Steve Mona Honored with Prestigious Jerry Tarde Courage Award at 2025 African American Golf EXPO & Forum
Steve Mona, former World Golf Foundation CEO, received the prestigious Jerry Tarde Courage Award at the 2025 African American Golf EXPO & Forum, held January 22-25 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The award was presented on January 23 by Jim Beatty, Founder of the African American Golf EXPO & Forum, while an enthusiastic crowd stood and applauded in recognition of Mona’s contributions to the golf industry.
Throughout his 30-year career, Mona served as a leader and pioneer in driving initiatives focused on diversity and equality within golf. His efforts earned him a place among Golf Digest’s “Most Powerful People in Golf.”
At the time of his recognition, Mona served as Senior Advisor to the American Golf Industry Coalition and Director of Governance & Leadership with Club Benchmarking. His distinguished leadership roles in the industry included:
• Executive Director – We Are Golf
• CEO – World Golf Foundation, where he oversaw the First Tee, World Golf Hall of Fame, and Golf 20/20
• CEO – Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
• Executive Director – Georgia State Golf Association
In 2021, Mona was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame, further cementing his legacy in the sport.
“I am extremely pleased with what is happening in the golf industry now, with respect to DE&I, specifically the Make Golf Your Thing effort, and the specific efforts around Make Golf Your Game, Make Golf Your Career, Make Golf Your Business, are tremendous,” said Mona. “And, I applaud the Commissioners and/or CEOs of the LPGA, the PGA of America and the USGA for their commitment and the resources they put behind it. It seems to me that for the first time in a long time, that we have some things hard-wired now into the game, that are not going to be the sort of ‘flavor of the month’. I also want to recognize— while I’m at it, the Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Golf Club and the Masters tournament Foundation. While they’re not a formal part of Make Golf Your Thing, they are doing some pretty impactful things in Augusta, weather it’s the local college, whether its the local golf course, so don’t think that Augusta National doesn’t have a heart for what’s going on with regards to DE&I,” Mona said.
The Jerry Tarde Courage Award, established by the African American Golf EXPO & Forum in 2023, honors Jerry Tarde, Editor-in-Chief of Golf Digest, for his significant role in advancing inclusivity within the golf industry. His efforts have inspired others to pursue equality, regardless of prevailing opinions.
Past recipients of the award include former PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and Jim Awtrey, the first CEO of the PGA of America.
