September 25, 2025
On a crisp Saturday morning, you’ll likely find Alina Amos on the greens at Gillespie Golf Course, Greensboro’s historic public course. At just 17, Alina has emerged as one of the area’s brightest young golf talents. With her dedication, discipline, and heart for others, she is living proof of how access, mentorship, and community can transform a young life.
Discovering Golf at Gillespie
Alina was introduced to golf when her mother, Danielle Cureton, signed her up for the First Tee program at Gillespie. Though she had tried another course before, it was at Gillespie that she felt welcomed and truly at home.
“I found a more personal touch here,” Alina recalls. “The coaches cared not just about golf, but about me as a person. Gillespie felt like a second home.”
From those early days at age nine, Gillespie’s unique mix of approachable staff and its civil rights legacy gave Alina a sense of belonging, and a belief that the course was a place where she could grow.
Alina with pro Mark Walker at the 2025 PURE Insurance Championship
Growth, Mentorship, and Confidence
In the beginning, Alina “could barely hit a ball.” But the staff saw her potential and nurtured it. Today, she competes in 15–20 tournaments a year, handling multi-day matches with poise.
Her mom Danielle has been by her side through it all: “There were weeks I was driving Alina back and forth to Gillespie for hours-long practices, then across the state for tournaments. It’s been a sacrifice, but watching her grow in confidence and discipline has made it worth every mile.”
Mentorship has been a key ingredient in Alina’s journey. “When she was nine and ten, she was very quiet,” says Bob Brooks, Gillespie’s manager and one of her mentors. “Through golf, she found her voice, her friendships, and her confidence. That transformation has been incredible to witness.”
Ryan Wilson, Executive Director of First Tee – Central Carolina, adds: “Alina’s story shows what happens when a young person embraces the values of golf, discipline, honesty, perseverance. She represents the best of what First Tee and Gillespie can do for our community.”
Competing on a National Stage
This fall, Alina took her game to a new level on one of golf’s most storied courses. She was selected to compete in the 2025 PURE Insurance Championship Impacting First Tee at Pebble Beach, California, September 16–21.
Only 80 teens from across the First Tee network nationwide were chosen out of 130 applicants, and Alina made the cut. At Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, she played alongside PGA TOUR Champions pros and community business leaders in an unforgettable week of golf, leadership, and growth.
“We are so proud of the leader, golfer, and role model she continues to be,” Wilson says. “Pebble Beach gave her a stage worthy of her hard work and character.”
Triumphs, Aspirations, and a Bright Future
Alina points to a defining moment at a regional tournament: “I didn’t play well on the front nine, but on the back nine, I regrouped and shot a 35. That’s when I realized I could handle pressure, and that the life skills I learned at Gillespie could carry me through.”
Looking ahead, Alina is graduating high school early to focus on her college search. Her dream is to play Division I golf, with Gillespie continuing to serve as her training ground and her source of inspiration.
Gillespie’s Legacy and Future
Alina is deeply aware of Gillespie’s history as a site of civil rights progress. “As an African American girl in golf, I don’t always see people who look like me on the course,” she says. “But Gillespie has shown me that I belong. I want to become a professional to show others they belong, too.”
That history, combined with the need for revitalization, makes Greensboro Parks Foundation’s investment in Gillespie urgent. Plans include a replacing the greens, installing a new irrigation system, and creating a new short course, modern practice facilities, and a Greensboro Six Memorial Plaza honoring the course’s civil rights legacy.
“Alina’s journey is exactly why we’re investing in Gillespie,” says Brooks. “This course is more than golf—it’s about opportunity, inclusion, and community.”
A Call to Action
For Alina, the improvements aren’t just about better turf or facilities; they’re about opening doors. “The staff already give it their all, but these upgrades will bring even more kids here and show them that golf is for everyone.”
She puts it simply: “Gillespie is a public course that makes you feel like a member. It’s a place that builds community. It’s where I found my sport and my future.”
Your support can ensure that Gillespie remains a place where young leaders like Alina discover their potential. Join us in shaping the future of Gillespie Golf Course. Together, we can drive change—one swing at a time.