82 Grassroots Organizations Awarded a Total of $750,000 in Grants through Industry’s ‘Make Golf Your Thing’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative
Grant Program Provides Support to Organizations Dedicated to Increasing Golf Participation Among Underrepresented Populations in the Sport
To-Date, Grassroots Organizations Awarded 237 Grants Totaling $1.8 Million
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – 82 grassroots golf organizations, charitable organizations or programs dedicated to increasing golf participation among those who are underrepresented in the sport, will receive a total of $750,000 in funding to further their efforts. These groups (*full list below) are being awarded grants through Make Golf Your Thing, the industry’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion to help make the sport more welcoming for all.
The grant program to date has provided 237 grants to 137 unique grassroots organizations, totaling more $1.8 million (May 2021: 43 grants totaling $150,000; Jan. 2022: 31 grants totaling $150,000, June 2022: 81 grants totaling $750,000, May 2023: 82 grants totaling $750,000). The program was established to support organizations dedicated to increasing participation among golf’s underrepresented populations –Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous communities, as well as women, LGBTQI+ individuals, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.
“Diversity, equity, and Inclusion must be woven into the fabric of the game,” said Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR and executive sponsor of the Make Golf Your Game area of commitment for Make Golf Your Thing. “This is not an easy task, and it requires all of us to participate fully. The industry coming together to broaden the reach of our great game is positively impacting communities in way none of us can do alone.”
“Diversity, equity, and Inclusion must be woven into the fabric of the game,” said Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR and executive sponsor of the Make Golf Your Game area of commitment for Make Golf Your Thing. “This is not an easy task, and it requires all of us to participate fully. The industry coming together to broaden the reach of our great game is positively impacting communities in way none of us can do alone.”
Formally launched in May 2021, Make Golf Your Thing is the industry’s movement to diversify all aspects of the sport. The movement is organized into three strategic focus areas for increasing diversity: Make Golf Your Game (participants), Make Golf Your Career (industry employees), and Make Golf Your Business (industry suppliers). The grant program is an ongoing centerpiece initiative within Make Golf Your Game.
The application period for this fourth phase of funding saw a record 122 applications. Each application was reviewed by a team of 24 volunteers who have extensive experience in expanding grassroots golf organizations. Grantees were selected based on population served, leadership, programming offered, growth potential, and sustainability.
Funding for the grant program is being administered by the American Golf Industry Coalition, a partnership among golf’s leading organizations to promote and advocate for the collective interests of the sport. Financial support for the program is led by a contingent of industry supporters that are committed to making the sport more welcoming and inclusive for all.
| Grassroots Organization | City/Town | State |
| A Perfect Swing Foundation Inc. | Charlotte | North Carolina |
| Adaptive Golf Experience, Inc. | Beaufort | South Carolina |
| Advocates Foundation | Los Angeles | California |
| Black College Golf Coaches Association | Vestavia | Alabama |
| Black Heritage Tour (BHT) Golf Challenge, Inc. | Boyds | Maryland |
| Bob-O-Links Junior Golf Club | Chicago | Illinois |
| Button Hole | Providence | Rhode Island |
| Cameron Champ Foundation | Citrus Heights | California |
| Chandler School of Golf | Dallas | Texas |
| CitySwing Foundation | Washington | District of Columbia |
| Dreams of Lois Incorporated | Fayetteville | Georgia |
| Empowerment Through Golf | San Diego | California |
| Fairways for Warriors | Minneola | Florida |
| FairWays to Leadership, Inc. | Orlando | Florida |
| First Tee – Benton Harbor | Benton Harbor | Michigan |
| First Tee – Central Florida | Orlando | Florida |
| First Tee – Central Mississippi | Flowood | Mississippi |
| First Tee – Louisville | Louisville | Kentucky |
| First Tee – North Florida | St. Augustine | Florida |
| First Tee – Southeastern New Mexico | Roswell | New Mexico |
| First Tee – Tulsa | Tulsa | Oklahoma |
