JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Aaron Murphy, who was inducted into the Lincoln Athletic Hall of Fame last October, has been named the next head coach of the LU men’s golf team.
“We are excited to bring back Aaron after a Hall of Fame career as a Blue Tiger,” said John Moseley, Lincoln’s Interim Athletic Director. “His experience as a coach at the high school level and as a player set him apart. We’re looking forward to a bright future with Aaron leading the men’s golf program.”
Murphy, who has spent the past three years as the coach of the boys’ and girls’ golf teams at New Bloomfield High, was the first Lincoln golfer to ever win a professional tournament. The Heartland Conference Men’s Golf Player of the Year for the 2008-09 season, Murphy played on the Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour after finishing his college career, winning the Hammock Fall Classic in 2010. A two-time All-Heartland Conference first team honoree, Murphy spent four seasons on Lincoln’s men’s golf team before serving as an assistant coach in 2010.
Following his senior season, Murphy was invited to play in the NCAA Division II Ping South Central Regional, where he finished 15th with a three-round 218 to earn all-region honors. Murphy, who was a two-time all-region honoree, additionally earned Heartland Conference Player of the Week accolades after winning the 2008 Southwest Baptist Invitational with a two-under 142. Murphy has continued to play on the Fuzion Minor League Golf Tour to this day, most recently tying for sixth at the West Palm Beach Classic in January 2015.
“I’m really excited for this opportunity,” Murphy said. “To come back to where you played golf as the coach is really special. I’m looking forward to sharing my experience with the guys from my playing career. My biggest goal is to build this program up to where we’re competitive year in and year out, both in the MIAA and nationally.”
Murphy takes over a Blue Tiger team that won the PGA Minority Collegiate Championship in both 2013 and 2014, with Blake Lammers winning the individual crown in 2015.
New York, NY, February 15, 2016—The African American Golfer’s Digest, the nations leading print publication and online portal for avid Black American golfers and a PGA of America Diverse Supplier, has released its unique data resource list of HBCU Golf Teams and Other Programs of Significance to the African American Community.  The compiled list is the first of its kind.
“I am proud to present this new addition and much-needed resource information to our publication’s website, says Debert Cook, publisher of the 13-year old magazine based in New York City.  “The listing means that each month more 270,000 unique monthly visitors to our website will now be able to view up-to-date data on HBCU school golf team’s with links to each school’s schedule, results and progress.”
Currently, the list contains 33 HBCU schools with accompanied links to the four major conferences: Â CIAA, MEAC, SIAC, SWAC.
“I am excited about our publication being able to provide this aggregation of data which is unique in its focus. Â The listing will provide HBCU golf program insight to students, parents, coaches and others who have been seeking this type of collegiate golf information in one convenient location,” said Executive Editor James R. Beatty.
With the publication and release of this resource listing the magazine remains confident that the information will aid in growing collegiate golf participation among the African American demographic and expose these sports programs, and their players, to a wider audience.
The compiled list can be found online at africanamericangolfersdigest.com/hbcu-golf-teams
The PGA TOUR’s Northern Trust Open has raised more than $60 million for local charities since its inception in 1926. Now, fans can contribute to the charitable giving at the Northern Trust Open by participating in the PGA TOUR Volunteer Challenge, sponsored by Myrbetriq® (mirabegron). This “vote-for-me” competition is designed to raise funds for charity while recognizing the talent, passion and commitment of the TOUR’s more than 100,000 tournament volunteers nationwide, including 1,200 from the Los Angeles area, who have helped the TOUR achieve more than $2.14 billion in charitable giving.
The Northern Trust Open is set to return to The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., Feb. 15-21, 2016.
From now until 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on Saturday of tournament week (Feb. 20), fans are encouraged to visit www.PGATOUR.com/Volunteers and vote for their favorite Northern Trust Open volunteer. At the end of the first voting period (Saturday, Feb. 13), the volunteer with the most votes will have the opportunity to walk with a group during the Northern Trust Open Collegiate Showcase, which is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 15. At the end of the Feb. 20 voting period, the volunteer with the most votes will have the opportunity to present a check for $10,000 in his or her name to the City of Hope, the official charity of the Northern Trust Open. The presentation will be featured on the videoboards during closing ceremonies on No. 18. In addition, top-ranking tournaments have the ability to earn additional charitable funding based on the total number of votes earned collectively by volunteers and the tournament.
