PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (May 6, 2024) – Before the 2024 PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship (PWCC) officially started at TPC Sawgrass Monday morning, the most culturally significant championship in collegiate golf began with three special events—Youth Day, Beyond the Green, and a Topgolf Tee-Off party.
YOUTH DAY
Local youth ages 8-15 gathered at TPC Sawgrass Saturday to learn the game from PGA of America Golf Professionals from the North Florida PGA Section, TPC Sawgrass staff, PGA WORKS Fellows as well as Professionals from around the country who served as PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship Ambassadors.
The kids transitioned through putting, chipping, and full-swing stations to learn the fundamentals of golf. Additionally, PGA of America Golf Professionals introduced the vast career opportunities available through the game.
Participants came from the Communities in Schools of Jacksonville, a nonprofit that had served more than 110,000 Duval County students over the past 30 years, and Elevate Jacksonville, an education and mentoring program that empowered urban youth to reach their full potential.
“Youth day was awesome, it was an opportunity for the kids to learn a little bit and be excited about the game of golf,” said PGA WORKS Ambassador Mark Nance, PGA, the Store Manager of Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG) in Indianapolis, and one of the founders of the PWCC. “Hopefully when they went home they remembered that day and told their friends, keeping them interested in the game of golf and possibly, in the future, the industry.”
Topgolf Tee-Off Party. Saturday ended with PWCC participants enjoying food, games, a custom hat bar, and a “Battle of the Bands” showcase between Albany State University Marching Rams Show Band and the Miles College Purple Marching Machine.
PGA WORKS BEYOND THE GREEN
Sunday morning, the 187 student-athletes competing in the PWCC and 50 local community high school students attended the Global Home of the PGA TOUR for the annual PGA WORKS Beyond the Green experience.
Held in conjunction with the PWCC, this career-exploration event was designed to educate and inspire talent from historically underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in the business of golf and beyond. The event provided students access to industry leaders, executives, and influencers to help inspire a career within the golf industry workforce.
After a student-athlete career fair—where students networked with organizations like the PGA of America, PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, and more—lively panel discussions with golf industry experts empowered attendees with valuable tools for personal and professional success.
“A lot of you here had dreams and goals playing competitively, and we wanted to do everything we could to help you reach those goals, but some of us may not make it on the PGA TOUR or the LPGA Tour, and that’s what that day was about,” said Kennis Sims, Senior Director, PGA of America REACH Foundation. “That day was about the careers available in the $102 billion golf industry and beyond.”
Hosted by Beyond the Fairway podcast hosts Doug Smith and Will Lowry, students heard from:
- Allie Brown – Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, NBC Sports
- Laura Diaz, Senior Director of Community and Inclusion, LPGA Tour
- John Easterbrook Jr., PGA, Chief Member Officer, PGA of America
- Ken Fraiser, Community Manager, Chase
- Patrice Fuller, Community Manager, Chase
- Kimberly Hoffmann, Wellness Manager, Destination Kohler
- AJ Hubbard, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Kohler
- Omar Jermaine, Creative Director, Dunning
- Jeff Price, Chief Commercial Officer, PGA of America
- Kenyatta Ramsey, Vice President of Player Development, PGA Tour
- Kennie Sims, PGA, Senior Director, PGA of America REACH Foundation
- Jason Smith – Executive Director, Advancing Black Pathways Program
- Jordan Smith, Specialist, Storytelling & Inclusion Communications, PGA Tour
PWCC sponsors Chase, Kohler, and ADT provided support through career-fair booths and panel discussions. Kohler even provided a special breathwork exercise and Chase led a discussion on financial education.
Panel discussions started with the differences between and the collaboration efforts across the PGA of America, PGA TOUR, and LPGA Tour; creative paths that could lead to rewarding careers in or adjacent to the golf industry; and a fireside chat about entering the workforce.
“I think it was a great opportunity, especially the career fair,” said Julie Gauvin, a senior on the Delaware State University women’s golf team. “We got to meet and talk with a bunch of people in the golf industry and that was great, especially for people who wanted to get into the golf industry.”
The 2024 PWCC presented by Chase, Kohler, and ADT was played May 6-8 on the Stadium and Dye’s Valley courses at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
For more information on the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship, visit PGAWORKSCollegiate.org.
