Jim Beatty, president of Jim Beatty Golf Ventures and expo organizer announces Stephen Hamblin, American Junior Golf Association, as a keynote speaker at the 2nd annual African American Golf Expo and Forum on August 27-31 in Charlotte, NC. Steve will speak and conduct a workshop on junior golf, theAJGA, financial support for parents of juniors, and other AJGA opportunities. Jim encourages everyone to register and make their hotel reservations now. Register at https://aagolfexpo.Com/register-here.
STEPHEN HAMBLIN
In his 38 years as Executive Director of the American Junior Golf Association and a Class A Member of the PGA of America, Stephen Hamblin, has witnessed the development of some of the most talented golfers in the world: Tiger Woods, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, and Mariah Stackhouse, to name a few.
Hamblin’s leadership has been the impetus to important programs such as an industry-leading pace of play system, an unmatched tournament experience, sponsorship to keep costs low and value high for members, the ACE Grant program, and a strict Code of Conduct policy, and a thank-you note writing program. He has also been instrumental in the AJGA’s investment of more than $2 million in DE&I initiatives. He has accomplished all of this while remaining true to the original mission and purpose of the AJGA: fostering the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. In doing so, AJGA alumni receive more than $25 million in college scholarships annually.
Under his direction, Hamblin has grown the AJGA from 13 events, five employees, 1,100 members, and a $200,000 annual operating budget in 1984 to a 2022 AJGA schedule of 130 events, 65 full-time employees, 100 interns, 7,500+ members from all 50 states and more than 40 countries, and an annual operating budget of more than $14 million.
Hamblin takes immense pride in assisting the young men and women on the AJGA staff to move up in the golf industry. Through their skill-set development, AJGA staffers who have landed their dream jobs in golf include Peter Ripa, former Tournament Director, Farmers Insurance Open; Mark Brazil, Tournament Director, Wyndham Championship; Michael Tothe, Tournament Director, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial; C.A. Roberts, Principal Owner, O.B. Sports; John Kaczkowski, President & CEO, Western Golf Association; Steve Ethun, Senior Director, Masters Tournament, Augusta National; and Ann Cain, Player Promotion Executive, Women’s Golf, Titleist / FootJoy Worldwide. There are many others now working for the PGA TOUR, USGA, LPGA, PGA of America, The First Tee and college coaching.
Stephen has been married to his “dream girl” Carol for 40 years and together they have raised five (sometimes) fantastic children ranging in age from 37 to 21 (four daughters and one savior). He enjoys fly fishing adventures, gardening, being a former soccer dad, playing hearts and being a “grill master.”
Stephen is the son of a retired Air Force Colonel, attended Michigan State University, and earned a B.A. in Landscape Architecture in 1980. He has never used his degree in a professional capacity, but he claims to have the best-looking yard in his neighborhood.
THE AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION
The AJGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.
The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) is committed to creating an engaging, safe, and inclusive environment. We welcome people from all backgrounds and believe by embracing diverse perspectives, we are better equipped to accomplish our mission of developing golf’s next generation.
The AJGA internship program seeks to diversify the golf industry. The AJGA recruits quality young men and women from all walks of life who bring their passion to work every day. The ALGA provides training and hands-on experiences that open doors to careers in golf, sports, and the business world.
AJGA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Completed in the summer of 2000, the AJGA’s National Headquarters was built on the Chateau Elan property thanks to a gift from Don Panoz. The Southern-designed building serves as the AJGA home base near the No. 15 tee of the Chateau course in Atlanta,GA
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN GOLF EXPO AND FORUM
The mission of the African American Golf EXPO and Forum is to promote the game, the business the industry the careers, and the opportunities in the $84 Billion golf industry to African Americans.
The objectives of the EXPO are to :
1) Promote economic growth, diversity and inclusion in golf to African Americans and other underrepresented groups
2) Provide a friendly and welcoming environment for golf industry leaders to develop relationships with African Americans who are entrepreneurs, community programmers and golf enthusiasts.
3) Help grow the industry by featuring subject matter experts in learning forums, seminars and networking opportunities
4) Provide funding to grassroots organizations involved in teaching and promoting golf to the African American community.
Register at www.aagolfexpo.com/register-here to attend the EXPO and make your room reservations
