University of Tennessee Athletics
Building a Volunteer Legacy
March 11, 2017 | Women's Golf
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee women’s golf team has had its share of success on and off the course (making 24 consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, qualifying for back-to-back NCAA Championship tournaments and consistently placing players on the WGCA Academic All-American list), but the team's legacy is not just found in the record books. The Volunteers are making a lasting impact in the community as well.
Whether it is exchanging letters with youth in the surrounding cities or teaching female MBA candidates the basics on the course, Head Coach Judi Pavon knows how important it is to give back to Vol Nation and provide a positive influence.
“Tennessee fans are so loyal to the University and all sports, not just the big ones,” Pavon said. “So, I’ve always placed a high importance on giving back to the community.”
The MBA Grads to Golf program, established by UT alumna Janet L. McKinley, promotes an interest in golf among National Association of Women Master of Business Administration student members through golf lessons, tournaments and events, speakers, and young professional membership in the Executive Women’s Golf Association.
With the game serving as an equalizer in the work place, the goal of the program is to help women open doors, meet colleagues and work associates, and allow them to conduct business with clients and customers outside of the office.
“It’s such a rewarding program because the women that we help are so grateful,” Pavon said. “I’ve even bumped into a few after they finish the program and they tell me how nice it is to be able to compete in scrambles with colleagues.”
In addition to impacting the community and individuals, members of the golf team also feel the effects of their community service. Take senior and Knoxville native Teleri Hughes for example.
“Out of all the service projects we’ve done, my favorite is our pen pal exchange with third graders in Sevierville,” Hughes said. “We swap monthly letters with two or three pen pals each year.”
“I got to meet one of my pals for the first time, Anna, and it was so incredible to see how excited she was to meet me. We shared so many of the same interests and it was special to see how my letters to her were serving as a positive influence.”
Another initiative Hughes, her teammates and the men's golf team are involved with includes The First Tee of Greater Knoxville. At the Williams Creek Golf Course (the Wee Course), Tennessee golfers teach lessons to and build relationships with children who are members of The First Tee. In addition to teaching the fundamentals of golf, the program shows kids how some of the lessons of the game, such as patience and integrity, can be applied off the course.
“It's always so rewarding seeing the kids light up and want all the advice you can give them,” Hughes added. “I love that both our men's and women's teams can work together to positively impact their lives and also help grow the game of golf. We hope that we were able to inspire them to keep playing and have fun along the way.”
Although the Vols compete in two more tournaments in March, the 3M Augusta Invitational (3/17-3/19) and the Clemson Invitational (3/31-4/2), before preparations for the SEC Championship in Birmingham, Ala. (4/21-4/23) begin; the team hopes to stay involved within the community.
“We focus a lot of energy on golf because so many people in our area play the game. It’s great to be able to reach them that way," Pavon said. “However, we love to be involved in any way that we can.”
For the most up-to-date information about the Tennessee women's golf team, visit UTSports.com/w-golf, follow @Vol_WGolf on Twitter and like the Vols at Facebook.com/VolWomensGolf.
