Only One Mic Podcast
Carl Jerard, Brooklyn Dre, and JRob welcome you to The Only One Mic Podcast. We are joined each week by authors, activists, advocates, community leaders, and professionals from several walks of life who would like to offer their experience, expertise, or commentary on the various topics you will be interested in learning.
Only One Mic Podcast
The Untold History of African Americans & The Sport of Golf
Discover the incredible world of black golf with us and our guests, Scott Paris from Shady Rest Golf and Country Club and Tianna Mañón CEO of Mañón Media Management. We uncover the vibrant culture and rich history of African-American contributions to the sport, shedding light on the camaraderie, music, and cultural celebrations that make golf more than just a game. Our conversation takes you to historical milestones like the Shady Rest Country Club, the first black-owned golf club in America, where legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong once gathered.
Click the links below to learn about Shady Rest Golf and Country Club & Mañón Media Management.
https://www.shadyrestcountryclub.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shadyrestcountryclub?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
https://www.tiannamanon.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thetiannamanon?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
Brothers and sisters.
Speaker 2:Give me a moment with you, friend. I've never been up to my thoughts before.
Speaker 3:Welcome to the only One, mike Podcast Roger, rob, brooklyn, dre. We got a few people in the building tonight. We're going to talk some black golf y'all, something that maybe a lot of y'all didn't know about that. You know our people do golf outside of Tiger Woods, so joining us we have Scott Paris and Tiana Manon of Manning Management. How you doing.
Speaker 4:Good evening, good evening, great to be on the show.
Speaker 1:I'm ready. I'm ready for some black golf. You ready for some black golf?
Speaker 3:Let's go. We're going to talk black golf because I'm going to be honest, full disclosure. I don't play golf, I play miniature golf. That's about the extent of my golf. Oh, I'm sorry, in the driving range. Okay Listen, I belt out a few at the driving range. I think I don't go enough. Hey, that's a good start. It's a good start, yeah. So I mean, I don't know if the patience level is there for me to do the. What is it like? Nine 18 holes? I don't know how many is it normally? Educate us.
Speaker 4:You can do nine, you can do 18.
Speaker 3:So you think I would her laughing, do you think that's what?
Speaker 1:that's me all the time. I you know what let's do nine and then get some food, and then maybe we can think about that back nine. But I'm definitely someone. I'm stopping at the clubhouse, we're drinking, we're getting, we're ordering some food, and then we we think about it, but by then it's been another hour or two. So I'm definitely a little bit. I think scott is here to balance me out because I'm a little bit more of like a social fun golfer kind of thing. You know he brings a little bit more of a serious skill aspect so let me, let me touch on this real quick, scott.
Speaker 3:So when you say social golfer, like are you, like you got music in the back of that cart and all that going on. What's going on?
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's what makes the game fun. It's really a social aspect. You know you bring your music, you got your playlist. You're with your friends. You know you had a social event. It's all about connection. You're out there on the course. It's just you, the course. You know your people and your music.
Speaker 3:I and you're out there on the course. It's just you, the course. You know your people and your music. I was actually just joking.
Speaker 2:You enlightened me on something I didn't even know that you can do that, See there we go.
Speaker 4:That's like a barbecue there. Yeah, I played in a couple of tournaments this year and not only did they have a barbecue on the course, but they had a DJ in the middle of the golf course. That was getting busy.
Speaker 3:So how are?
Speaker 4:you talking about.
Speaker 3:Let me ask you a question Did you really upset the white folks, man?
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, some people make it like a funny look, but you know one of the things, the couple of events that I've been to, they've been primarily all black golfers, so it's really been our people that are out there. So you feel comfortable and you know it's just everybody getting in and enjoying the game of golf and bringing our culture to it as well too, and expanding the game and being ourselves. I think that's the one thing. In the beginning it is a little bit intimidating when I first started playing golf because you know, you have like this perception of how it is and unfortunately, the game has been closed off to blacks and people of color.
Speaker 4:Throughout the course of history and I think now you know, throughout the course of time, with Tiger Woods and a lot of the other some of the other golfers that have made it more mainstream, it's definitely exposed the game and made it more popular within our community. And then also you see a lot of professional athletes like basketball players and football players. You then also you see a lot of professional athletes like basketball players and football players. You know you look at Michael Jordan and Steph Curry. They're doing a lot to, you know, expose people to the game of golf and it's definitely growing and it's a lot of fun. But, yes, it was intimidating in the beginning. But once you start to learn more about the golf etiquette, you learn more about the rules. It's a lot of fun. It's great exposure.
Speaker 2:Is there a lot of racism in it now? I mean, I'm quite sure it's not like it was in the past. But you know, do you guys feel uncomfortable with certain golf courses and things like that?
