The second diversity round table discussion of 2016 was held at the Wyndham Resort Hotel, in Peachtree, GA on Friday, May 20, 2016; in conjunction with the Advocates Pro Tour and the National Black Golf Hall of Fame dinner/induction ceremony. Approximately 35 individuals participated.
The theme for the session was “Increasing Female Participation in Golf,” and the objectives were:
- To develop action items to increase diversity and inclusion in recreational golf, youth golf, college golf, professional golf, and careers/employment,
- To meet other advocates for diversity and inclusion in golf,
- To share findings from the recent diversity and inclusion report,
- To serve as a linking agent, connecting grass roots and community-based org’s/individuals already working with diverse populations, with leaders within the golf industry.
Comments and opinions were widely generated during the Roundtable, and among the many suggestions from the collection of participants were these:
- Create an “awareness campaign” highlighting career opportunities
- Make sure this campaign goes into diverse communities, to “communicate where they are”
- Portray images that look like them
- Partner with Debert Cook at African American Golfers Digest, who probably has the most extensive database and ability to reach these markets
- Get more mentors involved
- Get more parents involved
- Explore and share history…story-telling
- Also share your own personal experiences through story-telling
- Create/promote free club outings, tournaments, etc., to attract interested, but hesitant. Create a fund to provide resources so “all they have to do is show up”
- Promote affordable golf
- Provide access, opportunities, and exposure through golf
- Subsidize fees for “junior golf open house day,” kids practice free month,” “kids play free month”, “girls day/month”
- Make imagery more exciting, fun and appealing
- Re careers, engage adult females already into golf. What/where are their opportunities?
- “Boycott! The only thing the industry understands is green!”
- Create accountabilities re diversity for leaders in golf
- When preparing resumes, make sure you let them know you play golf
- Ask millennials for answers…make them a part of the conversations, and make/treat them as experts
- Use the game as a tool/instrument to educate
- Recruit more female role models
- Develop more all-female opportunities
- Assist teens seeking college scholarships, interns, career ops, etc.
- Take individual ownership!
- What part will you play?
- Unify and determine “what’s the ask” of the industry?
- Industry is currently too steeped in tradition…must make it more welcoming to females and meet people where they are.
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ABOUT MICHAEL COOPER, PH.D. Dr. Michael W. Cooper is the former Director of Diversity for the World Golf Foundation/The First Tee and past Assistant Dean/Campus Director for Springfield College-Tampa Bay campus. Contact him at mcooper2@springfieldcollege.edu.