“The PGA TOUR Volunteer Challenge is a fun way to raise funds for charity and honor the contributions of the hundreds of TOUR volunteers who donate their time helping to orchestrate the Northern Trust Open each year,” said Northern Trust Open Executive Director O.D. Vincent. “We encourage our volunteers to participate in this worthwhile program and ask their friends, family members and co-workers to visit the website and vote.”
Among those participating in the PGA TOUR Volunteer Challenge is Doug Shaw, a Panorama City, Calif., resident who has volunteered with the tournament for 25 years and is chairperson of the warehouse committee.
“I volunteer because it’s a meaningful way to experience the tournament, I’ve made lasting friendships over the years and I get an up-close and personal look at professional golf. If I win the Volunteer Challenge, it will be extremely rewarding to help make a difference for people served through City of Hope,” said Shaw.
The PGA TOUR Volunteer Challenge will continue at 16 tournaments during the 2015-16 PGA TOUR Season and build upon nearly $250,000 provided by sponsor Astellas for tournament charities in conjunction with the PGA TOUR Volunteer Challenge last season.
“Astellas is proud to partner with the PGA TOUR as both organizations share a deep commitment to the power of volunteerism,” said Walt Johnston, vice president, Marketing, Astellas Pharma US, Inc. “We are honored to be part of the PGA TOUR’s philanthropic legacy by collaborating on this unique opportunity to give back to the communities where we work and live.”
The Northern Trust Open features 144 of the world’s best professional golfers competing for 500 FedExCup points and a purse of $6.7million. To learn more about the PGA TOUR Volunteer Challenge and to register to participate as a volunteer or supporter, visit www.PGATOUR.com/Volunteers.
For tickets or more information, visit www.northerntrustopen.com. Follow the Northern Trust Open on Facebook (facebook.com/NorthernTrustOpen), Twitter (@ntrustopen) and Instagram (@ntopen) to stay on top of all the news and updates; and join the conversation by using #ntopen2016 and #MoreThanGolf.
About the Northern Trust Open
What started as the Los Angeles Open in 1926 at Los Angeles Country Club, the Northern Trust Open is now one of the longest-running tournaments on the PGA TOUR, being played for the 90th time this year. It was staged at various courses throughout the Los Angeles area before permanently settling at Riviera Country Club in 1973. Outside of the major championships, the Northern Trust Open is the fourth-oldest event on TOUR, trailing only the BMW Championship, the RBC Canadian Open and the Valero Texas Open.
City of Hope was named the official charity of the Northern Trust Open beginning with the 2013 event. In 2015, the Northern Trust Open generated over $2 million to benefit City of Hope, the event’s official charity partner, and other non-profit organizations in the Los Angeles area. The total generated for Los Angeles charities since the event’s inception in 1926 is now more than $60 million.
Fans are reminded that each year, youths 18 and younger are admitted free of charge to the Northern Trust Open when accompanied by a ticketed adult. There is no limit to the number of youths 18 and younger who can attend with a ticketed adult. Also, as part of its support for the Birdies for the Brave military outreach initiative, complimentary grounds admission tickets for active duty, Reserve, military retirees, non-retired veterans and dependents to the Northern Trust Open are available from Wednesday through Sunday of tournament week.
About Northern Trust
Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking to corporations, institutions, affluent families and individuals. As of September 30, 2015, Northern Trust had assets under custody of US$6 trillion, and assets under management of US$887 billion. For more than 125 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader for exceptional service, financial expertise, integrity and innovation. Visit northerntrust.com or follow us on Twitter @NorthernTrust.
Northern Trust Corporation, Head Office: 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 U.S.A., incorporated with limited liability in the U.S. Global legal and regulatory information can be found at http://www.northerntrust.com/disclosures.
About City of Hope
City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a comprehensive cancer center, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope’s main hospital is located in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with clinics throughout the region. It is ranked as one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics.
About Astellas
Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.us. You can also follow us on Twitter at @AstellasUS, Facebook at www.facebook.com/AstellasUS or LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/astellas-pharma.
