PGA Pro Gerry Hammond, Building a Life Long Legacy in Sports - Be Counted Foundation

Gerry Hammond is the founder of Hammond Golf Academy. Gerry is a PGA Teaching Professional who has always felt a call to service. After playing basketball at Ohio University in 1988 he changed directions accepting a golf scholarship to St Augustine University, where he served as team captain, winning several championships and awards. Upon graduation, Gerry played golf professionally competing on numerous tours before joining the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) and reaching the elite ‘Class A’ status.

As a visionary and change agent, Gerry accepted and began his gift of teaching, while focusing on youth and instilling the inherent values of golf, including lessons on honesty, integrity, discipline, academic excellence, teamwork, and service. And for nearly 25 years, he has been a beloved coach and mentor to hundreds of children throughout Ohio, using golf as a tool to open doors, leading to economic, professional and personal success.

Gerry never imagined, however, that his career in golf would lead to an even higher calling, until one night.
“It came in a dream six years ago,” Gerry says “God visited me and told me he wanted me to show His strength on Earth in numbers. In the dream I saw a silhouette of a t-shirt. It was a powerful vision and I felt compelled to carry out His charge.”

As the blueprint for a social enterprise emerged, Gerry made a personal commitment to God that he would invest 51% of the company’s net profits back into the global community. Gerry states that “InTheNumber® is not my company, it’s Gods company, He’s majority owner so 51% is going back to Him and His creation.” “This is all a pass through for us and what better way than to collectively come together as a human race, putting all of our differences and challenges aside and looking out for one another and the word we live in.”

The offspring of InTheNumber is the Be Counted Foundation.

Mission Statement: To curate a global “team” comprised of every individual with the mindset that personal and united accountability can enhance the world in which we live. Unity is the goal. Compassion is the guidance. Humanity is the gift.

Vision Statement: The Be Counted Foundation believes every individual can change the world. We work to build upon innate and unique human abilities within the scope of Education, Health, Human Rights and our Environment to equip the global race with the skills needed to make our planet a more inclusive and fruitful place to live for all.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02: 0:00

Be a baller. Welcome to Be A Baller podcast, where we discuss how to build a lifelong legacy. I'm your host, Coach Tim Brown. Today, we'll be talking about building a legacy in sports with special guest, PGA golf instructor and founder of the Hammond Golf Academy. Before we get started, let's hear a word from our sponsor.

SPEAKER_00: 0:27

The courage to fight and the faith to believe. We're strong in numbers, moving with a purpose. We're not just a number, we're In The Number, the brand that counts. Visit us at inthenumber.com. Today

SPEAKER_02: 0:40

on the show, we're excited to have Jerry Hammond. who have built a legacy in sports. And that's been your calling card, you know, for years. But here's a question though, as you were growing up in Columbus, you know, being the son of the city council president, Jerry Hammond, and being his namesake, how was that growing up in Columbus?

SPEAKER_03: 1:24

It was interesting to say the least. Yeah. You know, as a young kid, you're not really cognizant and aware of, of just the role he played. So, you know, there was, sometimes it was, good treatment sometimes it was bad treatment and it was just trying to juggle that you know what I mean so it was like I said it was interesting like I know when we lived over on Kelton Avenue you know that's kind of you know in the hood you know what I mean and so you know dad on TV moving around and doing stuff the other kids are looking at my boys they looking like yo man you rich you rich man you know and then when I started taking golf clubs down the down the steps they were like bro what are you doing so you know it was it was interesting but you know and believe it or not it had me actually you know start to behave in such a way where I tried to avoid it not knowing that it was it was a blessing for me but I wanted to fit in I was so young that I just wanted to fit in I wanted to be with the fellas I didn't want to be different you know what I mean and so I would kind of give pushback you know and be rebellious as a kid just to say to hey fellas I you know I don't know what you're talking about I don't know what they're doing you know so but and it wasn't until later that I realized it but along the way you know I'm swimming upstream you know what I mean and then when you get over like hey this ain't how this thing's supposed to work so yeah so it was interesting and you know and the funny thing about man Tim I wish I wish he was here today because he had knowledge man he was powerful and I just being older now just doing the things I'm doing in life I wish I could just pull on it but he left enough back you know what I mean for me to be on my way and do what I do people I remember a pastor asked me he said you know now that your dad is gone he said you got some big shoes to fill And I ain't say it at the time, but in my mind, I'm like, my feet are bigger than his. But

SPEAKER_02: 3:45

yeah, it's been interesting. Yeah. As you think back on that, looking at it now, what does the Hammond name mean to you? One, what life values did you learn from your dad and your mom as well, who was a long-term educator?

