With Spare for Change, Havens gives back by sharing love of golf

KAPALUA -- After the game of golf opened opportunities and positive experiences for David Havens, he wanted to share with others how picking up a club could do the same for them.

Through his nonprofit organization Spare for Change, which was founded in 2011, Havens hopes to give back and grow the game by recycling old golf clubs and offering free instruction to those in the community.

"I did it as kind of a give-back because it's given me everything," Havens said of golf on Friday at his Spare for Change booth at the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Kapalua Plantation Course. "The main goal is to give underprivileged kids here in Hawaii the opportunity to play golf. I want the adults to play as much as I want the kids to, and if the adults play, then the kids will play."

The Virginia native grew up playing golf, and eventually, it led to traveling and competing around the world.

Golf also opened the doors for his college education as he earned a spot on the Virginia Tech men's golf team. Havens said that he was the final walk-on, which at the time was the last spot on the team that forced out Lanto Griffin.

It all worked out for Griffin, who is playing this week as one of the 34 PGA Tour winners from the past year -- he ended up attended Virginia Commonwealth instead.

Havens, who is currently an officer for the Aloha Section PGA, has been honored as the Aloha Section's 2013 Teacher of the Year and the 2017 Golf Professional of the Year.

Along the way, he became the owner and operator of The Havens Experience located at the Maui Nui Golf Club in Kihei, and started Spare for Change.

On Friday, a mix of adults and children picked up their recycled clubs -- cut and modified to fit their height -- at the organization's booth.

And there's not a part of the old clubs that go to waste. Havens said he makes grill skewers and bottle openers from spare parts.

Havens said there's "no hook" or ulterior motives, just free clubs and free play, describing the experience as "golf Christmas."

From drivers to irons to wedges to putters, Havens said he'll give away about 150 to 200 clubs over the course of the tournament. Last year, he handed out around 500 at the Sony Open on Oahu.

Since 2011, Spare for Change has given out about 15,000 free golf clubs and hours of mentorship. By 2025, Havens is aiming to have a branch of Spare for Change in every state across the U.S.

Havens also fundraises to provide financial assistance to both kids and adults that have been in the program to cover travel expenses for those who want to take their game to the next level. He also tries to cover the costs of PGA memberships.

The only requirement is "I have to know if they have any kind of work ethic," Havens said. By mentoring, he can quickly learn how passionate they are about the sport.

"When you're around them enough, you can tell if they are for real," he said. "It's my way of giving back to those who have been good to me."

For more information on Spare for Change, visit spareforchange.org.

* Dakota Grossman is at dgrossman@mauinews.com