By: Golf.com | Duration: 00:12:22
Video Description
At Cedar Creek Corrections Center in Washington, golf has become more than a game, it’s a second chance.
Inside this minimum-security prison, superintendent Tim Thrasher started the Cedar Creek Golf Club: a program that teaches inmates patience, discipline, and respect through golf.
Every Wednesday night, 12 men pick up borrowed clubs, hit foam balls across a makeshift range, and talk about the same things golfers talk about anywhere — good shots, bad shots, and what’s next.
In this GOLF Magazine Original, meet Nico, Tejuan, and Rodron, three inmates whose time in the program has changed how they see themselves and the world outside. And follow their first-ever trip beyond the prison walls to play a real round at The Home Course.
Full Written Story by Nick Piastowski here: https://www.golf.com/news/i-golfing-prison-second-chance/
Want to donate any clubs or equipment to Cedar Creek Corrections Center? Please email nick.piastowski@golf.com for more information!
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Hi, again! This is Nick, the narrator. I'll be hanging out in the comment section today, if anyone wants to reach out. I also wanted to share an update. Yesterday afternoon, after the video and story published, I talked with Tim Thrasher, the superintendent. He said that Tejuan and his therapist were called to Thrasher's office to watch the video. After a few minutes, Tejuan started to tear up. Afterward, the therapist told Thrasher that the story and video were why the therapist went into his line of work.
Criminals integrating back into society with golf
Society becoming criminals learning how to swing and hit the ball correctly while screaming profanities and usingthe clubs as projectiles .😂
Brah if I could golf in the joint I may start breaking some laws FO REAL🤣
Any of them ever get to cleveland would happily take them out to a metroparks course for a round
Great story. I think golf changes people and looks like these men have allowed it to
I hope these guys continue to play when they get out, and it gives them something to work at. Something positive to spend their time doing. I wish all of them well, and props to Mr Thrasher for giving them an outlet.
Most prisoners will one day be released into society. Do we want these people coming out angry and bitter and therefore a danger to society? Or do we want to help them improve themselves and give them support so that when they do come out, they can be productive members of society and changed for the better? The old way of prison has a high return rates, so it clearly is not working. I’m all for these new ideas. Yes, you have to pay your debt to society for your crimes, but treating people like caged animals only makes them more angry and dangerous.
I respect what they are doing there to help those who would have never played golf experience what it is like to judge yourself & only yourself when its you and the ball on the ground
Man did this warm my heart. I just got hooked on golf and it's taught me how to learn again, and love learning. How to focus on a goal, how to study and not hate it. I hope the best for all of these men.
With prison golf, it gives a profound double meaning to “I got it in the hole after three attempts”.
When I first opened this video I thought it was a crazy idea. By the end I think its great rehabilitation. Having facilities like this available, especially for the last couple years of a long sentence is an excellent idea.
Fuq these a’holes. It’s prison, not romper room.
American jail and prison systems are not about rehabilitation, and making the people who have committed crimes into to better people. It is a business. This is an outlier. Not going to lie, golf makes me angry a lot of times even though I love the sport. Was worried about convicted felonies after a bad shot like me lmao. This is a beautiful program. I wish they can all play together again after their sentence
this is why ive always believed everyone deserves a second chance
A sport to make them even more frustrated 😆
Heard membership has a high price
Wholesome, shout out to the golf course that let them on
I am the Nico of the bunch- a total beginner but happy to be out swinging the clubs with the group. He’s got a better attitude when he shanks one though. This was a very cool story. Great job and a great program.
Props to Thrasher for giving these men something positive to work on after they have done their time. Good luck to the guys on their golf journey because it will be a lifetime of tinkering the golf swing lol.
What do they need there?
I love golf so much that I’m watching this makes me feel like I wanna try to play golf in jail!
Hey, I participated in the program and now am enjoying life after Cedar Creek. Thank you Thrasher and the staff.
If there is any better deterrance against going back to crime and jail than knowing you won't be able to play golf for years if you do I don't know what it is. (only semi-joking)
…this is one of them vids I wish I could give a 2x or super-like to. Genuinely fucking beautiful.
I have experience in both prison as well as golf. I was a natural athlete growing up and played soccer, football, basketball and just about every other sport. At the age of 17 I found golf and got really good really quick. As soon as I learned how to get a golf ball off the ground I was addicted. There was a lighted golf course in my town and I got a job there soon after. For me I found the short game was the most satisfying and my favorite part of the game to practice. Though I did practice plenty on my long game I practiced a lot on my short game. There was something about watching the ball get on the green and do different things whether I hit it high, low or with spin whatever and the ball would end up in the same spot. With that came I now understood I didn't have to hit it all that great but could still score and beat other people. I instantly knew this was the part of the game I needed to be very good at and that it could make or break everything. Whether you hit the ball 320 yards or 200 yards it was still possible to win or lose because the ball wasn't in the hole until it was. I became a two handicap within two years of making my first swing. I continued the game and was scratch soon after. I was quickly playing and beating players who had alot more "experience". I grew up in a college town and enjoyed the party life as well during this time. At the age of 21 because of drinking and driving I was the cause of a very bad car wreck. I almost killed two other people including my brother plus myself. Thankfully nobody died and everybody made a full recovery. As a result of my actions I was charged with DUI serious bodily injury and ended up in prison for 18 months followed by 36 months of probation. After my 18 months in prison I attended a college where I received a degree in golf operations and management and graduated class valedictorian. I got 3 months away from completing probation before I violated my probation for a possession charge. I was always extremely hard-headed and determined in success but also failure for reasons I still have a hard time explaining or even understanding myself. For some reason I understood the importance of short game in golf but not the long game in life and I ended up back in prison for another 19 months but this time was just so depressing and I felt like such a failure. After I was released for the second time I got a job in the golf industry and have enjoyed the opportunity to work in such an environment and meet some very successful people. I've had many opportunities in life with no two more important than first the fact I was somehow led to such a great game with the ability to recognize the many aspects and understand the importance of having at least a lot of one and a little of each and if I didn't I would fail but also the opportunity to go to prison and see the result of not practicing the whole game through and through.
I absolutely love how the guard detail interacted with this. Their fits are perfectly & beautifully hideous. They even did some caddie detail… huge. Brilliant all around: as a Washingtonian, I fully agree with the aims— and am loving the results— of this allocation of my tax expenditure.
love to see this
What an inspirational story this is.
I love this so much. As an avid golfer I would love to help anyway I can! Please reach out and let me know what I can do to!
i am 4 years sober and crime free nå, golf was a huge part of that happening 🙂