Steve Wilson Learned How To Compete In Local Junior Program and on Local Courses
Biloxi, MS – Next time you’re traveling on I-10 to the booming Mississippi “Golf Coast” to play one of its many championship courses- take a pit stop at exit 48 on I-10 at Fayard’s BP Station. Not only can you get gasoline and convenience items, you can maybe spot a player in this week’s Masters’ – the owner Steve Wilson. Steve started out in golf tagging along with his brother, “I played many a Masters in Biloxi as a kid on local public courses with my brother,” says Steve, “when I was about 12 I began playing in Gulf Coast Junior Golf Foundation events, then operated by the Applewhites.” Teams of kids representing each of the local golf clubs on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast would compete and Steve was on the Gulf Hills team. He played a lot of his golf on the tight fairways of Gulf Hills and credits that with his ability to hit it straight since there was no option to be wayward. The Mississippi Gulf Coast’s junior golf program allowed Steve to play in organized competition from age 12 to 17 and eventually play at the local MS Gulf Coast Community College and then Southern Miss University. “The junior events on the coast gave me the opportunity to learn how to compete early on and how competing is different than just playing golf for fun,” says Wilson.
10 years of mini tours and odd jobs he finally decided to use his business degree and he credits golf as helping him. “Integrity is such a huge part of the golf and it also is important in business and it played a big part in me getting the opportunity to open the gas station,” says Wilson. Despite being a successful businessman, he never lost his love of the game of golf or his desire to get better. He won the regions Coast Amateur and Coast Open a combined 10 times and the state amateur as well as the state Mid-Amateur. This qualified him for the USGA’s Mid-Amateur and an event that started with over 3800 golfers vying for the Jones Trophy – Steve won it last year and a letter from Augusta National came next requesting his presence for a gathering of the world’s best golfers in pursuit of a green jacket this week.
But only days ahead of his Masters appearance, while his competitors are playing in PGA Tour Events, Steve is found working at his deli counter at his gas station in Gautier, Mississippi. His caddie is his partner in the business, Gary Martin, and is an accomplished player in his own right. He finished top 10 in the PGA Tour event in Mississippi opposite Jack Nicklaus’s last Master’s win in 1986 and went out again to try his luck on the mini-tours a few years ago. “I always dreamed of being at the Masters, but not in a white jump suit as a caddie – but I am thrilled at the chance,” says Gary Martin.
The 22 courses along the Mississippi Gulf Coast that Steve calls home, allowed him to play championship courses and compete with the surplus of talented golfers who play them. “The Golf Courses along the coast here rival anyplace in the country and we have the best courses in the state here,” says Wilson, “playing the courses here has helped me prepare for this chance of lifetime. ”
Last month, his friends got together to honor him or roast him might describe the event better. The local community wanted to be part of this historic event by helping him raise money for his trip to Augusta and down Magnolia Lane. The night was enjoyed by all and at the end Steve stood up and thanked everyone and announced he would donate all the money to Gulf Coast Golf Foundation’s Junior Golf Program – a incredible act of class – to help kids get the same opportunity he had growing up.
On Thursday and Friday this Gas Station Owner will be playing with Tom Watson and Ian Poulter and will represent the common man when, in fact, anyone who knows him in South Mississippi knows him as a champion in life, business and of the virtues of Junior Golf. _____________________________________________________________________________
For more information on the Mississippi “Golf Coast” or golf courses information or golf vacation packages go to www.GolfCoast.com or call 866-383-Golf.
For more information on the Gulf Coast Junior Golf Foundation junior golf programs or life lesson programs or to donate to junior golf go to www.GulfCoastGolf.org or call 866-383-GOLF
You can get great ham biscuits or a shrimp or oyster po-boy sandwiches at lunch – you can even get prime fresh cut steaks and crawfish stuffed baked potatoes.
Contact:
Kevin Drum at Kevin@GolfCoast.com
