The Black Caddie Academy

The Black Caddie Academy is a faith-based youth development program that uses golf, mentorship, gamification, and technology to empower teens with learning disabilities.

We serve students ages 13–18, especially those in foster care, alternative education settings, or who have been labeled “at risk.” Many of our youth struggle with learning challenges such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and emotional regulation. Our mission is to help them transform their struggles into strengths by learning the skills to become certified golf caddies and confident, capable leaders in their communities.

Why Golf?

Golf is more than a game, it’s a discipline that builds patience, focus, responsibility, and integrity. But we don’t just teach our students how to play. We teach them how to serve. Every caddie learns how to read the course, manage the weather, offer strategy, and build trust with players. These are skills that directly translate into real-life growth: emotional control, communication, and professionalism.

We chose the caddie role because it puts our youth in a position of responsibility. They’re not just watching, they’re working. And most importantly, they’re learning how to show up in life, not just on the course.

How We’re Tackling Learning Disabilities

In Texas, over 1 in 5 students struggle with a learning difference, and many go undiagnosed, unsupported, or underserved. The traditional classroom often leaves these students behind. Our approach combines:

• Golf Instruction with purpose-driven life coaching

• Gamified Learning to make academic support interactive and engaging

• Technology that adapts to how each student learns

• Mentorship rooted in faith, trust, and lived experience

We’re currently developing an AI-powered learning platform that personalizes instruction based on how each student processes information. Whether a teen struggles with numbers (dyscalculia), handwriting (dysgraphia), or reading (dyslexia), our system will adapt the content using visuals, narration, repetition, and hands-on interaction making learning feel like a game, not a punishment.

This app includes:

• Avatar customization for engagement

• Token-based rewards to incentivize learning

• Real-time content pulled from the internet to keep things relevant

• Multilingual options so families can choose their preferred language

• A backend system that notifies parents when milestones are reached

• Career badges for achievements in caddying, financial literacy, emotional growth, and leadership

Our Vision is Present—Not Future

We’re training students to become golf caddies, preparing them for real opportunities at local golf courses. Our youth learn how to:

• Manage a golf bag

• Read greens and weather conditions

• Communicate clearly and respectfully with golfers

• Show leadership and professionalism at every hole

Each teen walks away with more than just a skill; they leave with confidence, pride, and purpose. They also gain mentorship from adults who believe in them, many of whom are former caddies themselves.

We're expanding to public libraries, school gyms, and community centers, meeting students where they are to provide access to education through golf and gamified learning.

The Legacy of Black Caddies

Our program is rooted in history. For decades, Black caddies were the silent strategists behind the world’s best golfers. They were guides, mentors, and unspoken masters of the game; yet too often forgotten. The Black Caddie Academy honors that legacy by bringing it forward, creating new opportunities for this generation to reclaim the role of leadership and excellence.

We also teach this history to our students so they know they stand on the shoulders of greatness, even if no one else told them.

How You Can Help

Your donation to The Black Caddie Academy helps us:

• Expand to more cities across Texas

• Launch our gamified learning app in 2025

• Train more students as certified golf caddies

• Offer transportation, meals, and mentorship to underserved youth

• Equip students with gear, tech tools, and life coaching

You’re not just donating to a program; you’re investing in a young person who may have been ignored, dismissed, or failed by the system. With your support, we’re turning those same kids into leaders, learners, and lights in their communities.

One swing. One lesson. One child at a time. We are driving innovation through the game of golf.