All it took was one swing for Ahmad Raoul, (above, far left)to know that golf was his life purpose. He was 5 years old at the time, growing up on Chicago’s south side. His family – parents Philip and Tracy, sister Akila, and brother Abdel – had just been introduced to the game and were heading to the Jackson Park Golf Course driving range together for the first time.
Raoul estimates that his first shot traveled less than five yards. It didn’t matter.
“I hit that shot and immediately the seed was planted,” Raoul, now 21, recalled.
“[Golf] has been part of my life every day since then. It runs through my blood.”
One year later, Raoul began participating in First Tee – Greater Chicago Programming. Shortly thereafter, he became part of the venerable Bob-O-Links Junior Golf Club, which is coordinated by the historic Chicago Women’s Golf Club. This structured programming and instruction exponentially grew Raoul’s fervor for golf.
“I can’t even fully describe the passion that was being formed,” Raoul said.
He eventually attended Mount Carmel High School and excelled on the Caravan boys golf team. Following his senior season, he was bestowed the Lawless Award as the most outstanding boys golfer in the Chicago Catholic League.
While caddying for his brother in an Advocates Professional Golf Tour event at TPC Deere Run, Raoul met Charles Penny. The two quickly bonded during the competition, and Penny was eventually hired as the head men’s golf coach at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), a Division II historically black college and university (HBCU). Raoul admittedly had his sights set on various Division I HBCUs, but his familiarity with Penny led him to take a visit to WSSU. After that, his next step became an easy decision.
“It was almost like Winston was calling my name,” Raoul said. “I loved [the visit]. I loved every bit of it.”
He committed before leaving campus.
Raoul graduated from Mount Carmel in 2022 and began his college career later that year. He has been a regular contributor in three seasons with the Rams.
Now primed for his senior season, Raoul is setting his sights on what is next.
While he still harbors a lifelong dream of playing professionally, Raoul is spending his final college summer living out another calling – “spreading love through golf.”
Through an internship with Troon, Raoul has played an important role in helping various entities, including the CDGA, the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Police Department (CPD), conduct Play Like a Champion Youth Golf Days. The events strive to provide an opportunity for the city's youth to learn more about the game of golf, while giving CPD officers an opportunity to build stronger connections with local youth.
“Seeing kids run around, have a smile on their face and know that I was a part of something that is going to be talked about for years to come, it sits very well with me,” Raoul said.
He is also working as the caddie manager at South Shore Golf Course, a program that his mother started in 2024. Initially, it was going to be a paid role, but budget cuts removed the funding. That didn’t matter to Raoul, who prioritized helping the 21 caddies get introduced to golf above making money.
“I want to be able to spread the knowledge that I learned from six years [as a caddie] at Beverly Country Club and my 15 years of playing golf and pass it to kids who have never even picked up a club or have no idea even what a tee box is,” Raoul explained, noting that African Americans were not allowed to caddie in South Shore’s earlier history.
“It would have been wrong to turn that away, knowing the change that I can make in the community.”
It remains to be seen specifically what is in store for Raoul beyond his senior season and graduation. The only certainties are that it will involve golf and it will leave an impact.
“I’ve learned this year that part of my purpose in this world before I leave from the Lord is to spread love through the game of golf.” Raoul said. “My gift is love. I’m a very caring person. My tool is golf. He entrusted me to be able to spread love through the game of golf.”
All thanks to one swing 15 years ago. —Casey Richards
CDGA Member Spotlight articles are a partnership between the CDGA and Wintrust to highlight an individual, group or program making their underrepresented community Better Through Golf. Individuals with CDGA Member Spotlight ideas should reach out to magazine@cdga.org.