One Milwaukee organization is working to remove barriers that keep Black children and adults, especially beginners, from experiencing golf.
We Black We Golf was created after one of its founders was stared down by a white guy and responded with, “Yes, we Black and we golf!”
“Golf is not just a game of exclusivity,” said Richard Badger, director and golf mentor of We Black We Golf, a social organization that introduces Black individuals to golfing through clinics, community outings and mentorship without competition.
“We are open to everyone, but we’re intentional about serving our primary demographic.”
Experiencing a typical session
During its clinics, We Black We Golf invites individuals to a golf course and provides them with equipment to learn the basics, like how to hold and swing a golf club before introducing the ball.
After an individual determines if it’s a sport they would enjoy and like to continue with, We Black We Golf helps them find their first set of affordable golf clubs.
“Most clubs aren’t made the same, and most beginners buy the wrong ones from the wrong places,” Badger said.
Changing the perception of golf
According to Badger, the organization consists mainly of individuals who are 45 and up, but for the past two years, the organization has tried to attract younger people to the game.
“We need to tap into the 20 to 35 age range, and Black women are the fastest-growing demographic coming into the game of recreational golf,” he said.
Badger said fewer young people golf because of common misconceptions like it being a slow sport or too expensive and made for wealthy white men.
He said he notices more celebrities participating in golf and is concerned about that misleading young people by making the sport look more expensive and inaccessible than it really is.
“Many of the celebrities are being endorsed by companies,” he said. “DJ Khaled has a golf bag over $30k, which is not realistic for somebody in your demographic and does a disservice to the game.”
However, Badger is glad to see that younger people in Milwaukee are being drawn to local places like Luxe Golf Bays and Topgolf Swing Suite.
Another thing that hinders new golfers and keeps them from travel opportunities, he said, is that they feel they’re not competent enough for the game.
Badger wants individuals to know that golf is all about celebrating your victories.
“In other sports, like basketball, you talk about the errors and shots you missed, but in golf you talk about your makes,” he said.
Creating exposure for younger generations
Among the participants of We Black We Golf, is Ti-mara Minefee-Tribble, a 53208 resident who got involved by attending a clinic with her husband in 2021.
“I’m not very athletically inclined and I didn’t want something where I had to run or join a league,” she said. “When golfing, we got to sit, play music, enjoy drinks and have a dope experience.”
Eventually, Minefee-Tribble got her son Chandler Tribble, 21, involved with the organization.
“He took to the game like a fish to water,” Badger said.
Minefee-Tribble said her son enjoyed golf so much he bought his own clubs with allowance money.
“He was so interested in the sport that he joined the golf team at his school, too,” she said.
Chandler Tribble did additional things like take golf trips with his friends, assist Badger with mentoring and was a caddy driver.
“My son has done the traditional things like football, basketball and playing the cello in orchestra, but to see him encounter something new and be comfortable with it touches my heart,” Minefee-Tribble said.
She said parents should take more time and opportunities to expose their children to other things, including golf.
Badger said he would love to see more Black children play golf, particularly Black girls because of opportunities for scholarships.
“About $50 million in scholarships are returned in the golf space because they don’t have enough minority girls to reward those scholarships to,” he said.
Badger believes many Black children don’t play golf because they’re not exposed to it enough.
“Many of their parents and grandparents don’t watch or play golf, so the child isn’t introduced to it,” he said.
Others might try but not continue if they struggle at first. He wants them to keep trying.
More than just a sport
Badger emphasizes that golfing is a good networking space to build relationships and gain opportunities that would be harder to achieve in traditional settings like offices.
“Golfing is not just a leisure activity, it can be a professional skill and become your extended office,” he said. “People get country club memberships to host staff meetings there, too.”
A year ago, We Black We Golf partnered with Kwabena Antoine Nixon, an author and community activist, to host a business networking event called “The Build Up.”
Residents gathered for the event at Garfield’s 502, a restaurant and tavern in the Halyard Park neighborhood, to enjoy golf games, live music, food and more.
Nixon said although he isn’t an avid golfer, the conversations held around him during the event stood out the most.
“In a golf setting you can make deals with people and talk about things that elevate you as a person within that group,” he said.
Nixon said he appreciated how We Black We Golf created a safe space for the Black community in the sport while preserving Black culture.
“I love when Black folks get into something and we turn it into something,” he said. “That event became a gathering congregation spot where people were golfing but building, too.”
With over 20 years of golf experience, Badger has always kept his confidence and hopes that other generations will do the same.
“I own every room I walk in when it comes to golf,” Badger said.
For more information
We Black We Golf hosts various clinics throughout the year.
The children’s golf clinic is free and consists of learning basic techniques.
It’s generally held at Noyes Park Golf Course, 8235 Good Hope Road, in late July and equipment is provided.
Sunday Fundays are free monthly golf clinics held at 9 a.m. at Lincoln Park Golf Course, 1000 W. Hampton Ave., for all skill levels.
The next clinic is scheduled for June 14. Click here to view dates for other upcoming clinics.
During winter, We Black We Golf hosts an eight-week clinic that includes 16 hours of instruction and three virtual classes.
The cost for this clinic is $450 but can be paid in installments.
If you are interested in becoming a part of We Black We Golf, click here to fill out an application.
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