The Midnight Golf Program (MGP), a transformative after-school experience that has quietly been shaping the futures of Detroit youth since 2001. Over 30 weeks each school year, the program brings together 250 high school seniors in two separate cohorts. Each group meets twice a week—either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday—for evenings that combine mentorship, college preparation, life skills, and golf instruction.
It’s a holistic model that yields measurable results—and inspires deeper conversations about what it truly takes for young people to thrive.
The Problem: A Gap in Support for Detroit’s Young People
Detroit has long faced systemic barriers in education, opportunity, and access to resources. Public high school students often navigate under-resourced schools, limited college guidance, and few structured after-school options. In the early 2000s, community leader Reneé Fluker recognized the need for something different—something that extended beyond the classroom.
Her inspiration came from her son Jason, who had taken up golf as a teen. The sport gave him discipline and access to new networks. More importantly, he found mentors who believed in him. Fluker saw the potential for that experience to grow into something much larger.
“We were watching kids fall through the cracks,” she said in a past interview. “So we created something that would catch them.”
The Response: Golf, Guidance, and a Village of Mentors
Every year, MGP accepts 250 high school seniors from across the Detroit metro area. The program runs from October through May, roughly 30 weeks. Students are split into two cohorts, attending sessions either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday.
Each evening begins with a “topic of the day”—a practical life lesson, such as applying for financial aid, choosing the right college, managing stress, or understanding credit scores. After a shared dinner, the students break into two groups. One goes to golf instruction, learning swing mechanics and etiquette. The other heads to “tee time,” where students and mentors reflect on the evening’s topic in a group setting. Midway through, they swap.
“It’s not just about golf—it’s structure, therapy, exposure, and real talk,” said Delshawn Fowler, an Alumni participant “We’re learning how to be adults, how to carry ourselves, how to make decisions.”
Golf, which is not the main focus, plays a unique role. For many students, it’s their first exposure to a traditionally exclusive sport. More than physical activity, it becomes a metaphor for life: patience, integrity, and focus are skills that apply on and off the green.
Mentorship That Lasts Beyond Graduation
What makes MGP stand out isn’t just its curriculum—it’s the depth of its mentoring model. Each student is paired with a mentor who remains in their life long after the program concludes.
‘’MGP is a family that provides support, love, and guidance. They have allowed me to grow, learn, and have nourished me to becoming the best version of myself to make a positive impact on the world.”- Abel Marquez MGP 2025 attending Michigan State University.
Mentors include educators, business professionals, retirees, and other alums. They serve as tutors, coaches, and surrogate family members.
“It’s a village,” said Winston Coffee, a mentor for over ten years. “When you give a young person structure, consistency, and someone who believes in them, they’ll rise. Detroit youth aren’t broken—they’re brilliant. They just need investment.”
Impact: What the Numbers Say
Midnight Golf has the data to back up its reputation:
● 91% of participants enroll in college or skilled trades after high school ● 85% persist past their first year
● More than $4 million in scholarships have been awarded to students through MGP’s support
● Alumni have gone on to careers in education, business, health care, engineering, and more
And it doesn’t stop at college. MGP helps students prepare for a weeklong spring college tour across multiple states. They practice interview skills, write personal statements, and navigate scholarship applications. Some students receive their first college acceptance letters while on the trip.
Limitations: Demand Outpaces Capacity
Despite its success, MGP faces real constraints.
“We get over 700 applications a year,” Coffee said. “We can only take about 250. That’s hundreds of kids we have to turn away.”
Transportation remains a hurdle. While MGP provides some buses, many students commute long distances, sometimes over an hour each way.
“If you don’t have a ride, you miss out,” he added. “And that’s not right.”
Funding is another challenge. The program relies on grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. Expanded transportation infrastructure remains a top goal for the future.
Insights: What This Program Teaches Us
Midnight Golf is not a miracle cure—but it’s a compelling case study of in what happens when young people are supported holistically. It’s a program grounded in relationships, sustained by community, and focused on empowerment.
Its success suggests a broader truth: academic achievement can’t be separated from emotional stability, personal confidence, and consistent adult guidance.
“It’s about giving kids the tools to build their own future,” Fluker said. “And making sure they know we’ll be cheering for them every step of the way.”
Malik Singleton is a Masters of Arts student at Columbia College Chicago.
Malik was member of the Solutions Journalism class taught by Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin, Professor in the School of Communication and Culture at Columbia College Chicago.
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