Steele to work closely with KemperSports on shared vision of making the sport more accessible for young players everywhere
NORTHBROOK, Illinois – KemperSports, a leading golf, sports, entertainment and hospitality company, announced today a partnership with youth golf advocate Roger Steele, who is joining the company as its official community advisor overseeing the #MakeGolfCool initiative. Steele shared the announcement with his followers via a video on his Instagram page in which he discusses the vision he shares with KemperSports of making golf more accessible for youth players to enhance the future of the game.
In his new role, Steele will co-create content with KemperSports aimed at telling impactful stories of members of the KemperSports family who are thoughtfully growing the game by increasing access and building community through the sport. He will also work with the talented golf professionals and general managers across KemperSports’ family of facilities to continue evolving the ongoing strategy centered on attracting young players to the sport and inspiring a love and passion for the game that will create new opportunities to help them grow.
“Ever since I fell in love with the game of golf, it’s been my mission to inspire that in other people, especially youth players, because that’s what growing the game is all about,” said Steele. “Knowing what I know now, I feel so confident when I say golf changes lives and that’s why I’m so excited to be joining the KemperSports family to create programs, content and initiatives aimed at bringing golf and all the opportunities it unlocks to young people across the country.”
Steele was introduced to the game of golf as a child by his father, however, he didn’t develop a deep love for golf in his early years due to a lack of peers and resources for development. After graduating from the University of Illinois, Steele reconnected with the game on a deeper level while working as an engineer, turning golf into both a passion and a professional development tool. Though he became good enough to play competitively, winning the 2013 Chicago Midwest Amateur, he was also exposed to the world of entrepreneurship and became surrounded by new mentors that facilitated his transition into the content creation space.
Over the years, golf became a deeper passion of his as he noticed the lack of representation, resources and access at every level of the game, especially for minorities. His current goals are to authentically grow and diversify golf through content, philanthropy and key partnerships that extend his mission’s reach. His belief is that golf has an unparalleled ability to connect any and everyone, thus why we should all have the ability to play.
According to The World Golf Foundation, in 2022, almost half (48 percent) of all U.S. golf participants (on- and off-course) were between the ages of six and 34, outsizing their share of the U.S. 6+ population (41 percent). These youngest cohorts also have the most positive views of golf – the majority (60 percent) agree that golf is “cool,” or at least has the potential to become “cool,” which speaks to the potential of the golf industry as it relates to the next generation and the importance of continuing to grow and evolve the game.
“For more than four decades, KemperSports has been an industry leader in growing the game of golf,” said KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner. “Throughout that time, we have sought to partner with people who share our passion for golf. Roger Steele is as passionate about the game as anyone I have met. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and he will help bring a fresh new perspective to the grow the game efforts we have underway. We are thrilled that he is joining our team.”
As an industry leader for player development, KemperSports will combine its genuine love for the game with Steele’s shared passion and experience to develop innovative youth programming and initiatives at KemperSports properties nationwide.
For more information on how KemperSports is growing the game and to join the conversation, visit kempersports.com/growthegame.
About KemperSports
KemperSports is a leading sports, entertainment and hospitality company that delivers operational excellence in property and experience management. Headquartered in Chicago with regional offices throughout the U.S., KemperSports manages more than 140 golf courses, private clubs, sports venues, and destination resorts nationwide. It has more golf properties named among the top 100 U.S. public and resort courses as rated by GOLF Magazine, Golf Digest and Golfweek than any other management company. For more information about KemperSports, visit www.kempersports.com.
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Media Contacts: Taryn Parker, KemperLesnik, tarynparker@kemperlesnik.com, 847-380-0375
