Golf is not the kind of thing you expect to thrive in any metro center—and as for the Detroit area, well, you know, golf is reserved for those tony folks outside of town in their country clubs, right?

Asking celebrated golf course architect Tom Doak if he’d take time out of his globetrotting schedule to design a practice facility for a grassroots golf program would be a little like asking Frank Gehry to build a tree house for a troop of boy scouts.

Golf has always had the ability to inspire players and fans alike, but now the sport’s motivational qualities are being used to attract and help those on the fringes of the game.

View our photos from the 2009 College Tour.

Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner reports on the expansion efforts of Midnight Golf, a program designed to help under-privileged youth learn life skills through golf education.