July 22, 2020 | By AAGD STAFF
An informative ZOOM conference call on diversity and inclusion was conducted earlier today, hosted by Dr. Michael Cooper, Chairman of the We ARE GOLF Diversity Taskforce. Joining Cooper were James Beatty, Executive Editor, African American Golfer’s Digest, who also serves on the WE ARE GOLF Diversity Task Force and as Chairman of the Recreational Play Subcommittee. Steve Hamblin, Executive Director, American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) was the invited special guest.
Hamblin is a member of the PGA of America and a member of the Georgia Hall of Fame. Hamlin’s extensive experience has made him a strong leader for the AJGA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.
The AJGA is an impressive organization that has a junior membership of more than 6,000 and a full-time staff of 61. The organization hosts more than 100 tournaments per year with an annual budget of $11 million. Their internship program is one of the best in the country and helps nearly 100 interns launch their careers each year through running events or working at National Headquarters. National sponsors for AJGA include TaylorMade and Adidas with Rolex serving as a premier partner.
“I love giving opportunities to minorities in our events…. I love the success stories that come out of them,” said Hamblin.
Under Hamblin’s leadership at the AJGA, 17-years ago, his staff and legion of supporters thought so much of Hamlin that they raised money to create the Stephen Hamblin “ACE” Grant to provide annual financial assistance and scholarships to young junior golfers, many of them who lack financial resources. The grant goes up to $5,000 per year and will run through perpetuity. In 2019, 220 young men and women were serviced with the grant and over $400,000 was reimbursed back to their families.
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