Growing the Future of Golf Through STEM Education

SiteOne Landscape Supply teamed up with Detroit based non-profit to provide hands-on industry experience to build their own courses

(ROSWELL, Ga.) – SiteOne Landscape Supply is proud to team up with Detroit-based non-profit, Hollywood Golf Institute, to positively impact the lives of nearly 30 students as they learn important STEM lessons related to golf course design. The students began their project work in January 2022 and put the final touches on their greens on May 14, 2022.

Founded by Selina Johnson, Hollywood Golf Institute’s mission is to teach children the fundamentals of the game. Johnson’s extensive industry experience has earned her prestigious awards, including the first African American woman to receive the prestigious Card Walker Award for outstanding contributions to junior golf. She’s also been awarded the first International Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame based in Detroit, Michigan and the African American Golfers’ Hall of Fame “West Palm Beach.” In 2021, Johnson expanded Hollywood Golf’s mission to include invaluable STEM lessons applicable to the sport.

“Detroit metropolitan area schools don’t offer golf course or agriculture science programs like they did years ago,” said Dawn Hicks, Detroit area business manager (southeastern Michigan) at SiteOne. “So after speaking with Selina and hearing her vision for the project, we jumped at the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the students of Hollywood Golf and influence the green industry with this STEM project.”

SiteOne organized sessions with its various business categories to talk with the students. In January, students met with SiteOne. They studied irrigation practices and discussed the evolving technology in smart controllers, spoke with the agronomics team to learn about turf seed and fertilizing practices, met with HR and marketing—all jobs that are required to either build or manage a course.

“Golf is inches, feet and yards, so not only is that part of how we layout a golf course, but it’s the fundamentals of math,” said Selina Johnson, Founder and Owner of Hollywood Golf Institute. “When we had SiteOne come and show the development of a course—moving tractors, laying out the water lines for an irritation system, the students got so excited. I am very grateful to SiteOne for their generous support of this program. With continued education and programs like this one, I see a bright future for students and the game I’m passionate about.”

“The partnership with SiteOne and Hollywood Golf is more than learning the game—it’s giving children life skills. Programs like this are vital to help children in our communities achieve their dreams,” said Hicks.

As the number one distributor in the nation, SiteOne is proud to partner with organizations committed to being a good neighbor in the communities they serve and making the green industry Stronger TogetherTM. Learn how to support Hollywood Golf Institute at HollywoodGolfIns.com.