SPEAKER_03: 3:58

Yeah. I think I learned everything I was supposed to learn and I'm still learning. But again, the foundation was really strong and established you know learning you know to give back you know to help to support you know dad being in politics and helping the black community you know mom being a teacher I got it honestly you know what I mean I mean I couldn't run from it so here I am today doing those things that they both did but on my own platform you know through golf so you know the Hammond name I hold in high regard and you know I don't take that lightly you know I want to represent I mean they've done so well and you know these things continue so this legacy has started and it needs to continue so and it's not always easy you know what I mean there's no guarantees we know if anybody had a hard walk we know Christ had the hardest of them all right so you can only imagine you know we're going to have some trials too so but yeah the name is beautiful man and I'm just, I'm proud. I'm glad. And, you know, I'm going to give it everything I got.

SPEAKER_02: 5:13

Good, good. You know, in the book I wrote, I talk about how we have to value the name and add value to the name. Right. Generations keep adding, protect it and add value to it. You know, as we talk about your sports journey, it was a little different. You know, you actually played college basketball. You know, how did you eventually get in? You played college basketball and college golf. How did that

SPEAKER_03: 5:37

happen? So, again, The golf thing, I got a lot of pushback from the fellas in the neighborhood. Like, bro, what are you doing in them clubs, man? You richy rich, what's going on? We don't play no golf. So, you know, I was still doing, you know, we had started with basketball, football, track, you know, the regulars that we did. And so I had developed a love for basketball, football, all those sports. And, you know, it took me all through high school and then on to college and playing at OU. But, you know, along the way, you know, that had introduced me to the game of golf. And believe it or not, I tell this story all the time. My first hook was just, I hit a ball at airport golf course. Now mind you, he used to just take me on Sunday mornings with Jimmy Roseboro and Marty Hawkins and some of the guys, and my MO was just to ride in a cart. That's all I ever wanted to do. I wanted to ride in a cart, and then I would jump off every now and then and try to catch tadpoles. in the pond over there, right? That was my thing. I used to take tadpoles home and put them in my sock drawer. My mom would go crazy on me, right? So it was just a wild thing. But one day I grabbed a club out of his bag and I dropped the ball, not really knowing anything and just emulating and trying to do what I saw them do, man. And I remember it was a hole five at airport golf course, man. I remember like it was right now. I took a swing, man. That ball shot up over that tree. Wow. And that was it. I was like, whoa. Wow. I was like man what we got here right and and from there you know he saw that I had an interest and just started you know nurturing that you know started getting me lessons and you know so I really started taking to the game and then again as I started to realize that you know these things were blessings for me you know I mean I didn't have to be like the guys this is this is a path that was set for me it took me a while to realize I didn't get into it. So that's how it happened. I went to OU, transferred to play, because I wasn't getting as much time. I'm figuring out, okay, I got guys six, six, six, seven doing what I can do and better. I'm like, whoa, this isn't my space. So I said, well, I love this game. I always wanted to be an athlete, right? Professional sports. I didn't really see myself doing anything other as a kid. So this golf had already been kind of introduced and situated So I went head first with golf. I transferred actually to play basketball, St. Augustine. Oh, wow. And so I could get some playing time. And then I was in the athletic office and the golf coach happened to be there. And he said, he says, I heard you play a little bit of golf. And I said, yeah, yes, sir. I play a little bit. He said, what kind of scores you shoot? I said, I'm a high 70s shooter. I'm decent. I'm not I'm thinking that other, you know, at the school, the other kids were a little better. He says, man, if you want to play golf for us, you can come on right now. And so I called home and I said, mom, I said, I said, golf coach wants me to play golf here. And they said, well, what do you want to do? I said, well, can I, can I do both? And they said, well, I don't know. You need to ask. But my mom was friend to the basketball coach. So there was a relationship there, right? So I asked the coach if I could do both. He says, I'd rather not have you do both. He said, but if you want to play golf, you can play golf. I said, I want to

SPEAKER_02: 9:26

play golf. And then that was it. The

SPEAKER_03: 9:28

rest is history. The rest is history.

