November 3, 2021 | BY AAGD STAFF

Will it be an April Masters 2022 for former World No. 1 Tiger Woods? Rumors are circulating about the pro golfer’s rehabilitation and most recent on-course activities. Just the thought of Woods getting into competition again is tantalizing. Seen October 9 on a course with his son Charlie, Woods was wearing a leg sleeve and looking to be in great shape.

Just a matter of time. He is coming. https://t.co/2NFry1PjgJ

— Riggs (@RiggsBarstool) November 2, 2021

Following a terrible roll-over crash in California last February 23 on the border of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes, while driving a luxury SUV, law enforcement said the athlete was speeding while going from one event to another.

Woods, 45, suffered significant injuries to his right leg, including “comminuted open fractures” to the lower leg and a shattered ankle. The pro golfer was rushed to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, the top trauma hospital in Southern California, where he underwent surgery.

Now, according to the folks who run the @TWlegion Twitter account the billionaire golfer is said to have “resumed limited golf activities.”

Remember, of course, this is simply a claim by @TWlegion and it has not been substantiated. There is no word from the Woods camp about if, and when, he will return to playing golf. And Woods has not made a specific public statement about that. He did, however, give an interview with Golf Digest a while back but managed not to answer any questions about making a comeback to golf. What he did confirm was that his rehabilitation was “more painful than anything I have ever experienced”.

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Yet, after seeing Woods a few weeks ago, for the first time standing without his crutches, watching his son Charlie play in a junior tournament in Florida, fans can’t hope but wonder if pretty soon we will once again hear the roar of the crowd with Woods standing at the tee box.

November 1, 2021 | By Craig Kirby

Last week while flying to Detroit, Michigan, I had the chance to catch up on my reading. One of the pieces that caught my attention was a press release of October 20 from the USGA and the First Tee. The release headline read: USGA Extends Longtime Support of First Tee to Strengthen Diversity in the Game.

I thought this is great for the game, especially as I know one of the priorities of the industry is to diversify and grow the game. I thought about our mission at Golf. My Future. My Game.

As a Community-Based Grass Roots Golf Organization (CBGRO) we create strategic alliance initiatives for education and career development in the sport and business of golf. And our vision is to work with communities of color and underrepresented communities to engage, open doors, expose opportunities, and create a platform for a greater comfort level with the game and industry of golf, a mission that fits in with the overall goal of the industry. 

While talking with several supporters of community-based and grassroots golf organizations around the country one strong voice sat me down and told me a thing or two that rang loud:

“Yes, the USGA has more than enough money to invest in First Tee and much, much more… if they are so inclined. At some point, I hope they realize the contributions to golf made by our grassroots and community-based golf foundations and organizations and invest in them; I will go to my grave believing that investing in our community agents is the best and fastest way to increase D & I (Diversity & Inclusion).”

“That shared, the golf industry will ALWAYS invest in First Tee. It is their idea and creation, so they will feed unlimited resources to make it work. They have thrown hundreds of millions of dollars to First Tee HQ/Chapters over the past 24-years. Yet they know (and admit) that the D & I outcomes are far below expectations and acceptability. Still, they will sling more dollars to save face and public scrutiny, in hopes that things will change.”

“The $200K reported by that press release is a mere drop in the bucket of annual contributions to First Tee HQ/Chapters. They soak up millions of dollars every year. For example, how about the 25-million-dollar gift from Charles Schwab? Meanwhile, what do our community-based golf organizations receive?”

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 I re-read the release and discovered that these grants are part of a dedicated effort to directly empower inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility efforts at the local golf levels. More significantly, the program was created this year to address the barriers that underserved and underrepresented youths face in their potential introduction to and participation in golf and First Tee’s character-building programs. My immediate reaction, what is the difference between these goals and the goals of the WE ARE GOLF’s Phase One Grassroots Grants Program?