Unless you don’t have internet, you’re probably well aware by now that Tiger Woods turned 40 on Wednesday  (December 30). And while the coverage has perhaps been a bit over the top, it’s nice to see Woods getting the appreciation he deserves for all he’s accomplished instead of being knocked for his failures.
Woods recently said anything he does on a golf course from this point forward, “is gravy,” and it’s hard to argue. Sure, he hasn’t caught Jack Nicklaus in major championships (18) or Sam Snead in PGA Tour titles (82), but no golfer has the overall resume that the 14-time major champ and 79-time PGA Tour winner has. His post-scandal achievements alone (eight wins, including a Players and two WGCs) compare favorably to the careers of some pretty fine players. To add to the numbers you’re familiar with, here are some (emphasis on “some”) other mind-boggling stats that show just how good Woods was.
682: The total number of weeks Woods has spent at No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking. That’s 352 weeks (or nearly seven YEARS) more than No. 2 Greg Norman.
3: Times Tiger has had at least a five-tournament winning streak. No one else has done it in the past 60 years. Woods also has three of the five longest streaks, including a personal best streak of seven in 2006-2007.
Read more by Alex Myers at GolfDigest.com
The Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale is growing in popularity in leaps and bounds, primarily due to it’s stadium-like atmosphere. Just this past weekend the tournament set another attendance record of 201,003.
Their famed 16th hole is legendary, that’s where thousands of rowdy, loud, privileged, intoxicated, 18 to 25-year-olds gather to take part in what has come to resemble a Super Bowl Tailgate Party. Â Contrary to popular opinion, I personally feel like it takes away from a long standing tradition in the game known as “Quiet Please”.
I think the Golfing Police are making a big mistake by turning the other cheek and looking the other way, as they condone these young folks’ hollering, yelling and reaching record breaking decibels as they scream during the backswing of any particular PGA Pro they so desire. Least we remember that these guys are out there competing for a paycheck to feed their families and attend to their responsibilities.
The least bit of distraction can cause them thousands of dollars. In 1996, Tiger’s rookie year when he made a hole-in-one on that very same hole those in attendance went bonkers– hence the legend was born. Each year since then the sponsors along with the PGA have gone to great length to tweak and improve on this stadium atmosphere. Unfortunately, it’s not a move to accommodate die-hard, devoted, golf fans. Â For these wide-eyed kids are not the most enthusiastic golf patrons on the planet. And if not for the likes of Jordan Speith, Rory Mcllroy, Jason Day, Ricky Fowler, Dustin Johnson , Bubba Watson, and maybe Phil Mickleson, I doubt if they even know who the hell any of the other players are.
When I watched the third round on Saturday –and heard them booing Bubba Watson as he attempted to strike the ball on the tee and on the green–I said to myself, how disrespectful is that? Â Bubba played it off reluctantly.
This behavior cannot continue to be tolerated, regardless of how “cool” it seems or sounds. These PGA players didn’t sign on for this type of treatment. If the PGA of America (and whoever else is involved) doesn’t get a handle on this, and make some serious guidelines, this whole ‘stadium’ atmosphere thing can certainly get out of hand.
I’m pretty sure that the majority of the PGA players are going along with it because it seems that popular opinion has spoken out loud and clear. Demographically, these fans also happen to be at least 90% white. Being a 67-year-old African American myself, somehow, I have a very hard time imagining what the case would be if the crowd were say, 90% black, rowdy, loud, underprivileged, intoxicated 18 to 25-year-olds making their mark on the golfing world. Â Contemplate that…would the reaction and response be so tolerated? Â My educated guess tells me absolutely not. Â Although there’s a slim chance that I could be wrong. I’ll leave it up to you to fill in the blank.
FAR HILLS, N.J. – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announces Chicago Golf Club, in Wheaton, Ill., and Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, in Southern Pines, N.C., as the host sites of the inaugural 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship and 2019 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship, respectively.
“The USGA is proud to realize its vision of hosting national championships for players of all age demographics, and we are thrilled that the first two editions of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open will be contested at two of the most respected courses in the United States,” said USGA President Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., who announced the establishment of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open in February 2015. “We hope this championship will inspire generations of female golfers to continue competing at the highest level long into their careers.”