SPEAKER_02: 9:30

You know, not a lot of African-American men get an opportunity to play golf professionally. Can you share some of your unique experiences?

SPEAKER_03: 9:38

Yeah, I mean... They're unique, to say the least. The lens in which I've seen this game from when I started to where it is now has been bizarre. I mean, I don't know if bizarre is the right word, but it's been wild. I mean, I recall just getting into the game as a kid, just with the guys in the neighborhood. We had the Wedge Club, which all the black guys we play every weekend and they would embrace me. And I was like the young kid on the street, Jerry's son, and he's getting good. And I would play in the, you know, in the skins game and win my money. I'm like, Oh, I got something here. I would make money in the summer, you know, put money in my pocket, just playing golf. And, um, so then they started calling me pro. He said, man, you ain't pro. And so it just connected. It was like, Whoa, I mean, I got something here. So then, um, that's when I decided to turn pro. And, you know, obviously that was, that was in the summers. And then, you know, I would, I would, you know, when I was, even when I was doing basketball and playing, I was still playing golf in the summers. So, you know, I turned pro and then it shifted, you know, I'm not, I'm not around the guys anymore. I'm in a, I'm in a different area, different territory. Now I'm playing with pros, you know, I'm going, to seminars, classes, and I'm the only one. And I think that was really eye-opening to me to where I was the only one. And believe it or not, it was intimidating at the time. It was tough. Because it was something that just said I didn't belong. It was something there early on that said I did not belong. And so I was a little fearful And a lot of me, a part of me just wanted to make friends, you know, cause I'm the odd ball. I don't fit in. I'm the only one. So I'm kind of thinking, man, I don't, I don't know if I'm a bear. So anyhow, that being said, I wanted to fit in and I started just, I started just being a certain type of guy, having a certain behavior and just to fit in, you know what I mean? And not really rub elbows, go against the grain, that, that whole feel. Uh, And that got to be really painful. That got to be exhausting. And it was fake. And it didn't do me any good. You know, I was scared to play at a high level, play well, like I did when I played with my guys. We played with the guys in the wedding club. I'd go out and shoot 72 like it was nothing. Get out here. I couldn't crack an eight. Wouldn't play with the pros, you know. So, and then that's when I realized, yeah, if you keep doing this, you don't belong. And it just took time, you know, for me to realize that. And then I just, I remember one day I told my dad, I said, Dad, I'm here to go get it, man. I said, I need to win. I need to win. And he just looked at me and smiled, man. He looked at me and smiled. That's all he did. And then from there, that was it. I just started playing. I play with intensity. I play with a passion and an intent to win, you know, to say I do belong. You're no different than me. I'm no different than you. But I got game. I'm a baller. I can ball. You know what I'm saying? You're a baller. And that's when I started to get the respect. Now, you make enemies along the way, obviously. You get some haters. But that comes with the territory. And I had to deal with that just like I dealt with the other stuff. But it was like, man, taking that monkey off my back. And then it just opened up the doors. The floodgates opened up from there.

SPEAKER_02: 13:37

That's

SPEAKER_03: 13:37

awesome.

SPEAKER_02: 13:38

So as a follow-up to that, Why is it so important to you to expose African-American youth to the game of golf?

SPEAKER_03: 13:44

Because it's right. It's the right thing to do because it's lacking. You know, it's it's it's it's still a little lopsided, although it's gotten better over the last 10 years. I mean, I mean, when you think about it, there was a 1961 Caucasian only clause in the game. You know what I mean? So that that that says a lot. You know, so there was already, you know, you're going against the grain, you know, as as as a black young man or female trying to get involved with this game, learn this game. And the game, honestly, coach, the game is beautiful, man. I mean, the things that it has done for me, the people you meet, the places you go, the social capital that's associated to the game is like no other. And, you know, with that, I mean, I've been able to do some very good things, but I just know that there's other individuals out there and kids more talented than what I am. And if given that opportunity There's no telling where they could go. You know, so that's why.

