It’s a beautiful day at First Tee – The Lowcountry’s Gumtree Road facility, and a young golfer, no older than seven, steps up to the tee. Keeping his instructor’s words in mind, he squares his shoulders, perfects his stance, and keeps his head down. Then, with all the energy that only a 7-year-old possesses, he whips his shoulders around in a wide arc, sending the ball flying—but also sending himself into a full 360-degree spin.
With saintlike patience, his instructor offers a gentle reminder:
“You swing the club, don’t let the club swing you.”
Building Character, One Swing at a Time
“That little guy will be a stellar athlete, you can tell already,” said his instructor, Trudy Backus, later on. “He will excel at a number of things, but he goes at things with abandon.”
As a volunteer coach at First Tee – The Lowcountry, Backus helps kids fine-tune their putting and chipping—admitting that her full swing is ‘a little inconsistent.’ But since she first volunteered in 2016, her role has extended far beyond golf instruction.
“What’s good about First Tee is we also talk to them about life values—courtesy, respect, responsibilities, sportsmanship, honesty—all of those kinds of things.”
Each session offers opportunities to recognize and reinforce these values, shaping young golfers into champions both on and off the course.
A Legacy of Mentorship
Backus fondly recalls a young girl she worked with from her first day at First Tee. Seven years later, that same girl stood as a standard bearer at the RBC Heritage presented by Boeing.
“She stuck with us for all those years, and I’m just very, very proud of her.”
And she’s not the only one. There are countless students Backus takes pride in, ever since she retired to South Carolina and dedicated herself to First Tee after a 41-year career in insurance.
“One cannot go there with either performance or behavioral expectations. One must go there just prepared to cheer the students’ successes.”
In doing so, Backus has found that students deeply appreciate the attention and the encouragement they receive to achieve their goals.
Recognizing a True Champion
At the Champions Banquet this past April, Backus received the Mike Davis Award, the highest volunteer honor within First Tee – The Lowcountry. But for her, the true reward has been the time spent giving back.
“I consider moving here the best decision of my life,” she said, “but volunteering here has made that best decision 100% better.”
Join Trudy Backus in Making a Difference
If you’re inspired by Trudy Backus’ story and want to make an impact, consider volunteering at First Tee – The Lowcountry!
📩 Contact: Executive Director Pat Zuk
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call: 843-686-2680