The championship will be open to professional females, and amateur females with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 7.4, who have reached their 50th birthday as of the first day of the championship. The field will include 120 players, who will earn entry into the championship via sectional qualifying at sites nationwide or through an exemption category, the details of which will be announced at a later date.
The format will mirror that of the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open championships: a walking-only, 72-hole stroke play competition over four consecutive days with a 36-hole cut to the top 60 players, including ties. Prize money will be announced at a later date.
The first U.S. Senior Women’s Open will be contested July 12-15, 2018 at Chicago Golf Club, one of the five founding clubs of the USGA and the oldest golf club in the U.S. in continuous use at the same location. The club was founded in 1893 by Charles Blair Macdonald, who won the inaugural U.S. Amateur in 1895. The original 18-hole course was renovated in 1923 by Seth Raynor and remains largely unchanged today.
This will be Chicago Golf Club’s 12th USGA championship. The club hosted its first two USGA championships in 1897 – the U.S. Open, won by Joe Lloyd, and the U.S. Amateur, won by H.J. Whigham. It also hosted the 1900 U.S. Open, won by Harry Vardon, a six-time winner of the Open Championship, conducted by The R&A, and the 1911 U.S. Open, won by 19-year-old John J. McDermott, who survived a three-man playoff to become the championship’s first American winner. Additional USGA championships contested at the club include: the U.S. Amateur (1905, 1909 and 1912), U.S. Women’s Amateur (1903), U.S. Senior Amateur (1979), and two Walker Cup Matches, both won by the USA Team (1928 and 2005).
“As a founding member of the USGA, Chicago Golf Club is honored to support the USGA’s newest championship by hosting the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open,” said Brad Kinsey, president of Chicago Golf Club. “We look forward to making this, our 12th USGA championship, an exceptional event for players and spectators alike.”
The 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, the 61st USGA championship to be contested in Illinois, will be the state’s first Open championship since the 2003 U.S. Open, won by Jim Furyk at Olympia Fields Country Club. The 2015 U.S. Amateur, won by Bryson DeChambeau and also played at Olympia Fields, was the most recent USGA championship played in Illinois.
Pine Needles will host the 2019 U.S. Senior Women’s Open from May 16-19. Designed by Donald Ross and opened in 1928, the course was most recently renovated in 2004 by John Fought, who oversaw the restoration of greens and bunkers to their original forms with the aid of vintage aerial photos.
This will be the sixth USGA championship contested at Pine Needles and the first since the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open, won by Cristie Kerr. The club, owned by women’s golf advocate, instructor and former LPGA Tour player Peggy Kirk Bell, also hosted the 1996 and 2001 U.S. Women’s Opens, won by Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb, respectively. Additionally, the 1989 U.S. Girls’ Junior and 1991 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur championships were contested at Pine Needles.
“On behalf of the Bell family and our entire community, Pine Needles is thrilled the USGA has accepted our invitation to host the 2019 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship,” said Kelly Miller, president of Pine Needles. “Having hosted three previous U.S. Women’s Opens, we look forward to seeing some familiar faces and welcoming all competitors to this new USGA championship. I’m confident our Donald Ross-designed course will identify another great champion.”
This will be the 32nd USGA championship contested in North Carolina, which most recently hosted the historic back-to-back 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open championships at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, in the Village of Pinehurst. Upcoming USGA championships in the Tar Heel State include the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and the 2019 U.S. Amateur, both at Pinehurst, and the 2018 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Charlotte Country Club.
About the USGAÂ
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches, attracting players and fans from more than 160 countries. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, equipment standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s reach is global with a working jurisdiction in the United States, its territories and Mexico, serving more than 25 million golfers and actively engaging 150 golf associations.
The USGA is one of the world’s foremost authorities on research, development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and invests in the development of the game through the delivery of its services and its ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the USGA, visit usga.org
Scottsdale, Ariz. – Troon,® the leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing is excited to announce a new partnership with Uber, the innovative technology company known for seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through its mobile apps and evolving the way the world moves.
The partnership is set to launch in February during golf’s highest-attended professional tournament, the Waste Management Phoenix Open. There, Troon will serve as a title sponsor of the Uber Lounge where golf fans can participate in fun golf activities as they wait for their Uber rides. Further collaboration between the two influential brands is aimed at improving the overall golf experience for Troon customers and members with special Uber offers and promotions.