SPEAKER_00: 14:42

The courage to fight and the faith to believe. We're strong in numbers, moving with a purpose. We're not just a number, we're In The Number, the brand that counts. Visit us at InTheNumber.com.

SPEAKER_02: 14:55

You started the Adopt-A-Junior golf program and the first year Columbus chapter and now the Hammond Golf Academy. What's the vision behind the academy?

SPEAKER_03: 15:06

The academy was really just, I guess, We got away from the first tee and adopt a junior golfer to really focus and lock in on golf and developing players. That was a point of it. First tee was the kind of the give back, the introduction, getting more kids involved. But, you know, I believe what I saw was I saw, yeah, I'm getting these kids involved, but, and creating this appetite, but I can't feed them. You know, there's the arm, but I can't feed them. I mean, the game's expensive. Yeah, yeah. It's expensive. And I'm looking at these kids like, oh, okay, how can I make my high school golf team? How can I get those clubs? How can I go and play at that club? You know what I mean? And it was just like, and that took a lot out of me. So through those moments and those experiences, I kind of said, I can't help them all. And so I peeled back and I said, let me lock in and let me get those that I can, that show the proclivity. Let me, let me drive it home. And that's kind of what it's been. So, and then that spawned into not only developing collegiate players, good high school athletes, but now pros. And then, you know, doctors, lawyers, just productive, just citizens in the world anymore. And I mean, due to the game. Yes. And so, so that's, that's what the Hammond Golf Academy has been all about, but it's still, I still reach back though. And that's what the beat counted on foundation.

SPEAKER_02: 16:38

You know, you train many golfers. as you mentioned, who are now using golf as a tool to open up doors leading to economic, professional and personal successes. How has the lessons learned from golf

SPEAKER_03: 16:48

helped them in those successes? I think, you know, it's funny because the game inherently instills those values that are necessary to just move through life. You know what I mean? You got the honesty that comes with it, patience, discipline, teamwork. All those things are embedded in the game. And those are the values that are required just to make it in any endeavor, any field, any profession. So, you know, like I said, the game is like no other game. And I think you know that. And all these athletes, you know, play golf outside of their other sports. You know, it's not like everybody goes to swim or everybody goes and plays tennis. Everybody comes and plays golf. You got the NFL, NBA, MLB, you know, all of it. Everybody's playing golf because it's a challenge to oneself. You know what I mean? You're the only one in control. Nobody is dictating what you do or how you do it. Unless you mentally allow them to influence you. But inside, it's just you and that golf ball. It's you and that ball. Yeah. And you and that club. And the ball don't know your color. Right. The club don't know your color. The grass don't know. You know what I'm saying? So it's just, it's a beautiful sport, man. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 18:00

And every day is different. Every time out there is different. Every course is different. It's a challenge here. And athletes love that, you know. Yep. You know, I always ask my guests when they hear word legacy. What does that mean to you?

SPEAKER_03: 18:13

That means longevity to me. That means foundation being established. That means blessings. That means sowing. That means everything. Legacy is what we all have the ability to do. We've all been given, you know, God given the ability to take the talents that we we've had and work those talents, you know, and if we're, if we're, um, sincere, um, and focused, um, about that and true to ourselves and our heart within, you know, whatever it is we're doing, but in sports per se, then I think those things will, will, will start to create the legacy for us. That's good work. You

SPEAKER_02: 19:00

know, as part of your legacy is you're building that, uh, you have the end of number, uh, as well. And now the B County foundation, can you tell of the audience, the vision and lifelong impact of the foundation and those things you're doing.

