NMJGSA

Black Enterprise, Sept, 1995 by Eric L. Smith

Compared to Bill Dickey, NBA Commissioner David Stern and NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue have it easy. Across the nation there's a basketball court on nearly every other corner, and all you need is an empty lot to toss a football around. So the attraction many African American youths develop for those sports occurs early and often.

But when was the last time you saw a golf course spring up in the inner city?

Dickey, founder and president of the National Minority Junior Golf Scholarship Association (NMJGSA), says it's this lack of access, combined with economic isolation and institutional racism, that has traditionally kept African American youths off of the golf course.

Founded in Phoenix in 1984, the NMJGSA's mission is to serve as a vehicle to introduce the game to aspiring players and as a mechanism to increase minority participation in the game.

"The bottom line was, there just weren't enough programs to introduce the kids to the game," says Dickey. "There were just a handful of black kids involved in golf. So I thought with a national program we could assist these kids as they started trying to get into the game."

From humble beginnings the NMJGSA has made great strides over the past decade. The organization's chief fund-raiser, The East/West Golf Classic, yielded proceeds of nearly $1,500 toward scholarship funds in its first year. In 1995, with over 220 participants, the organization raised a record $108,000, bringing the total amount raised to over $600,000 since its inception. The 54-hole tournament held in Phoenix each January now attracts the best amateur players from the East to compete against the best from the West.

Thanks in large part to the tournament, NMJGSA has provided opportunity to 280 minority students, attending 86 colleges and universities throughout the nation. The scholarships are awarded to college-bound students based on academic excellence, community service and demonstrated golf skill.

The organization has also been instrumental in compiling a database to help talented players at universities across the country network with each other.

Dickey is reluctant to criticize the Professional Golfers Association for the slow pace of integrating the game, but he believes much more needs to be done both by the PGA and by African Americans themselves.

"The PGA probably believes they're doing all they can, but who knows what's enough?" he says. "We as black folks have to do things for ourselves."

While Dickey would love to see another black pro on the PGA tour and is delighted with the success of up-and-coming players Tiger Woods and Lewis Chitengwa, he says first and foremost young people should look at golf as an opportunity to further their education. For the second consecutive year, the NMJGSA is one of the causes for which the B.E./Pepsi Challenge will raise funds.

"Just like with the NBA or the NFL, it's tough for anyone, regardless of color, to make it on the PGA tour. You must be of an exceptional talent," Dickey says. "My concern is getting them so they can take advantage of scholarship opportunities and get an education. Then if they want to stay in the golf industry they'll have that golf game that will help them down the line."

Among the future goals for the NMJGSA are, to continue fund-raising efforts for scholarships and grants; the continued support of a junior golf development program that provides assistance to junior golf programs, golf clubs and associations demonstrating a commitment to minority youths; and golf-related student intern programs across the country.

And while he notes some progress has been made at least in raising awareness of the game since the NMJGSA's inception, Dickey realizes there's still much more to do.

"We may have some players that are out there competitively, but we're not nearly where we need to be."