Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States: PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America, has announced that PGA WORKS will provide MKE Fellows with unique access to the Ryder Cup and the Wisconsin PGA WORKS Fellowship.

The MKE Fellows initiative was created in 2012 to encourage talented students from Milwaukee to pursue and complete their college education.

The organisation’s primary goal is to create a strong pipeline of young, male African American college graduates who will excel in their careers and become engaged leaders in the greater Milwaukee area.

As part of the partnership, a series of activations were scheduled leading up to the Ryder Cup. This includes a virtual lunch that took place in July, which allowed MKE Fellows to learn about career opportunities in the golf industry from PGA of America leadership.

Also, MKE Fellows will receive an onsite tour of the Ryder Cup’s inner workings at Whistling Straits and attend the PGA WORKS Beyond the Green event, the first-of-its-kind to be held during Ryder Cup week.

Beyond the Green provides high school and college students an insider’s look at the golf industry. Students from diverse and under-represented backgrounds who are interested in careers in the golf industry can connect with industry professionals and get a behind-the-scenes look at Ryder Cup operations.

It is scheduled to be a hybrid (in-person and virtual aspects) session, with a keynote speaker and panel discussions.

“This new relationship with MKE Fellows is a special opportunity for the PGA of America to continue to reach out to communities in which we conduct our major championships and events,” said Jim Richerson, President of the PGA of America, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

“The hope is that PGA WORKS’ legacy in Wisconsin and the Milwaukee area will create a dynamic and lasting impact. Since this initiative will be in conjunction with the Ryder Cup, it will serve as a memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience, as the Fellows are introduced to opportunities in the golf industry and to becoming a PGA Professional,” added Richerson.

MKE Fellows Executive Director John W. Daniels III said: “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to help our young people in this area. This wonderful opportunity with PGA REACH and PGA WORKS can certainly open new doors for our Fellows who might not have ever considered a career in golf.

“This relationship is already delivering tangible results and positively benefitting young African American men in the Milwaukee area.”