Fore!

Sunday, May 22, 2016 A coalition of golf’s leading organizations arrived in Washington earlier this week as the World Golf Foundation and We Are Golf prepared and held National Golf Day. A day which presents a unique opportunity for the golf industry to share the many benefits of golf, also allowed me the opportunity to meet and chat briefly with one of golf’s legends: Nancy Lopez.   Craig Kirby…

Sunday, May 15, 2016 Earlier this week I found myself at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia. I had an early morning appointment and as luck would have it, it was the same morning the famous Garrett’s Popcorn Shop was opening its 50th store. Being the 61st person out of more than 400 in line I took the opportunity to get to know person # 62—Alexis. Alexis, a native of…

Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 10, 2016 A Mother’s happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories. – Honore de Balzac    12th At Augusta National is a painting by Raymond Sipos.  Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Courage, Strength & Hope

 Sunday, May 1, 2016 My Father recently sent me a card and on its cover read the following words: Courage. Strength. And Hope.The inside of the card read, “As you face one day at a time”.  At first glance I thought – great card. I put it down for a minute and when I came back I looked and thought about a putt I had earlier that day. Sitting about 130 out I took my A Gap and pitched to the edge of…

The Club House. That place where the Round is appreciated. That place where fine dining or basic pub food is appreciated and that place where you can select your stylish golf attire. The Club House, it’s where stories are both told and made and that place where, well when the day is done creates the final memory. 

  Holy Family Catholic Elementary School this past Wednesday had its version of the Club House. My partner Jimmy Garvin shared that the Marlton Golf Club had a great Key Board Player, Dr. Vaughn who was beginning to play there ‘on the regular’. We thought it a great idea to invite him to play for our students, boy did we strike an Ace! 

  In addition to the great music we also provided gently used golf attire that many of our donors have given us. As the photos share—it was a good time had by all. 

Yes, it seems our new golfers are not only getting the ‘inside the ropes’ experience, but also the ‘outside the ropes’ benefits. It’s all about exposure.

  Craig Kirby

Golf. My Future. My Game. 

http://www.GolfMyFutureMyGame.org

Sunday, April 17, 2016 Recently talking with a good friend, Jamila Johnson, Academic Services Coordinator for the PGA Professional Golf management Program at our partner school the University of Maryland Eastern Shore– she shared the following video. It took me a couple of days to look at it but when I did—Oh Boy!!!        Video What’s Your Why…

A Tradition Unlike Any Other…… The Masters. Sunday, April 10, 2016 FILE – This April 5, 2006 file photo shows bright yellow flowers in the shape of the United States adorn the lawn at the clubhouse during practice for the 2006 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. For the first time in it’s 80-year history, Augusta National Golf Club has female members. The…

Sunday, April 3, 2016 My friend and colleague Jimmy Garvin often states, “Golf is the Carrot, Education is the Key”. Both Golf and Education I want to talk about. Golf, from the perspective that this coming week begins the first of the four men’s major golf championships, major championships or simply the Majors; and education with an overview of each. For those new to the game let me share a…

Happy Easter – Happy New Beginnings

Sunday March 27, 2016 Happy Easter from the team at Golf. My Future. My Game! Craig Kirby, Founder Golf. My Future. My Game. www.GolfMyFutureMyGame.org  

Historic Rogers Park served as the host Golf Course to over 50 golfers who took to the greens last weekend to compete on the first stop of the Advocates Pro Tour in Tampa, Florida. Invited by Dr. Michael Cooper I attended.   

Founded in 2010, the Advocates Pro Tour this season will travel to Atlanta, Pensacola, and New Orleans culminating with a championship game in Los Angeles. All I can say—if you live in or nearby any of these cities—google the Advocates Pro Tour to see the dates of their play and go watch; talk about a treat.  

Since its founding, the tour has become a vital stop for golfers of color looking to advance to the Professional Golfers Association, and I have to tell you—there is no shortage of skill. Just two years ago current PGA Tour player Harold Varner III played on this tour. 

 Beyond the camaraderie and the talent it is the Tour’s mission to increase the number of African Americans in the game by providing golfers with the resources: mentoring, training, etc. they need to be successful. This includes helping them highlight the skills needed to catch the attention- and commitment of sponsors as heard from Advocates President & Executive Director Ken Brantley on the eve of the tournament where the tour led a Panel discussion about increasing diversity in the game of golf. 

