When Onyx Magazine met up with Orlando dentist and golf mentor Dr. Tommy Dorsey, there were nine or ten children on hand at Orlando’s Callahan Center, perfecting their swings. Dr. Dorsey had his eye on each one. “All the way, turn your hip out of the way and let it go,” he calls out to one of his young proteges whose focus of the day was chipping skills. “Pull to the left, like a putt.”

For those of us unfamiliar with the game, the longtime Orlando resident attempts to offer Onyx Magazine readers the basic 411 of the sport. “You have to know how to putt, chip, pitch, come out of the bunker,” he begins, all the while intently watching his students. “You have to know how to hit the ball from a ‘teed-up’ position, unteed-up position...”

He abruptly trailed off to offer encouragement. “Good shot! Choke down on that lower part of the club, Danielle! Don’t flip the wrist. Keep the right wrist bent, and the left wrist straight. Push the hands forward to the left leg, and turn your body toward the target.” He intently watched her follow-through. “Good shot!”

Designed in cooperation with the City of Orlando Recreation Department, OMYGA, a 501(c)3, was established in 1991 to acquaint inner city and urban minority youth to the sport of golf. Through Dorsey’s program, minority and economically disadvantaged youth learn the rules, etiquette and history of golf. The program helps students improve their academic performance, encourage social development, and build self-esteem, character and confidence. Since its inception, OMYGA has enriched the lives of hundreds of children throughout Central Florida and reinforced strong value systems.

His pupils range in age from 5 to 18; but Dorsey notes that lately, more parents are finding themselves out on the course with their children, playing for the first time.

Students practice twice weekly at Callahan Center. The veteran students of Dorsey’s program play the Dubsdread Golf Course every Sunday. Says one parent, “They schedule every fourth Sunday off, but the die-hards come out anyway.”

Dorsey has produced more than his share of champions (see Robbie Biggers) who’ve had record-breaking and highly-decorated high school and college careers. And he plans to keep it that way. Says he about his commitment, “Golf can alter the gang mentality, the criminal mindset, and the rampant use of drugs for pleasure. Golf can bring discipline to the undisciplined.” He credits “TigerMania” for creating a healty surge of interest in the sport among young minority students.