What began as a casual birthday golf outing among friends has grown into one of Mt. Juliet’s most meaningful annual traditions. This year, the SW & Friends Golf Scramble celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of community, generosity, and life-changing impact for children and families facing unimaginable circumstances.
For founder Steven Whitehouse, the roots of SW & Friends are inseparable from home. Born and raised in Mt. Juliet, with a wife who is also a native of Wilson County, Whitehouse credits the relationships formed here as the foundation of everything the organization has become. “Mt. Juliet is such a special place,” he says. “I’ve been incredibly blessed by the people I’ve grown up with — friends I played sports with, went to school with, and shared life with.”
The very first scramble, held 20 years ago, included just 12 friends celebrating Whitehouse’s July birthday. It wasn’t a fundraiser then — simply a day on the course, enjoying one another’s company. But something about it stuck. The following year, more friends were invited, and before long, the scramble evolved into a kind of annual reunion, drawing more than 100 people back home each summer to reconnect.
Everything changed in 2012, after Whitehouse suffered a head injury that shifted his perspective on life and purpose. “That experience made it clear this event could be something more,” he shares. What had begun as fellowship turned into a calling — a way to help others navigating life-altering challenges. With faith as a guide and friends ready to serve, SW & Friends was born. “The name says it all,” Steven explains. “We’re just a group of friends, brought together by faith and a desire to give back to the community that gave us so much.”
That sense of home continues to guide the mission. While Mt. Juliet has grown significantly over the years, Whitehouse believes the responsibility to show up for one another has only increased. “It takes a village,” he says. “Even as the village gets bigger, the needs don’t go away.” Supporting children and families right here in Wilson County remains a priority — a way of pouring back into the place that raised them.
The hometown focus is evident in every detail of the scramble. From its early days at Windtree, to Pine Creek, and now Hermitage Golf Course, accessibility for local supporters has always mattered. The board of directors — made up largely of lifelong Mt. Juliet residents — shares that same commitment. Many were involved long before SW & Friends became an official nonprofit, and Steven calls them “rockstars” who work tirelessly behind the scenes. “These are people who care deeply about this community,” he says. “They’re truly driving the impact.”
Choosing who to help each year is never easy. As a faith-based organization, the board relies heavily on prayer and discernment. Stories often surface through personal connections or social media, arriving, Whitehouse believes, “at just the right time.” From there, needs are carefully vetted to ensure the greatest possible impact.
Since 2014, the scramble has raised more than half a million dollars — a number that still humbles Steven. The funds help families during some of the darkest moments of their lives, when medical bills pile up, work is put on hold, and basic needs feel overwhelming. “We’re often stepping into moments when hope feels very fragile,” he says. “Being able to bring people and resources together to restore that hope is incredibly meaningful.”
After 20 years, the greatest lesson has been the power of community. Whitehouse has watched strangers rally around families they’ve never met, united by compassion and purpose. Looking ahead, he hopes the heart of SW & Friends never changes — friends serving together — while the reach continues to grow. With recent milestones allowing support for more beneficiaries and plans for future events, the mission remains clear: greater impact, rooted in home.
“Mt. Juliet is such a special place, I’ve been incredibly blessed by the people I’ve grown up with.” -Steven Whitehouse