Page 18 - GBC English Fall 2020

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Golf Business Canada
“The face of America is changing. By 2040, the face of America will be more minority, than the majority. Golf has to catch up (with other industries), golf is 35 years behind this change that we are talking about.”
diverse, but there’s a lot of places in the United States that you don’t see much diversity,” Mona said. “Where it’s exactly the same is some of the perception about the game generally that our friends north of the border address, just like we do here south of the border.”
The Diversity Task Force already has a 12-year history that began with the initiative first creat- ed in 2008 followed by a year-long study of diversity within the U.S. golf industry that identified four focus areas, including recreational and competitive golf, suppliers and workforce. After a diversity forum in 2010 brought industry and diversity leaders together, the task force was launched the follow- ing year with five members. The topic of diversity was included on the agenda of major golf organiza- tions at the 2015 U.S. Open at which Mona and Steve Schloss of the USGA gave the presentation.
Mona points out that, while there will always be other topics at that meeting, diversity is the only one that has been on the agenda of that meeting every year since 2015 and that he’s impressed with what’s being done right now by other organizations, including those in Canada. “I am very enthused and heartened by the
Dr. Michael Cooper, Chairman, Golf 20/20 Diversity Task Force.
amount of effort that’s going on and real things that are happening from a diversity and inclusion perspective,” said Mona.
GOLF NEEDS TO CHANGE NOW !
Dr. Michael Cooper is the Chair- man, Golf 20/20 Diversity Task Force and is an expert in the field of Diversity & Inclusion. Recently, he was interviewed for a ModGolf Podcast, where he was asked to share his thoughts on recent devel- opments and the impact on our game. Dr. Cooper stated “the face of America is changing. By 2040, the face of America will be more minority, than the majority.”
“Golf has to catch up (with other industries), golf is 35 years behind this change that we are talk- ing about. And if golf doesn’t get intentional about making the change and making a change is going to take some resources, then it is still going to be stuck 35 years behind the world which has already begun to change. We need to fast track this thing, if it is ever going to be the great game that we love; if it is ever going to be a game that is open to all demographics, then we have got to change NOW! This little slow tracking and throw- ing crumbs at it, it is not going to change like that. We’ve got to giddy-
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Make it an enjoyable golf course to play. It should not be taking away your confidence.
The staff and workers need to resemble the diverse, generational, and ethnic make-up of your golfers.
Marketing and promotions are using that same imagery to attract that market.