Symposium: Race, Social Class and Professional Golf

 

The university is open, we will start at 9am.

With more than 25 million golfers in the U.S., only about 1 million are African American. After Tiger Woods became a household name, we expected his success to break down racial and cultural barriers in golf and encourage more African Americans to join the game and its professional ranks. But why haven’t they? Join us for a daylong symposium as ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, along with journalists, industry officials, academics and authors, address questions of race and social class in professional golf.

WHEN:

Friday, March 4, 2016, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

9 a.m. – Welcome, Bonnie Thornton Dill, professor and dean, College of Arts and Humanities

Introduction: Scott Van Pelt, alumnus, ESPN commentator and anchor, SportsCenter

9:15 a.m. – Session 1: Journalists and industry officials (REGISTER FOR SESSION 1)

Steve Burkowski, reporter and producer, Golf Central, Golf ChannelGeorge Bradford, alumnus, PGA golfer

10:30 a.m. – Session 2: Academics and authors (REGISTER FOR SESSION 2)

Othello Harris, sports sociologist, professor, University of Miami of OhioJane Stangl, dean, first-year class, Smith College; sports sociologist, consultant to LPGARose Harper, founder, Grass Ceiling Inc.; originator, Golf Digest Minority Golf Summit and PGA Tour Wives Association

Noon – Lunch break

1:30 p.m. – Session 3: The life and work of an African American golfer (REGISTER FOR SESSION 3)

Harold Varner III, PGA golfer

3 p.m. – Session 4: Q/A and action recommendations (REGISTER FOR SESSION 4)

Jon Guhl, Middle Atlantic executive director, PGA Clint Sanchez, executive director, The First Tee of Greater Washington, D.C.