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Help Us GolfGolf for every kind of mind

About Help Us Golf

A way into the game, built by someone who found his own.

Our mission is simple: give young people on the autism spectrum a welcoming, patient path into golf, and a community to keep playing with once they’re hooked.

Jarrad Kogos at TPC Sawgrass beside his golf cart and his puzzle-tile golf bag

Jarrad’s story

Jarrad Kogos fell for golf watching Tiger Woods win THE PLAYERS in 2001, a few miles from where he grew up. Soon after, he went out for the Fletcher High School golf team.

Jarrad was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, when he was 12. He is also a brain cancer survivor. Through all of it, golf was where things made sense: a quiet course, clear steps, and people who were happy to play alongside him. When the team at TPC Sawgrass met him in 2008, during his recovery, they gave him a golf cart to help with his balance so he could keep playing.

In 2009 he founded Help Us Golf so kids like him would have the same way in. He has coached with the Special Olympics, supported First Tee in Duval County, and is an honorary member at TPC Sawgrass, where HUG holds its camps.

His next goal is a special needs golf tour, so the golfers who start at camp always have somewhere to play.

Where the camp began

The camp program HUG runs was designed by Billy Dettlaff, Master PGA Professional Emeritus and retired National Director of the TPC Network. It was just an idea, and a cartoon Billy drew, until he met Jarrad.

Billy also spearheaded Jarrad’s honorary membership at TPC Sawgrass. Today he writes golf books, which you can find at billydettlaff.com.

Camp golfers, families and coaches, with a golden retriever, gathered around a HUG Golf Camp and HEAL Foundation sign beside the water at TPC Sawgrass
HUG Golf Camp at TPC Sawgrass. Billy Dettlaff is at front right.
Jarrad Kogos and Billy Dettlaff standing together at a PGA trade show, both wearing PGA name badges
Jarrad and Billy at a PGA trade show.

How we got here

  1. 2001 The spark Jarrad watches Tiger Woods win THE PLAYERS and tries out for the Fletcher High School team.
  2. 2008 Meeting TPC Sawgrass Jarrad meets the team at TPC Sawgrass, who help him keep playing.
  3. 2009 HUG is founded Help Us Golf, Inc. is formed as a Florida not-for-profit, and the first camp runs with The HEAL Foundation.
  4. Every July Summer Autism Youth Camp TPC Sawgrass, Help Us Golf and The HEAL Foundation host the annual camp, usually the first or second week of July.
  5. Today Toward a tour Jarrad is an honorary member at TPC Sawgrass and is building toward a special needs golf tour.

What we believe

Patience over pressureEvery golfer learns at their own pace. Nobody is rushed and nobody is left out.
No surprisesWe share the plan for the day ahead of time, so families and golfers know exactly what’s coming.
Everyone belongsGolf is a game for connecting with people. Our job is to make sure every golfer feels part of the group.
A game for lifeCamp is the first tee. We want golfers to keep playing for years, and one day on a tour of their own.

The team behind HUG

Jarrad KogosFounder and President
Billy DettlaffMaster PGA Professional Emeritus; designed HUG’s camp program
Leslie & Bobby WeedThe HEAL Foundation
Brian RiddlePGA Director of Golf, TPC Sawgrass
Matt BoroczPGA General Manager, TPC Sawgrass

Ready to bring a golfer to camp?

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