SPEAKER_03: 19:14

Yeah, it's funny. I mean, you know, again, golf has taken me to some tremendous levels and I've made inroads and met some phenomenal people of all walks of life, you know, billionaires to just, you know, people with a, you know, ordinary day job. And, but, you know, we're all in this thing together. But so, uh, You know, God has allowed me to use his platform and he gave me another column within the number. And so now I'm using in the number to still within the golf and on the platform, but to bring people together. You know, his charge to me was he wanted to show his strength here on earth in numbers. And that's how in the number of his birth. And, you know, my mission and my goal is to get us all in the number. It doesn't matter what you look like, where you come from, where you've been. We can all be counted in the number. And, you know, it's it's the universal law you know and it's very simple and but you know the gesture is simple too to be counted and counted on be in the number get your number but it's the outcome is profound when we all come together and my goal is to get us all together you know one time if we come together as a human race man we'd be surprised what we could do I mean and it's daunting and he put it on me and you know but he knows I'm gonna take it on you know what I mean and I'm I'm going to get it done now. To what degree and what level, we don't know that yet. So, you know, hopefully that's a part of the legacy and that thing is still being written. You know, so, but, so the Be Countered On Foundation is there to kind of be that give back and that support to retrieve some of the monies because, you know, I've got a 51% kind of play that comes out of the clothing that goes into the foundation. I chose 51% because, and the number is God's company. It's not my company. He's majority. You know what I mean? So, So 51% of the net profits from the sales of the social kind of clothing line go into the Be Counted On Foundation. And those monies are designed to take care of four areas, education, health, environment, human rights. And I chose those four areas because those are the four areas that we need as a human race, as a species to exist. We gotta be educated to function in this world. We gotta have our health. The environment has to be conducive for us to sustain and live. I don't have to speak to human rights, right? So, but again, you don't have to like me. I don't have to like you. But we can still do something together that does, that allows us to still be us and do that, be it wrong, right, and different. And that's what I don't want. I mean, I don't want to try and really change you. I want, well, I do, right? But I want the event, the coming together so you can see. And we hear it all the time, better together, stronger together. And that's what he says, you know, strength in numbers. And I think we're all his creation, so that's That's what we're doing.

SPEAKER_02: 22:11

Yeah, it's powerful. I've seen it grow. I've seen your commitment to this, you know, not to waver at all.

SPEAKER_03: 22:15

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No,

SPEAKER_02: 22:16

no, no. That front line, you know. As we come around the corner and wrap up, lastly, can you challenge the audience, particularly athletes, on how to use their God-given talent to build a legacy in sports, a lifelong legacy that'll be around longer after they're finished playing the game?

SPEAKER_03: 22:33

I think, yeah, I would say, you know, keep cultivating your heart, your craft, you know, because that's what's going to guide and direct, you know, all athletes to give it their best, you know what I mean? To realize that, you know, you do have a talent and don't take that talent lightly. You know, that talent is a gift. It's a gift. And, you know, I was just, it's kind of like the parable, you know, I mean, you're given these talents and you give, you gotta, you gotta work that thing. You gotta plow, you gotta sow.

SPEAKER_02: 23:12

Right.

SPEAKER_03: 23:12

You know what I mean? So, so yeah. So I, I, I challenge and encourage all athletes, all people for that matter, but athletes in particular, because, you know, I'm a professional athlete and, you know, I know this, this thing of being a baller man is beautiful. You know what I mean? I love what you're doing and, um, it just shows the intent and, and, and sports is a, a very powerful platform. So I, I, um, I encourage every athlete you know to to really grow in Christ because he's the he's the the orchestrator of it all oh yeah you know and you know so you know you keep those things intact and I think that he'll take care of the rest for us you know yeah

SPEAKER_02: 23:56

well Jerry as we as we come to end this episode I want to thank you for your time and most importantly I want to thank you for answering that call

SPEAKER_03: 24:02

yeah

SPEAKER_02: 24:02

answering that call I appreciate it I appreciate it and continue to be on the front line and I want to encourage you that there's more more for you than they are against you. There's a lot of people that are in the number, growing and building every day. So thanks for joining us for this informed discussion on building a legacy in sports. I hope that this episode was beneficial to those who listened to it. This is Coach Tim Brown. As always, thanks for listening to Be A Baller Podcast.

SPEAKER_01: 24:29

If you enjoy our show, please share this podcast with your family and friends. Be A Baller Podcast is available on all major podcast stations. Be sure to come back next week As we continue to discuss on how to build a lifelong legacy until then, don't forget to be a baller. This podcast was created by coach Tim Brown. It was edited by Teron Howell and produced and recorded by the video production class of Worthington Christian high school.