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Trade In PGA of America Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
PGA of America DEI Fact Sheet (updated Jan. 2024)
Golf is a game for everyone. At the PGA of America, we work to ensure golf is welcoming and inclusive for all. Whether you would like to play a round, work with a golf coach, attend a Championship, work in the golf industry or participate in the supply chain, we welcome you with open arms to this great game.
In 2014, the PGA of America’s leadership positioned inclusion and diversity as foundational principles in our Long-Term Strategic Plan, recognizing that we will be defined by how our commitment to inclusion and diversity resonates throughout the Association, our programs, and practices. This commitment is vital to the health and relevance of our business and ability to fulfill our mission to serve our Members and grow the game.
In order to attract individuals from all backgrounds, identities, and abilities to the game, the workforce and the golf industry’s supply chain, we must advance authentic inclusion in every regard. Our commitment comes to life through an inclusion strategy comprising five pillars: Education, Government, Workforce, Procurement and Community.
Below is a detailed breakdown of each inclusion pillar.
Education
We are committed to deepening the real understanding of inclusion, equity and diversity, and the business case for them, throughout the PGA of America. We deliver in-person and virtual instructor-led education at PGA Professional forums, PGA employee and leadership gatherings, and golf industry events. We engage subject matter experts to assist in the development of training materials and digital resources to help ensure our education and skill development content is contemporary and credible. Examples include:
- Access to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access Essentials education on Coursera, in partnership with the University of North Texas, for all PGA Professionals and national and PGA Section employees.
- Engaging New Audiences guides PGA Professionals in better understanding values that are unique to different customer demographics and provides strategic and tactical pathways to engage with a broader population at golf facilities
- The Inclusion Guidelines for Golf Facilities, borne out of the Make Golf Your Thing industry collaboration, supports golf facility owners, operators, and staff with essential instruments to assess their customer-facing environment through a lens of inclusion.
- Also borne out of Make Golf Your Thing, the Workplace Inclusion Toolkit guides employers through strategies and tactics across a variety of areas – recruiting, policies and benefits, career advancement and compensation, culture and accountability – to make golf industry workplaces more inclusive in order to attract and retain talent from diverse backgrounds.
- The PGA of America DEI Brand Guide provides suggestions for all PGA stakeholders about voice and tone, messaging, and imagery to foster inclusive communications with a wide variety of audiences
Governance
We are committed to fostering environments, environment, systems, and structures that create the opportunity for all PGA Professionals and PGA employees to develop, grow, and lead. Conducting inclusion assessments across our national and PGA Section business operations allow us to identify gaps and create pathways to closing them.
Diversifying the demographic composition of the Association’s national and Section Committees, across dimensions of difference is an area of focus.
To that end, PGA LEAD was launched in 2016 and is designed to identify, develop, and mentor PGA Members from diverse backgrounds as they pursue leadership positions at the Chapter, Section and National levels of the Association. PGA LEAD also aids in developing PGA Members who have a desire to serve and make an impact on nonprofit boards within the communities where they work and live.
There are numerous success stories of PGA LEAD participants, highlighted by three PGA Section Presidents, three Section Vice Presidents, two PGA Section Secretaries, 21 serving as PGA Section Board Members and 29 serving on National PGA Committees, and one PGA Master Professional.
Since its inception in 2016 and now in its ninth year, PGA LEAD has helped produce more than 100 impactful leaders across the Association.
Workforce
PGA JobMatch
Note: The PGA JobMatch application window is open until Feb. 15 To apply, click here.
In keeping with our vision for a golf industry workforce that mirrors America, PGA JobMatch invites talent from underrepresented backgrounds to register for opportunities to work in positions that support the PGA’s high-profile major championships including the PGA Championship, KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and the Ryder Cup.
Job opportunities include part-time and full-time temporary work before, during, and after our events from April to July. This special opportunity to work on a major championship for individuals from a variety of backgrounds, identities, and abilities provides a unique experience and inspiration for the jobs and careers that exist in golf.
