Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2009

Golf needs to reach more women, minorities

By Eric Degerman, sportstricities.com

Last week, I chose to perform volunteer work for the National Park Service at Lake Roosevelt. One thing I sacrificed to make that happen was missing out on the Northwest Golf Media Association's summer meeting at The Golf Club at Redmond (Wash.) Ridge.

Thankfully, NWGMA President Guy Generaux sent out minutes of the meeting, which featured a panel of several head golf professionals including Brady Hatfield (Suncadia Resort, Roslyn), Dan Hill (Broadmoor Golf Club, Seattle), Craig Hunter (Sand Point Country Club, Seattle) and Clint Whitney, general manager at Redmond Ridge, formerly known as Trilogy Golf Club. Hill also serves as director for the Pacific Northwest section of Professional Golfers' Association of America..

A few items caught my attention as the discussion included the roles, responsibilities and challenges club professionals face.

Hill noted the time and money required to become a PGA Class A professional. He estimated it takes 2-6 years to complete the three levels required, and the out-of-pocket cost is $7,500. While the playing test is completed locally, the rules exam and written tests are administered in Florida. Hill figured only 50 percent of those who start the program end up as Class A professionals. (I've been told very few of the fellow we see playing golf on TV have earned Class A status).

When it comes to women professionals in the golf shop, there's much work to be done. While both Broadmoor and Sand Point employ female assistant professionals, the panel told the NWGMA that the opportunities for women are few. They noted a perception problem regarding female placement in the industry, but the panel said the PGA is making strides in this area, adding that women are in demand as instructors for juniors and fellow women.

On the topic of minority participation, the panel said the PGA of America's No. 1 goal is to bring more players into the sport. To assist with that goal, the panel said money raised by the PGA of America from the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup goes not to its members but instead into the programs that promote golf. Those include First Tee and Play Golf America, which are key to growing the game among minority and underprivileged youth.

Readers may recall that Tri-City Country Club professional Chris Isaacson staged a 100-hole marathon this spring to raise funds for The First Tee of Columbia Basin.

The panel also pointed out that private clubs and public courses make themselves available to high school golf teams. One would hope that kids in the Richland School District realize what an advantage and privilege is it for them to play Meadow Springs Country Club. Don't be shy about sending an actual "thank you" card — not an e-mail — to the club.

In closing, the panel told the NWGMA that golf "should be a way of bringing families together, not separating them."

As I've written more than once, the great game of golf is the activity of choice for the Degerman men.