MLK Day Question - Where are the African American golfers?

[chspeed]

Now that Tiger is in the sunset of his career, it's interesting that one predicted effect of his domination, more African Americans playing golf and joining the tour, never happened.

Guess how many African Americans there are on the PGA Tour these days? One. His name? Tiger Woods.

I looked around for some explanations. Here's one I found from 2010:

"The issue is sponsorship and funding," said Debert Cook, publisher of African American Golfer's Digest.."African-American players do fine through school and college, where scholarships help them support the development of their game, but when they emerge on the other side they simply don't have the resources to practice,". Rest is here: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/golf/12/13/woods.bramlett.golf.pga/

Ironically, Tiger recently gave the most interesting, if slightly bizarre explanation:

“I honestly believe that we don’t have any African-Americans out here playing on the Tour or even a lot on the mini tours is because of the advent of the golf cart,” Woods said at the Players Championship at Sawgrass on Tuesday. “That took away a lot of the caddie programmes. They would go out and loop, carry for 36 [holes], hit a few balls here and there. At least they got introduced. They got to watch it, simulate it, got to be around it. That’s all gone. So we don’t have the pool of players anymore and so as you get up to the peak, as competition pyramids up to the top, it [the number] obviously declines.” Rest is here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/tigerwoods/11587734/Why-dont-we-have-enough-African-Americans-on-PGA-Tour-Its-because-of-the-golf-buggy.html

I'm sure there are a lot of explanations. Regardless, I find it disappointing that a sport that needs as many new young players as possible wasn't able to capitalize on a great opportunity in Tiger Woods.

Edited January 18, 2016 by chspeed

[mcanadiens]

I agree with Tiger. The lack of caddie programs doesn't just limit African Americans access to the sport. It cuts down the number of less-affluent golfers across the board. 

 

 

[SavvySwede]

Tiger opened doors in golf. But so many more doors have been opened in other fields during the past 20 years the flow of talent is still going elsewhere.

[Gator Hazard]

What would be great would be for someone like Tiger to put up some sponsorship money for when they no longer have that type of support system (I don't know, maybe he already does).  Perhaps he could start a fund and treat it like an investment, basically a VC fund for African American golfers where they put up the expenses and take a portion of the proceeds.

Maybe even stages:  Charitable donations for underprivileged kids to get started and playing, then the ones who get to play in college have that until they are done, and afterwards, college would help show who the skilled players are (as well as US Amateurs and other tournaments) and then could invest in players using the venture capital pool.

[Club Rat]

Not really sure why the OP's topic has any relevance to MLK Day and golfers on Tour?  

Quote

Where are the African American golfers?

There are an enormous amount of black golfers, both men, women and children who play and love the game. Many professional black athletics play golf and take up golf when their professional careers end. I know many very good black players, golf with them on occasions, have become good friends with many over the years.

The First Tee program is introducing golf to many young kids who most likely would have chosen other sports or activities.

 

[colin007]

2 minutes ago, Club Rat said:

Not really sure why the OP's topic has any relevance to MLK Day and golfers on Tour?  

There are an enormous amount of black golfers, both men, women and children who play and love the game. Many professional black athletics play golf and take up golf when their professional careers end. I know many very good black players, golf with them on occasions, have become good friends with many over the years.

The First Tee program is introducing golf to many young kids who most likely would have chosen other sports or activities.

 

 

I've no idea what the numbers are but I'm sure there is a smaller percentage of blacks playing golf than of whites. 

[nevets88]

1 hour ago, chspeed said:

Now that Tiger is in the sunset of his career, it's interesting that one predicted effect of his domination, more African Americans playing golf and joining the tour, never happened.

Guess how many African Americans there are on the PGA Tour these days? One. His name? Tiger Woods.

Harold Varner is "in the show" (as they say in baseball) this year. Yes, that's only Woods +1, but it's a start.

http://www.pgatour.com/players/player.37189.harold-varner-iii.html

 

 

 

 

 

[Club Rat]

13 minutes ago, colin007 said:

a smaller percentage of blacks playing golf

On a recreational level, the number may surprise you.

I used to golf at a city muni for years and there were often more black than white golfers during the afternoon weekdays.

[Golfingdad]

21 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

Harold Varner is "in the show" (as they say in baseball) this year. Yes, that's only Woods +1, but it's a start.

http://www.pgatour.com/players/player.37189.harold-varner-iii.html

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I was going to mention Varner as well.  Also, it is still kind of early to close the book on this one considering that it la only been 20 years.  Like @SavvySwede said, the doors haven't been open that long compared to other groups so perhaps were still yet to see many many talented African American golfers. :)

[Shindig]

What happened to Joseph Bramlett?  I thought he was on TOUR, but the website shows he didn't even play at either level since 2013.

[nevets88]

And why are we excluding the LPGA Tour? Cheyenne Woods. Sadena Park.

[Lihu]

1 hour ago, SavvySwede said:

Tiger opened doors in golf. But so many more doors have been opened in other fields during the past 20 years the flow of talent is still going elsewhere.

Yes he did. He's also half Asian. . .

 

1 hour ago, chspeed said:

Now that Tiger is in the sunset of his career, it's interesting that one predicted effect of his domination, more African Americans playing golf and joining the tour, never happened.