Speaker 4:Yes, I have felt a little bit uncomfortable at more some of the uh, the private courses, like I've been uh invited to a couple of private country clubs and the vibe there. You know you're sometimes often the only one on the course and so that sometimes can be a little unsettling, a little uncomfortable and you do get looks, but oftentimes people are receptive and they're welcoming and they want to grow the game too within these different markets as well too. So so some people are open and you know I haven't faced a lot of. You know I've never had any racist comments or anything of that nature, just more so you maybe get some funny looks and things of that nature.
Speaker 3:And it's a good thing that you you know, you mentioned that, because we as African-Americans have a deep rooted history in golf and a lot of people don't discuss that portion of history. So, speaking of, we're talking about Shady Rest Country Club in Scotts Plains, new Jersey, which actually has a lot of black history entrenched in it, and this is why we want to have you guys on to discuss this. Of course we can talk about, you know how you play the game, but you know, I mean we want to discuss the history of it as well. So for those that don't know, it was built in the mid 1700s, originally a farmhouse, and was converted into a tavern, and then the Westfield Country Club and in 1921, the Progressive Realty Company Incorporated, which was a group of black investors, purchased Westfield Country Club and established the Shady Rust Country Club and it was for the leisure of a lot of African Americans.
Speaker 3:During that time they also had a lot of Black performers come through, like Ella Fitzgerald, duke Ellington, so on and so forth, we can name them all. But I believe WEB Du Bois played there as well and it was like considered like a Black oasis. People would travel from Harlem. Who worked at the Cotton Club in Harlem couldn't enjoy the Cotton Club because they were just workers and after that was over they would travel all the way to Scotch Plains, new Jersey, just to go to Shady Rest and see the performers play the game had a lot of famous people come out of there, and what was the gentleman's name? It was John help me out.
Speaker 4:Yes, John Shippen Jr.
Speaker 3:John Shippen Jr, yep, who actually has a tournament named after him. If I'm correct, that's correct, I do my homework. Folks applaud that. All right. So now if you want to expound a little bit more on the Shady Rust Country Club and its contribution to the black community, that's almost like an unsung history.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I mean, the Shady Rest Country Club is truly a landmark. It's a national landmark as well too. Founded in 1921, as you mentioned, the first owned black country club in America. And, um, you know also John Shippen Jr, who was the golf pro who oversaw the grounds and the upkeeping of the uh of the golf club portion. Golf course, um, as you know, was the first not only uh African-American, uh professional golfer, but he's actually the first American-born golfer to play in the US Open. So not only is it Black history, but it's also American history.
Speaker 4:And, to your point, the Shady Rest Country Club was truly a mecca. We had several different, you know, high-caliber artists of that time that would come and perform there. At the time when they first opened up, they had over 200 members and it really it's also in the Green Book too. So it was one of those locations in the northeast that you know middle class, upper class black people could come and feel comfortable to, you know partake in playing golf. It also had a tennis, it also had tennis courses and just a really remarkable history that we have, and glad that they were able to preserve that and make it a National Registry landmark location.
Speaker 3:And, if I can, I just want to do it on the justice that they deserve. It was Ella Fitzgerald, duke Ellington, count Basie, billie Holiday, sarah Vaughn, louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway, amongst others, that frequent that club. So, again, it's one of those things that's history but just not spoken about. There's something you got to dig deep into to actually find it. Did you guys have to find that? You needed to do that based upon your love for the sport that made you, you know, look deeper into it yeah, well for me how I stumbled upon the shady rest country club in the history.
Speaker 4:Um, the course had been taken over by the town of scotch scotch plains and they renamed the course uh, scotch hills country club?
Speaker 4:yeah, golf course, and so I was just going there because it was only 20 course Scotch Hills Golf Course and so I was just going there, because it was only 20 minutes from my house, just to play golf. I had no idea about the history and there was a gentleman by the name of Lamont who was from Scotch Plains and who was influential as far as preserving the shady rest. He kind of ran me down. He was like man, we're looking for black golfers to come here and participate and be who was influential as far as preserving the Shady Rest. He kind of ran me down. He was like man, we're looking for black golfers to come here and participate and be part of a club that we're trying to grow, and he was sharing with me a lot of the history and the museum.
Speaker 4:The museum is amazing. Anybody that has an opportunity to take a look at the Shady Rest Golf actual pro shop and country club Shady Rest Golf actual pro shop and country club. It's still in existence, the exact same building that was constructed in 1921. People can go see the museum and they have John Shippen memorabilia and a lot of the pictures of the artists that you just mentioned performing at the Shady Rest. It's truly remarkable. So I just kind of stumbled upon it and learned more about it and became part of the golf club that they have to kind of keep the history going and promoting the game.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I remember seeing this report on PIX11 some time ago and it was like the morning show. They were doing a piece about the golf course. They said in the actual museum that john shipping jr has like a club, a golf club that has his face like embroidered in on it, like I believe did he make clubs as well, if I'm correct. I could be wrong, but I believe.
