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The most culturally significant championship in collegiate golf aligns with a stable of golf industry, business and athletic leaders, as well as college golf coaches, to enhance all facets of a national showcase event
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (Dec. 3, 2018) – The PGA of America today introduced an advisory council to oversee the 33rd PGA Minority Collegiate Championship and PGA WORKS Career Expo, taking place May 9-12, 2019 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Further enhancing the most culturally significant Championship in collegiate golf, the PGA of America has aligned with a stable of golf industry, business and athletic leaders, as well as college golf coaches who will provide expert insight on the event and one-of-a-kind career development program for student-athletes. Forming the 2019 PGA Minority Collegiate Championship Advisory Council are:
NCAA Coaches
Athletic Director
Golf & Business Leaders
PGA of America Staff/Executives
“The mission of the PGA Minority Collegiate Championship Advisory Council is to align PGA staff, with college coaches, athletic administration and related golf and business leaders to establish a collaborative environment designed to share expert perspectives and drive strategic planning that can enhance our overall program, while consistently shaping the narrative of the PGA Minority Collegiate Championship and PGA WORKS Career Expo moving forward,” said Scooter Clark, Championship Manager, PGA Minority Collegiate Championship.
The 54-hole PGA Minority Collegiate Championship is a stroke-play event contested across six divisions: NCAA Men’s Division I, Men’s Division II, Men’s NAIA, an overall Women’s Division (team), Men’s Individual and Women’s Individual.
While many of the participating teams represent historically black colleges and universities, the individual competition is open to all minority men and women student-athletes playing collegiate golf at the Division I, Division II or NAIA levels, or participants who are enrolled in one of the PGA of America’s PGA Golf Management University Programs.
A key component of the event is the PGA WORKS Career Expo, where student-athletes are exposed to internships and employment opportunities, as well as networking and career development sessions supported and attended by leading golf companies.
Adds Clark, “The PGA Minority Collegiate Championship and PGA WORKS Career Expo is unlike any event for student-athletes, as it provides a top-level golf championship in concert with a career development program designed to cultivate the next generation of golf industry and business leaders. Each year this program gets stronger, backed by the quality of the players participating, combined with the involvement of national corporations and organizations in the career expo. It creates unmatched networking and career opportunities for our participants.”
The PGA Minority Collegiate Championship originated at a meeting in November 1986, following the Jackson State University Golf Tournament. The founders’ goal was to elevate the game at minority colleges and universities by providing student-athletes with the opportunity to compete on a championship stage during an era when they were excluded from playing in many collegiate golf events.
The inaugural Championship was conducted in the spring of 1987 at Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland. Since 1998, PGA Golf Club has hosted the Championship, and in 2006 the PGA of America was granted complete ownership and management of the Championship by the National Minority College Golf Scholarship Fund.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, with nearly 29,000 professionals who daily work to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.org, follow @PGA on Twitter and find us on Facebook.
December 3, 2018
Every year, many of the PGA Tour’s most important tournaments are played at private clubs. In fact, each of this year’s three major tournaments played in the US was at a private club, with the PGA Championship taking place at Bellerive Country Club just outside of St. Louis and the US Open being played at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island. Of course, as always, the Masters opened the major season at Augusta National Golf Club.
These and other storied clubs are perfect venues for major championships, but they are also the subject of persistent misperceptions that have dogged private clubs for decades. The truth is that private clubs play a very important role in their communities and for the game of golf itself.
Misconceptions
One of the most persistent misperceptions is that private clubs discriminate. Private club membership is no different from any other part of life: we tend to befriend and spend time with people who share similar values and interests. There are many different types of private clubs, including golf clubs, athletic clubs, social clubs, racquet clubs, yacht clubs, beach clubs and hunting clubs. There are even clubs for magicians, comedians, writers and thespians. They all share one common denominator: they provide an opportunity for people with a shared interest to pursue that interest. That’s why clubs rely on referral programs for membership to ensure that new members mesh with the current culture.
Over the past century and a half private clubs have evolved—and, frankly—improved, just like America has. Clubs are selective in admitting members, but that doesn’t (always) reflect discrimination. Private clubs are exclusive and value the privacy of their club and members.
We live in a time when tens of millions of Americans use social media to keep in touch and socialize with our friends and loved ones. In the past, people didn’t use technology to do these things; they actually got together and had real relationships, and private clubs were one of the earliest and most important way they did so.
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Americans’ Constitutionally-guaranteed right of freedom of association allows club to establish a variety of different criteria as a basis for membership. For instance, there are women-only clubs, men-only clubs, and clubs that build their membership around religious affiliation, political leanings or family heritage. But, more often than not many clubs are simply a place for community, recreation and engagement among neighbors, classmates, friends and colleagues. A true, home away from home.\
Another misperception is that since they are private, clubs only benefit their members. In fact, private clubs are small business, and like other small businesses they benefit the community in many ways. The most obvious benefits are economic. Private clubs provide millions of jobs across the United States, contribute billions of dollars in taxes, and inject $21.5 billion into the economy each year. Many private clubs are also very philanthropic. They tend to host charity events, particularly golf tournaments, in support of a huge variety of good causes. Many also offer scholarships, particularly through caddie scholarship programs. Of course, charitable giving and support isn’t limited to the golf course. Many private clubs sponsor receptions, parties, and other types of fundraisers in support of local charities and individuals.
