It was a beautiful sight to see. On Friday, April 5, it all went down at the Eastside Golf x Mercedes-Benz USA Community Golf Day (CGD) in Augusta. Picture this: a sunny Georgia day at Augusta Municipal Golf Course, packed with close to 300 folks from all walks of life, ready to tee off, have fun and celebrate golf’s power to bring people together.
Firstly, we have to give a big shoutout to our community partners – the Hornsby Middle School golf team, Paine College Women’s Golf and The First Tee of Augusta for bringing their A-game. Hornsby's squad, decked out in yellow (see picture above), brought some serious energy, while Paine College's coach, Andre Lacey, and The First Tee of Augusta crew added their own flavor to the mix.
The city of Augusta rolled out the red carpet and welcomed people with open arms. Mayor Garnett L. Johnson, local leaders, parents, kids, you name it – they were all there, showing love and support. Folks even traveled from as far as Atlanta, Houston and West Palm Beach to join the effort!
Special guest Jim Dent (pictured below, center, with Eastside founder Olajuwon Ajanaku, right, and CEO Earl Cooper, left), a legendary Hall of Fame Caddie and grandfather to Paine’s Coach Andre Lacey, added a touch of historical significance to the event, especially considering the entry road to the course was recently renamed Jim Dent Way. From start to finish, Community Golf Day was a straight up family affair.
Furthermore, there were tear-jerking moments. Local entrepreneur L.J. Brown couldn't hold back the waterworks as he left the event, overwhelmed by the level of excellence, care and camaraderie produced by Community Golf Day. When Eastside co-founder Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper gave Morehouse College Coach Edgar Evans a warm “welcome home brother,” the love was palpable.
“The Eastside Golf x Mercedes-Benz USA Community Golf Day embodied the essence of our vision – to make golf accessible to everyone,” says Cooper. “This signifies a shared commitment to the golfing community, empowering change and fostering a welcoming environment within the sport. Also, it’s a lot of fun to see golf making people happy.”
DJ Finesse kept the vibes just right, like a family cookout with a side of golf. And the crowd? It was a beautiful mix of young and old, seasoned pros, and first-timers, all coming together to celebrate the game we love.
But let's not forget about the real MVPs – the young people. These kids brought the heat with their energy, dance moves and incredible golf swings.
This event was all about showcasing excellence and making golf accessible to everyone. And huge props to Mercedes-Benz USA for being an exemplary sponsor, then going above and beyond getting their hands dirty onsite to make the event a success.
"We are proud to partner with Eastside Golf in this endeavor to drive positive change within the golfing community,” says Monique Harrison, Head of Brand Marketing at Mercedes-Benz USA. “Together, we aim to inspire individuals from all backgrounds to embrace the sport of golf and its values of camaraderie and sportsmanship."
It's proof that when people come together, magic happens and change is inspired.
About Community Golf Days
Community Golf Days, an initiative pioneered by Eastside Golf, aim to break down barriers to entry and make golf more accessible to individuals from all walks of life. The event promises an afternoon of fun-filled activities, including 9 holes of golf, elevated music and delectable treats from local food trucks, all completely free of charge.