AFRICAN AMERICAN GOLFERS HALL OF FAME RECOGNIZES “OUTSTANDING” WORK OF APGA TOUR
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA (May 28, 2021)
The APGA Tour, a growing force in the drive to bring greater diversity to the sport of golf, will be recognized for Outstanding Achievement in the Area of Social Equity & Inclusion in the Sport of Golf by the African American Golfers Hall of Fame (AAGHOF) at the organization’s annual banquet Sunday night in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The 12-year-old APGA Tour has realized dynamic success over the past 16 months, more than doubling the number of tournaments and prize money available to minority players while providing career counseling and health/wellness programs to youth in underserved communities.
APGA Tour executive director Cole Smith will receive the award from Malachi Knowles, the founder of the AAGHOF, at the Holiday Inn in West Palm Beach, site of the annual AAGHOF convention.
Under the leadership of Smith and APGA Tour CEO Ken Bentley, the tour has forged partnerships with the PGA TOUR, PGA of America, Farmers Insurance, Lexus and other organizations to dramatically expand its tournaments and programs, greatly increasing its reach and impact around the country.
Among the attendees was Jim Dent, the former PGA TOUR player who won 12 tournaments on the PGA TOUR Champions between 1989 and 1998. Also in attendance were a number of APGA Tour members who are playing the circuit of 13 events with $350,000 in prize money this year.
The AAGHOF aims to celebrate and honor the history and achievements of African Americans in the game of golf. AAGHOF officials work to establish a place where a history of African Americans in golf can be shown for the world to see and to honor those African Americans who have contributed and continue to contribute to golf and their communities. They also work to provide an interactive educational learning experiences for golfers of all ages.