RELATED ARTICLE: Caddie Academy Returns for Sixth Summer With Opportunities for Employment & Scholarships
Another myth about private clubs is that they are just about golf. Sure, most private clubs (85%) offer golf as a primary draw for members. But private clubs are so much more: from tennis and swimming to hunting and fitness, there are a wide array of experiences and types of clubs to suit all interests. The only limit on clubs’ focus is the limits of members’ interests and imagination.
In urban areas, city and athletic clubs reign, offering social programming for “clubs within a club” for literature, politics, bridge and wine as well as myriad athletic facilities and sports leagues. Dining experiences run the gamut too, from upscale formal dining to casual pubs in a plethora of facilities that offer spectacular rooftop views, sunsets over the golf course, and fun gathering places for families and friends.
The Private Club Experience
Ultimately, the private club experience is primarily about friendship. Clubs are safe, welcoming places where people come together to connect, play, and dine with people whose company they enjoy and whose interests they share.
That said, private clubs are taking the lead in promoting golf, which benefits all of us who love the game. One way they are doing so is by introducing creative programming. For instance, Medinah Country Club’s Golf for Life program is designed to benefit all golfers, from novice to low-handicap, by giving golfers specific targets to work toward, while allowing them to improve within the confines of their skill sets. As part of the program, Medinah has restored Course No. 2, with a number of upgrades, including an unusual feature: seven new tees to accommodate every different skill level in Medinah’s golfing community. Each of the seven new tees is designated by a color and corresponds to a skill group, sorting golfers by a number of criteria, including handicap, age, gender, and level of play. This system is designed to make golf more enjoyable for everyone, and keep people from quitting and just one example among many of how private clubs are promoting golf to the next generation.
Another misperception, that private golf clubs aren’t environmentally friendly, couldn’t be more wrong. The environment is central to the mission and success of private clubs, particularly those that offer golf. As such, they tend to be very proactive when it comes to sustainability and, in fact, clubs are much more environmentally-friendly than the typical homeowner. A recent survey of private clubs found that 74% pursue sustainable practices, and the typical club spends nearly $50,000 each year to promote sustainability. Like many environmentally-friendly businesses, private clubs use a variety of traditionally sustainable practices, including reducing the amount of water they use, particularly on golf properties; using environmentally safe products; and using recycled materials in their operations. Most clubs also have staff training programs in place to teach sustainable practices and most also participate in advanced environmental programs like Audubon International.
Perhaps the most persistent misperception is that clubs are relics of the past. Today’s private club is more reflective than ever of the values and interests of most active Americans. It’s more family-oriented and focused on fun, health and wellness.
Clubs are helping members balance fun and family by offering more social activities for families, children and guests. They are oriented more towards full family participation through a wide range of offerings, including pool-based activities, game nights, adult- and children-paired parties, and other family events. Many clubs offer junior sports camps for children to play golf, tennis or swim. Coffee-shop cafes and spa amenities also make clubs a destination to serve all members of the family.
Examples of clubs’ focus on family abound. At the Union League Golf Club in Philadelphia, complimentary golf lessons are offered to all members, including spouses and their children. The idea is to help the entire family improve their golf skills so they enjoy the game more and turn playing into a family event. At Medinah Country Club, the Golf for Life program is designed to benefit all golfers, from novice to low-handicap, by giving golfers specific targets to work toward, while allowing them to improve within the confines of their skill sets. These are just two examples from thousands of clubs across the United States.
Clubs have always provided recreational outlets for active members through golf, tennis, sailing, swimming, and other activities. However, today’s private club is more committed to promoting members’ fitness as well. That may include exercise studios, physical therapy and private trainers, fitness programs and spas, and it extends to the clubhouse menu, with many clubs offering healthier, more nutritious food choices. In short, many private clubs have expanded their offerings to better reflect Americans’ modern lifestyles.
Private clubs offer a greater range of lifestyle and recreational benefits, and to a wider cross-section of members, than ever before. And that’s why private clubs still matter.
Henry Wallmeyer is president and CEO of the National Club Association, the national group representing private clubs across the US. He can be reached at [email protected].
