Martavious Adams puts kid face on East Lake dream

The dream that golf and its traditions can bring hope and purpose to a rundown part of Atlanta now has a face: Martavious Adams.

Five years ago, golf was part of his P.E. class at Drew Charter School, offered through nearby East Lake Golf Club and its community foundation. Adams liked golf, but had no clue where those first shots landed.

His aim in life was similar. C’s were good by him.

On Thursday, Adams launched an honorary first drive at the Tour Championship. His mammoth shot from East Lake's first tee carried the fairway hill 280 yards away.

The applause was familiar. Earlier this month, he partnered in a charity tournament at Pebble Beach Golf Links with golf legend Tom Watson. Add that to playing golf across Scotland and the United States and winning the nation’s top minority junior golf tournament.

And grades? A's and B's now. A junior at Decatur High School, Adams aims to play golf and study engineering at Georgia Tech, the alma mater of Bobby Jones, whose home course was East Lake.

Jones’ grandson and other golf luminaries praised Adams at a breakfast before the tournament began. They called him a symbol of the hope that they wanted East Lake's rich golf history to foster.

“This is what we’re trying to do,” said his coach, Nyre Williams, who runs the First Tee of East Lake instructional program. “I could care less if we got great golfers, a Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson, out of this program. My goal is to supply them with life skills on and away from the golf course for a lifetime, to be a better citizen and person.”

Adams says he doesn’t mind being a symbol of an initiative that began when he was in preschool. Atlanta developer Tom Cousins hitched the neighborhood’s renaissance to his renovation of East Lake Golf Club and an all-star PGA Tour event.

“It’s not pressure,” Adams said. “It’s just being who I am pretty much.”

Adams grew up with a mom, Latoisha Adams, who works as a correctional officer, and his brother, Kiante Grier. His dad, he said, is not part of his life.

The walk from home to the First Tee of East Lake’s practice range took him two minutes. His first swing was a 7-iron that went 80 yards.

“He was the only kid who has ever asked me for a rain jacket,” Williams said. “He was never afraid and he’s a fast learner at whatever he does.”

Adams only attended the First Tee life skill classes because his access to the practice range depended on it.

The program teaches nine core values, from etiquette, anger management, goal setting and other skills that help in business. Players are taught that persistence and manners in golf carries over to life.

“It’s about being focused and just repeating my routine,” Adams said of how he became confident in school and golf. “If I just stay focused, it’s not a hard shot. It’s just confidence you have in making the shot.”

His touch around the greens has earned him the nickname “Magic,” which Watson used on his blog after their round at Pebble. The golf great thanked Adams for supplying a “shot of a lifetime,” which he described later on tomwatson.com.