The First Tee of North Florida was among 70 organizations across the United States with programs reaching those underrepresented in golf have been selected to receive funding through the Make Golf Your Thing Grassroots Grants Program.
Make Golf Your Thing was an initiative that came about through the uniting of the golf world and many of the golf associations across the United States, including the PGA Tour, LPGA, United States Golf Association and PGA of America serving as major partners.
The program is administered by American Golf Industry Coalition, and was created in 2020 to help strengthen the game by making it more inclusive and accessible to all those looking to get involved.
The grants awarded this year will distribute a total of $500,000 to grassroots organizations nationwide, bringing the total program investment to $3 million in the six years since the program began.
“Golf is an important aspect of our country and our communities, contributing to the economy as well as the well-being of people who get involved,” said Greg McLaughlin, American Golf Industry Coalition CEO. “These grassroots organizations are doing incredible work to ensure golf is accessible and inviting to people from all backgrounds, identities and abilities. Thank you to our partners who are investing in golf’s future through this program.”
The goal of the grants remains to support organizations and programs that are strengthening golf by opening doors and inviting more people from historically underrepresented groups to experience the sport firsthand.
The First Tee of North Florida is a staple in the local community and fits the grant programs model as a nonprofit striving to continue to be a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges.
This collective industry effort is showing meaningful results, and according to the National Golf Foundation, golf participation reached 47.2 million Americans in 2024, which is a 50% increase during the past decade.
Participation among an array of ethnicities has also increased 44% since 2020 and represents a quarter of all on-course players.
Female participation has grown similarly, with 7.9 million women playing on-course golf in 2024, a 41% increase since 2019.
Women now account for 28% of all on-course participants and represent more than 60% of golf's participation gains since 2019.
