From Running in Touchdowns to ‘Enjoying the Walk’
NFL Legend Jermaine Kearse is All-In on Golf.
Pacific Northwest sports legend and Super Bowl-winning former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse has lived out more than his fair share of boyhood dreams on the gridiron. The game-breaking Lakewood, Washington native made so many iconic and clutch catches in the playoffs – including a 23-yard score in a Super Bowl XLVIII victory and an electric, game-sealing 35-yard grab in overtime of the 2014 NFC Championship Game – he earned the nickname “Big Game Jermaine” and an indelible place in the hearts of diehard fans in the PNW.
After a successful seven-season career in the NFL, Kearse has applied the same dedication and talent that made him a standout player (with 255 receptions for 3,290 yards and 17 touchdowns; plus, six post-season touchdowns on 31 playoff receptions for 493 total yards in the postseason) to playing golf and helping make the game more fun, engaging, and impactful in the community.
He’s active in supporting the local and regional junior golf scene, plays competitively in amateur events himself with a 4.1 handicap. In 2023, along with PGA TOUR caddie Greg Bodine (who currently loops for Bryson DeChambeau), opened Tacoma’s Evergreen Golf Club, an indoor golf wonderland loaded with 13 Trackman-equipped simulator bays, an 8,000 sq ft short-game area with real sand bunkers and a modular PuttView putting green, a fitness zone, lounge, conference rooms, with quality food and beverage service.
Evergreen has become Kearse’s de facto office and the ideal place to share his enthusiasm for the game that now consumes a large chunk of his business and recreational life. He’s huge fan of Alister MacKenzie courses and has already played Augusta National, Crystal Downs, and Royal Melbourne with his sights now set on Cypress Point and Pasatiempo.
Kearse also uses golf as a means to give back to the community. He’s a board member of the Washington Golf Foundation, plays in numerous charity events – including those set up to support first responders – and has caddied for competitive junior players in local events.
In this conversation, Kearse opens up about what draws him to golf, what he’s learned from the pros, his vision for Evergreen, and why giving back through the game means so much to him.
What first sparked your love for golf?
My stepdad introduced my brothers and me to the game around 2013 or 2014 and that was a foundation in the game for my brothers and me. I was drawn to the competitive nature of it pretty quickly. Golf is so different—it’s counterintuitive, humbling, and there’s always something to work on. That hooked me.
When did you realize you weren’t just dabbling with a hobby, but that golf had become a serious passion?
I really started getting into it around 2016 or 2017 when I was traded to the Jets before the start of the season. I had a teammate, Andre Roberts, who played a lot, and we’d hit the course every afternoon, right after meetings. From there, it just became an obsession.
I was living in New Jersey, away from my family during OTAs. I had a lot of free time, and Andre and I were playing nearly every day. After that, I got more serious—custom fittings, lessons, competitive events. Post-retirement, I started playing in amateur tournaments. It’s been a whole new level of commitment.
Is there anything that translates from being an elite football athlete to becoming a serious, competitive golfer?
Definitely the mental side. In football, you have to perform, move on, and then do it again. Golf is similar in that way—but it’s such a patient sport and way more mentally draining. It’s a long grind. You have to stay sharp for four or five hours and still perform. That ability to reset after each shot or hole is huge. It’s a different kind of toughness, for sure. I played at the BMW Charity Pro-Am recently, with the culmination of the practice rounds and then trying to go perform when it’s 95 degrees and crazy humid. Once you throw those aspects in, you realize this is such a hard, draining sport, in ways that you just wouldn't think of. It’s kind of like a guy, you know, who does Pilates for the first time. Like, “Oh, that doesn't look crazy, and then you get on that reformer, and all you can say is “Oh, my goodness!”
You’ve built your indoor golf entertainment and training facility, Evergreen Golf Club, into something that truly stands out in the market. What has it been like meeting golfers from all walks of life who share your passion, or just want a fun and easy entry point into the game?
