Police: Golf pro accused of child sex abuse taught kids in NC

LIVERMORE, CALI. — Police said Michael Nisbet, most known as a PGA golf pro and one of the top 50 golf masters for kids in the country, is accused of sexually abusing students he coached.

"He used a lot of the promise of stardom, expensive gifts," said Steve Goard, Livermore Police Department in California. "It was just a slow, grooming process in which he knew exactly which kids he could perpetrate this crime and be successful."

Three former students, boys between the ages of 12 and 17 years old, said Nisbet abused them between 2009 and 2012 in California.

Eyewitness News learned the investigation has expanded to four other states, including North Carolina.

Nisbet coached a summer junior golf tournament in the Tar Heel state at a TPC golf course between 2008 and 2011.

There is a TPC course at Piper Glen in Charlotte and another in Raleigh.

The staff said Nisbet never worked for Piper Glen but could not confirm whether he ever coached an event there.
Police took Nisbet into custody this week in Livermore.

"He came to the police station (and) during the interview he did make some admissions to committing these acts," Gourd said.

Authorities asked Eyewitness News to put the community on alert because they suspect Nisbet may have other victims across the country, including Charlotte.

"We don't know if they'll come forward," Goard said. "We hope they do. It's not an easy thing for a male to admit a male coach sexually assaulted them, but hopefully they know they're not alone."

Nisbet was set to get an award from the northern California PGA for creating the GRIP Jr. Golf Academy with 175 kids enrolled.

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