PGA JobMatch registration is open twice per year. The PGA conducts extensive outreach with local and national diverse talent associations, colleges, universities, grassroots organizations, and partners to generate awareness and encourage candidates to register for PGA JobMatch. Qualified candidates are then selected to interview with the PGA and its key vendors, such as Patina Restaurant Group, CSC, and KBS Services.
A variety of positions need to be filled each year within areas such as operations, hospitality, concessions, logistics, carpentry, construction, security, and miscellaneous services.
A variety of positions need to be filled each year within areas such as operations, hospitality, concessions, logistics, carpentry, construction, security, and miscellaneous services.
We value strategic inclusion partnerships with individuals and organizations who believe in our commitment and are willing to carry our inclusive workforce message into their communities. We extend authentically welcoming invitations and create clear and visible pathways into the business. Examples include Fairways to Leadership, Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute, Black Girls Golf, Sigma Pi Phi, APGA Tour, Women in Golf Foundation, Latina Golfers Association, and One Hundred Black Men of New York.
Procurement
PGA VendorMatch
In pursuit of a golf industry supply chain that mirrors the demographics of America, PGA VendorMatch provides procurement opportunities for local and diverse-owned suppliers in support of PGA’s spectator championships. PGA VendorMatch helps foster inclusion within our supply chain and economic vitality for our host communities. The size of our championships, their infrastructure, and goods and services equate to the assembling of a small city. A variety of goods and services are needed, such as catering, floral and landscape, printing and signage, audio-visual services, furniture rentals, and more.
We conduct extensive outreach with local and national diverse business associations to increase awareness of products and services needed. Strategic inclusion partnerships with organizations who believe in our commitment and are willing to carry our inclusive procurement message into their communities are a key part of our outreach. Those partners include the National Veteran-Owned Business Association, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, and the United States Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce.
Business owners can register for the opportunity to be a prospective vendor in support of the PGA Championship, KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and the Ryder Cup. Upon review of registrations and qualifications, vendors who meet the product and service criteria are contacted to schedule meetings with the PGA or its larger Prime (Tier I) Suppliers.
We create mutually beneficial business relationships with diverse-owned suppliers. This includes minority-owned, women-owned, Veteran-owned, Veteran-disabled-owned, disabled-owned and LGBTQ+ business enterprises. Our goal is to ensure diverse vendors are provided equal opportunities to be included in the procurement process. When suppliers have a positive experience in the business of golf and benefit from golf’s $102 billion economy, they are more likely to participate in golf.
PGA Supplier Spotlights
PGA VendorMatch successes range from sourcing local and diverse-owned vendors for transportation logistics, food products, short-term housing, staffing and much more. Our Prime Suppliers have found unique value propositions, customer service solutions, and innovation through vendor inclusion. From sourcing transportation logistics, shuttles and staffing through companies like Chandler Campbelle & Daschle, a minority-owned business that works with PGA of America’s Prime Supplier, The Convention Store, to Zweigle’s, a minority-, woman-owned, and family-operated business supplying hot dogs and sausages to the PGA’s primary concessionaire and caterer Patina Restaurant Group.
Chandler, Campbelle, & Daschle
“We show up and perform, especially when we have an organization like PGA advocating for us.” — Darrell Searcy, President
Chandler Campbelle & Daschle (CCD), a minority-owned business, provides shuttle transportation logistics and staffing at PGA Championship events. CCD works with PGA of America’s Prime Supplier, The Convention Store, to deliver uncompromised service and logistics so fans get where they’re going with ease at PGA Championship events.
Image 360
“Different projects require different timelines, and we were prepared. We knew that when the 2023 PGA Championship came here, they would need stuff done quickly. We were ready for that.” — Jackie Ciresi, Owner
Founded in 1999 in Rochester, NY, Image 360 is a local, women-owned printer that provides digital print with a focus on branding, office signage, banners, wall graphics, floor graphics, and vehicle graphic wraps. Image 360 provided directional signage and CBS Media Compound Lot banners for the 2023 PGA Championship.