My two day visit I had the chance to talk with many Board Members of the Advocates Pro Tour, Advocates USA President Tony Ferguson said, “Craig, bottom line this tournament encourages golfers to develop their game so they have the opportunity to progress and join a larger tour”.   Well, get your popcorn ready… I can tell you The PGA Tour is about to get even more exciting. 

   Final Tournament results compiled by Travis J. Heidel , Director of Golf @ Rogers Park Golf Course and Advocates Tournament Rules Official    

Craig Kirby

Golf. My Future. My Game.  

www.GolfMyFutureMyGame.org

Last Friday hanging out with my friend, former PGA Tour player George Bradford, I had the fortune to spend the day at the University of Maryland, College Park Golf Course for a symposium on Race, Social Class & Professional Golf. Our topic— Tiger Woods’ impact on the golf industry. 

Note: I also had the great luck to meet and have a conversation with current PGA Tour player Harold Varner III  

Photo 1 PGA Tour Player Harold Varner III & Craig Kirby

Photo 2 Craig Kirby & ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt

The discussion highlighted the fact that there are more than 25 million golfers in the U.S., and only about 1 million are African American. After Tiger Woods became a household name, the expectation was his success would 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? 

 The daylong symposium hosted by ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, the University of Maryland School Of Journalism along with journalist, industry officials, academics and authors, addressed questions of race and social class in professional golf. Participating in this lively and colorful conversation I reminded myself how ‘on-target’ Golf. My Future. My Game. is as we recreate the conversation around golf to invite and include diverse communities for inclusion and participation and penetrate markets that have gone unnoticed in the golf world.  Our progress and impact in this dialogue is in large measure a result of our increasing support because of our many donors. 

Thank You and I look forward to sharing more of our successes.  

Craig Kirby

Golf. My Future. My Game.    

www.GolfMyFutureMyGame.org  

Sunday,  March 6, 2016   The past two weeks have been very special and unique for our golf program students at Holy Family Catholic School. Last week our future golfers took a field trip to our partner university—the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and this past week they had the good fortune of hearing from former PGA Tour player George Bradford. I’ve often heard a picture is worth a…

As Black History Month comes to a close there are many African Americans in the world of golf that deserve recognition; trust Golf. My Future. My Game. will honor “the many” as we continue to choose creative ways to  educate and grow opportunities to those who are not yet familiar with the tradition of the game. In Dr. Michael Cooper’s thirty + years of involvement he has served the golf industry…

Blog 83 - Waste.

February 21, 2016 Today’s modern world in many ways is about creation, convenience and consumption. The last of these three bringing with it— waste. With waste as with fashion, less is more.  My question: what is waste? Some say waste is an unwanted material which no longer has value. For some that may be true, for others not so true. You see a couple of weeks ago I was having a conversation with…

Sunday, February, 7, 2016

Adventure, every round of golf has and brings its own. Growing up in Dayton, Ohio in the 70’s and 80’s I had yet to feel the adventure of the golf course, but I did experience adventure listening to the likes of the legendary R & B musical group Earth, Wind & Fire. This past week the music world lost an icon. Founder and legendary leader of one of the greatest bands in music (Earth, Wind & Fire) Maurice White passed. Since Thursday evening the airwaves have played the likes of

“Shining Star”

“Love’s Holiday”

“September”

“That’s the Way of the World”

“Reasons”

Listening to the bands exceptional lyrics and phenomenal music I was reminded by what classic music gives. Talk show host Steve Harvey coined it best, he said this is the kind of music that “reminds you of a special place and a special time—when you hear it your mind clicks over into somewhere else and you just look off…….”  

Yes, the music and culture of Earth, Wind & Fire crafted by Maurice White bridged racial and cultural gaps and joyfully defied all boundaries—somewhat similar to what I have found in the joy and game of golf.  

                                            Maurice White, for your life and your music, thank you.  Rest in Peace!

Craig Kirby

Sunday, January 24, 2016

1:11 p.m. this past Friday snow descended on the Washington DC area. 24 hours and 22 inches later (with snow continuing throughout the afternoon) I sat in my kitchen looking out the window to the images I’ve shared. Simply said… amazing.    

