September 20, 2021 | By Siad Reid
When Wendell Haskins has an idea that he is passionate about there is nothing that will stop him from bringing it forth. Former Def Jam Executive, Senior Director of Diversity and Multi-Cultural Initiatives for the PGA and currently the Professional Collegiate League Chief Marketing Officer, Wendell, aka “The Commish” is producing and hosting a brand-new golf show called, “Club Life” airing on CBS Sports Network which debuted on Aug 23.
Wendell Haskins not only brings celebrity, but he also brings a group of influential friends like MLB All-Star, Gary Sheffield or Record Executive, Kevin Liles, to some of the most private and prestigious golf courses in the country. While playing a round of golf with his guest, usually accompanied by a third player like Golf Professional/LPGA Tour Player, Sadena Parks, the program lets us get to know how these professionals got into the game of golf and how it has changed their lives.
It’s a fun show that captures another side of our favorite professional athletes and entertainment icons against the backdrop of famous golf courses around the U.S. Laughs, cigars, great conversations, and top-shelf drinks bring intimacy that gives viewers an up close and personal look into the lives of their favorite celebrities and sports stars.
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And, of course, a show produced and hosted by The Commish would not be complete without checking out his guests’ golf fashion by literally going inside their club house locker. Wendell was a fashion consultant for many celebrities over the years and this platform showcases the styles and trends in golf attire today. So, celebrities be forewarned!
“I didn’t envision me hosting it,” Haskins said when the idea for “Club Life” came to him.
Wendell originally had the idea of having his good buddy Anthony Anderson of “Black-ish” host the show because of Anderson’s success hosting his own golf show, “Golf in America” on The Golf Channel back in 2011. Anderson has since congratulated his good friend on carrying the torch as a Black Golf Host on network television and bringing more people of color to the game and sponsors who support Black golfers.
The game of golf was always in Wendell’s blood. His mentor at the time owned the late 1990’s Soul-Food restaurant, The Shark Bar, in Manhattan. Wendell’s father gave him his first set of clubs around the same time. Living in NYC made it difficult to pursue his new passion, but he found a Black golf instructor on the West Side of Manhattan at Chelsea Piers. Will Larkin provided the knowledge base that Wendell needed in golf and be competitive with his peers. After a fated golf trip to New Mexico Wendell realized that golf was his game!
As he learned the game not just on the course, but also through research where he learned the history of tournaments as the Masters and the US Open. He also discovered a book called “Forbidden Fairways” by Calvin Sinnette and was introduced to Blacks in golf.
Among the many contributions Blacks have made in the game, one in particular stuck out to Wendell the most. George Grant, an African American, had registered the original patent for the first golf tee, which inspired Wendell to create a golf tournament called the “Original Tee Golf Classic”. The OTGC would be an opportunity for his entrepreneurial and entertainment industry friends to play golf in a highly visible space for the purpose of fun, networking, and sharing the history of what had been perceived traditionally as a White game.
This has been Wendell Haskin’s brand for the past several years which has grown steadily in numbers and gained national attention. “And that really set me off in the journey in golf and now everything I’ve done from that point forward was always all about educating particularly Black folks who are proud of their contributions to golf and to make sure we never lose that.”
Now with his show, “Club Life” as an extension of OTGC Wendell wants to further his purpose and mission by bringing more folks into the game that are curious about it, entertain those that love the game, and see people they already know and admire in the golf environment and advocating for golf. “I want to educate people and let them see all of the people .. why we love the game so much .. which is something you can’t get watching the PGA Tour on television”
“Black folks just don’t inspire other Black folks. I want everyone to get something out of this but particularly African Americans who have felt excluded or have had negative perceptions about the game”.
Best of luck to The Commish and the “Club Life”. Be sure to tune in on CBS sports.
Siad Reid is Owner at Continuum 8 which specializes in video production, high-end live streaming, and podcast services.