Guess how many African Americans there are on the PGA Tour these days? One. His name? Tiger Woods.

I looked around for some explanations. Here's one I found from 2010:

"The issue is sponsorship and funding," said Debert Cook, publisher of African American Golfer's Digest.."African-American players do fine through school and college, where scholarships help them support the development of their game, but when they emerge on the other side they simply don't have the resources to practice,". Rest is here: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/golf/12/13/woods.bramlett.golf.pga/

Ironically, Tiger recently gave the most interesting, if slightly bizarre explanation:

“I honestly believe that we don’t have any African-Americans out here playing on the Tour or even a lot on the mini tours is because of the advent of the golf cart,” Woods said at the Players Championship at Sawgrass on Tuesday. “That took away a lot of the caddie programmes. They would go out and loop, carry for 36 [holes], hit a few balls here and there. At least they got introduced. They got to watch it, simulate it, got to be around it. That’s all gone. So we don’t have the pool of players anymore and so as you get up to the peak, as competition pyramids up to the top, it [the number] obviously declines.” Rest is here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/tigerwoods/11587734/Why-dont-we-have-enough-African-Americans-on-PGA-Tour-Its-because-of-the-golf-buggy.html

I'm sure there are a lot of explanations. Regardless, I find it disappointing that a sport that needs as many new young players as possible wasn't able to capitalize on a great opportunity in Tiger Woods.

I'm not sure there are that many kids that are interested in golf in general.

There are so many sports where many African Americans can aspire to do than Golf that it is not typically on the "hot list". It requires a large financial outlay with less payback.

[saevel25]

1 hour ago, chspeed said:

“I honestly believe that we don’t have any African-Americans out here playing on the Tour or even a lot on the mini tours is because of the advent of the golf cart,” Woods said at the Players Championship at Sawgrass on Tuesday. “That took away a lot of the caddie programmes. They would go out and loop, carry for 36 [holes], hit a few balls here and there. At least they got introduced. They got to watch it, simulate it, got to be around it. That’s all gone. So we don’t have the pool of players anymore and so as you get up to the peak, as competition pyramids up to the top, it [the number] obviously declines.” Rest is here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/tigerwoods/11587734/Why-dont-we-have-enough-African-Americans-on-PGA-Tour-Its-because-of-the-golf-buggy.html

I'm sure there are a lot of explanations. Regardless, I find it disappointing that a sport that needs as many new young players as possible wasn't able to capitalize on a great opportunity in Tiger Woods.

I don't see it with regards to the advent of the golf cart. 

I think it's more to do with cost and opportunity. When you have no high school golf program, but you have basketball and football it's going to be tough sledding for golf to pick up african american teenagers. In most cases those sports off a free opportunity to play, develop skills and get a college scholarship. 

For golf you need to supply your own equipment. Go out and fund your own way on amateur tournaments, travel, higher instructors. The up front cost is substantial compared to other sports. Also you have no real role models of the same ethnicity other than Tiger. 

I see it more as the economic state of minorities coupled with a lack of integration into the sport that the high school level and the disinterest caused by not having someone to admire at the PGA Tour level. 

[Lihu]

13 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

And why are we excluding the LPGA Tour? Cheyenne Woods. Sadena Park.

[Club Rat]

Golf has always competed against other sports at all levels from kids to the professional level. Other sports offer opportunities for greater numbers because they are team sports.

Compare golf to tennis and the results at the pro level are similar. Scholarships for playing football and basketball are enormous to many.The opportunity for making professional teams are greater than making the tour.

 

[mchepp]

58 minutes ago, Shindig said:

What happened to Joseph Bramlett?  I thought he was on TOUR, but the website shows he didn't even play at either level since 2013.

Injuries. 

His first full season on the PGA went okay, but he didn't make the 125. So he was given status on the web.com tour. During his second full season on the web.com he hurt his back and has yet to completely recover. 

[chspeed]

1 hour ago, colin007 said:

 

I've no idea what the numbers are but I'm sure there is a smaller percentage of blacks playing golf than of whites. 

Here are some rough numbers using the below study and US 2010 census demographics:

Whites 79% of golfers,  64% of population: 1 in 10 play golf

Blacks 5% of golfers,  12% of population: 1 in 30 play golf

1 hour ago, Lihu said:

I'm not sure there are that many kids that are interested in golf in general.

There are so many sports where many African Americans can aspire to do than Golf that it is not typically on the "hot list". It requires a large financial outlay with less payback.

I think Tiger made golf "hot" among African American kids for a bit, but it doesn't seem like it had a long term effect of bringing more African Americans into the sport. I agree, the financial outlay has a lot to do with it.

[SavvySwede]

1 hour ago, Golfingdad said:

Yeah, I was going to mention Varner as well.  Also, it is still kind of early to close the book on this one considering that it la only been 20 years.  Like @SavvySwede said, the doors haven't been open that long compared to other groups so perhaps were still yet to see many many talented African American golfers. :)

That wasn't quite what I meant. More like people choosing to not go through that opened door because there are a lot of other open doors. With employment barriers to minorities being eliminated, the gamble of trying to be a pro athlete is less enticing.