BY RENEE FLAGLER
Executive Director, Girls Inc. of Long Island
In 2019, Debert Cook, CMP, then Publisher of African American Golfer’s Digest, told me she received calls from great universities seeking students of color for full-ride golf scholarships every year, and dozens of them went unfulfilled.
A few weeks later, a gentleman friend of Girls Inc. called to say he spent the morning golfing and networking. While enjoying lunch at the clubhouse, he learned that women weren’t allowed at the course.
Both instances helped us realize that lack of access prevented women and girls, especially girls of color, from the world, culture, and the benefits golf affords players. We at Girls Inc. did research, determined the benefits, and decided we needed to do more to expose our girls to the world of golf. It took four years, but we are ecstatic to launch our first-ever golf summer program funded by Bank of America and Suffolk County Youth Bureau.
This week our girls are not only learning to play golf (some of them seem to be naturals), but they are also gaining skills in effective communication, interpersonal skills, leadership, and relationship building. By the end of the week, they’ll golf nine holes while getting to know professional women who have volunteered to be part of their foursomes. And did I mention they are having so much fun?
Learn more about Girls Inc. of Long Island at https://girlsincli.org
Renee Flagler is Executive Director, Girls Inc. of Long Island, author, business strategy coach, a highly sought after speaker and passionate leader helping other business leaders thrive. She resides in Deer Park, NY.
