responsibility to honor those who came before him and to make sure other kids knew the history that is too often forgotten.
From Experience to Foundation
These two moments, one rooted in absence and the other in remembrance, became the emotional and structural foundation for The Legacy Circle.
Where there was once a question of belonging, there now became a mission of connection. Where there was once a moment of reflection, there now grew a commitment to preservation and education.
The Legacy Circle was born to ensure that no Black child who plays golf ever has to wonder if they belong. It was created so that history would not fade into the background but instead live loudly in the hearts of the next generation.
This is not just about creating better golfers. It is about shaping young people who understand that their presence is powerful, their identity is sacred, and their place in this sport is earned through legacy and defended through unity.
Why “Passing the Tee”?
Where there was once a question of belonging, there now became a mission of connection. Where there was once a moment of reflection, there now grew a commitment to preservation and education.
The Legacy Circle was born to ensure that no Black child who plays golf ever has to wonder if they belong. It was created so that history would not fade into the background but instead live loudly in the hearts of the next generation.
This is not just about creating better golfers. It is about shaping young people who understand that their presence is powerful, their identity is sacred, and their place in this sport is earned through legacy and defended through unity.The tee represents the beginning of every shot. Passing it forward represents responsibility, wisdom, visibility, and care.
But it also holds a deeper meaning. The physical act of passing a tee from one hand to another becomes a quiet but powerful symbol. It represents one generation entrusting the next with more than just the game. It represents a moment of connection where knowledge, opportunity, history, and love are intentionally placed into the hands of a child.
When a tee is passed, it is not just an object being shared. It is a moment of affirmation that says, this game is yours too. It is a reminder that what was once denied is now being protected and expanded. It is proof that legacy is not only spoken but physically carried forward.
Passing the Tee is about continuing what was started long before Camden picked up a club. It is about honoring those who opened doors and ensuring that future generations walk through them with confidence, awareness, and pride.
Legacy is not something we inherit quietly. It is something we carry boldly.
The Vision Ahead
Our vision is to build spaces where young Black golfers no longer question their presence but stand confidently in it. Spaces where community feels natural, history feels alive, and the future feels protected.
The Legacy Circle is not just a response to the past. It is an investment in what is still to come.
Passing the Tee is not a moment. It is a movement. It is a promise.