It’s been a mix of both or those types of client and has definitely been a broader spectrum of golfers than we expected. Of course, we’ve had some very golf-savvy players — people who know TrackMan and are deep into game improvement—but we’ve also welcomed juniors, beginners, and casual players who just love the game. Our goal was to make golf accessible and inclusive, and I think we’re achieving that. The membership base gives us the ability to provide scholarships, junior rates, and programming that keeps kids involved. At the core, we’re all about people who love golf and want to be part of a community that shares that passion.
You’ve been especially active in junior golf. What’s your connection there?
Junior golf is one of the pillars of Evergreen. When we started, we saw how hard it was for kids in Washington to compete with golfers from places like Florida or California who have great weather year-round. We wanted to give them a place to practice and grow, especially in the off-season. Personally, I never played junior golf, but I love being around the game and mentoring kids. I’ve caddied for juniors at tournaments—it’s just a chance to build real relationships and hopefully be a positive influence. It keeps me close to the game in a really meaningful way.
You’ve played alongside PGA TOUR players in some high-level pro-ams, including rounds with guys like Jordan Spieth. What’s your biggest takeaway from seeing those guys perform at peak golfing levels?
The biggest thing? Their golf isn’t flashy. It’s consistent and smart. They don’t put themselves in bad spots. They manage the course so well and they don’t chase perfect shots — they chase smart ones. They also just manage the course far better than we do. There's a lot of unknown during a golf round, so one of the things I’m doing is learning how to manage my expectations. That’s something I’ve tried to learn and apply to my own game.
How often are you playing these days?
I try to get out twice a week when the weather’s good. During fall and winter, I spend a lot of my time at Evergreen. Once the sun's out, though, I think everybody knows where I am. When it’s tournament season and I'm just trying to go out there and compete.
Competitively, I shoot mid-to-high 70s. Fortunately, every year I’ve played in competitive amateur events, my scores have improved. I’m really just committed to putting in the work.
Do you have a favorite golf memory?
Tournament-wise, I shot a 73 in the first round of the BMW Charity Pro-Am — a Korn Ferry Tour event. That was huge for me. But probably my most unforgettable experience was playing Augusta National. I’ve been to The Masters as a spectator and I'm a huge Alister MacKenzie fan. I kind of have a goal to play as many of his courses as I can, so it was just really awesome to just be able to walk down 11 and see Amen Corner and to walk across the Hogan and Nelson Bridges. It was all just as cool as you would imagine.
I shot 79 both rounds and parred the 12the hole both times. I wore the TRUE Linkswear hat that said “Enjoy the Walk” — which perfectly captured that moment. I just wanted to soak it all in.
Any birdies or memorable shots?
I birdied the seventh hole and almost birdied it twice, but just to break 80 on the courses where they play The Masters and spend two full days on the grounds there was incredibly special.
What drew you to TRUE linkswear and what do you appreciate about the brand and the people?
They’re from Tacoma, just like me, so there was that local connection. I met Jason Moore two or three years ago and the more I learn about the approach he and Ryan have to the business, I just love their vibe. They’re authentic, focused on walking and enjoying the game. That “Enjoy the Walk” message is something I try to live by. TRUE reminds me to be present and grateful for where I am, especially in moments like walking the fairways of Augusta.
Your Pacific Northwest roots are something you’re clearly proud of and very serious about giving back to community. What is it about this region that means so much to you?
Kearse: This place shaped who I am. When I got traded to the Jets, that was my first time living outside of the state of Washington, besides up a little bit when in I lived in Germany because my dad was working at a military base, but when I we moved to Washington, I pretty much have been here ever since. It definitely has a special place in my heart. It still has a little uniqueness and mystery to the rest of the country. People are discovering the Northwest more now, but it still feels unique to come here.
Any long-term golf dreams?
If everything came together, Greg and I wouldn’t mind building a premium par-3 course out here. Something creative, fun, and challenging. There’s not enough of those. It’s about creating experiences and giving more people a way into the game.
