Rosa Parks Inaugural Junior Golf Classic at Lagoon Park Golf Course
LEO Golf Academy and the Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church joined forces to host the Rosa Parks Inaugural Junior Golf Classic at Lagoon Park in December of 2023. Coach Quincy Leonard, the founder and director of LEO Golf Academy, has extensive experience coaching youth golf and was recently honored with induction into the 19th Annual African American Golfers Hall of Fame this past May.
“The team at Lagoon Park Golf Course is thrilled to host this junior golf tournament, which aligns perfectly with the celebration of Rosa Parks Day in Montgomery, Alabama. Not only does it provide us with an exceptional opportunity to honor Rosa Parks’ legacy in the very place where her courageous actions sparked a monumental movement, but we hope it inspires a young generation of golfers, instilling in them the values of the game and the courage, determination, and equality that Rosa Parks exemplified” commented, Shawn Freese, General Manager at Lagoon Park.
In a recent interview on WSFA 12 News, Rev. Doctor Agnes Love commented on the event with Leo, “In addition to the two events we are hosting on December 1st which is Rosa Parks Day, this year we are excited to add something new. We are partnering with LEO Academy and exposing our youth to golf.
Leo added, “We hope to accomplish just bringing new kids to the city of Montgomery. We’ll bring our old (golf) kids from the city obviously, but to be able bring new kids here and to share Ms. Rosa Park’s story and the history of Montgomery with people from afar.” He added, “We’re excited to introduce this history through the game of golf – introducing golf’s history, as well as our American history.”
Dr. Love added, “It is vital that we honor the legacy of Rosa Parks and there are so many gems in our history, and we learn from those gems. This is about an ordinary person doing extraordinary things and she (Rosa) has sparked our young people and adults in our community. We need equality, we need unity, especially in a time like this.”
Lagoon Park consistently serves as a venue for various junior golf events annually. Each year, the facility hosts between 4 to 6 tournaments organized by the Alabama Junior Golf Association (AJGO) and US Kids Golf, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to supporting young golfers and their development in the sport. The facility also offers the First Green events in partnership with the city schools’ STEM programs, hosting more than 150 6th graders and will be hosting the National Negro Golf Association Golf Tournament in May 2024.
About Lagoon Park Golf Course:
Located in the heart of Montgomery, Alabama, Lagoon Park is an 18-hole Parkland-style golf course and is a favorite among local residents and visitors. The golf course features Tif Dwarf Bermuda greens and beautifully manicured fairways lined with towering hardwoods, flowering dogwoods and California raindrop trees. It has been nationally recognized by Golf Digest’s Places to Play, as well as hosted the annual Capital City Golf Classic. The city-owned golf course is part of a multi-purpose sports facility complete with a softball complex and tennis center.
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