Imagine a brand that uses business as a catalyst for change. Open Mondays is a socially conscious alternative to traditional apparel brands, offering premium products with a purpose. All profits from Open Mondays are donated to charity, supporting initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in golf.
This was the mindset of 36-year-old Sterling Mack, the founder of Open Mondays, a company dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusion in golf. Based in New Jersey, Open Mondays launched in early 2021 as a passion project between Mack and his high school friend Chris Palmer. Initially co-owned, the business became 100% Black-owned in 2024 after Palmer, who is white, stepped back from daily operations. Now residing in Los Angeles, Mack continues to push forward with his vision of making golf more accessible to underrepresented communities.
“We founded Open Mondays for two reasons,” explains the brand’s founders. “First, we believe the golf industry must acknowledge that its historically exclusionary culture has disproportionately affected certain communities. To truly grow participation in the sport, golf needs to reflect the diversity of America. Second, we don’t think diversity and inclusion initiatives should rest solely on a few corporations. We believe it’s a shared responsibility and that there should be a model that integrates business and philanthropy—a brand aligned with advancing social causes.”
For Mack, Open Mondays is about more than just selling products; it’s about creating opportunities. “Open Mondays is about opening the game of golf to everyone,” Mack explains. He and Palmer initially considered naming the company Elders, as a tribute to golf legend Lee Elder, the first African American to compete in the Masters Tournament. The name change didn’t diminish the mission—to break down barriers in the golf world and make the sport more inclusive for people of all backgrounds.
The brand’s mission is simple: most people want to see a more diverse and inclusive golf community, and Open Mondays provides a way for anyone to contribute to making that vision a reality. How does it work? As a not-for-profit brand, every time a customer purchases a product, a significant portion of the money goes directly to charitable causes. For example, when you buy a polo shirt for $69, around $35 is donated to charity, while the remaining $34 covers production and operational costs such as shipping, legal fees, and maintaining the website.
Building Open Mondays hasn’t been without its challenges. “It’s challenging to find new customers,” Mack admits. As a passion project, the business faces obstacles in terms of outreach and connecting with retailers, clubs, and shops. However, Mack remains hopeful. Through a combination of outreach efforts and an increased focus on social media, he’s seen a gradual rise in website traffic, which has translated into more orders. “Hopefully, getting our name back out there and finding new partners will help us achieve our goals of bringing more inclusion and diversity to golf,” Mack says.
Looking ahead, Mack has ambitious plans for the future of Open Mondays. Over the next three years, he hopes to continue expanding the brand, offering great products while partnering with organizations like First Tee to support youth development in golf. Mack also envisions Open Mondays serving as a platform to organize trips to major golf clubs and sites for younger generations, fostering their passion for the sport.
In the end, Mack’s mission is clear: to make golf a welcoming, inclusive space for all. As he puts it, “If there are ways in which you would like to work with us or want to get in touch, please do so. We are hoping to connect more within the golf community.” Through Open Mondays, Mack is determined to help reshape the future of golf, one swing at a time.
Open Mondays donations directed to organizations as listed on their website include Youth On Course, First Tee, PGA Works Collegiate Championship, United Golfers Association, and Hipe Golf. Through this innovative business model, Open Mondays aims to create lasting change in the golf industry, making it more inclusive and welcoming for future generations. For more information and to view Open Mondays products visit https://www.openmondaysgolf.com