Let me share that in May of 2021, the golf industry collaborated to introduce a new Grassroots Grant Program designed to increase participation among those who are underrepresented in the sport. The purpose of the Grassroots Grants Program (GGP) is to support 501 (c) (3) charitable organizations of programs dedicated to increasing golf participation among those who are underrepresented in the sport: Black, Latinx, Asian Pacific Islander, and Indigenous communities as well as women, LBGTQ= and individuals with disabilities.

Golf. My Future. My Game.  was one of the 43 organizations across the U.S. that were awarded a grant of the total $150,000 pot. Excited to be a grantee, I began to think about a statement Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA shared: “We have a commitment as an organization to be an impactful partner to those in the industry who share our vision for what we want golf’s future to look like.” I agree with Mike Whan’s thoughts, as Golf. My Future. My Game. with financial support and resources can create diverse and customized programming and work side by side with the Washington D.C.  Greater Washington First Tee.

There are many CBGRO’s who are looking at that future Whan speaks of, and they are daily working in the ‘trenches’ allowing us to see golf as a sport that can bridge the gap between global citizens at the top and those left behind at the bottom; at least that is what Golf. My Future. My Game. and many other Grassroots programs are about.

I know I have been long-winded in my writing here but after my readings and my actual work on the ground, it seems the following are items for discussion.

A Problem Vs. An Issue

There is a difference between a problem and an issue. The issue is the lack of diversity and the drive to grow the game in varied communities. The problem is how we go about solving it. As opposed to one group doing it their way and another theirs, how about we create a Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) office under the leadership of the golf industry with adequate funding and staff as a solution to working out the problems and the issue.

Talk about innovation. Let’s create a DEI Office which would be innovative. Innovative in leading the way to capture the constant state of change. My experiences lead me to understand that a constant state of change cannot simply be determined by one person or group, in one context, in a universal way. Each organization needs to view innovation in its own context. At its core, innovation is a disposition informed by consensus and clarity around who you are and who you serve. Creating this office would do that!

Finally creating this industry DEI office as a good friend and colleague shared “would challenge the leaders of the industry to ‘establish a fund equal or like what the USGA has done to support not only the industry but the many Community-Based Golf Organizations who are doing their work in the vibrant neighborhoods around this country.   

It seems our overarching goal to diversify the game and business of golf hinges on the appreciation that many have value to offer and want to help.

Craig Kirby is the Founder & CEO of the Washington, DC-based organization Golf. My Future. My Game. His organization works tirelessly across America to introduce golf and golf careers to youth of all backgrounds. Craig is one of the nation’s premier political operatives with over two decades of hands-on political experience and he has created successful issue advocacy and electoral strategies for candidates at all levels of government. His efforts are changing the face of golf one swing at a time. To learn more visit https://www.golfmyfuturemygame.org/

October 30, 2021 | By Darcus Greene

Life Together, Inc. is a nonprofit that serves the Mid-South Tri-State (Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi) area and in particular, Memphis, Tennessee.  Children and youth, seniors, the formerly incarcerated, and the socially disadvantaged have benefitted from Life Together programs for more than a quarter century.

The First Annual Life Together Stakeholders Open was held on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at North Creek Golf Club, Southaven, MS.  The vision of Bishop David Allen Hall, Executive Director of Life Together, is to develop the Stakeholders Open into a satellite tournament for budding PGA hopefuls.  Over 100 persons, including local and out-of-state golfers, volunteers, and supporters participated in this event. 

Acclaimed as one of the signature charitable events for Life Together, Inc., this inaugural golf tournament seeks to shine a light upon the “old timers” who were denied the right to play professional golf because of their race. During the tournament, the names of local African American amateur golfers were displayed at each tee box to commemorate and celebrate their excellence in the sport, their stellar support in the community, and their undeniable love for the game.  In addition, signs were posted throughout the course to acknowledge the companies, organizations, and individuals who helped to sponsor this event.

The day began with the Opening Ceremony featuring remarks from Life Together Staff and Board Members.  To further christen the tournament, Stan Jackson, professional flute player shared a musical rendition.  The day concluded with lunch, sponsored by Chick-fil-A, and the Awards Ceremony. 