DECEMBER 3, 2018
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The PGA of America today introduced an advisory council to oversee the 33rd PGA Minority Collegiate Championship and PGA WORKS Career Expo, taking place May 9-12, 2019 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Further enhancing the most culturally significant Championship in collegiate golf, the PGA of America has aligned with a stable of golf industry, business and athletic leaders, as well as college golf coaches who will provide expert insight on the event and one-of-a-kind career development program for student-athletes. Forming the 2019 PGA Minority Collegiate Championship Advisory Council are:
NCAA Coaches
(Division I – AAC Conference)
Athletic Director
Golf & Business Leaders
PGA of America Staff/Executives
“The mission of the PGA Minority Collegiate Championship Advisory Council is to align PGA staff, with college coaches, athletic administration and related golf and business leaders to establish a collaborative environment designed to share expert perspectives and drive strategic planning that can enhance our overall program, while consistently shaping the narrative of the PGA Minority Collegiate Championship and PGA WORKS Career Expo moving forward,” said Scooter Clark, Championship Manager, PGA Minority Collegiate Championship.
The 54-hole PGA Minority Collegiate Championship is a stroke-play event contested across six divisions: NCAA Men’s Division I, Men’s Division II, Men’s NAIA, an overall Women’s Division (team), Men’s Individual and Women’s Individual.
While many of the participating teams represent historically black colleges and universities, the individual competition is open to all minority men and women student-athletes playing collegiate golf at the Division I, Division II or NAIA levels, or participants who are enrolled in one of the PGA of America’s PGA Golf Management University Programs.
A key component of the event is the PGA WORKS Career Expo, where student-athletes are exposed to internships and employment opportunities, as well as networking and career development sessions supported and attended by leading golf companies.
Adds Clark, “The PGA Minority Collegiate Championship and PGA WORKS Career Expo is unlike any event for student-athletes, as it provides a top-level golf championship in concert with a career development program designed to cultivate the next generation of golf industry and business leaders. Each year this program gets stronger, backed by the quality of the players participating, combined with the involvement of national corporations and organizations in the career expo. It creates unmatched networking and career opportunities for our participants.”
The PGA Minority Collegiate Championship originated at a meeting in November 1986, following the Jackson State University Golf Tournament. The founders’ goal was to elevate the game at minority colleges and universities by providing student-athletes with the opportunity to compete on a championship stage during an era when they were excluded from playing in many collegiate golf events.
The inaugural Championship was conducted in the spring of 1987 at Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland. Since 1998, PGA Golf Club has hosted the Championship, and in 2006 the PGA of America was granted complete ownership and management of the Championship by the National Minority College Golf Scholarship Fund.
Did you know the odds of making a hole-in-one are 1 in 3500?
In the US, over 128,000 holes-in-one are scored each year. The feeling of accomplishment when sinking a hole-in-one is cause for celebration enough but imagine if you then got to take home an exclusive prize valued at nearly $10,000.
Golfers now have that exciting opportunity when traveling to play at The Fort Golf Resort, a Pete Dye-designed championship course, in Indianapolis. Golfweek Magazine named The Fort one of the ‘Best Courses You Can Play’ in Indiana in 2018.
The Opportunity.
The Fort has partnered with Exclusively @9, a new company that’s offering players at select courses a daily opportunity to win a limited-edition Breitling @9 Navitimer watch any time they score a hole-in-one on designated par-3s.
Exclusively @9 is founded by Eric Wynne and Michael Reid, two African American businessmen with 50 years of combined experience working for a Fortune 500 insurance and financial services company, including as owners and operators of their own agencies. The duo along with other business partners first brought the Exclusively @9 experience to a Web.com Tour tournament in 2017 where a spectator sunk a putt during a putting contest to win the first @9 Breitling limited-edition watch.
The company has formed partnerships with leading organizations in their respective industries, including Breitling, a Swiss watchmaker and Reis-Nichols, a premier Indianapolis jeweler, to offer the highest-quality experiences, products and services. Since 1884, Breitling has established a global reputation for high-precision timepieces, its pioneering role in the development of the wrist chronograph, and its uncompromising commitment to design excellence. The Swiss watchmaker has agreed to manufacture 1,000 limited-edition Navitimer watches that are available only through Exclusively @9.
As the only company offering season-long, daily opportunities for golfers to win an exclusive product, Exclusively @9 is helping to attract new players and more group outings to partner courses.
How It Works.
To be eligible, players simply book their tee times through the Exclusively @9 website. No memberships, outside sponsorships, insurance or additional cost is required by individuals or participating groups when booked through @9.
“Exclusively @9 is helping to attract new players to the game of golf and increase excitement during every round that’s played,” said Eric Wynne, president and CEO of The Global Collaboration Group, parent company of Exclusively @9. “Courses have the opportunity to implement our program for the same amount of money third-party vendors charge for only booking tee times. Increased demand reduces inventory, resulting in price increases and greater price stability per round for the course.”
State-of-the-art video equipment is installed by Exclusively @9 on the designated holes to record and collect data from participating players and provide complete reliability in hole-in-one verification. Using solar energy to power the cameras and recording equipment, @9 can set up multiple holes without laying wires or causing damage to the course. All equipment is installed within a week without disruption of play and eliminates the need for a course representative to be present to verify a hole-in-one.