The partnership will also introduce new players to the game through creative messaging aimed at Uber customers.
“We are thrilled to partner with Uber,” said Ryan Walls, Troon’s senior vice president, operations, sales & marketing. “By collaborating together, we are able to enrich the experience of our customers and members while showcasing what makes both Troon and the game of golf unique to people we traditionally might not reach.”
As a part of the program, Uber will also conduct social giveaways for Troon customers and members, providing opportunities to win free rides. Uber users will have chances to win free golf, club rentals, and food and beverage offers. Likewise, Troon customers and members will also benefit from UberEvents services at participating Troon locations, making it easier than ever to get to and from the golf course.
“Uber is thrilled to partner with Troon to offer riders a world-class experience in our rider lounge during the Phoenix Open,” said Steve Thompson, Uber Arizona General Manager. “We look forward to facilitating safe and reliable rides throughout the tournament.”
African American caddies (men, women, boys and girls) have been part of the life and landscape of Pinehurst for 118 years, starting when 9 holes of golf were established in 1898, growing to 18 holes one year later. Jim Crow fostered it and the advent of Civil Rights saw it change to what it is today. As the former historian of the Pinehurst Golf and Country Club, I’d like the significant contributions to the game of golf by all caddies more fully recognized.
In 2001, Don Padgett, Pat Corso and Mike Granuzzo, owner of Caddiemaster, Inc., created the Pinehurst Caddie Hall of Fame with nine famous black and one white caddie inducted and honored at a formal dinner. The nominees were, “All outstanding citizens of the community and long-term contributors to Pinehurst’s caddie program.” The Hall of Fame was a good beginning, but no other caddie has been so honored in the past 15 years. It is high time to continue that noble tradition.
In 1933, Pinehurst Caddy Master Donald A. Currie reported that 550 caddies had been employed in the ’20s. Even during the Great Depression, Pinehurst engaged 190 caddies. Currie said, “They went out twice a day, with some carrying two bags. On good days they made $3.00 plus tips, but the average was between 75 cents and a dollar daily.” Caddies were fed palatable food at a minimum cost. They were examined, vaccinated, given medical treatment annually and checked for contagious diseases. Currie reported some pretty big names on the caddy roster, including, “George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley, Martin Luther, Teddy Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Thomas Jefferson and Jesse James.”
Currie said they, “Banked their earnings in the local savings bank, but that many gambled, often betting 50 cents a hole, while the golfers might be betting only 10 cents a hole.” An important date was January 1, 1939, when the U.S. Golf Association ruled that not over 14 clubs were to be in a bag. Before then a golfer might carry 20 clubs, or more. It was a happy day for caddies, particularly the younger small ones.
The arrival of the golf cart hastened the end of caddying at most American golf courses. Carts were first tested here in 1947, becoming popular in the fifties. The tradition of providing top notch caddies to Pinehurst members and guests has remained in place. They are always available on Course No. 2, and can be reserved for the other courses.
The 2001 Hall of Fame black inductees were Fletcher Gaines, Robert “Hardrock” Robinson, Jimmy Steed, Teddy Marley, Robert Stafford, Hilton “Doctor” Rodgers, John T. “Barney Google” Daniel, Jack “Caddie Master” Williams, and Willie McRae. Jeff Ferguson is the lone Caucasian.
Only two of the honorees are alive, and remarkably both are still caddying.
Photo: Willie McRae, Courtesy of Tufts Archives and Donald McKenzie
Willie McRae, began his profession at age 10, in 1943, and still serves golfers, albeit he’s allowed to ride a cart on Course No. 2, the only person permitted to do so. Willie was enlisted in the 1951 Ryder Cup Matches for European team member, Fred Daley and was on the bag for North & South winner Gary Cowan in 1970.
Jeff Ferguson began his career in 1976 at age 17. Jeff helped Davis Love III win the 1984 North & South Amateur, joining the winners in an unprecedented 12 North & South Championships. He served in the 1994 U.S. Senior Open, the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Opens, and the 2015 Women’s U.S. Open.
Fletcher Gaines, starting in 1938 served for 57 years and was an accomplished golfer in his own right winning seven consecutive Caddie Championships and 10 victories overall.
