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GCSAA is supporting the first-ever African American Golf Expo and Forum as a Tournament Sponsor.
The event, scheduled for Aug. 20-24, 2021, at the Hilton Atlanta/Marietta Hotel & Conference Center in Atlanta, will bring together community leaders, golf enthusiasts and professionals working in the golf business to promote diversity and economic inclusion in the golf industry.
In addition to 20,000 square feet of exhibits, the event will feature 20 educational workshops on topics ranging from selecting golf clubs to owning a golf course. GCSAA will be present to provide information on First Green, the association’s STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and math) education program that introduces golf and the golf course superintendent profession to elementary and high school students of diverse backgrounds.
“We are proud to be a part of the African American Golf Expo, and applaud their efforts in growing the game,” says GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans. “GCSAA’s mission includes advancing the profession and enhancing the growth of the game, and neither of those can be accomplished without embracing diversity and inclusion.”
Jim Beatty, founder and president of Jim Beatty Golf Ventures, executive editor of African American Golfer’s Digest, and organizer of the African American Golf Expo and Forum, visited GCSAA’s headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., in August to discuss how the organizations could work together to promote opportunities for African Americans in the golf course management profession.
“I am pleased to have the support and involvement of GCSAA,” Beatty says. “Their participation will positively impact African Americans of all ages. This includes youth, college students and professionals seeking a career in the golf industry. I look forward to GCSAA presenting its programs and other economic opportunities at the expo.”