Speaker 4:Yeah, he did make clubs they. They still have one of his putters that's, uh, in the in the um museum and they also have a portrait that was painted of him. The artist has passed away, but a lot of really good stuff in that museum. Also, as far as, like history of golf, the golf tee was invented by a black man, so that history is embraced and showcased in the museum at the Shady Rest George Franklin or something like that.
Speaker 2:I believe his name is, yeah, exactly, george Franklin. Yeah.
Speaker 3:So do you believe like and it's just a question to the court to say that this might be something like how a lot of sports might just be ingrained in our DNA, that we don't take advantage of this Because all we know is like well, basketball, football, baseball at one point, and then it's like golf. Why do you think we were cut out that particular part of history? I know like golf has always been historically quote unquote like a white elitist sport, you know, not knowing that, even though we had kind of like our black elites that were playing it as well, but we had a spot in it. So why do you think that was kind of like pushed to the corner until Tiger Woods made the scene, or something like that for our generation? Why do you believe that was?
Speaker 4:I believe it was strategic. You know, when you think about golf courses in the game of golf, a lot of it is business related to a lot of your top. You know business deals are done on a golf course Politically. You know you see a lot of politicians, a lot of your top. You know business deals are done on the golf course Politically. You know you see a lot of politicians, a lot of influential people that make key decisions in the community.
Speaker 4:A lot of that um you know those resources and things of that nature. So I think that was part of it. And then, just um, you know the cost of it as well too. I think that was another barrier that was um implemented to help, unfortunately, to block more black people, people of color black people specifically, from playing the game of golf. The cost barrier and you know, just blocking people from coming into the country. A lot of these country clubs. You know the membership fees and oftentimes you have to be invited and you have to have a sponsor to bring you into some of these exclusive country clubs, and you know I think that's part of the reason why.
Speaker 2:Hands down. It's just probably the racist, whatever I mean, as you do your homework on it. I mean I used to think baseball was horrible. I mean baseball don't have nothing on golf, man. You know what I mean? It's absolutely ridiculous. Like there's people that there's brothers that built uh, I think it was joe bartholomew, that, hey, he built like several golf courses and he wasn't even allowed to play on the golf courses that he actually created.
Speaker 1:You know, I mean it's ridiculous yeah, it's tough too because it persists, because it's just like one of these outpourings of already systemic racism. So you have golf courses that are super far from where we're living, especially if you're already dealing with kind of this like de facto segregation Folks are kind of concentrated in certain neighborhoods. Folks are kind of concentrated in certain neighborhoods. I know, for example, like my city, rochester, is considered one of the most segregated like in the nation, and so for me to even get to a golf course is a solid 20, 30 minute drive and that's for a lot of people.
Speaker 1:Driving to a golf course is is not close, it requires a lot of people. Driving to a golf course is is not close, it requires a lot of land. So a lot of times it's further out. And then there's also the fact that you have to get yourself there, your equipment there, and so I think it's like already we've been kind of pushed out and now that continues because they don't even really have to do the overt pushing, the systems are just kind of continuing that work for them. So it definitely doesn't help that because it's not as visible. I don't think there's always that much interest also for us as maybe like a basketball or football might.
Speaker 1:So you think that if the accessibility was there, especially for, like, a lot of young people who, as as you can see, now a lot of young people are venturing out into other things outside of you know, football and basketball, like oh yeah, the love for soccer is like it's definitely yeah, the accessibility thing, I think as soon as you see like there's, there are clubs with kids all over, especially those focusing on inner city, black kids and stuff like that, and the number one thing they report that these kids are into it from day one, and so it's definitely something where even I mean this is a lifelong sport, unlike basketball and football, where you kind of you know, I know how y'all knees get in the pickup games.
Speaker 1:You can't keep playing after 30. Like this is something that I'm going to be playing, you know, god willing, well into my 60s, 70s and 80s, and so I think it's definitely just a visibility thing for us and accessibility.
Speaker 4:You bring up a really good point as far as proximity, when you look at you know the urban communities. When I lived in Brooklyn I lived in Washington DC, chicago area. You know it's slim pickings to find a golf course in those areas. So it wasn't until I moved out to New Jersey, where you know things are a little bit more spread out, where I even had access to go to a golf course and was exposed to it. So you know, I was never really exposed to the game of golf growing up, you know, and, like you said, it wasn't really like the cool thing to do. You know, within the community you wanted to play basketball, you wanted to play football, baseball. Those were the popular sports. I think Tiger Woods helped to, you know, bring the popularity up within our community. But you know that, being of a good point, that definitely the accessibility in our communities is not there and they do have the first team. So they're trying to do more to get resources to our younger folks so that they can get access to the game.