What People Are Saying.
The Exclusively @9 program launch at The Fort Golf Resort earlier this season, inviting avid golfers and beginners alike to take their shot at a hole-in-one.
“Exclusively @9 is bringing an exciting new element to the game of golf that the industry has never seen before,” said John Swan, PGA director of golf at The Fort Golf Resort. “There are typically about 10 hole-in-ones hit each season at The Fort, and with this one-of-a-kind opportunity from @9, we’re hoping to see even more this year.”
The program has already begun attracting individuals and groups alike. Several large group outings have flocked to The Fort Golf Resort because of the unique and exclusive opportunity.
“We had 148 players participate in our outing at The Fort. There was nothing but positive feedback about the course and the @9 Golf Experience,” said Dave Durocher and Larry Golden, golf outing organizers. “We’ve already committed to another outing in 2019 and anticipate having the maximum allowable players for the day.”
Where To Try It.
Not located near Indianapolis? No problem! Exclusively @9 plans to expand its program to 19 additional golf courses in major cities across the U.S. next year to help courses differentiate themselves from competitors by offering a unique player experience for no added cost. The program also plans to expand into other sporting venues to provide additional exclusive opportunities for fans of all kinds.
For more information on Exclusively @9, visit www.exclusivelyat9.com. Connect with the company online via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for additional updates and announcements.
By AAGD Staff
It didn’t take long for Turner Sports executives to come up with a solution to refund customers who paid $19.99 to view the highly promoted pay-per-view of “The Match”, a live golf competition between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson that ran on last Friday. So, in dolling out the refunds, it now seems that Turner may not gain any broadcasting revenues from golf’s first pay-per-view broadcast that was marred by technical difficulties.
On Saturday night, the broadcaster issued a statement acknowledging that it would be issuing refunds for those who paid to view the stream on Bleacher Report Live.
Among carriers who announced that they would not charge customers who paid were Comcast, Charter Spectrum, Cox Communications, Dish/Sling TV and AT&T — via its DirecTV and U-Verse platforms –saying, customers would receive either refunds or credits back to their accounts. Other carriers who have not yet made refund decisions is Cablevision and Verizon.
In a statement, Turner said, “The Match was a historic event, from Tiger’s opening tee shot to Phil’s final putt,” “Prior to the start of the event, we experienced a technical issue with the B/R Live paywall page that we tried to quickly resolve.”
RELATED STORY: Tiger Woods’ $20 Million yacht docks in Hamptons prior to US Open“We decided to take down the paywall to ensure that fans who already purchased the event would not miss any action. This did not impact the live streaming of the competition and fans were treated to an event that was both engaging and memorable. Unfortunately, the prematch technical issue did occur, and we will offer fans who purchased the event on B/R Live a refund.”
Baffled fans who visited the Bleacher Report Live webpage minutes before the event ended up seeing a landing page that didn’t give them the opportunity to purchase the event. The broadcast was already streaming at no cost. Confused, of course, because the pay-per-view event had been widely promoted.
At one point, according to the Associated Press, there were more than 500 people holding online and waiting for assistance.
The pay-per-view event was won by Phil Mickelson who walked away with $9 million following a birdie on the 22nd hole.
RELATED STORY: Phil Mickelson to Pay More Than $1 Million to SEC for Profit He Made on Inside Stock Tip
AAGD travelers relish a golden sunset following an exciting “Desert Safari” in Dubai.
By AAGD STAFF
New York, NY (November 15, 2018 )—Sun, sand, scenery, and tours of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) kicked-off the trip of a lifetime for passengers on three tours heading from the USA to UAE—a land of true wonderment and great golf. The 8-Day Classic Dubai and Abu Dhabi awesome adventure drew more than 70 travelers from across America who joined the international cultural excursion planned by the African American Golfer’s Digest, the nation’s leading publication serving avid Black American golfers. The final travel group returned to the USA from their excursion on November 14, 2018, all with plenty of stimulating exploits to share.
Armajean Osbourne (second from left) golf with gents at Emirates Golf Club, Dubai.
(l-r) Coran James, Rudy Richmond and partners play Yas Links in Abu Dhabi
“When the first trip rolled out in early October 2017, I initially thought that only 20-25 people would be interested,” said Publisher Debert Cook, who organizes numerous domestic and international golf trips for her 15-year old, New York City-based magazine.
“Within three weeks the first trip had completely sold out, yet calls for more bookings were still coming in. So, I decided to add another trip (with an identical itinerary) to the 2018 schedule. Then, that second trip sold out shortly before Christmas 2017. With
calls for more bookings still being fielded, I added a third trip. And, that’s how we ended up with three successive trips, all with duplicate itineraries, going to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for 2018,” says the history buff and former adjunct professor at the College of New Rochelle, South Bronx Campus in New York.
Rudy Richmond enjoying night golf at the fully lighted Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club.
