Feature Articles – Minority Golf Magazine

Minority Golf Magazine at The Players Championship, the fifth major?

March 14, 2024March 14, 2024Herschel Caldwell0

The quality of the field year after year, the difficulty of the course, the history of the competition, the place on the yearly PGA Tour schedule–all point to serious consideration of the tournament being called the “Fifth Men’s Professional Golf Major”. The subject of The Players becoming the fifth major comes up annually and fervently. However, many top professionals look on The Players as a uniquely private “professional players only” experience with narrow entry and minimized participation (not owing to the open championships where anyone has a chance to qualify regardless of status or professional achievement. The exception to this,… Read More »

Asian Golfer Hideki Matsuyama wins the Genesis Hosted by Tiger Woods

March 4, 2024March 4, 2024Herschel Caldwell0

Hideki Matsuyama, a professional golfer from Japan, made history by becoming the first male golfer from Japan to win a major championship. He achieved this incredible feat at the 2021 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia representing a personal triumph and a significant moment for Japanese golf and sports in general. (MGM: Hideki Matsuyama Is the 2021 Masters Champion! April 17, 2021 Herschel Caldwell) Matsuyama’s journey to success at the Masters resulted from his consistent performance throughout the tournament. He displayed exceptional skill and composure under pressure, securing a one-shot victory over his closest competitors. His win… Read More »

Minority Golf Magazine opens this new feature on Hispanic women in professional golf beginning arguably one of the greatest of all time.

January 18, 2024January 18, 2024Herschel Caldwell0

Nancy Lopez is undoubtedly not the least-known Hispanic female golfer of all time, a gross understatement, and those who lie between her, and new and talented entrees of Latina Professionals on the LPGA Tour. Come back often to read about the impact of Hispanic women on professional tours. But first, let’s take a journey down the path of greatness exampled by Nancy Lopez. Birthdates are irrelevant; suffice it to say Nancy is a world-class retired Latina American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won 48 LPGA Tour events, including three major championships. During… Read More »

THE R&A AND USGA ANNOUNCE DECISION TO REVISE GOLF-BALL TESTING CONDITIONS BEGINNING IN 2028

January 2, 2024Janeen Driscoll0

Revised test conditions to address consistent increases in hitting distance, golf’s sustainability. Impact on recreational game kept to an absolute minimum. LIBERTY CORNER, N.J., USA and ST ANDREWS, Scotland (Dec. 6, 2023) – The R&A and USGA will update the testing conditions used for golf ball conformance under the Overall Distance Standard (ODS), which will take effect from January 2028. The decision aims to reduce the impact increased hitting distances have on golf’s long-term sustainability while minimizing the impact on the recreational game. The revised ball testing conditions will be as follows: 125-mph clubhead speed (equivalent to 183 mph ball… Read More »

The First 100 Years Of Black Golfers in America

December 28, 2023December 28, 2023Carolyn Grant0

African Americans staked their claim in golf more than 100 years ago but getting on the green was not without its struggles. By Carolyn Grant Blacks, and other people of color who had the opportunity to learn and play the game faced rejection because of their skin color. With the passion they had for the game, they fought for the right to enter tournaments, to play and to simply be respected as golfers just like their Caucasian counterparts. Historical research links African Americans to the game of golf as far back as the later 1790s during the days of slavery. … Read More »

Sahith Theegala wins the Fortinet Championship for his first PGA Tour win!

September 19, 2023September 19, 2023Herschel Caldwell0

Sahith Theegala is a rising star in the world of professional golf. He was born on January 15, 1997, in Orange, California. Minority Golf Magazine talked with Theegala at the WM Phoenix Open and again at the Players Championship. Both times, we came away knowing that it was not just a possibility but a profound probability that the 25-year-old would win his first PGA Tour tournament against a strong field that included Major winners and multiple champions. Theegala began playing golf at a young age and quickly showed promise. After attending Pepperdine University where he played college golf and achieved… Read More »

A Golf Writer’s Travel Adventure Through Old South Mississippi

June 21, 2023November 1, 2023Herschel Caldwell0

Post pandemic golf travel has never been more accessible and memorable, golf in Mississippi is a year-round treasure of joyful golf experiences. Recently I had the pleasure of visiting one of the premier destinations for an optimal golfing experience. This adventure was particularly important for me. Mass media narratives had long described the social overtones and political arena of this area in ways that would give minority golfers pause when considering golf excursions to five-star resorts that had historically catered solely to the majority culture. As a publication whose readers are primarily people of color, I was concerned about the reception… Read More »

Kamaiu Johnson Delivers Final Round 61 To Take APGA At ATPC Scottsdale Title

May 12, 2023May 12, 2023Herschel Caldwell0

This is reprinted by permission: ed. CONTACT: Steve Griffith, sgriffith@viziongroup.net, 484 433 7757 – Office – 610 640 2831 SCOTTSDALE, AZ. (May 9, 2023) Kamaiu Johnson, the longtime APGA Tour star and PGA TOUR Latinoamerica competitor, fired a sizzling, 10-under par 61 to run away from the field for the APGA at TPC Scottsdale victory Tuesday afternoon. Johnson’s 61 is the lowest score in APGA Tour history and it ties the Champions Course record at the 7,115-yard, par 71 TPC Scottsdale layout. One of the APGA Tour’s most prominent players, Johnson earned status on PGA TOUR Latinamerica last year and… Read More »

The Louisiana Audubon Golf Trail warmly welcomes the readers of Minority Golf Magazine – part two

April 5, 2023Herschel Caldwell0

The southern part of the Louisiana Audubon Golf Trail is home to some of the most breathtaking distilleries, breweries, wineries, and golf courses in the United States. This region is known for its rich history and delicious cuisine. Did someone mention “spirits”? Should your trip begin in New Orleans, then a tour of the NOLA Distillery is simply a must: Nola Distillery, located in the heart of New Orleans, is a craft distillery dedicated to producing high-quality spirits using locally sourced ingredients. Founded by Jonathan and Lindsay Forester in 2015, Nola Distillery has quickly become a staple in the city’s… Read More »

Andy Walker has been named recipient of the inaugural Black College Golf Coaches Association (BCGCA) Coach of the Year award.

September 30, 2022January 3, 2024Herschel Caldwell0

Walker, a longtime golf professional and premier golf instructor, is no stranger to advocating for all youth, and historically Black youth, in a field where opportunities for inclusion and status have been difficult to attain. A 1998 graduate of Pepperdine University, Walker is believed to have been of the two first African Americans to play on an NCAA Division 1 Men’s Golf Championship team. In 1997 he won the NCAA National Championship at Pepperdine, and was later inducted into the Pepperdine Sports Hall of Fame. Walker’s golf prowess goes back many years, as it was 25 years ago when MGM… Read More »