Photo: Jeff Ferguson, Courtesy of Tufts Archives and Donald McKenzie
He carried Curtis Strange for back-to-back North & South championship wins in 1975 and 1976. “Hardrock” Robinson started in the mid-’20s and was famous for his tap dancing ability as a member of the original caddie band. He once carded a 64 on No. 1, and was featured in the 1927 film, “The Sun Sets In Pinehurst,” staring Gloria Swanson.
Jimmy Steed, who caddied for 30 years, was Sam Snead’s favorite caddie. He scored a hole-in-one in a Caddie Championship. Ted Marley, who first caddied here in 1937, gave Pinehurst 25 years of dedicated service before retiring in 2000. He caddied for Payne Stewart prior to the 1999 U.S. Open Championship. Robert Stafford started in 1934 and caddied for golf legends like Donald Ross and Sam Snead.
He retired in 2000 after 66 years, winning thousands of friends for Pinehurst. Hilton Rodgers began carrying in 1950, and gave Pinehurst 51 years of masterful caddying. Legend has it that he could read a putt from inside the clubhouse. John Daniel helped the remarkable Harvie Ward win the 1948 North & South Championship by one-putting 18 times over 36 holes to beat Frank Stranahan. Jack Williams was a congenial Caddie Master who died on duty during the final round of the 1955 North & South.
Richard Mandell, a prominent golf course architect has written, “Caddying to me provides so much to the experience of a golf round, especially at Pinehurst. Not just the aura that it creates but the ability to walk alongside someone with intimate knowledge of the golf course is so much better for one’s game than riding in a golf cart.”
At Pinehurst Country Club there are life-size bronze statues of famed course architect Donald Ross, former club president Richard Tufts, U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart, and late resort owner, Robert Dedman, Sr. looking over Course No. 2, its premier course. I’d like to see the resort and club members erect another bronze, this time to honor the thousands of dedicated caddies, black and white, men and women who’ve heightened the pleasures of the sport of golf here.
For golfers who would like to experience what it is like to play No. 2 with Willie McRae and Jeff Ferguson, please know that you can still do so.
Paul R. Dunn, author of Great Donald Ross Golf Courses You Can Play, lives in Pinehurst.
Pictured with statues of Golf Course Architect Donald Ross (left), and Richard Tufts (right), operator of Pinehurst Resorts.
February is Black History Month, as we all know. The shortest month of the year, yet (allegedly) our lone month to officially commemorate and celebrate the rich and important history of African American trailblazers and pioneers. Personally, I’ve never bought into that notion!
My belief is that these same trailblazers and pioneers are not only worthy of mention during February, Black History Month, but praiseworthy enough to be included full-time, and on a permanent basis as part of American history, and major contributors to society and the world we live in today. Unfortunately, these stories are typically not captured as part of American history through our public education systems, and seldom adequately captured in secondary and post-advanced levels of public education, either.
So, my monthly blog, this February 2016 will be longer than most, so as not to conform to the shortest month of the year to celebrate African American history, and an earnest attempt to bring perspective to a serious matter we are facing every day in America. The serious matter is that RACE MATTERS!
I’ll begin from a larger, worldly perspective, and funnel down to a smaller and less significant, yet deeply personal, perspective that includes golf, the common topic among this audience of readers and followers of the African American Golfers Digest.
On March 14, 2014, Mellody Hobson gave a sensational presentation on TED Talk.
The title of her speech was “Be Color Brave, Not Color Blind.” Mellody Hobson is a 46 year old, black female from Chicago, IL. She is an extraordinarily successful businesswoman who is currently the president of Ariel Investments, a financial management firm with over $10 billion in assets.
She was raised by a single mother, and went on to graduate from Princeton University prior to her stunning career as a financial investment guru and entrepreneur. She serves on numerous corporate board of directors, including Estee Lauder, Starbucks, and DreamWorks Animation. She is married to George Lucas, billionaire filmmaker, and creator of Star Wars.
Hobson’s list of clients and/or friends includes politicians, social activists, humanitarians, and entertainment celebrities such as Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Samuel Jackson, Harrison Ford, and many more.
