Golf community rallies to help teenage Ukrainian golfer escape to US

It marked the end of a marathon journey the 15-year-old and his mother Vita had undertaken to The 15-year-old is one of the best young golfers in Ukraine and has participated in competitions around the world. Just last year, Golod became the first Ukrainian to compete in the United States Golf Association’s (USGA) US Junior Amateur, which took place at the Country Club of North Carolina last summer.After a grueling 5,000-mile journey, which began in a car and ended when he landed in Orlando, taking approximately 54 hours, it was a visa he had obtained from playing in a tournament in the US which helped him re-enter the country. And safely in the US, Golod condemned what is happening back in his homeland. “Something that’s happening in Ukraine should not be happening in the middle of Europe in the 21st century,” he said. “Kids are losing their homes, they’re dying, they’re losing their lives. “And it’s devastating, and people should know the truth because there’s a lot of fake news going around. But in reality, what’s happening is the whole country’s being destroyed. It’s not demilitarization or denationalization, it’s actually being destroyed by (Vladimir) Putin, and it has to be stopped.”Worldwide recognition When he was still in Kyiv, Golod’s plight began to be circulated widely on the internet after an interview with Golf Digest highlighted his and his family’s dire situation. And the interview led to members of the golfing community galvanizing to try and help his situation. Jim Nugent, board member at the American Junior Golf Association, and golf instructor And so, they set about doing what they could to help Golod and his family with their journey. Nugent explains that he spent time on the phone getting financial commitments from the USGA and the Country Club of North Carolina to aid his journey from Ukraine.He also started a Golod described it as “the best day of his life.”Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosBut it didn’t stop there. Nugent explained that Golod was lent a set of golf clubs — because “his still haven’t arrived,” according to Nugent — and actually played the famous TPC Sawgrass course. Going through what he has is unimaginable for most, and while he’s safe, his family is never far from his thoughts. “I’m very thankful for everyone that contributed to me being here and it’s great that I can continue to pursue my goals academically and athletically. But at the same time, it’s very, very nerve-wracking having my whole family back in Ukraine.”