The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) became the first historically black college or university to offer the PGA Professional Golf Management University Program, in 2008. From left: PGA CEO Joe Steranka; PGA Vice President Allen Wronowski; Dr. Ernest P. Boger, Chair, UMES Dept. of Hotel & Restaurant Management; Thelma B. Thompson, Ph.D., President of UMES; PGA Honorary President Brian Whitcomb; and PGA President Jim Remy.
toward becoming a truly all-inclusive game. Shoal Creek, The PGA has learned that So two days prior to the start of the diversity is not only the right thing to do, Championship, the PGA’s Board of but is also good business.”
Directors adopted a policy that eliminated The diversity initiatives spearheaded by
golf facilities with discriminatory The PGA since Shoal Creek have come in
membership practices from being the areas of educational scholarships,
considered as sites for future growth of the game initiatives including
Championships. support of The First Tee and numerous
Within months of The PGA’s watershed programs run by PGA Professionals across
move, the USGA and the PGA Tour the country, initiatives to grow minority
adopted similar policies, and Augusta membership within The PGA itself and
National Golf Club, home of the Masters, initiatives that ensure that minority-owned
admitted its first African-American businesses have the opportunity to share in
member. Looking back now, it’s clear to see the economics of the golf business. In
that the situation at Shoal Creek did not addition, in 2008 the University of
signify the end of an era, but rather the Maryland Eastern Shore became the first
beginning of one that is still progressing historically black college or university to
today. offer the PGA Golf Management
“The Shoal Creek experience was a University Program, now currently at 20 wake-up call of sorts to The PGA that we universities nationwide. are not exempt from being proactive in For an overview of The PGA’s ensuring that African-Americans and other commitment to diversity, with specifics on minority groups are included in every each initiative, visit www.PGA.com/diversity. aspect of golf, including the business of Recently, The PGA reached further back golf,” says PGA of America Director of to correct past injustices when it bestowed Business and Community Relations Earnie posthumous membership on pioneering Ellison, who oversees diversity programs black golf professionals John Shippen, Bill for the Association. “Through the Spiller and Ted Rhodes, each of whom was initiatives that have been developed since prevented from joining The PGA by a
THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE 2010 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP