The Nick Nurse Foundation
Golf & music come together for a good cause
Nick Nurse is entering his third season as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers and eighth season overall as an NBA head coach. He experienced the ultimate high as a rookie head coach, winning the NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors. His most recent season was his most challenging. Last year, the Sixers won just 24 games, despite having a roster that included the 2023 MVP in Joel Embiid, a 2024 All-Star in Tyrese Maxey, and a nine-time All-Star in newcomer Paul George.
Embiid had surgery on his left knee in April after appearing in 19 games last season, and George underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in July. The sentiments surrounding the Sixers heading into the 2025-26 season are skeptical. The fanbase will look to Nurse for answers on his team’s health and performance.
But before he endures the rigors of another NBA season, even he cannot honestly know what to expect. Nurse refueled this summer, spending time in his hometown of Carroll, Iowa. Not surprisingly, the 58-year-old was not resting on his laurels.
Carroll has a population of 10,125. The land is vast, but the people are close. So, when Nurse learned Carroll National Golf Club, the only private course in the town, was in trouble and going to be sold to real estate developers, he stepped in and bought it in February 2024. He wanted to save it for the members. In turn, the members said, “We will support you in every way we can.”
I travelled to Carroll for the 2nd annual Golf and Music Festival in mid-August to support the Nick Nurse Foundation. The event included two golf days and excellent music performances each evening. They assembled a massive stage on part of the 10th hole that allowed people to sit on the grass and watch the likes of Mt. Joy, Jefferson Starship, and the Jacksons. But the warm-up band, Purple Wonder, had a special place in my heart because they were all individually accomplished Philadelphia musicians.
The story of Purple Wonder and its connection to Nick Nurse is incredible. Scott Granoff, a long-time Sixers season ticket holder, got involved with managing Purple Wonder. Upon Nurse’s arrival in Philadelphia, Granoff learned of Nurse’s love of music and ability to play the keyboard. He convinced Nurse that a jam session with Purple Wonder would be worthwhile. That took place a year and a half ago at Nurse’s house. A connection was born.
This summer, Nurse invited Purple Wonder to be the warm-up band at his event, and yes, the coach was on the keyboard. They are a high-energy tribute band to Prince and Stevie Wonder. The night before the event, Purple Wonder performed for an intimate crowd of fifty people in the clubhouse. Nurse was in his musical element. Between sets, Nurse took the time to thank and acknowledge old and new friends for joining him in supporting the current generation of kids in Carroll, Iowa.
This year, the foundation awarded a high school girl a scholarship, the first of many such gifts in the future.
The number of people who flew in worldwide to participate in this event, including Julius Erving, was heartwarming. It spoke volumes about Nick Nurse as a person and friend. Nurse was the first person at the course to greet the golfers in the morning, sharing coffee and conversation.
One of the popular stories Nurse shared with many was the presence of a basket and a backboard anchored to a deck railing off the clubhouse. He explained that his high school called years ago, saying they had baskets from when he was a player in storage and were getting rid of them. Nurse was asked if he wanted one. Nurse said yes, and for the past couple of years, the 600-pound backboard with a hoop has sat in his Iowa garage until August. Nurse seized an opportunity to raise more money. Pay $20 to attempt three free throws. Prizes were awarded based on the number of makes. Unfortunately for me, the basket was ten feet two inches high, given the deck’s location. Those two inches were a game-changer in the wrong direction. Many people attempted free throws, with very few makes.
Nick Nurse’s second annual Festival in Carroll was championship-caliber, from the old-school hoop to the golf to the music and the people.
