GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida golfer Taylor Roberts is a natural at giving back.
The Gator is next to the player of his second charity event, the Impact Cup. An event to raise awareness of youth mental health.
The two-day Ryder-Cup tournament, which begins on July 25, is a college golf event that gives competing players the opportunity to showcase their golfing talents and develop life skills such as community communication, leadership and teamwork. Participants gain greater insight and experience giving generously while being celebrated for their accomplishments.
Roberts is joined by Duke women’s golfer and best friend Phoebe Brinker who is co-hosting the event with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) to help support the Generation Next Project and the AJGA’s ACE Grant Program.
However, this is not the first time the two have retaliated.
In 2020, they came up with the creation of the Great Cup. The event featured high school golfers whose senior seasons were cut short due to COVID-19. They raised more than $40,000 for the Emergency Golf Relief Fund, the AGJA Achieving Competitive Excellence Grant and frontline staff.
Soon after, they knew they wanted to host another charity event. But when the couple enrolled in college their freshman year and were still dealing with the plague, things were tough.
After Taylor’s freshman year and going through her own mental health issues, she approached Phoebe and had another idea for a love match. Now is the time to help mental health programs.
Phoebe liked the idea. And soon the two started working again.
Call ahead so far – they’ve raised more than $88,000, Bobby Jones Golf Club and East Lake Golf Club are sponsoring, there are two doctors coming, 22 golfers have volunteered to play, and much more.
“It’s crazy to see how it all came together,” Roberts said. “It’s amazing to see how many people are supporting and when you talk about mental health and share my story, a lot of people want to support it. It’s just something that is very prevalent in our lives.”
The idea first arose during treatment. An important decision encouraged by her parents, helped Taylor get into the better place she is today.
“After the treatment, I wanted to help other players or anyone to get equipment because I realized that I was lucky to have the opportunity to improve myself.”
Overcoming it all and looking back now is a breath of fresh air for the Parkland, Florida native.
“My parents told me last year that I wasn’t playing golf because I didn’t like the game and I was just struggling to find happiness and that I am competing now and at the highest level. But also the fact that I’m helping other people makes it even better. “
Throughout the planning process, Taylor compared transferring to a new school. The transition was seamless because of the culture at UF.
“There are a lot of people in the sports industry who have supported and made the process easier. That’s why I went to Florida.
“Coach [Emily] Glaser cares about you not only as a golfer but as a person. I can’t wait to get back to campus because it feels like I have another family there. The culture doesn’t match and when people say it’s good. being a Florida Gator, it is.” As the event drew closer, Taylor and Phoebe wanted to make sure this wasn’t a one-time event. Rather than creating an annual opportunity to help different programs along the way. While the goal of this event is to raise $100,000, it’s not just money. “Our main mission is that when everyone is gone, they have the resources to want to go back to their lives and understand it on a different level.” More information about the event can be found here.
As the event gets closer, Taylor and Phoebe want to make sure this isn’t a one-time event. Instead of creating an annual opportunity to help different programs along the way.
While the goal of this event is to raise $100,000, it’s not just money.
“Our main mission is that when everyone leaves, they have the resources to want to go back to their lives and understand them on a different level.”
More information about the event can be found here.