Speaker 1:I think it's a big deal for kids to get involved Like I don't remember a time in my life before golf. My great grandfather was a golfer, so I had little baby clubs and I think it transformed this idea of you know, when I'm in a kind of white core space, I know that there might be an inkling that I don't belong there, but I have never even picked up on that vibe because it's never occurred to me that I don't belong there, Like what's going into it pretty much like I've probably been golfing longer than a lot of you white guys who just picked it up in college, and so it was more so like, oh, let's see what this little brown girl can do.
Speaker 1:And so I think it's really a level of when you teach younger Black children golf, it's way different than when you're learning it as an adult, especially when it comes to, like, the confidence factor of it and just kind of boldly stepping into things. And you know they teach their kids at one year old, two years old, to start picking up clubs, and so I think even as much as we're kind of intervening at, you know, younger ages, I would love to see, like toddler age groups of black kids and it's funny you say that because, as you were talking, I was thinking the same thing, like imagine if you caught them young and let them just play, how many prodigies you might come.
Speaker 3:You might come out of that group, uh, yeah, so that's something that's interesting how expensive is it?
Speaker 2:I mean, you know what's the cost of golf, you know, I mean like on a regular basis, like for one person to go play, or I guess what group of people go pay. So really.
Speaker 4:Is it really expensive? Well, one of the things that I've learned is that, um, there's different, you know ranges, and, and the nice thing is that it's not always as expensive as you know one might imagine. Um, there's different. You know ranges, and, and the nice thing is that it's not always as expensive as you know one might imagine. Um, there is an upfront call, so to get your equipment, you know, to get a bag of clubs, um, you're looking at two to five hundred dollars for for like a starter set, just to get started. And then to your question as far as how much does it cost to play?
Speaker 4:There's a lot of public courses, for example at the Shady Rest. You can play at the Shady Rest for like $20, $20 a round and you can play nine holes and they'll allow you to continue to go around as many times as you like. So that's a good deal. But then you know you get to more of some of the more exclusive courses. You know they can charge you. You know two hundred dollars, three hundred dollars, but there are a lot of opportunities where one can play for, you know, twenty, thirty dollars.
Speaker 2:Let me get to that two hundred dollar level. I'm just going back to the basketball court. No, no, no, I got to jump in here level.
Speaker 1:I'm gonna just go back to the basketball court. No, no, no see, I gotta jump in here, because the problem is is that, like golf starts taking your money because you get into it, you want a cuter driver, you want a better fit. Uh, there's now jordan golf sneakers, so it's definitely, you know, you can start off with the intent of I'm gonna keep this cheap, but I think golf has a way of stealing a lot of people's hearts, and definitely their wallets too.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and they made some yeah, I mean, that's another thing the golf fashion, like the apparel.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, people want to get on the course and look nice to her point.
Speaker 1:Yeah that's half the fun is the cute fit sneakers and some slacks man, it's gonna go real nice yeah, those jordan, those jordan golf kicks are nice, oh my gosh, yes yeah, that that's where I really was a sucker, for it was like oh, it's over for me. Like some really good ones they drop frequently, um, and then I knew for sure, with the east side golf partnership. Oh, when they drop those ones.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, and it's funny to say that, because there's many times I would actually scroll through the nike um, you know the nike web page and I'm looking for sneakers and I'm like that was this hot. And then I realized all the golf sneakers, man, I can't do this, you know. So they put out some good stuff, some nice stuff, and now they have this one tool and then I realized, oh, they're golf sneakers, man, I can't do this, you know what I mean. So they put out some good stuff, some nice stuff.
Speaker 4:And now they have this one tool where you can take any sneaker and you can put a golf spike, make it essentially a golf shoe. Wow, why are you telling me this? Yeah, so a lot of people have fun with that. Because you know we're into sneakers, we love our sneakers and our fashion.
Speaker 1:So that's part of it.
Speaker 2:Oh, I didn't know that you know you feel good.
Speaker 3:You got to pique that curiosity on that one. Yeah, you did.
Speaker 1:I also feel like sometimes like the other thing to know about golfers that can be very intimidating is that people on the outside think that everyone who golfs is really good, but people who actually golf know how many of us suck and we're just out there having fun, looking cute and drinking that's another big part of it, and just having fun so I would definitely say a lot of times. Going back to the fashion, it's just like sometimes the game isn't there, but your fit is A lot of the fun.
Speaker 2:Listen Tiana's into something totally different from what you're into. I told you, that's why.
Speaker 1:Scott is here. You can see that right off the bat.
