Myrtle Beach, August 27, 2025
News Summary
The Myrtle Beach community is grieving the sudden loss of golf champion Darren deMaille, a beloved PGA professional and advocate for accessible golf. Known for his dedication to helping individuals with disabilities, Darren passed away at 48 while vacationing in Key West, Florida. His impactful contributions to the golf community, including the establishment of Quick Fix Golf and the Stand Up and Play Foundation in Myrtle Beach, have left a lasting legacy. As the community mourns, many reflect on his profound impact on the game and the lives he touched.
Myrtle Beach Community Faces Heartbreak After the Untimely Passing of Golf Innovator Darren deMaille
Myrtle Beach is in a state of shock after the unexpected loss of “golf champion” Darren deMaille. The beloved 48-year-old PGA professional passed away peacefully in his sleep while vacationing with his wife, Leanne Graham, in sunny Key West, Florida. The news has sent ripples of sadness throughout not just Myrtle Beach, but the wider golf community, particularly those who have benefited from his dedication to making golf accessible to all.
Darren was the creative force behind the Quick Fix Golf school located at the Tupelo Bay Golf Center in Garden City, South Carolina. He built a reputation for himself not only as a talented golfer but also as a passionate instructor devoted to teaching others the game he loved. Known for his warm demeanor and teaching style, he made remarkable contributions towards increasing access to golf for individuals with disabilities—most notably military veterans. His efforts on the Grand Strand helped bring the joy of golf to those who might otherwise have found it challenging or unattainable.
He played a significant role in launching the Myrtle Beach Chapter of the Stand Up and Play Foundation, an initiative he passionately pursued after relocating to the Grand Strand in 2016. Not one to just talk the talk, Darren raised a whopping $15,000 to procure a single-rider ParaGolfer cart. This incredible machine enables individuals with paralysis to swing a golf club directly from their cart—a real game changer in the world of adaptive sports. Darren’s commitment to service extended beyond fundraising, as he offered free initial golf lessons for those using the ParaGolfer and even gifted one of the carts to a veteran in need.
His enthusiasm didn’t stop there. An advocate for the Adaptive Golf movement, Darren poured his heart into the PGA HOPE program—an initiative designed to help veterans learn golf as a therapeutic outlet. Just before his untimely passing, he was in the captivating process of organizing an exciting series of PGA HOPE instruction classes for veterans slated for this coming fall or winter at Tupelo Bay.
Darren graduated from the prestigious Campbell University PGA Golf Management program before kicking off a career that included working with the golf legend Jack Nicklaus at The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida. It was his meeting with Anthony Netto, the Stand Up and Play Foundation’s founder, that sparked his unwavering mission to assist golfers facing disabilities.
Furthermore, alongside his business partner Bobby Lopez, deMaille brought the QuickFixGolf app to life, a nifty tool that allows users to receive virtual swing analysis, making it easier for aspiring golfers to refine their game from anywhere. In recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit, he was named the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021, testament to his impactful contributions through Quick Fix Golf.
Darren’s prowess as an educator didn’t go unnoticed. He earned accolades as a top 100 teacher from the Golf Range Association of America in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Locally, he was celebrated as the Best Teacher on the Grand Strand according to the Myrtle Beach Herald readers’ choice awards in both 2023 and 2024, with nominations from prestigious organizations like Golf Digest and the Carolinas PGA Section.
Family mattered deeply to Darren. He shared three adoring children from a previous marriage—Mackenzie (14), Dylan (12), and Teighlor (10)—who always brightened his world.
Following this tragic loss, Darren’s business partner has expressed concerns about the future of the Quick Fix Golf school and app without his guiding presence. On a community level, the outpouring of grief speaks volumes about the impact Darren had on so many lives through his dedication to teaching and nurturing a love for golf.
As Myrtle Beach holds its breath in grief, funeral arrangements were still being finalized days after this tragic news, leaving many hoping to commemorate a man who truly championed access and joy in the game of golf.
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Additional Resources
- On the Green Magazine: Myrtle Beach Loses Talented Benevolent Golf Teaching Professional at 48
- Wikipedia: Golf
- PGA: Myrtle Beach Pros Bring More Access to Golf for Disabled
- Google Search: Adaptive Golf
- Myrtle Beach Online: Golf Article
- Encyclopedia Britannica: PGA
- Myrtle Beach Online: Latest News Article
- Google News: Golf Accessibility
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
