More Than a Game: How Ron Langhorne Is Using Golf to Bring Communities Together

By Eric Perry

Ron Langhorne

By the time Ron Langhorne was seven years old, he had already found the thing that would shape his life—not just for himself, but for countless young people who would come after him.

 Growing up in Buffalo, New York, Ron was surrounded by the grit and pride of a working-class city and the steady influence of his parents, especially his father, a Brooklyn native who taught him the importance of discipline and self-respect. Like many kids in his neighborhood, Ron had choices when it came to sports. Basketball and football were everywhere. Golf was not.

 But golf found Ron anyway.

 Through an inner-city youth golf program led by Major Hank Williams and supported by the Jim Hart Golf Foundation, Ron was introduced to a sport that immediately spoke to him. While others questioned his interest—and sometimes teased him—Ron saw something others didn’t.

 “Golf showed me a world I didn’t know I could be part of,” Ron says. “It wasn’t just a game. It was a chance to change how people saw me—and how I saw myself.”

 At a time when golf carried the stereotype of exclusivity, Ron felt drawn to the challenge of breaking that mold. “I wanted kids who looked like me to know they belonged on the course too,” he says.

 Finding Purpose Through Giving Back

 Like many young people, Ron’s journey was not without struggle. There were moments when life felt heavy and direction felt distant. But at 17, a turning point came when he began coaching younger kids. Teaching gave him clarity—and purpose.

 “When I started helping them, I realized golf had already given me something priceless,” Ron explains. “It gave me structure. And it gave me peace.”

 One of the most defining moments of his life came during a birthday celebration for Jim Hart. Ron was dealing with personal challenges and uncertainty. Then, standing before a crowd, he hit a shot that felt effortless and true.

 “For that one moment,” Ron recalls, “everything else disappeared. I felt like I mattered. I felt like I belonged.”

 That moment stayed with him—not because of the shot itself, but because of what it represented: hope.

 Building Bridges, One Swing at a Time

 Today, Ron Langhorne is more than a golfer. He is a mentor, a community builder, and the founder of the Ron Langhorne Golf Foundation, an organization dedicated to making golf accessible to youth from all backgrounds.

 Through free lessons, mentorship, and outreach, Ron uses golf as a vehicle for life lessons that extend far beyond the fairway.

 “Golf teaches honesty—because you call your own penalties,” Ron says. “It teaches integrity, patience, and accountability. Those are skills kids can take anywhere in life.”

 For Ron, the sport is also a gateway to opportunity. He believes golf opens doors—to careers, networks, and confidence many young people never realize are within reach.

 “I tell them, ‘This game can put you in rooms you never imagined,’” he says. “But first, you have to believe you deserve to be there.”

 A Vision Bigger Than the Course

Ron’s goals continue to grow. He plans to expand the foundation’s reach, offer competitive training for dedicated players, and introduce modern tools like launch monitors to enhance learning. Still, he remains grounded in his mission.

 “This isn’t about creating pro golfers,” Ron emphasizes. “It’s about creating leaders.”

By bringing together kids from different neighborhoods, backgrounds, and life experiences, Ron sees golf as a powerful bridge between communities.

 “When kids stand on the same tee box,” he says, “labels disappear.” “That’s where real change begins.”

 A Message That Lasts

 When asked what advice he gives young people, Ron answers without hesitation.

“Stay humble. Stay disciplined. And don’t quit on yourself,” he says. “Your story isn’t over just because things get hard.”

Ron Langhorne’s journey is a reminder that impact doesn’t always start with money or influence—it starts with passion, persistence, and a willingness to give back.

And as he continues his work across Buffalo and beyond, Ron proves one enduring truth: sometimes the strongest force for change isn’t a loud voice or a grand stage—but a steady hand, a shared dream, and a belief that everyone deserves a place on the course.