Speaker 2:I mean, is drinking customary? I mean I know you said you do a barbecue out there every now and then, but is drinking customary out there?
Speaker 3:Well, I guess you got to drive the car For the guys that really get busy.
Speaker 4:You got your drinks, you know. You got your stash, your cigars.
Speaker 1:They have a cart person, excuse me, who will literally bring you more beers to buy as you are playing. So yeah, it is a big part of it, oh, okay, okay, so you can drink and play, and then.
Speaker 4:Michael Jordan's golf course in Florida. I've never played there, but they have like a drone. You can order your drinks your alcoholic drinks and the drone will deliver it to you wherever hole you're at. Oh wow, but definitely drinking is part of it too. It's a social game.
Speaker 2:That's over, m David, making me sick my whole life. Yeah, I was about to say that too.
Speaker 3:Did it again, man. So let me ask you guys your love for the sport. I know, you know Tiana kind of said, you know, when I was little my grandfather had this, whatever gave it to me, what was the first thing that attracted you to that sport? Uh, to the sport of golfing.
Speaker 4:and you know, just like, look, this is what I want to do well, I was kind of exposed to, really exposed to the game, maybe like five years ago and, um, I had to get ready for a golf trip which was going to be in mexico with a group of friends and I didn't want to embarrass myself, so I started practicing, taking, taking lessons, and as I was doing that I was like, man, I love this, you know it's. You know I played baseball growing up, so I've always been involved in sports. So it provided that you know competitive outlet and to work at something and to get better in sports. So, yeah, I just I just became addicted, really addicted to the game. I really love it.
Speaker 3:And you, tiana. You said that you know your grandfather.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's really hard to pinpoint. Like I said, I've literally just been around forever. My great-grandfather was a pretty like famous regional golfer. He won a lot of tournaments or trophies just all over, and so I think the first time that I fell in love with it personally, and not from like that familial aspect, was really the first time I stepped out there and it was quiet. You could just hear the birds. Quiet, you could just hear the birds.
Speaker 1:You know it was a level of peace that I still don't see in many other places and that I still cherish every time I hit that first tee box. And I think it's also really great for people who struggle with anxiety, any kind of mental health thing, because it really, I mean sports in general forces you to get back into your body, but golf particularly has a slower pace. You're out there in the fresh air. You know it's a beautiful freaking day, Um and so for me, I think a lot of my love for golf is, yes, it's the sport, but it's also just the surrounding culture, the other black golfers, I mean. There's so much of it, yeah.
Speaker 3:Okay, well, you know what?
Speaker 1:I never heard anybody describe it in terms of like just mental clarity, I mean because every time it's always associated, like some people say that golf is stressful because you're playing and stuff like that, no, no, people who tell you and you know what, scott, you may disagree with me here, but people who tell you that golf is a mental game I don't agree with, I think, most sports. I mean, maybe you have to learn the rules of golf, but after a while you start to feel your swing bodily. I know, without looking up, if I'm going to slice. You know like I can hear it. I can hear it come off the club face, and so I think for people who sit in their minds all day, like me, it's a great way to finally channel all of that out for a good two, three hours.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I mean, it's a great getaway because, number one, you're out in nature, you're on the elements, you know just that, just breathing in that fresh air, you know you're out and seeing your beautiful courses. Oh yeah, walking the greens.
Speaker 1:We didn't even talk about that. How many courses have insane views? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, really beautifully laid out, and so I think you know it is like a best kept secret for white wealthy people that they just have this kind of oasis that they just go and play on every so often. Um, you know, fresh air alone can be, can be really rejuvenating. So, yeah, I think for me a lot of times, even when I don't feel like golfing, because it's like I'm tired, it's like I hit the range and it's just nice to hear that metallic ping and stuff like that so makes you feel like you're doing something. Yeah, yeah, especially for people who are former athletes, who may feel like in their adult life they're not getting as much like activity. Or hey, I can't keep playing pickup games at the Y Golf is an amazing way to still stay active, especially if you're walking. I don't do that, but if you are, it's great.
Speaker 2:It's some good competition.
Speaker 3:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:Yes definitely.
Speaker 3:I mean, what do you think it takes? I don't know if Shady Rust has this type of program where they bring kids in to actually play. Do they have anything like that, like something where, like, the community can bring the kids and let them get exposed?
Speaker 4:yes, we, that's a great question. We actually have our shady rest um golf for kids, where we bring in kids and we do golf clinics. We teach them the game, we teach them etiquette, um, we provide equipment for them as well and just exposing them at a young age to the game. So we definitely do that. And um, there's another organization, as I was mentioning before my first tee. They do a lot nationally, as far as you know, reaching out to kids and getting them acclimated with the game, getting them started do you think you see any type of um?