Ms. Cook knows her golf audience and their interests very well. With each published issue of the niche magazine, more than 80,000 loyal readers are always eagerly anticipating the next planned travel excursion or program announcement. Their Trips, Getaways & Excursions webpage is very popular and gets nearly 11,000 hits per month. Those number of hits—not particularly a lot for a national magazine—have proven to be enough to garner registrations for successful travel programs and events for the publication.
(L-R) LaVerne Flowers, Armajean Osbourne and Lillian Dent at Yas Golf Links.
“We welcome golfers, and non-golfers, to all of our functions. In fact, we include golf clinics at several of our events, and, get plenty of folks attending who actually hold a golf club in their hands for the very first time,” says the golfer who herself started playing 16 years ago. “So, attracting and engaging new golfers without being intimidating is part of the goal for all of our travel programs.”
Dubai & Abu Dhabi trip #1 (Oct. 10-17, 2018 ) travelers pose for group photo.
AROUND THE WORLD WE GOLF
The publication’s annual getaways have taken travelers all around the world, by land and sea. “Our escorted golf trips and golf cruises have included destinations such as Hawaii, Alaska, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama, Costa Rica, Africa, and others. “Our readers are always seeking exciting places to play golf—And, yes, we did golf two courses in Alaska!” said Cook, whose AAGD travel programs are ‘friend and family’ geared and always open to the public, with many non-golfers always in the mix.
Group poses in front of the Burj Al Arab. This uber-luxe sail-shaped hotel, the only one to achieve a seven-star rating, sits on its own man-made island in Dubai’s harbor. The exclusive property was completed in 1999. There is certainly no shortage of sky-high buildings in Dubai.
“Everything about the trip was wonderful from beginning to end, the airline, the tours, the hotels, including the other people in my tour group.”—Elizabeth Brown
Traveler Denese Powell in front of The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque which stands out as one of the world’s largest mosques, and the only one that captures unique interactions between Islam and world cultures. The largest mosque in the country, it is the key place of worship for daily prayers, Friday gathering and Eid prayers.
“Today’s golfer (and their friend/spouse) seeks a unique group travel experience with rounds played at courses where they feel welcomed, safe, and comfortable. It’s not always about the cost or the distance, it’s about the overall experience because golfers find the means to do what they want to do.”
“Plus, we always offer a payment plan, since many of our readers are either retirees or students or folks who are raising families on fixed incomes not conducive for extensive leisure travel,” says Ms. Cook, a Certified Meetings Planner (CMP) with over 20-years of industry experience in the corporate and private sector as owner of Event Planners Plus NA Inc.
“I’ve been to than 58 countries and to six continents and I believe, without a doubt, that travel is one of the best ways to really discover the world and those who occupy it. This planet is filled with great wonders just waiting to be explored and it is a pleasure to watch travelers immerse themselves in various cultures,” says Cook who has been to the UAE several times prior to arranging this group tour.
MAJESTIC BEAUTY OF THE UAE
Why did she select this destination for her readers to experience? “I wanted to share the majestic beauty of this country with others and expand their horizons on just how small our world really is. We’re all in this together and the earth needs our cooperation to continue to sustain us,” said Cook who knows that Dubai is the second largest and second most important and influential emirate of the United Arab Emirates after the capital, Abu Dhabi. Many may associate the Middle Eastern economy with the oil industry, but little of Dubai’s revenue comes from oil. In fact, the most profitable industries in Dubai are tourism, real estate and financial services. According to the MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index, the number of tourists in Dubai has increased year-on-year, reaching almost 15 million in 2016. This made Dubai the fourth most visited city destination worldwide after Bangkok, London, and Paris.
(L-R) Laddy Baldwin, Leary Wade, Kendal Flowers and Bill Fullard enjoy the beautiful Yas Golf Links in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
THREE EXCURSIONS 
The three excursions of Dubai & Abu Dhabi during 2018 took place October 10-17, October 24-31 and November 7-14. The 2019 golf trip to Dubai & Abu Dhabi is already being planned and will be announced soon. Interested persons should continue to check the publication’s Trips, Getaways & Excursions webpage or contact Debert Cook via email at [email protected].
ENJOY TRIP PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY TRAVELERS BELOW!
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”31″ gal_title=”Dubai & Abu Dhabi 2018″]
Task Force Chairman, Mike Cooper (front row, 2nd from left) stands with AAGD Executive Editor Jim Beatty (3rd from right) while touring the group through the World Golf Hall of Fame and Museum.
NEW YORK, NY (November 26, 2018) — In a bold and historic meeting held November 12-13 in St. Augustine, Florida at the World Golf Village, seven leading golf industry organizations met to discuss Minority Supplier Diversity. The meeting was convened by the Supplier Diversity Subcommittee of the We Are Golf (formerly Golf2020) Diversity Initiatives Task Force. The session was led by Gina Rizzi, chair of the subcommittee and facilitated by Task Force Chairman Michael Cooper and AAGD Executive Editor and subcommittee member Jim Beatty.
