NORWALK, Conn. – PGA Golf Exhibitions announced its support and involvement in the first African American Golf Expo & Forum (AAGEF), Aug. 21-24, at the Marietta Hilton Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta. The inaugural event is geared toward supporting and growing interest, careers and opportunities for African Americans and other communities currently underrepresented in the sport. It will feature 20,000 square feet of exhibition space reserved for minority-owned/focused businesses and organizations and a variety of sessions on topics ranging from golf programs at historically black colleges and universities to supplier diversity opportunities.
PGA Golf Exhibitions is also sponsoring a “Share Your Story” video contest for AAGEF exhibiting companies with the winner receiving complimentary exhibit space at the 2022 PGA Show in Orlando, Jan. 25-28. The PGA Show is the industry’s largest global business gathering, attracting nearly 1,000 participating brands and more than 40,000 golf industry professionals, and is a catalyst for building the business of the sport among industry stakeholders. African American Golf Expo & Forum exhibitors are invited to submit a three-minute video sharing their brand story about overcoming challenges to achieve their business goals. Contest submissions open online beginning Aug. 2, 2021, and end on Sept. 3, 2021. Additional contest details are available here. Additionally, all African American Golf Expo & Forum exhibitors will receive a special AAGEF reduced rate to participate in the 2022 PGA Show as a new exhibitor.
“The support from PGA Golf Exhibitions is deeply appreciated and most welcomed. It clearly signals their belief and commitment to increasing diversity in the $84-billion industry of golf for African Americans,” said Jim Beatty, founder of African American Golf Expo & Forum, president of Jim Beatty Golf Ventures, executive editor of the African American Golfer’s Digest and chairman of the WE ARE GOLF Diversity Task Force Recreational and Competitive Play Committee. “Their creative and inspiring “Share Your Story” video contest to highlight and assist companies is inspirational. I look forward to working with their team.”
“We are pleased to support the inaugural African American Golf Expo & Forum,” said PGA Golf Exhibitions Vice President Marc Simon. “PGA Golf Exhibitions is strongly aligned with the goals of increasing inclusion and diversity in the sport and business of golf. We applaud the expo’s organizers in their efforts and are proud to join industry supporters to help grow involvement by underrepresented communities.”
African American Golf Expo & Forum events are open to new and experienced golfers, industry professionals, manufacturers, suppliers, media members and golf industry executives with advance registration required at www.aagolfexpo.com. The four-day event includes a juniors and adult newcomers golf clinic on Aug. 21 and a scramble tournament and silent auction on Aug. 22 at City Club Marietta Golf Course. The event moves to the Marietta Hilton Hotel and Conference Center, Aug. 23-24, for 20 educational workshops, golf exhibits, hourly prize drawings and special networking events.
The inaugural African American Golf Expo & Forum is presented by Golf Digest, organized by Jim Beatty, of Jim Beatty Golf Ventures, LLC, and sponsored by Acushnet, African American Golfer’s Digest, American Junior Golf Association, Cleveland/Srixon, ClubCorp, Georgia State Golfer Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Golf Pride, GOLFTEC, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA Golf Exhibitions, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Superstore, Titleist and Troon.
Media Contacts:
Sherry Major, PGA Shows Media – smajor@reedexpo.com
Jim Beatty, Jim Beatty Ventures LLC – jim@jimbeattygolfventures.com
