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When the U.S. Open returned to Los Angeles in June for the first time in 75 years, much attention was paid to its brilliant venue, The Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course. At the same time, the stage provided the opportunity to tell the inspirational story of Aaron Grimes, whose journey that brought him to find work at LACC reinforces the power of our game.
“Golf has provided structural support to my life,” said Grimes. “The people I’ve met through golf have allowed me to chase the dream. Golf is everything to me.”
To fully appreciate Grimes requires you to study the landscape of Compton in southern L.A. County, where he grew up. A mixture of urban culture, hip-hop and violence, Compton is about 25 miles from LACC, and an 8-mile drive to Maggie Hathaway Golf Course, a county-owned par-3 layout in Los Angeles.
A short trip, it was long on opportunity for Grimes.
“I started playing at 9 with the Western States Golf Association at Maggie Hathaway,” Grimes said. “I’m maybe the only kid from those days still playing. It’s definitely not a path you usually find to a life in golf.”
Unless you track Grimes’ career, which already qualifies as a success story.
He went on to become a competitive golfer who played at the College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., and later at California State Northridge. At age 29, Grimes is now a regular on the Advocates Professional Golf Association, which strives to increase diversity in the game. The first seven tournaments of the 2023 season have provided Grimes with a pair of top 10s and several other top-20 finishes.
Although the rewards and the spotlight are less grandiose on the APGA than some other tours, his gratitude, hopes and passion are firmly intact.
“My parents have been so supportive and allowed me to keep playing,” he said. “I’ve seen peers from high school make it, and that inspires me.”
Among those peers are PGA Tour pros Patrick Cantlay and Beau Hossler, who played against Grimes’ St. John Bosco team. Back into the story comes LACC, because the club has been like a second home to Grimes since 2013. He caddies there, and the job helps to finance his pro golf pursuit. “If I can’t work, I can’t chase the dream,” he said.
When he was 15, Grimes played in a tournament with a club pro named Michael Block. “I starred his name in an app and have always followed him,” he said.
So when Block made headlines with a T-15 finish at the 2023 PGA Championship in May, Grimes felt attached to the joy.
“I smiled and reminded myself that with golf, every year we get a chance,” he said.