Craig Kirby, founder and president of Golf My Future My Game and Earnie Ellison, both subcommittee members also attended the session.
Tony Starks, Associate Editor of the PGA Magazine and Editorial Director of Golf Range Magazine who serves as Chair of the Communications subcommittee was also in attendance. Tony has been invaluable to the communications efforts of the Diversity Initiatives Taskforce
World Golf Foundation (WGF) president, Steve Mona, addressed the session attesting to the meeting’s importance and historical significance. I am pleased to say that I recommended this meeting to the subcommittee and worked diligently with WGF staff and fellow members to make it happen.
The purpose of the workshop is to increase the $84 Billion Golf Industry’s spending with Women, Minority, and other diverse companies. Currently, there is no measurement of the Golf Industry spending with Minority or Diverse business. Efforts have been made to measure the spending but the results have been negligible thus far.
RELATED ARTICLE: Why Golf is Now an $84 Billion Industry in the USA
The seven-hour workshop on November 13, 2018 was preceded by a tour of the World Golf Hall of Fame on Monday evening November 12, followed by a dinner and reception.
World Golf Foundation President, Steve Mona (front-center) addressing the group
Representatives from the United States Golfers Association (USGA), International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA), THE GOLF CHANNEL, TOP GOLF, AJGA and the World Golf Foundation, Professional Caddies Association attended the 2-day event and learned the ins-and-outs of implementing as well as improving Supplier Diversity programs within their respective organizations.
RELATED ARTICLE:Donna Dozier Gordon, Director, Diversity & Inclusion for the United States Tennis Association (USTA), was the guest speaker and did an outstanding job outlining the efforts of the USTA and shared similarities with the golf industry for adoption.
Material presented throughout the workshop covered the importance of supplier diversity in golf, essential elements, misconceptions and myths, steps for implementation, galvanizing stakeholders, tracking, benchmarking, measuring, case studies, and using communications/marketing teams to celebrate successes.
The occasion concluded with consensus for continued group communications, periodic updates on progress and best practices, and to use the momentum gained from the workshop to influence the golf industry. Gina, Jim and other supplier diversity sub-committee members committed to support participants, as needed, as each organization works to successfully implement supplier diversity programs at their respective workplaces.
Topics Covered in the Workshop Included:
Reasons Why Supplier Diversity Is important To The Golf Industry:
The Ten Essential Elements of a Supplier Diversity Program:
AAGD Executive Editor Jim Beatty addressing the conference
Supplier Diversity Subcommittee Chair and Industry Expert, Gina Rizzi
presenting key topics on Supplier Diversity.
AAGD READERS Click here to see the slides presented at the meeting BY GINA RIZZI
Donna Dozier Gordon, Director, Diversity & Inclusion for the United States Tennis Association (USTA), was the guest speaker. Her role in Diversity and Inclusion at USAT includes talent within the workplace, community engagement, supplier diversity, training and development. Her key point was that a commitment to supplier diversity does not require a sacrifice of quality, value, service, or innovation.
Donna Dozier Gordon, United States Tennis Association,
addressing the conference.
Donna Dozier Gordon’s slide presentation addressed the key points of the USTA Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan.
Her key messages were:
Donna Dozier Gordon had everyone’s attention.
Slide presentation by Donna Dozier Gordon
CONCLUSION
At the conclusion, Task Force Chairman, Michael Cooper challenged the group of seven organizations to work with the sub-committee to broadcast their commitment to supplier diversity, in hopes of doubling the number of golf industry organizations involved by the conclusion of the PGA Show in January 2019.
Stay Tuned for more on this $84 Billion topic.
James Beatty, Executive Editor, African American Golfer’s Digest James R. Beatty is Founder of NCS International, an Omaha, Nebraska-based company that providers of an array of economic development services. He also serves on the Golf 20/20 Diversity Task Force and recently launched Jim Beatty Golf Ventures, a golf promotion and management company.
By AAGD STAFF
(November 23, 2018) Whether or not you opted for the $19.99 ($USD) pay-per-view tournament stream, Tiger Woods walked away with a whopping $200,000 in a bet at “The Match” against rival Phil Mickelson. The nail went into Mickelson’s coffin when he failed to birdie the first hole at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas on Friday, at one of golf’s biggest and most ambitious events.
There were other fun side bets by both golfers, which saw Mickelson eventually come out in front by $400,000; those will go to a charity of his choice. The biggest of those bets was a $1 million side bet, which would have gone to either golfer if they had holed out for eagle on the par-4 ninth hole. Neither came close.