Speaker 3:you know the next I don't want to keep saying Tiger Woods because there's more to it than Tiger Woods but do you see that next person coming up, like this kid, might have something? Have you ever seen that in any of the kids coming in?
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, I've seen some really good high school players coming up, some you know kids in junior high. On Instagram, there's a lot of, uh, young golfers that have profiles and you can see their development, and some some, very, very talented kids that are coming up through the system that I think have an opportunity to, you know, be the next tiger, which we hope, yeah. And females some really good, uh, women of color as well, that are really, you know, impressive right now and, if they continue on the right track, I think that they could you know do wonders.
Speaker 2:They have like a national ranking for golf, like young children golfing and stuff like that. Like what basketball have, like what AAU for like high school basketball kids? Do they have something like that for, like you know golf, you know young golfers like a national ranking?
Speaker 4:Yep. So they have amateur golf events that start at a very young age from all the way, from, you know, as young as, like you know, grade school, middle school and then the majority of that a lot of high schools have some type of golf program in different counties as well that compete.
Speaker 2:And is there any names that pop out to you right now, like big names, like youngins that's coming up right now in New York, or you know, because it's like a basketball, we know, you know, when you know high school, from high school, you know, you know LeBron is coming, or you know. I was just wondering if golf has has it like the same type thing. So I was just wondering if golf has the same type thing.
Speaker 4:Yeah, there's a young African-American woman. Her name is Koya Johnson and she's a really good up-and-coming golfer.
Speaker 3:And is she coming out of Shady Rest? She's in California, california.
Speaker 4:Okay. Okay, as far as golfers that are kind of on the cusp of potentially making it pro, a lot of the HSBCUs have really good golf teams. Howard has a really good golf team. Steph Curry has funded. Florida A&M has a really good golf team. North Carolina A&T has a good golf team. So some of those collegiate golf players have, I think, an opportunity to play at the professional level. They're right on the cusp. They're very good.
Speaker 3:Do any of you aspire to play at the professional level one day?
Speaker 4:I would love to. It's just too late in the game. No, it's not.
Speaker 1:You can do the senior tour. I just told my dad that he should consider the senior tour.
Speaker 3:Wow, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, did I catch that?
Speaker 1:No, it's the thing you don't understand. It sounds like it's me, but golfers know that it's actually a good thing.
Speaker 3:You just told this man he can play the seniors tour.
Speaker 1:The seniors tour starts early, okay.
Speaker 2:I thought it was a shot too. I thought she was taking a shot, no.
Speaker 3:You want to sit down and take that?
Speaker 2:Scott, it was good.
Speaker 4:I guess I can start preparing for it in the future, but what about you?
Speaker 3:T what you gonna do?
Speaker 1:no, I did a tournament with. I went to Shady Rest. Actually, this is how I learned, this is how this whole conversation started. We were randomly emailing. I'm like wait, sh wait, shady Rest. I was just there. I cannot stress enough. I am not a tournament scoring kind of person. Me and my group definitely just ended up hanging out chatting the whole time. Hanging out chatting the whole time. So definitely no LPGA aspirations over here.
Speaker 2:My dad said he would caddy for me but um, I'm good, I just want to be cute on the golf course, I think. I think I think that anybody's listening to this. We kind of figured that out a while ago.
Speaker 1:You just want to wear the outfit and everyone like my, my family is like well, tiana, you should take it seriously, like you've been playing for so long. But um, I think there's also a level of when you play it so long and you know you got forever to play it. There were whole years where I just didn't even think about golf and then I picked up my clubs and I played again. So I don't think I have what it takes consistency-wise, like I'm a fair weather golfer, if it's 50 degrees I don't want to play okay, okay, it's cold.
Speaker 3:You're not as dedicated as you know me not in that sense.
Speaker 1:I'm definitely. Hey, let's just go to the simulator. Yeah, definitely the other benefits that golf affords, but I don't think I need to go professional, you don't need to go professional.
Speaker 3:All right, Okay, Listen again. You're talking to people that I'm only limited to the driving range and putt-putt, oh.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry.
Speaker 3:I'm sorry, I got to add this in when I did have a video game system and occasionally you throw the golf joint on man.
Speaker 1:Those are pretty pretty relaxing, you know I mean, and you, know what I feel like they teach you a lot about golf in terms of the rhythm of the swing. So if you play a lot of golf video games, you may be surprised to find that you're actually not bad playing. Um, but, like, my dad is super serious as a golfer. He's always entering tournaments, always winning money, and so I feel like, by virtue of playing with him, I I'm pretty good um, but like that desire is just not there yeah, those pro players, they're on a totally different level.
Speaker 4:I mean, they're practicing six, eight hours a day.
Speaker 3:I wish I had that time to do that, yeah, if you had the time to do that I think there's also a level of geography that plays a role.
