LPGA Professionals Class A member
I was introduced to golf by my father, Gordon Brown Sr. from Charleston, SC. I started playing golf when I was 7 years old.
It was the love, the excitement, and the enjoyment of the game. It also gave me a great feeling of accomplishment and gave me an opportunity to meet so many wonderful people around the globe.
I highly recommend golf to more women and girls because not only is it a great sport to learn and play, but it teaches honesty, respect, integrity, and values that no one can take away from you.
Society can be more welcoming by making us feel comfortable. Acceptance is the key. Greet us with respect and dignity. As a Black professional golfer, I would like to see more of a sincere smile and efforts to make us feel like we belong.
My advice to my younger self would be that adequate financial support is so important. Not only so I could dress like a little golfer but having sponsorship would have allowed me to obtain new golf equipment, golf balls, golf shoes, teaching lessons, registration fees, travel expenses and accommodations which would allowed me to play in many Junior PGA and USGA events around the country. I would have felt so much better as a young golfer, being the only young Black girl competing in my area in the early 1970's. These are essential tools that my parents could not afford growing up, especially with three brothers that were also competitive golfers at the same time.
Nancy Lopez, Tiger Woods, Annika Sorenstam, and Lydia Ko.