Tiger vs. Phil result: Phil wins 1 UP after 22 holes
Side bets
1. Birdie on No. 1 for Phil ($200K) | Result: Tiger wins
2. Closest to the pin on No. 5 ($100K) | Result: Phil wins
3. Closest to the pin on No. 8 ($200K) | Result: Phil wins
4. Putts on No. 8 ($75K / $50K) | Result: No winner
5. Eagle on No. 9 ($1 million) | Result: No winner
6. Eagle on No. 11 ($200K) | Result: No winner
7. Closest to the pin on No. 13 ($300K) | Result: Phil wins
8. Long drive on No. 14 ($100K) | Result: No winner
However, in the end it was $9 Million Winner Phil Mickelson who finally ended “The Match” by knocking in a 5-foot birdie on the 22nd hole. Turner, which sold and streamed the widely advertised multi-platform pay-per-view event, put up the prize money of $9 million in the winner-take-all event. Tournament duos, Woods and Mickelson, had already decided to contribute their own monies towards charity in numerous side bets.
On social media sites across the board, many golf fans had vowed not to watch the pay-per-view tournament which may be one of the most controversial golf events ever staged. The bragging rights for this never-before-seen, one-off, head-to-head exhibition between two greying 40-something champions was pumped up by the media with a wad of money leading the headlines. However, many were questioning the fact as to why anyone would pay to watch this match when the two players can be seen every weekend on the PGA Tour? Well, note this. First, there are only two players and there are no commercials during the tournament. You won’t find this format every week on the PGA Tour. And, the legalized gambling? Well, maybe this experiment will become common-place four Tour events of the future. Something to think about, huh?
But hey, wait a minute, many fans paid the streaming price and tuned in, only to be outraged when finding out “The Match” event was streaming for free on the Bleacher Report website! It happens that due to technical difficulties Turner executives decided, at the last minute, to give away its stream for free, according to ESPN.
Nevertheless, the live event’s added excitement included lots of technology along with overhead drone cameras and pre-match commentary with avid golfer/actor Samuel L. Jackson and former NBA champion/avid golfer Charles Barkley, elaborating to viewers as to what to expect.
BRING ON THE MONEY
Mickelson wagered $100,000 on Tuesday, betting that he would birdie the first hole. Then, Woods followed that challenge by doubling the bet. When it was on, at the par 4 opening hole, Mickelson looked fairly good in his approach shot coming to a mere nine feet of the hole. Woods followed this up by putting from 10 feet, but unfortunately, he missed the birdie putt right and conceded his par. Mickelson. and his brother, Tim, who was his caddie, had read the shot as a left-to-right putt. Although the speed was correct, the ball stayed just left to the cup.
Both Woods and Mickelson parred the hole, staying even through one hole. Woods picked up the $200,000 side and the money will be donated to the charity of his choice.
The Driver. It is the glamour piece of equipment in golf. Where else is more R&D, where else is more science and technology continuously devoted to improving one’s game? Callaway, Wilson, Cobra, Titleist…all the sport’s heavy hitters are big players when it comes to producing state-of-the-art drivers.
Why? Because they know no other club provides such immediate gratification as a well-stroked tee shot which correspondingly sets one up for a good score on that given hole.
Grip it and rip it, bomb down the fairway, load and explode, hit for show… the use of the driver has a lot of references but the pure adrenaline of hitting it long (and accurate), is simply one of the great joys of the game (pro or amateur).
For the average recreational golfer, perhaps more accurate than Sam Snead’s maxim of “Drive for show, putt for dough”, is “If you can’t putt, you can’t score. If you can’t drive, you can’t play” for bad driving balloon’s up one’s score more than any other club in the bag.
On the surface, it would appear that your putter is more important since you use it for 30 to 40 of your shots on the golf course and that you use your driver usually on only 14 shots. But the way par is set-up for each hole, it’s taking into account the potential of you hitting the green in regulation and having two putts. Clearly, there are other ways to make par, but regardless if the given hole is a Par 3, Par 4, or Par 5, it is based on how many strokes it should take to reach the green, along with two putts. Thus, one cannot say that the 30 to 40 times you use your putter is more than twice as valuable as the 14 drives you hit. The fact is, if you’re inconsistent off the tee, your driver affects your score more than your putter.
In other words, if you compare the best putter averaging say, 1.5 strokes per green, and the worst averaging 3, he is giving up 1.5 strokes per hole, but a single handicapper with his driver more often than not sets himself up well with an accurate tee shot, whereas a poor driver, spraying shots off the fairway and sometimes even having to go back to the tee, rarely gets the opportunity to birdie a hole because of his poor accuracy off the tee with shots that lands him in the rough or even OB (out of bounds) potentially adding up more strokes as a result.
Of course, there is the added mental anxiety where the golfer becomes self- conscious about constantly making the others in his group have to wait while one searches for their tee shot in the woods or bushes, thus he tends to rush with his driver making things worse (or even leaves the big club in the bag).
MAKING THE RIGHT PURCHASE CHOICE
In addition to more practice, here is where club manufacturers can lend a hand. And, regardless of your handicap, it all starts with making the right choice when you purchase the club.
