June 5, 2020
Not known for shying away from the keyboard, I’ve been hesitant to don the NGCOA CEO hat and speak to diversity, inclusion, racism, anti-racism, and the struggles of injustice. While everyone should have a voice and an ear to the issues, the voices that should be heard are those who experience racism and disenfranchisement. They are the most important in all of this, and have been crying and shouting for the serious attention deserved. The tragedy is that it took a murder and a cell phone to sound the wake-up call.
The gravity of injustice, brutality and racism right now make my work as an association executive in golf seem insignificant. In the context of the human experience, and the work being done to advance a greater world, it is. But it doesn’t have to be. All of us can use whatever we offer this world, and whatever the world gives us, to clear a path towards racial harmony. I use my speaking engagements, column inches in our magazine and social media channels to make the case for diversity and inclusion. Facilitating conversation is one thing; taking meaningful action is another.
The antidote to racism and injustice in this world must include at the most fundamental level truly understanding your fellow man or woman. Condoleezza Rice recently wrote about how fear, dismissiveness, underestimation and presumption are reactions baked into racism that must change in people:
" ...these emotions can be overcome - and often are - with the respect that builds when people know one another as human beings - as friends, neighbors, co-workers and teammates."
The platitudes we read about how golf is a great vehicle to bring people together contain so much truth. NGCOA members build, own and manage the fields of play and places of employment where people come together. We have a gift that can be used to facilitate so much goodness - physical health, mental health, environmental health, societal health and even spiritual health. What we are witnessing is the need for more human compassion and connection, which facilitate sympathy and empathy. Only when sympathy and empathy find their way into more people and institutions, can positive change happen and endure.
Connecting the dots: we at NGCOA must raise our level of commitment to this cause. As an association focused on the business and game of golf, we can bring people and ideas together. We will listen to the experienced and knowledgeable and chart a course of action for us and our members.
NGCOA can do more to bring African Americans into golf course ownership, as well. To that end, we signed up last winter as the first sponsor of the first African American Golf Expo and Forum, scheduled for next February, where we will also facilitate education on getting into the life of golf course ownership and operations. For more than a year, we have been working behind the scenes on a diversity initiative for golf industry leadership that we hope will be well-received.
It’s time to move from neutral to drive. I hope you will come with us, wherever the path takes us.
Jay Karen
Chief Executive Officer
National Golf Course Owners Association
jay@ngcoa.org
COVID-19 and its uncertainty continue to challenge our businesses, but today we need to address another situation that requires even more contemplation, consideration and change.
Like everyone, I was floored and saddened to see what happened in Minneapolis. Rightly so, it has caused a level of introspection on racism and brutality in America that perhaps we have never seen, but that is sorely needed.
As owners and operators, we all do our best to put out a welcome mat for anyone who wants to enjoy the game. We are in the hospitality business, after all. But now, more than ever, we need to take more action to understand and respond to the plight of those who live in an inhospitable world. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that it starts with me, with us and with you. Can the game and industry of golf do more? Absolutely. But we are the game and the industry. So let’s commit to doing better and doing more.
Let you and your business be a credit to your community through humility, care and action. God bless each and every one for a healing of this nation!
Stephen H. Graybill
President, NGCOA Board of Directors
Owner, Foxchase Golf Club
Stevens, PA
shgraybill@foxchasegolf.com