The Swing Foreward Foundation is dedicated to breaking down barriers in the game of golf, providing opportunities and resources to under-resourced communities.
Our mission is simple: to make golf accessible for all, regardless of financial background, and to nurture the next generation of golfers by offering support to our youth, elite juniors, and aspiring professionals.
We believe golf is more than just a game—it’s a platform for growth, personal development, and community building. Through our targeted programs, we aim to transform lives, one swing at a time.
Our vision is to create a more inclusive and diverse future for golf, where talent and passion, not financial background, determine who succeeds. By providing junior golfers, professional golfers, and youth from under-resourced communities with access to the game and the resources they need, we aim to enrich lives, promote diversity within the sport, and inspire a new generation of golfers.
— David Feherty
Like many young African American kids growing up in the 60s and 70s, the popular sports were football, basketball, baseball, and track. So quite naturally, those were the typical sports Earnest participated in as a child through his college years. No one he knew talked about golf. No one he knew played golf. If the sport of golf was even mentioned, it was thought to be extremely boring and for the “white community,” not people of color. That was understandable because there was very little if any representation in the sport.
In the early 1990s, that all changed. Earnest began his courtship with the game of golf. It started when one of his clients who happened to be African American, and a passionate golfer, invited him to play golf after a meeting in Washington D.C. Earnest was not interested, but the client kept pressuring him with comments like, “I bet you can’t even hit the ball.” Earnest, unable to pass on a challenge, especially one as easy as hitting a ball sitting still, happily accepted. How hard could it be, he asked himself. He played baseball in his early years, and had hit baseballs coming toward him at 70 mph. Let’s just say, there were a lot of laughs that day at Earnest’s expense.
The game of golf looks a lot easier than it is! With that first exposure, he was hooked. His competitive nature would not allow him to be beat by the game. So, started the relationship of golf and golfer. Victory and defeat. The greens and sand traps. Hole-in-one and the water!
This relational journey has taught invaluable lessons about dedication, perseverance, and the power of self-confidence. This journey has fostered a source of joy, fulfillment, passion, as well as a community of life-long friends and colleagues that support and inspire him and business associates as well. There is a lot to be learned and gained on a golf course.
As this loving relationship continues, there is a desire, or more of a commitment and calling to share the magic of this sport with young African Americans who are simply unexposed to this amazing sport called golf. To not only make them aware, but provide an opportunity to participate and excel, to master this sport and become a pro. This opportunity is not limited to the beginner, but to those at any stage of their journey who have dreams of the PGA or LPGA, or just the occasional fellowshipping and playing with friends on the weekend. And not just to playing the sport but learning the business of the sport and what it has to offer.
Join us in breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for under-resourced communities. Your donation helps us provide coaching, resources, and support to aspiring golfers at every level. Together, we can swing the game forward and make a lasting impact.
Introducing young players to the fundamentals of the game while fostering confidence, discipline, and teamwork.
Guiding the next generation of golfers with structured training, mentorship, and competitive opportunities.
Supporting emerging talent with the resources and guidance they need to succeed at the highest levels.