Golf Provides Supportive Environment

This week I’ve been on a vacation of sorts in Ormond Beach, Florida with my mom, Pam. It’s our first trip out of town together, san the kiddos, since before they were born, 10 years ago. While we’ve been away, I’ve met a lot of really great people, including one in particular, Miguel Eugenio Collado, the proud father of three, including UCF Sophomore, Ana Laura Collado. Mr. Collado is completing his third year of a three year term on the Executive Committee for the Mexican Golf Federation where he serves as the National Youth Children Committee counselor, advocate and leader. What was most inspiring about getting to know Miguel over about four hours was his personal story with the game of golf. His oldest of three children, now 23, came to him at the age of 7 declaring he wanted to play golf. Dad, immediately concerned, because he had never played or been around the sport, was taken back by his young son’s maturity in stating, dad don’t worry about it, I’m going to figure it out. Miguel quickly realized that if he son had fallen in love with an activity, he wanted to be involved, to be able to understand the game and support his son’s endeavors. Now, three golfing children later, Mr. Collado still does not play the sport, but is deeply rooted in the game. Getting involved in the golf world in Mexico while his children were still young school age, Miguel saw something different about the sport. Everyone he met was welcoming, encouraging and positive role models. He truly loved what he was seeing about the people that played the sport and recognized he was an environment he wanted his children to grow up in. So, he began to get involved himself. Encouraging more families across Mexico to play the game, showing them the opportunities their children could gain by playing golf and coming to the United States for college. Paths that lead him to his current role with the Mexican Golf Federation. A volunteer role which keeps him incredibly busy traveling across Mexico, mentoring his representatives in each state, four times a year, and working with families to help them along their path. When you talk to Miguel about golf in Mexico, he truly lights up, expressing the positive impact the sport is having on the country and his family. He doesn’t speak about revenue or tourist impact, only about the Core Values he sees kids and families learning and applying through the sport. A pretty cool story to sit back and listen to from a man so far away from a local chapter of The First Tee. A family man who has seen the sport naturally make a positive impact on so many families and who is driven to keep progressing the game in the Mexican culture. I didn’t know I would meet Miguel Eugenio Collado during my vacation, but I’m sure glad I did! And, maybe, you’ll have the chance to meet him too, he hopes in the coming years his daughter will be eligible to play in the North and South Women’s Amateur right here in Pinehurst.