Founder of 'We Black, We Golf' started popular group after getting 'side-eye' from white male golfers

Richard Badger, director of We Black We Golf in Milwaukee, said the origin story for the group is a tale as old as time. About six years ago, the group’s founder, Marshall Martin, went golfing at the Silver Spring Golf Gourse in Menomonee Falls when he noticed a group of white males giving him the “side-eye,” Badger said.

Martin didn’t let the moment pass before exclaiming, “Yeah, we Black, we golf.”

He was inspired to start a Facebook group on July 30, 2018, which has grown to more than 7,500 followers around the world and led to the creation of the nonprofit We Black We Golf. Since then, the group has worked to improve participation in the sport by utilizing the game to develop networking and philanthropy skills and offering lessons.

We Black We Golf hosts its 4th annual Midwest Golf Open through Sunday. In addition to golf, other offerings will include food, games, a DJ, comedian and live bands. Badger stressed that people of all backgrounds are welcome and anyone can participate in the open on Saturday at Brown Deer Golf Course, even first-timers.

Badger, who was head coach of the women’s team at Alverno College in recent years, decided in an act of “rebellion” to his wife over 20 years ago to buy a set of a golf clubs when she dragged him along on a trip to the old Kmart near Highway 100 and Burleigh Street.

“I didn’t want to be at the store, so I went straight to the sports section,” he said.

“And there was a box set of clubs on clearance for like $40 so I bought them.”

Badger said about a year later his uncle invited him golfing and he’s been hooked ever since.

Being a beginner, he didn’t understand the sport, and credits his development to the television network Golf Channel.

“I watched religiously,” he said. “With pen and paper, taking notes on different golf lesson shows. … I’ve been studying the game ever since, taking lessons ever since, and working on my game ever since. I lost over 100 pounds just to improve my golf game.”

Badger said it’s not all about being the best at golf, but the skills you develop while playing the game.

“It teaches you a lot about patience,” he said. “It teaches you a lot about negotiating, navigating obstacles. It can be very parallel to how you make decisions in life. There is really like no other sport than golf. Golf has no boundaries; it has no dimensions.”

Badger hopes to be part of a growing movement that sees Black America, especially young people, trying the centuries-old sport.

Data suggests the game growing in Black participation

Despite many parts of the U.S. having public courses near major population areas, often golf is perceived as a sport for the wealthy and privileged, as the best courses, equipment and exclusive memberships are reserved for those willing to pay a hefty price and for those who have connections.

The sport is still largely white and has small Black participation, although one group says Black participation is on the rise.

According to the National Golf Foundation, the number of Black people playing golf in the United States has increased over a 10-year period, but they still make up about 10% of the sport. In 2021, 4.1 million Black people played golf, compared to 2.6 million in 2011. The latest report from the foundation states about 41 million people golf in the U.S.

“You’ll find that golf is starting to make more headway into the culture,” Badger said.

“People want something that’s comfortable. When you go to a golf course outside of Milwaukee, you likely are the only Black person on the golf course. So We Black We Golf was created for a state of comfort.

“How can you get Black people to play golf that don’t want to go to the golf course? Well, we bring golf to the community.”

We Black We Golf travels the state going to community events, like on Juneteenth, with a mobile driving range. “We bring golf to your front door, and put it right in your face, and put a club right in your hand, and people get that bug, because now they’ve swung a club, they’ve hit a ball,” Badger said.

Representation on the pro level has regressed

Aside from availability and costs, many Black people aren’t drawn to the sport for a number of reasons, including cultural popularity and lack of representation.

Despite arguably the greatest and likely the most famous golfer ever, Tiger Woods, being Black and Asian, fewer than 1% of Professional Golfers Association members are Black.

“You had more Black people that played on the PGA in the ‘70s and ‘80s than you do currently, even though there’s more Black people that play golf today,” Badger said. “To the PGA’s credit, they are trying to make amends for the past.”

Golf has been around longer than the United States and grew in size, power and influence throughout the country and like many establishments denied opportunities to people of color. Woods famously discussed the racism he faced as a young boy at country clubs in a 1990 interview.

“I always feel it, you can always sense it,” Woods said, then 14 years old. “People always starring at you. ‘What are you doing here? You shouldn’t be here.’”

When asked if he could help change perceptions in America through golf by achieving success like Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, Woods said, “Since I’m Black, I might be even bigger than (Nicklaus). I might be something like a Michael Jordan in basketball.”

Woods said he was fixated on winning the Masters Tournament because “the way Blacks have been treated there. … If I win that tournament, it is really big for us.” Augusta National Golf Club didn’t allow a Black member until 1990 and no women members until 2012.

Woods achieved his goal in 1997, becoming the first Black person to win the tournament. He would wear the green jacket another four times (2001, 2002, 2005, 2019) as part of his 15 major tournament victories.

Tiger Woods at the 1997 Masters (Stephen Munday/Allsport/Getty Images)

“Nike did a great job with Tiger giving him swag,” Badger said. “For Black people, especially younger Black folks, he made it look effortless. He also changed the game in the sense of how the game has always been perceived as nonathletic, old, fat, rich, white guys that are just out there drinking scotch and smoking cigars.

“Gary Player was like that, he was European, but Tiger Woods on the American market capitalistic side was able to truly change the game. Before Tiger, million-dollar purses were unheard of.”

Opportunities missed by not playing golf

Woods and the Black men on the PGA Tour that came before him are an important piece of the puzzle, Badger said, but it’s also about showing Black people the opportunities that can come with playing golf.

“Deals are still made on the golf course,” Badger said. “If you want to be an entrepreneur or business owner you could lose out on potential deals because you aren’t willing to put yourself in that environment.

“You’ve been trying to get on someone’s calendar for months, just for 15-20 minutes. But then you call and offer a tee time and he agrees. Now you have five hours with this individual.

“Golf is an integrity sport. You call fouls on yourself. There might be money on the line. So, you learn a lot about people while golfing.

“And then there’s what we call the 19th hole. It’s just celebrating the closing of the deal.”