Speaker 1:You know, a lot of golfers know this, but if you're someone who lives in California, Texas, Florida, it's a lot easier to go pro than if you're from freaking New York, New Jersey.
Speaker 4:So that does matter too. Yeah, yeah, being able to play you around is definitely an advantage.
Speaker 2:Exactly, I want to be 100. All of you guys are much better than me. I think you only did miniature golf like three times, and that was only just to get the check I was late. Man, that was a cheap date did you?
Speaker 4:uh, a lot of people on a date. They'll do the top golf.
Speaker 3:Top golf. Yeah, I hear people talk about it.
Speaker 4:It's a big thing nowadays.
Speaker 3:Never been in it, but I've heard a lot about it.
Speaker 4:You've never been to top golf. No, that's a good spot because you can watch TV. You got your own little station. You're hitting golf balls. It's like being on the driving range At the same time time you had a restaurant type vibe, it's nice I gotta I gotta
Speaker 1:try that I do think golf is seeing, um, just such a renaissance right now where it is becoming the sport to do. You know, I always joke on my instagram that all the cute girls are golfing now, um, but it goes further than that. You know. There are athletes who are retiring who can still pick it up, and I think Steph was kind of, you know, let's go. Michael Jordan was really the first kind of in that way. But then you start to really see it pick up with Steph and he's making holy moly and really stepping into that golf game. So it's not just an offseason thing, golf game, so it's not just an off season thing, and so I I don't know. I think it'll be really interesting to see how it grows, the fashion around it, eastside golf, and how big they've gotten. But I do think if we're not careful we will get left behind in that wave. So I am really trying to bring my friends along, bring folks along, even if you're just playing socially. There's just so much to be gained from it.
Speaker 3:So yeah, and I think I think you know, going back to the beginning of this conversation, the history, like knowing the history of it, might spark a lot of interest in people, because all you really need is that one electrifying golf light tiger was good, but he was boring, you know. I mean, you need somebody that's like we need one from harlem yeah, somebody bring some flash to the game or something
Speaker 4:like that. Yes, yes, there was a dude out there, you got him all right, you need to look up uh calete. Yeah, he was like a real brother-brother, you know he had the Kangol hat. Yeah, I've seen the video.
Speaker 2:We like to brag, he had that swagger about him he played in Rochester for quite a while, did he really?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm looking at the brother man.
Speaker 2:Yeah, man we need like an Allen Iverson goal. That's what we need. Really tear the sport up.
Speaker 3:Yeah, somebody that's going to break it down and then that way, once that barrier is broken. Then it's like yeah, I want to be like this guy, you know this young lady. So yeah, so we learned a lot today, folks. We learned that Tiana just likes to wear the outfits and drink on the course. Scott's the real professional here.
Speaker 1:Okay, wait Before people take it away. But Tiana can hit well. That matters too. I guess Tiana has a really long drive. I guess.
Speaker 3:You know what?
Speaker 2:I mean if she say so.
Speaker 1:I mean, I don't the next time we record this is going to be in person at the course. We'll do it on location, can I?
Speaker 3:give a play by play. I mean, I don't know all the golf terminology, but I can make it up as I go.
Speaker 2:I know, when somebody's messing up, she hit a tree.
Speaker 3:I'm telling you yeah, we got to make that happen. We got to make that. I would love to go live from Shady Rest.
Speaker 4:We would love to You're welcome anytime. We would love to have you out there's like a tournament.
Speaker 1:You should go next June-ish probably.
Speaker 4:Yeah, next June we're having a tournament.
Speaker 3:Do? I got to wear the fancy golf outfit to get on there. Let me tell you you ain't got to tell me.
Speaker 2:I'm coming with it, I'm going to have the nicest outfit you ever want to see. I'm going to have a beautiful outfit.
Speaker 4:I'm going to send you all some free Shady Rest swag.
Speaker 3:That's what's up. Man, the real professional here, love it man? Yeah, definitely, definitely. We'll look for that. Let me ask you guys, before we let you go, favorite golf movie. What's your favorite golf movie? Happy?
Speaker 1:Gilmore, happy Gilmore. All right, okay, guys before we let you go.
Speaker 3:Favorite golf movie. What's your favorite golf?
Speaker 1:movie.
Speaker 2:Happy Gilmore.
Speaker 3:Alright, what you got for us, Scott, Don't you say Bagger Vance brother. Do not say Bagger Vance brother.
Speaker 1:I'm hanging up if you say Bagger Vance.
Speaker 4:Oh no, Actually there's a movie called Playing Through and it's about this black woman golfer. It's based upon a true story of this woman in the 19, I want to say the 1960s and her challenges that she faced as far as competing professionally as a black woman golfer. It's called Playing Through, so definitely check that out. That's probably the best golf movie that I've seen because it has a history standpoint. That movie was based upon Ann Gregory. She was the first woman of color to play in the USGA.