Individual golfers received awards for five contests: chipping, putting, closest to the pin, men’s long drive, and women’s long drive.  First and Second Flight trophies were awarded to six teams for first, second, and third place.  

The apex of the 2021 Stakeholders Open was the presentation of the Greg Odom Sr. Award.  Life Together, Inc. named its amateur golfer award in honor and in memory of Odom, a prototypical African American Amateur Golfer of Excellence.  The distinction for this inaugural award was presented to Polk McCray, a five-time City of Memphis Public Links Champion and an inductee of the Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Fame. 

Many golfers stated that they look forward to next year’s Stakeholders Open.

October 29, 2021 | BY AAGD STAFF

Santonio Holmes, a round 1, pick #25 in the 2006 NFL Draft, is an avid golfer nowadays. The former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and Super Bowl MVP gets out on the greens very often, and, even took part in the inaugural NFL Draft Pro-Am held at the historic Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.

Holme’s engagement with the game was particularly nice to see during the tournament, and his ‘sweet’ swing can be seen in the video below. This smooth, controlled, effortless swing can only be obtained by playing/practicing lots of golf.

Held April 28th and 29th, the 36-hole first-time tournament was contested on Firestone’s famed South and North courses. Other activities included a “chalk talk” at the nearby Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton along with an exciting NFL Draft viewing party..

Holmes’ passion for golf is evident. And his ‘sweet swing’ backs that up, for sure.

The NFL Alumni Draft Pro-Am & Experience, was hosted by the National Football League Alumni Association (NFL Alumni) – the oldest and most recognizable national organization of retired professional athletes. The event attracted a swath of legends including Pro Football Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor, Anthony Munoz and Steve Largent. Each NFL player captained a team of four amateur golfers as they competed for prizes.

The event was not just for bragging rights, either. It benefitted the NFL Player Care Foundation, an independent organization dedicated to helping retired NFL players improve their quality of life by providing programs and assistance with medical, emotional, financial, social and community issues.

October 28, 2021

The PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award is one of the highest honors the Association can bestow on a working club professional whose total contributions to the game best exemplify the complete PGA Professional. This year, the honor goes to Renee Powell, PGA/LPGA, Head Golf Professional at her historic Clearview Golf Course located in East Canton, Ohio.

Presented to Ms. Powell at the Section Annual Meeting at Westfield Inn in Westfield Center, Ohio the award embraces a wide range of services executed by the club professional such as outstanding leadership abilities, strong moral character, and outstanding service to the Association and the game of golf.

“It was a wonderful day, and I share it with all those who have supported Clearview Golf Club for generations,” said Renee on her Facebook page.

In receiving the honor, the PGA Hall of Famer also sets another historic milestone by becoming the first woman recipient of the Northern Ohio PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award.

Powell, 75, who became the first Black woman PGA Member in 1996, was recognized on Monday, October 25 as the 2021 Northern Ohio PGA Golf Professional of the Year. The Section award was first presented in 1974.

“I am deeply honored by the Northern Ohio PGA for this recognition, and share this with those who have supported Clearview Golf Club and its legacy,” said Powell. “I am all about growing the game as are my peers, and at the same time I have devoted myself to following my father’s example by growing diversity in the game of golf.”

Powell and her late father, William, who built Clearview Golf Club in 1946, are both members of the PGA of America Hall of Fame.

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Clearview Golf Club is the Northern Ohio PGA hub of PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), a golf rehabilitative program for veterans.

In 2011, Powell launched Clearview HOPE, which remains the country’s sole year-round cost-free all-women’s veterans golf program. In 2018, she began hosting the Section’s men’s PGA HOPE program.

This golf season, as Clearview Golf Club ran nonstop programs and events, Powell also served as the U.S. Captain for the PING Junior Solheim Cup Team.

“One of our highlights was hosting CBS’ Jim Nantz here in August,” said Powell. “This was on his bucket list. Jim came because he wanted to help raise funds for the Clearview Legacy Foundation. It was amazing to have him, that with the busy schedule he has, he was able to fit it in. It has been an incredible year for Clearview.”