What stood out to me, the snow’s arrival time-- 1:11 p.m. immediately I thought of the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras who I studied in Philosophy. He was the first to establish that numbers hold vibrational properties and that the entire universe is mathematically precise.

Of course I checked what this series of numbers could represent, and I came across an article by author Doreen Virtue. According to Virtue, “when you see repetitive number sequences, this is a message from your guardian angels.

You can ask your angels what they are trying to tell you, and if you listen in stillness, you will hear their answers clearly. Sometimes, though, if you’re stressed or in a hurry, it’s not as easy to hear”.

Reading Virtues’ words I thought about the stillness and power one feels on a golf course. I thought about the ‘quiet’ and the ‘joy’ of being one with nature and allowing yourself to free yourself from the daily pressures life presents.

Like the snow I hope your experiences on the course allow you to hear that which empowers and brings the freedoms you want.  

Craig Kirby

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Over the holidays with friends I was asked the question, “Craig, what do you talk about when visiting our programs-- our schools?”  So, we are all on the same page—let me share—every Wednesday I and our partner Jimmy Garvin Founder of the Garvin Legacy Foundation meet with our students either on the golf course for the Inside the Ropes experience or at the school for the Outside the Ropes experience. An example of our outside the ropes experience is our Let’s Talk Golf session where we highlight a First Tee core value.  Rather than try to explain what we discuss—I thought it best if I shared.     

Golf. My Future. My Game. & The Jimmy Garvin Legacy Foundation present  "Let's Talk Golf"  - Holy Family Catholic School "Knights"  - January 6th  - Today's Topic: Judgement

The First Tee has established Nine Core Values that represent some of the many inherently positive values connected with the game of golf.  So far, we've taken a look at two: Courtesy and Confidence.  Today we focus on Judgement. Judgement:  The ability to judge, make a decision, or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely in matters affecting action.   Luke 6: 37 - Judge not, and you will not be judged; Condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Associated Words

Discernment

Sense

Common Sense

Prudence

Reason

Judgement Examples on the Course

Deciding on a  (course) strategy, club selection

Healthy choices on and off the golf course

Did you ever do or say something in life you wished you hadn’t or do you wish you could turn back the clock to before you did? Hopefully you can console yourself that you haven’t said or done anything that will follow you around for the rest of your life. Some examples of people involved in the game of golf in which their judgment was off base. TALKING POINTS: Vijay Singh’s comment on Annika Sorenstam Back in 20013 Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam was at the top of her game and became the first woman to play a PGA Tour event. Vijay Singh was apparently unimpressed and was quoted by the AP saying, “I hope she misses the cut. Why? Because she doesn’t belong out here.” Thankfully attitudes towards women in golf are continuing to change albeit slowly as you will see… The 1999 US Ryder Cup team The US Ryder Cup has become famous for chest thumping Americans in the crown and on the course. The most infamous and regrettable incident came in 1999 when the whole American team including their wives, brothers, sisters, mums and anyone else who could get onto the course stormed onto the course like a herd of buffalo which wouldn’t have been so bad only poor Maria Olazabal still had a putt to make – and he ended up missing when he eventually got to make it. The incident probably marked the end of friendly rivalry between the two continents Sergio Garcia’s speak first think later comments You could make a top 10 of Sergio Garcia’s comments alone but some of the worst he probably regrets now are his views about Sam Torrance not ranking the 1999 PGA win ahead of marriage and the birth of his child. This proved to be irritating for family man Torrance who reminded Garcia that golf isn’t as important as what many people regard as the happiest moments of their lives. The comment that really got everyone talking in the Twitter age however was the comment, “We’ll have him ’round every night. We will serve fried chicken.” Which was aimed at Tiger Woods. The comment was seen as racist and caused a storm even though Garcia apologized for the remark afterwards. Bubba Watson’s French faux pas “I don’t know the names of all the things, the big tower, Eiffel Tower, an arch (Arc de Triomphe), whatever. I rode around in a circle. And then what’s that – it starts with an ‘L’ – Louvre, something like that. One of those was Bubba Watson’s initial impression of Paris in 2011. ADDITIONAL READING:

Every Shot Has A Purpose.  Pia Nilsson & Lynn Marriott