ST. PETERSBURG — Bill Darling has packed so much into his life that it almost seems he’s lived two.
One unfolded over a professional career in which a friend called him “a computer whiz.”
The other began in retirement, when he volunteered with First Tee of St. Petersburg, a program that introduces inner-city youths to golf while teaching them to become contributing members of society.
In May, the African American Golfers Hall of Fame presented its Community Service Award to Darling during ceremonies at Eastpointe Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens.
Past inductees include Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Calvin Peete, Lee Elder, former Gov. Charlie Crist and Tampa’s Jim Dent and Charles Owens.
The Hall of Fame, in its 21st year, honored Darling for his 21 years of service. He has donated about 6,000 hours, including recruiting and mentoring.
Five of his students — Jonathan “Tiger” Lampley, Hogan Waltman, Martavious “Duke” Dudley, Malachai McCloud and Jaquira Darling — attended the ceremonies, saying their mentor had a profound impact on their lives.
“I don’t know where I’d be right now,” Lampley and Dudley each said.
Dudley is a sophomore at Warner University in Lake Wales, where he plans to become an athletic trainer. Darling’s granddaughter earned a degree in game design from the University of Central Florida and works for EA Orlando, the studio behind the Madden NFL series.
Lampley runs First Tee’s eBay golf store, which has five full-time and 10 part-time employees and an inventory of 12,000 clubs, he said. After Darling and others pick up or receive the putters, irons and drivers, they are cleaned and regripped. About 200 clubs ship to buyers each week.
Candice Rock’s three daughters — Morgan, McKenzie and Madison — went through First Tee. McKenzie studied in Australia and has backpacked in several countries; Morgan works in the California music industry; and Madison earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications from Valdosta State University in Georgia.
“I think First Tee gave them the courage to try something different and branch out on their own,” Rock said. “Coach Darling not only taught them golf etiquette but to be respectful and have integrity. It’s a great atmosphere, great program.”
Valerie Norris, who had a niece in the program, remembers Darling knocking on doors to get youths into First Tee.
“His commitment and involvement, he’s super dedicated,” Norris said. “He knows how to raise money and get connected with the kids. You see the results.”
Darling has helped recruit an estimated 10,000 Black youths from south St. Petersburg into First Tee.
Hogan Waltman, another former student, is now a First Tee instructor and eBay employee. His father, Rick, is a First Tee and PGA instructor. Both attended the event and were glad to see Darling honored.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, obviously,” Rick Waltman said. “To see him get inducted is a very special occasion. It’s not a long list of people. We were honored to be there.”
Multiple awards, degrees
Long before First Tee, Darling built a career that drew its own distinctions. He served in Vietnam; earned multiple degrees and certifications in computer science from the University of South Florida, Eckerd College and St. Petersburg College; learned Fortran, an early programming language that influenced many that followed; earned merit awards as a systems analyst and systems manager with the Department of Energy through General Electric; implemented the Primavera project management system throughout the plant after attending a conference in Philadelphia with a GE team; taught co-workers computer courses so they could keep their jobs; traveled the country as IBM mainframes gave way to portable computers; started his own computer firm, consulting for Eckerd, Walt Disney and Miracle-Ear; and designed a magnetic library system at Martin Marietta that earned him a hefty bonus.
“I got a significant check,” Darling said. “My wife, Bernice, knows it was significant because she cashed it.”
Like most retirees, Darling wanted to play golf. He had ulterior motives when he went to see Rick Waltman.
“I wanted to beat my buddies,” Darling said. “Rick was considered the best teacher in town and I wanted to be coached by the best. Destiny has a way of playing a hand.”
Waltman knew of Darling’s background in the church and community, and just as Darling started his backswing, the instructor said, “I’ve got an idea …”
Stopping, Darling said, “What do you mean?”
Waltman said, “Never mind,” but when Darling persisted, the instructor said he had thought about bringing First Tee to the south side.
“Once he told me, I said, ‘When do you want to start?’”
“I had a passion for kids and he had a passion for kids,” Waltman added. “We happened to be in the same space. First Tee really needs an ambassador in the community who can help recruit kids.”
Waltman figured it would take Darling a while to bring in youths, but he had 20 signed up within three weeks.
“It’s always been my makeup to give back,” Darling said.
While he left the teaching to Waltman and other pros, Darling saw his role as instilling the values the sport teaches.
“Wait your turn, respect the other person, use the honor system, don’t chat, if you screw up, how do you recover, how do you get out of a bunker, deal with hazards, don’t give up, don’t get too frustrated,” he said.
First Tee draws funding from two sources. One is the eBay store. The other is a golf tournament run by professional golfer Brittany Lincicome, a former standout at Seminole High who lives in Pasadena, that raises $250,000.
“That way, we don’t have to go begging the city as much for money,” Darling said.
Golf honors
The man who doesn’t chase accolades keeps collecting them.
Darling received the James B. Sanderlin Black History Award in 2014 and the City of St. Petersburg Black History Award in 2023. In 2019, less than a month after the Tampa Bay Lightning named him a Community Hero and gave him $50,000 — which he donated entirely to First Tee — former Mayor Rick Kriseman proclaimed Bill Darling Day that March. He also has received a neighborhood award, a nostalgia award and recognition from the American Red Cross.
In 2002, Darling was approached about appearing in “Playing Through,” a film loosely based on the life of Ann Gregory, considered the first Black woman to compete in national golf tournaments, beginning in 1948. She won more than 300 events.
When Darling tried to give his golfing buddies a film credit instead of himself, the casting director asked why he hadn’t included his own name.
“I told her I had a health problem, and she said, ‘Send me your resume as soon as possible,’” Darling said. “Next thing you know, I not only was in the film but I had a speaking part. I got a significant check, and my wife saw that one, too.”
But the biggest honor has been his induction into the Hall of Fame. Attending were his wife, Bernice; daughters Keturah and Tamisha Darling-Roberson; granddaughters Kyandra, Jaquira and Kiarah Bernice Darling-Roberson; sister Priscilla Caffa; nephew Britton Arnold Sims; great-grandson Jahaur Saint El-Amin; brother-in-law Arnold Sims; and son-in-law Gregory Roberson.
Golfing buddies also made the trip, as did Herbert Dixon, 106.
“To see the expression on my family’s faces,” Darling said. “To have eight of my golf group attend, those representing First Tee. I’m really honored.”
Mark Foster, who has known Darling for 20 years, said more than 90% of the youths who took part in First Tee went on to college, a trade or specialty school or the military after high school.
“He lived and breathed First Tee into existence,” Foster said.
On Facebook, Kyandra Darling wrote about her grandfather: “For years, he has been a dedicated advocate for youth in our city, and through First Tee of St. Pete, he helped introduce golf to children on the South Side — creating opportunities, mentorship, and lifelong lessons both on and off the course. To see his impact recognized in such a meaningful way was powerful.”