Over the past five years, Make Golf Your Thing (MGYT) has become a transformative force in the golf industry, reshaping the game’s landscape by championing inclusion, diversity, and sustained growth. Launched in 2020 amid the pandemic, MGYT emerged as a united industry effort to both retain the surge in golf participation and address the sport’s longstanding diversity challenges. Since then, more than 150 volunteer leaders from across the golf ecosystem have driven the initiative forward through collaborative programs, grassroots outreach, and systemic changes aimed at making golf accessible and welcoming to all.
At the heart of MGYT’s mission are three primary areas of focus: expanding participation through grassroots grants, connecting talent with opportunity, and linking minority-owned businesses to the industry through a diverse supplier database. These initiatives have yielded remarkable results. The Grassroots Grants Program invested $3 million to support 186 organizations, contributing to a dramatic rise in participation. By 2024, golf participation in the United States reached 47.2 million people, a 50% increase over the past decade. Ethnically diverse participation grew by 44% since 2020, and female participation rose by 41%, with 7.9 million women playing on-course golf.
MGYT also tackled workforce diversity with the Make Golf Your Career job portal, launched in 2023 in partnership with YM Careers. By 2024, the platform had over 2,000 job postings and more than 325,000 views, with targeted outreach on HBCU campuses and at major recruiting events like the National Black MBA Conference. The White House Initiative on HBCUs and the U.S. golf industry further strengthened ties with historically Black institutions through campus visits, career sessions, and golf learning centers. Ten HBCUs benefited, with several receiving golf simulators to support student training.
On the business side, MGYT launched a diverse supplier portal connecting golf industry decision-makers with over 2,000 minority-owned vendors, serving 14,000 users in 2024. This opened doors for underrepresented businesses to become integral parts of tournaments, facilities, and corporate operations.
Major golf organizations have also expanded their inclusion work alongside MGYT. The USGA introduced new internship and development programs, while the PGA of America expanded initiatives like PGA Works and PGA VendorMatch to foster workforce diversity and supplier inclusion. The PGA TOUR committed $100 million to equity efforts, launched player development and HBCU grant programs, and strengthened the APGA Tour. The LPGA, Masters Tournament, and Golf Course Superintendents Association also enhanced youth programs, adaptive golf initiatives, and educational outreach.
The collective efforts of MGYT and its partners have laid a robust foundation for a more equitable future. From the Underrated Golf Tour and the African American Golf Expo to accessible golf programs for individuals with disabilities, the industry is now more reflective of society’s diversity. The past five years demonstrate how strategic collaboration, inclusive programming, and dedicated volunteers can transform a sport once seen as exclusive into one that welcomes everyone. MGYT’s progress is more than an achievement—it is a blueprint for golf’s inclusive and sustainable future.
VIEW THE 5 YEAR SUMMARY REPORT HERE
