Emmanuel Johnson and his mother were listening to a local radio program when they heard an announcement about a Durham golf program.

The founder, Jerry Spence, was seeking youngsters 5 to 17 years old to join. Emmanuel had taken to golf while attending a summer camp at Hillendale Golf Course, but this particular club had more black kids his own age.

So, without a second thought, Lisa Johnson called and signed up her 12-year-old son. Three months later, he's still hooked on golf and talking college scholarship.

"I didn't think it would be so cool," Emmanuel said last Saturday at Macy's during a fundraiser for the club. "It's a way to get the stress out. It's so relaxing."

Emmanuel is a member of Find-A-Kid Junior Golf Club in Durham, started by Spence in 1997. After moving near Lincoln Community Health Center, Spence would chip balls in his yard. Pretty soon, neighborhood kids from every corner started coming over and asking to play, too. It was then that Spence recognized a need.

"A lot of the kids were idle and hungry, and didn't have anything to do," he said. "That's why I named it FAK because every time I looked around, I found a kid coming from every angle."

Spence fell in love with the game while visiting his father during the summers in Augusta, Ga. He was one of the first black students to try out for the golf team at Fuquay-Varina High School, but said he felt unqualified and unwelcome.

Undeterred, he began practicing at home with a homemade club and walnuts for golf balls. His first set of clubs was bought at a yard sale.

Spence enrolled at N.C. Central, joined the golf team there and graduated with two degrees. But growing up, he admits he made some mistakes, including a brush with the law.

"God and golf changed my life," said Spence, whose father committed

suicide when he was a freshman at NCCU.

His love of golf and kids blossomed after he moved to Durham. The FAK Jr. meets on Saturdays at Shepherd Middle School. Besides golf lessons, members discuss academics, relationships, peer pressure, you name it.

The group travels to local golf clubs and has even visited several PGA tour events.

"He has not missed a Saturday since he joined," Lisa Johnson said. "His love of the game has shown through. Golf has lots of rules and he's a rule-driven guy. It also teaches so many other things like etiquette and culture."

One look at Emmanuel and the word "linebacker" immediately comes to mind. The Rogers-Herr Middle student admits people are surprised when they learn he's a golfer.

"My friends don't think it's cool," he said. "They want me to play football or baseball, but I don't want to. I like golf and I'm taking it all the way."

Spence says he's taught more than 2,000 kids since the program began, but each year is getting harder. Golf is a country club sport that requires money - lots of it - for equipment, clothing and travel.

Several local clubs have donated equipment, but the need keeps increasing as more kids get involved. Kids who otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity to think outside the box.

"I've got kids looking forward to getting out every Saturday and doing something that's positive," Spence said. "Most of them say, 'Man, I don't want to play no golf,' but after I work with them for a week, then it's, 'Man, I want to go play some golf.' They'd rather do that than play basketball or go to the mall and hang out or get in trouble."

To contact Spence, call (919) 491-7132.