April 8, 2021 | BY AAGD STAFF
Wendell Haskins, Chief Marketing Officer with the Professional Collegiate League (PCL), a tenacious diversity and inclusion leader and innovator, will appear this morning on CBSN with Otis Livingston to discuss the Masters tournament and legendary pro golfer Lee Elder, an honorary starter alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. The show will run twice, 6 PM ET and 11 PM ET.
This year makes 85-years of Masters tournaments, it is one of the four major championships in professional golf, and is being contested Mon, Apr 5– Sun, Apr 11 in Augusta, Ga.
Haskins has a successful history in the music industry and in sports and formerly served as PGA of America Director of Diversity. Today his work is committed to helping student-athletes pursue education while being able to compete and be compensated as professionals.
Through his company, Original Tee, Haskins hosts a popular annual golf tournament, The Original Tee Golf Classic, in New Jersey attended by world-renowned athletes, entertainers, and golfing legends. The former Def Jam executive has provided countless opportunities for players of color to not only compete and win prizes and money but also network with influencers who can help them develop their skills and exposure within the world of golf.
Haskins shared with this publication that he proposed the idea that Lee Elder be honorary starter for the Masters, and, proposed that the late, great, World Golf Hall of Famer Charlie Sifford receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. The idea was reintroduced after the George Floyd incident and the concept was shared with Jerry Tarde, editor-in-chief of Golf Digest, and Jaime Diaz, senior writer for Golf Digest. The idea then got shared with Gary Player who then took the idea to Chairman Fred Ridley who agreed.
In March 2021, Haskins’ influence raised $64,000 among his constituents towards the Mack Champ Scholarship program that benefits the Prarie View A&M University scholarship effort. When added to the initial $40,000 donated by pro golfer Cameron Champ and corporate entity Chevron along with a $100,000 contribution by the PGA Tour, this brought the total amount to $204,000.
Haskins says, “My ultimate goal is to increase the popularity of the sport within the Black demographic and to develop the next generation of Black golfers.”