Stacy K Florals
“I put it on my bucket list that I wanted to be a PGA florist at some point…and it happened, and it’s been a great experience.” — Stacy K Ercan, Owner
Stacy K is a local, woman-owned floral, decor, and gift studio in Rochester, NY that worked with the PGA’s prime vendor Salem Sports to provide plant arrangements for the 2023 PGA Championship throughout various hospitality locations.
Tequila Sheela
“I took that first step. Do not be afraid to take that step…I am here because of the PGA and Patina Restaurant Group to bring this beautiful product, a healthy product, a proud product of Tequila Sheela to the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.” — Sheela Marshall, Owner
Sheela Marshall and Natalie Merrick founded local, veteran, and woman-owned Tequila Sheela, based in Frisco, TX. Together they created the USDA certified Organic Tequila which was served in hospitality areas at the 2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
Zweigle’s
“We have been in business since 1880. We are a fifth-generation owner and local manufacturer out of Rochester, New York. We are a minority- and female-owned organization, and that is key because of the PGA of America’s initiative to put diversity out on the course.” — Jon Minor, Director of Sales
Founded in 1880 in Rochester, NY, Zweigle’s is a fifth-generation owner and local manufacturer of high-quality USDA meats, including sausages, meatballs, grilled chicken, and hot dogs. Zweigle’s has supplied hot dogs and sausages for concessions and hospitality at the 2023 PGA Championship and the 2019 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
In collaboration with our Prime Suppliers, we are committed to making a positive impact through diverse partnerships and driving growth and sustainability. PGA VendorMatch provides a Win-Win-Win for local and diverse-owned vendors, Prime Suppliers, and the fan experience.
We are committed to procurement processes and practices that will enhance opportunities for diverse vendors. Our Commitment is defined by:
1. Proactively seeking out certified diverse-owned vendors that fit our needs and standards.
2. Identifying diverse-owned vendors through engagement with a variety of minority business councils and encouraging our employees to explore opportunities with diverse vendors.
3. Expanding the opportunities offered to diverse-owned vendors by encouraging our primary vendors to offer opportunities to diverse vendors through PGA VendorMatch.
4. Engaging with our industry partners to share ideas and information to help expand diverse-owned vendor opportunities.
5. Communicating the value of vendor inclusion internally and externally to stakeholders.
Community
We are committed to engaging underrepresented and under-resourced consumers in the game and ensuring there are no real or perceived barriers to entering the game. In our quest to foster a culture of inclusion within the game, we collaborate with those who champion DEI – organizations and golf facilities that have successfully demonstrated growth with diverse groups.
We continue to support well-established, long-standing community-based programming that provides a clear pathway for under-represented individuals into the game including:
- Black Girls Golf
- Fairways to Leadership
- Latina Golfers Association
- LPGA*USGA Girls Golf
- Make Golf Your Thing (American Golf Industry Coalition)
- National Alliance for Accessible Golf
- Notah Begay III Foundation
- One Hundred Black Men of New York
- First Tee
- United States Disabled Golfers Association
- Women in Golf Foundation
As the PGA of America now calls Frisco, Texas "home," we are committed to engaging with the North Texas community and providing clear pathways to our programming as well as career and business opportunities. We have engaged with a variety of diverse partner organizations including:
- Black Sports Professionals North Texas
- Collin College
- Communities Foundation of Texas
- Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce
- Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Frisco Chamber of Commerce
- Frisco Independent School District
- Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Nancy Lieberman Charities
- North Texas Commission
- North Texas Disability Chamber
- North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce
- Paul Quinn College
- University of North Texas
- Women's Business Council Southwest
PGA of America Cares
The PGA of America Cares Employee Volunteer Program was established in July 2021 with the aim of making a positive impact on local communities through volunteer and service work. The program encourages PGA employees to utilize their skills and expertise to support charitable causes and make a difference in the lives of others.
One of the key aspects of the program is its commitment to inclusivity, and striving to create a welcoming and accessible environment for individuals of all backgrounds, identities and abilities. It also recognizes the power of diversity and seeks to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute, get involved and demonstrates the PGA's dedication to making a lasting impact beyond the golf course.