| First Tee — Upstate South Carolina | Greenville | South Carolina |
| First Tee – Western New York | Bowmansville | New York |
| First Tee Eastern Michigan | Burton | Michigan |
| First Tee Four Corners | Kirtland | New Mexico |
| First Tee Greater Trenton | Trenton | New Jersey |
| First Tee—Central Carolina | Clemmons | North Carolina |
| Fore Alabama Kids Foundation | Birmingham | Alabama |
| Fore the Ladies | Sylvania | Ohio |
| Future Successors | Atlanta | Georgia |
| Gator Junior Golf | Gainesville | Florida |
| Girls Golf of Eastern Nebraska Western Iowa | Omaha | Nebraska |
| Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere Foundation | Montezuma | Iowa |
| Golf For Life NFP | Naperville | Illinois |
| Golf. My Future. My Game. | Washington | District of Columbia |
| Greater Cleveland Junior Golf Scholarship Fund | Bedford | Ohio |
| Greenway Foundation | Alameda | California |
| Harris Park Midtown Sports & Activity Center | Kansas City | Missouri |
| Hi-Tee Junior Little League Golf Program | Renton | Washington |
| Hollywood Golf Institute | Detroit | Michigan |
| Hurston Institute for Learning and Development | Minneapolis | Minnesota |
| I AM a Golfer Foundation | Dallas | Texas |
| iGolf4VETS, Inc. | Riverview | Florida |
| Inland Golf Academy | Riverside | California |
| Inner City Youth Golfers’, Inc. | Palm Beach Gardens | Florida |
| Jackson Park Golf Association | Chicago | Illinois |
| Journey Through 18 | Houston | Texas |
| Latina Golfers Association Foundation | Los Angeles | California |
| Little Birdies Mobile Golf Academy | Missouri City | Texas |
| Lone Star Golf Association | Houston | Texas |
| Many High/Jr High Golf Team-Club | Many | Louisiana |
| Matrix Human Services | Detroit | Michigan |
| Michigan Womens Golf Association | Detroit | Michigan |
| Midnight Golf Program | Bingham Farms | Michigan |
| Milwaukee Area Youth Golf Academy, Inc. | Glendale | Wisconsin |
| Moore-Myers Children’s Fund | Jacksonville | Florida |
| National Golf Player Development Foundation | Gilbert | Arizona |
| Neurodiverse Family Haven (NFH) | Fairbanks | Alaska |
| Next 18 | Milwaukee | Wisconsin |
| Northern Nevada Youth Golf Program | Reno | Nevada |
| ONE HUNDRED BLACK MEN of New York, Inc. | New York | New York |
| Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association | Orlando | Florida |
| Par Excellence Youth Development (PEYD) | Huntsville | Alabama |
| Range Fore Hope Foundation | Blythewood | South Carolina |
| Revelation Golf | Elk Grove Village | Illinois |
| She STEAMS Inc. | McDonough | Georgia |
| Sistas on the Links | Richmond | California |
| SLgeeFoundation | Silver Spring | Maryland |
| Society 61 Foundation | Woodland Hills | California |
| Special Olympics PA, Three Rivers Region | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
| Stand Up and Play Foundation | Vista | California |
| SwingPals, Inc. | Durham | North Carolina |
| Ted Rhodes Foundation, Inc. | Chicago | Illinois |
| The Caddie & Leadership Academy | Kenosha | Wisconsin |
| The GLOVe Foundation | Mobile | Alabama |
| The Pinkney Foundation | Pittsburg | California |
| U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance | Westmont | Illinois |
| Upstate-Carolina Adaptive Golf | Greenville | South Carolina |
| West Penn Minority Jr Golf Association, Inc. | Monroeville | Pennsylvania |
| Western States Junior Golf Association | Las Vegas | Nevada |
| Women in Golf Foundation, In. | Ellenwood | Georgia |
| Women of Color Golf | Tampa | Florida |
About Make Golf Your Thing
Make Golf Your Thing is a collaborative effort that reflects the industry’s commitment to making the sport more diverse, equitable and inclusive. This multi-faceted, multi-year movement intentionally works to invite more people to golf from all backgrounds, identities and abilities, whether you are playing, building a career or doing business with the industry.
About the American Golf Industry Coalition
The American Golf Industry Coalition advocates on behalf of golf’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts; environmental and sustainability initiatives; contributions to the economy (local and national); health and wellness benefits, as well as charitable giving. The organization unites the golf industry in pursuit of goals designed to enhance the vitality and diversity of both the business and recreational levels of the sport. The American Golf Industry Coalition is a division of the World Golf Foundation. To learn more, visit www.golfcoalition.org.
Media Contact:
Morgan Comer
American Golf Industry Coalition
850-933-0115
mcomer@worldgolffoundation.org
