There are times we all need a shove in the right direction.  One young student who sat close to pro golfer Esteban Toledo as he hosted the Alabama Power Junior Golf Clinic at Shoal Creek, initially rejected his request to take a few swings. When asked why she declined, she confessed that she was afraid.

Not to be deterred, Toledo pressed again and this time, she took him up on his offer. Minutes later, she went on to win a challenge that Toledo issued on the spot, knocking the golf ball more than 50 feet and winning a $20 cash prize. It was a lesson in action – scored right on the golf course. 

Alabama Power’s annual Junior Golf Clinic was held on a picture-perfect day on the golf course the morning of Tuesday, May 13, in advance of the Regions Tradition. More than 300 students observed, with some getting hands-on practice swings.  Toledo shared principles that helped him excel in life and strategies that helped him hone his craft in golf.

Toledo, from Mexicali, Mexico, shared how he overcame great odds to succeed in golf. Toledo said he was exposed to the game as a youngster picking up golf balls on the driving range. “You can overcome anything. I grew up poor in Mexico, the youngest of 11 children, and have had much success as a golfer here in America. Don’t ever forget you live in a great country.”

Toledo, who also had a brief career as a boxer, is the founder of the Esteban Toledo Family Foundation. He was a member of the PGA Tour in 1994 and 1998–2004. Toledo became the first Mexican to win on the Champions Tour one year ago by winning the Insperity Championship in a playoff.

The Alabama Power event was put on by The First Tee, which exposes golf to youngsters who may not otherwise have a chance to participate in the sport. The program’s core values include honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, courtesy, perseverance and judgment. Southern Company, Alabama Power’s parent company, is a proud sponsor of The First Tee program.