Announces First Virtual Town Hall Covering Diversity & Inclusion on Friday, Jan. 29
(PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.) — A coalition of golf organizations announces today they have joined forces to create a GenZ Council made up of junior golfers to share experiences and perspectives on the current state of golf, what they hope the future of the game looks like and to offer solutions for the current social and economic issues currently surrounding the game. Representatives from the GenZ Council will host their first Town Hall for a candid conversation around the issues golf faces with diversity and inclusion on January 29.
The Council, made up of 20 young leaders across the country, helps solve a critical missing piece in discussions surrounding golf’s approach to creating a more diverse, inclusive and equitable space in the industry by incorporating the voices of our youth within the conversation. Alongside the core group, an additional 70 members will collectively create a proposal that addresses the golf industry’s approach to creating a more inclusive space for people of all backgrounds.
2021 GenZ Council Leaders
| Name | Year/Grade | Hometown | School |
| Kendel Abrams | 2nd Year | New Freedom, Pa. | Howard University |
| Chloe Avant* | 11th | Denver, Colo. | North High School |
| Sophia Becraft | 11th | Hyattsville, Md. | Eleanor Roosevelt High School |
| Catherine Chapman | 11th | Broomall, Pa. | Academy of Notre Dame de Namur |
| Meghan Christensen* | 10th | Mooresville, N.C. | Lake Norman High School |
| Alexis Daniel* | 12th | Bardstown, Ky. | Thomas Nelson High School |
| Adrian Davis* | 2nd Year | San Leandro, Calif. | Monterey Peninsula College |
| Daryn Dickens | 10th | Alexandria, Va. | Thomas Edison High School |
| Erynn Gutierrez* | 12th | Carle Place, N.Y. | Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts |
| Ana Herndon* | 12th | Powder Springs, Ga. | Campbell High School |
| Varada Maulkhan | 12th | Baltimore, Md. | Catonsville High School |
| Allison McInnis* | 1st Year | Kennesaw, Ga. | Wake Forest University |
| Abigale Morris* | 11th | Buckeye, Ariz. | Canyon View High School |
| Mombo Ngu | 2nd Year | Jacksonville, Fla. | University of Florida |
| Savannah Ojeda | 9th | Bronx, N.Y. | Institute for Collaborative Education |
| Zion Sampson | 11th | Aiken, S.C. | Aiken High School |
| Alyia Santiago* | 10th | Fort Mill, S.C. | Catawba Ridge High School |
| Shani Waite | 1st Year | Los Angeles, Calif. | Prairie View A&M |
| Adora Wen* | 12th | Dublin, Calif. | Dublin High School |
| Kayla Wong* | 11th | Golden, Colo. | Lakewood High School |
*Youth on Course member
"The formation of the Gen Z Council is a pivotal step in solidifying a lasting growth model for the golf industry.” says Gen Z Council member and Wake Forest student Allison McInnis, “By facilitating dialogue among progressive leaders and younger golfers, we will collectively discuss where golf is and develop an actionable plan outlining the appropriate steps our beloved sport must evolve to for a prosperous future."
The coalition of golf associations includes the First Tee, LPGA Foundation, National High School Golf Association, PGA Junior League and Youth on Course. They will foster a community of diverse young leaders from across junior golf aimed at giving them the opportunity to connect, build relationships and participate in youth activism. More specifics about the GenZ council will be available in the coming weeks.
“At its core, I would argue that golf is the most inclusive sport we can play, but there have been policies and practices in place at every level of the industry that have led to it being predominantly white and male,” says Michael Lowe, vice president of programs for Youth on Course. “The Gen Z Council will play a significant role in changing this. I’m excited to work by their side and appreciate all of the individuals and organizations who are committed to empowering young people and progressing towards equitable decision making between youth and adults."
“As an industry, we have the resources to evoke meaningful change when it comes to diversifying the game, says Laura Diaz, director of operations for the LPGA Foundation. “I’m excited to be working with junior golf leaders to give young golfers the platform to get their voices and perspectives heard.”
The Virtual Town Hall will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, January 29. To join and listen-in as the GenZ Council addresses their hopes for the future along with a vision to help industry professionals better understand how to bring in new groups and bridge the gaps in participation, please sign up here.
About Gen Z Council
In 2020, a coalition of junior golf organizations joined forces to create an opportunity for GenZ golfers to share their experiences and perspectives on the current state of golf, what they hope the future of the game looks like, and to offer solutions for bridging the gap as it relates to diversity and inclusion. Comprised of 90 enthusiastic GenZ golfers, they’ll create a virtual community of diverse young leaders from across junior golf aimed at giving them the opportunity to connect, build relationships and participate in youth activism with the end goal being to create a proposal for the golf industry’s approach to creating a more inclusive space for people of all backgrounds.