The overriding message from her TED Talk was “maybe we should be a little less anxious, and a little more bold in our conversations about race.” She stated that “the first step to solving any problem is to not hide from it…and the first step to any form of action is awareness.” Hobson contends that too many people practice color blindness, as opposed to being color brave.
Color blindness, to her, means ignoring problems with race. Instead, she says we should be color brave, embracing diversity and seeking occasions to proactively have open and honest dialogue about our similarities and differences regarding race. She went on to say that most blacks in corporate American spend their days trying to be comfortable being uncomfortable, a state of being nobody asks for, but necessary to successfully navigate the environment where we are so dramatically outnumbered, and culturally excluded.
In May 2012, the African American Golfers Digest published a blog I submitted titled “Race Matters.” In the blog, I referenced Dr. Cornell West, the Princeton University professor and author of the book with the same title. In the book, Dr. West introduced a the notion of double-consciousness, a phrase he described as a world where Black-Americans struggle for self-consciousness, and often times are measured, and even (sometimes) measure themselves, through the eyes of the majority race. They live “betwixt and between the Black and White worlds – traversing the borders between them yet never settled in either…they crave peer acceptance in both, receive genuine approval from neither.”
In the blog, I likened my career in the golf industry to the double-consciousness and betwixt and between phrases used by Dr. West in his book. As a junior golfer, born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, I vividly recall being an outcast, of sorts, for playing competitive golf. I stood out like an oddball as a black contestant in all-white competitions. Interestingly, I also stood out as an oddball in my black neighborhood for the exact same reason…a black golfer in an all-white sport.
As my career path led me to the business of golf, I quickly learned it would be no different. Maybe even worse! Imagine constantly walking into an environment where you are the only person of color, not on one occasion, but on nearly every occasion. Talk about learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
In her TED Talk, Mellody Hobson stated that people would find it weird to walk into a board meeting with only black men sitting around the table. Yet, they become accustomed to walking into the board room with only white men. Nobody questions the weirdness of that, and Hobson contends that it won’t change until we intentionally strive to change the environment, and speak up when we observe that sort of environment.
Twenty-five years ago, in 1990, it was time to speak up. The world of golf was shamed into investigating and exploring ways to bring more diversity into the game and industry. The incident that catalyzed this was the upcoming PGA Championship, at Shoal Creek in Birmingham, AL. At the time, the private club had no black members, and their president said they wouldn’t be pressured into allowing one to join. The controversy spread like a brush fire, and discriminatory practices in golf escalated beyond sports pages, to front page news. Individuals and corporations spoke up, and programs designed to create diversity sprouted up throughout golf communities.
Fast forward to 2016, and it’s still time to speak up again! Economically, the sport of golf is soaring, as indicated in a recent Forbes Magazine article. The author wrote: “golf is a $68 billion industry with a total U.S. economic impact of $167.8 billion. Approximately 24.7 million people play the game, two million people are employed within the golf industry, earning $55.6 billion in annual wage income.”
Yet, the demographics of the golf industry has not changed. The industry reeks of white power and privilege, and the beneficiaries of this economic boom are void of a significant sector of America…specifically, females and people of color.  Thus, I can’t refrain from speaking up!
My good friend, Pete McDaniel, spoke up in his recent blog that asked: “Where is the Diversity?” He asked the question after attending the annual PGA Merchandise Show, January 2016, in Orlando, FL. In the article, Pete was apologetic in having to constantly repeat and bring attention to the lack of diversity in the business of golf. I commented to Pete that I feel his pain, and I, too, feel ashamed (and annoyed) that I must continue to be one who makes it a point to bring attention to the lack of diversity in a sport that is rising in popularity, economic strength, and social capital at every level of the corporate environment and structure.
The blatant lack of diversity in golf is disheartening to me, a person of color whose life evolved from playing the game competitively, to becoming a student/teacher of the game, promoting the game, and earning my living from involvement in the game. The exposure to golf has provided lasting memories for me and my family, and I’d like to see more individuals of color (and females) have similar experiences. Diversifying the sport would not only be the right thing to do, it would be the smart thing to do, since the demographics in America are ever-changing, and becoming more diverse and inclusive every day. The leaders in the golf industry need a wake-up call from those of us who refuse to be color-blind.  Instead, we have chosen to be color brave!