New job portal and workplace inclusion toolkit is latest initiative through Make Golf Your Thing, an industry-wide effort to advance diversity, equity and inclusion
ORLANDO, FL. (January 24, 2023) – Make Golf Your Thing has officially launched the “Make Golf Your Career” job portal as part of its continued efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the golf industry. Make Golf Your Thing is a collaborative effort that reflects the industry’s commitment to making the sport more diverse, equitable and inclusive. It is financially supported by golf’s governing bodies (PGA of America, PGA TOUR, LPGA and USGA), as well as many leading companies in golf.
Make Golf Your Career is a platform for job seekers and talent seekers to connect with one another in a singular destination, driving greater awareness of the golf industry’s opportunities. With an estimated 2 million jobs in golf in the United States, the ultimate goal is to diversify the industry’s workforce and more closely mirror the demographics of America. The platform can be found at makegolfyourcareer.org and is accessible via makegolfyourthing.org.
“There are so many incredible opportunities for career development in golf across a variety of skill sets – but we need more people from more diverse backgrounds to notice them,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA and executive sponsor of Make Golf Your Career. “Aggregating them in one place is an important next step to open the doors more widely. Working together across the game, we can foster change from the inside, out – one colleague and one golfer at a time.”
As part of the Make Golf Your Career launch, a four-page, user-friendly workplace inclusion toolkit is now available. The toolkit was developed by HR leaders and offers all hiring managers important tips on recruiting and hiring, policies and benefits, career advancement and pay, workplace facility, and culture in hopes of improving inclusivity for businesses and teams of all sizes.
“It is critical that the golf industry continues to hire and retain diverse talent, which in turns makes our industry even stronger,” Whan continued. “We’ve started important conversations, and these tools will help us all learn more, grow our appreciation for diversity, recognize opportunities for equity, and prioritize inclusion in all we do.”
Make Golf Your Career will also feature access to MyJourney Golf, an interactive career exploration app designed to empower individuals to pursue careers in golf and build the skills that will open up their future in the industry. The mobile app invites young job seekers to be mentored by a golf industry professional who virtually guides and inspires them on the skills, tools, and educational or career pathways available to them in the golf industry.
The Make Golf Your Career portal features a user-friendly search engine as well as career and resume support that was developed by YM Careers, provider of the leading niche job board and career center platform. Make Golf Your Thing and American Golf Industry Coalition supporting organizations have the opportunity to automate their job postings using YM Career’s technology or to post their positions manually. This allows seekers to search for specific companies or jobs that are only in the golf industry. In addition, a support center is available on the site to assist users if needed. Organizations that would like to have their jobs posted but do not currently support Make Golf Your Thing or the American Golf Industry Coalition can contact the AGIC to learn how to become involved.
Make Golf Your Career is one of multiple initiatives under Make Golf Your Thing to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive industry. Other strategies include a Grassroots Grants Program, a consumer directory linking interested adults and kids to local programs via zip codes, a toolkit to make golf facilities and workplaces more inclusive, as well as a directory offering access to diverse-owned vendors for goods and services.