Titleist TS2 Driver
“The first thing every golfer should do prior to purchasing a driver – or any golf club for that matter – is to get custom fit,” said Josh Talge, vice president of golf club marketing for Titleist, which just introduced its new TS2 and TS3 models.
“It’s the quickest and easiest way to improve. Spend a half hour or 45 minutes with a good fitter and you will leave, not only with a driver that will provide you more distance, accuracy, and consistency but with confidence in the fact you know you have optimized your launch conditions that will ultimately contribute to better results.”
Callaway Rogue Draw 9° Driver
“Fitting is huge,” concurs Callaway’s Jeff Newton who adds, “Look for a driver that can help your big miss. If you’re a slicer, look for a draw model or a driver with a sliding weight. (And) you need to find a shaft that fits your game. Flex standards vary between shaft brands, so look for a weight class that gives you the highest swing speed with control.”
The need for speed with the driver is always in play and the tech-led trend continues to roll along.
Wilson C300 Driver
Jon Claffey of Tour Edge names some of those trending innovations. “Weight movement for self-custom fitting, hosel adjustability for loft and lie adjustment, face technology that straightens miss-hits, advanced acoustics and lightweight speed all (are part) of the driver technology.”
Cobra F-MAX Driver Hero
Golf is such a game of confidence and nowhere is it more important than when you have that driver in your hands staring down at those dimples on the ball.
So as you get ready to- Grip it and rip it, bomb down the fairway, load and explode, hit for show- let the mad scientists at the club manufacturers help you.
Randy Williams, author of the acclaimed work entitled, Sports Cinema-100 Movies: The Best of Hollywood’s Athletic Heroes, Losers, Myths, and Misfits, as well as the recent New York Times best-selling book, 50 Years, 50 Moments – The Most Unforgettable Plays in Super Bowl History (co-written with NFL icon Jerry Rice), has written extensively on sports, including golf. His stories have appeared in Sports Illustrated, ESPN.com, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and The Hollywood Reporter to name a few. His work has also appeared internationally in La Gazzetta Dello Sport (Italy), China Sport, Reuters and Inside Sport (Australia) among others.
On behalf of the entire team here at the African American Golfer’s Digest, it is our hope that you have a love-filled day of joy and laughter and feasting. In reflecting on the past at this time of year, I am both grateful and give thanks for everything that we have. I especially thank our readers, followers, supporters, partners, and friends, for being a part of our lives. I wish you and your families a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
By AAGD STAFF
Fans worldwide are invited to a blockbuster Pay-Per-View event between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson that will run over Thanksgiving weekend. Presented by Capital One, the two iconic golfers will square off on Friday, November 23 at 3:00 PM ET. Both components (and their caddies) will be mic’d throughout the entire event, so perhaps some trash talking will be overheard.
Enhancements to the competition include Pre-Match coverage by Bleacher Report’s Adam Lefkoe; three-time PGA Tour winner Pat Perez with devout passionate golfers Samuel L. Jackson and Charles Barkley, among other special guests. Covering the action from above the course will be live state-of-the-art drones, aiding to capture every inch and angle of this match-play, winner-take-all (supposedly), $9 million event in Las Vegas.
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Iconic Golfers: |
Tiger Woods & Phil Mickelson – two legendary golfers with 19 Major Championships between them – square off in an unprecedented pay-per-view event |
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How to Watch: |
Turner’s B/R Live, AT&T’s DIRECTV, AT&T U-Verse and other PPV providers (Suggested retail price of $19.99*) |
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High Stakes: |
$9 million dollars; winner takes all |
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Format: |
Match Play |
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Side Challenges: |
Tiger & Phil will raise the stakes with side challenges; all money donated to charity |
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Where: |
The exclusive Shadow Creek in Las Vegas |
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Pre-Match Coverage: |
The Pre-Match Show Presented by Capital One will preview the action at 2 p.m. ET; available through all PPV platforms and for free to all fans across all Bleacher Report and B/R Live social platforms |
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Commentators: |
Turner’s Ernie Johnson (play-by-play); 2011 Open Championship winner Darren Clarke & NBC Sports/Golf Channel’s Peter Jacobsen (analysts); LPGA veteran Natalie Gulbis & Shane Bacon (reporters)
Pre-Match coverage: Bleacher Report’s Adam Lefkoe; three-time PGA Tour winner Pat Perez with Samuel L. Jackson and Charles Barkley, among other special guests |
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Enhancements: |
Both golfers and their caddies mic’d throughout the entire event; live state-of-the-art drone coverage; first-of-its-kind predictive data integrations and separate proprietary data stream provided by the MGM Resorts Race & Sports Books
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AT&T is the official 4K sponsor of The Match, which will also be broadcast in 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) on DIRECTV channel 106 for $29.99*. Limited programming available. 4K HDR compatible equipment, minimum programming, 4K account authorization and professional installation required. If 4K TV does not support HDR, content will be viewable in standard 4K. Other conditions apply.