Speaker 2:You got to do your homework on the USGA. It's a lot of good history about the USGA.
Speaker 3:Listen, folks. February is coming up, so add this on to your list of stuff. They're not going to teach you in school anyway Fading out black history in school, Especially now.
Speaker 4:It's just very well done and it's an independent film.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was going to say it's big right now, just like if you guys want to follow the team behind it. I know they did a couple of different festivals with the film as well.
Speaker 3:Yes, and here my lowbrow behind was about to say Caddyshack.
Speaker 1:Okay, but I said Happy Gilmore. And then he came through with this.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so I'm like see me shrinking.
Speaker 2:Caddyshack was a classic. I like two.
Speaker 3:What you like. Caddyshack too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I like one or two. Wasn't it two with Jackie Mason, or something?
Speaker 3:Yeah, nah, it wasn't like the original one man.
Speaker 2:It's not better than the original Wizard, but it is what it is, yeah.
Speaker 3:My man, Shooter McGatty. Y'all know they're about to make a second one of that right. Are they yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4:Those are classic, those are classic.
Speaker 2:There's got to be a third. There's got to be a third, there's two, there's two. Caddyshack.
Speaker 3:No, not Caddyshack Happy.
Speaker 2:Gilmore yeah, yeah, happy Gilmore.
Speaker 3:No, they should never touch Caddyshack again. Please let the people know where they can reach you. We'll start with you, scott the professional Professional golfer.
Speaker 4:We would love to welcome everybody to come join us at the Shady Rest Golf Club located in the Scotch Plains, and then also you can check us out at wwwshadyrestgolfclubcom and you'll see the website of the actual club members and you can join and we would love to have you.
Speaker 1:That's good, miss Tiana, yeah this is not like my job, so I don't have a website to point you to no, but tell them what you're doing. Yeah, I am. I'm going to ask you about the fashion tips. Yeah, you know what, though, I am?
Speaker 1:going to get some good stuff to make it more accessible, to kind of dispel those fears that people have. So a lot of folks have been just DMing me saying, hey, you really encouraged me to get out there. So if you ever just need someone to kind of say hey, I'm a little nervous, I don't know what I should be looking for, anything like that I am definitely that person to make you feel a little bit more welcome on the golf course. So you can just find me on Instagram, dm me.
Speaker 3:Yeah, all right, and also tell them about the management. You know what I mean? Yeah Well, yeah, okay.
Speaker 1:Yes, I do run a PR firm. We specialize in helping folks who are transforming their industry in some way, so connecting them with their audiences, to actually make sure that that legislation passes, those systems they're creating actually take off. So, yeah, that's. This is kind of the fun way to meet those kinds of big game changers, and so, yeah, that's why I always tell people get into golf. You never know who you're going to meet. Look at me and stop.
Speaker 3:How about it? You know, I mean, it's a good place to discuss, you know, expanding your brand, you know yeah, yeah so business it's business.
Speaker 4:The networking piece is so key with the game of golf. Like the majority of the friends that I've met since I moved out in new jersey, a lot of them met through playing the game of golf and it'll take you places you never thought you know you would. You would imagine you know. Anytime you travel to a different city or a different country, you can check out a different golf course. It's a different world and I want more of our people to get involved in the game and enjoy it and embrace it and love it like we do, and they will love it.
Speaker 4:And the majority of the time when we take on something as a people, we do it right. We do it right, we do it well.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and that's why they try to put them barriers up. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:How's the smack talking down there man? Does it get crazy? Does it go off like it? You know what I mean.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah, oh yeah, there's a lot of junk talking.
Speaker 1:See, I'm like you missed your putt and I'm like, oh, if only the hole was right there. So I don't understand the smack talking part of it.
Speaker 2:Actually, I would have took that as slick talk right there. Yeah, right, yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 3:I would have took that personally. You don't know where it's at, okay, okay, hold it a little closer.
Speaker 2:Very much.
Speaker 1:Great swinging so close yeah.
Speaker 3:Y'all are funny. Before we go, I'm going to just tell you this. I don't know how accessible golf carts are, but for some reason in my neighborhood I see like a whole family riding around on one.
Speaker 4:Just in the neighborhood.
Speaker 3:Yeah, like I'm walking my dog, and this is like twice I've seen it. The kids are hanging out like the Flintstones.
Speaker 2:It's crazy.
Speaker 3:It's going to tip over. I'm like where did?
Speaker 4:you get a golf cart. It's funny you say that. I haven't seen more of that. People like getting there on golf courts, pimping them out, putting rims on them, speakers on them yeah but is it a city street?
Speaker 3:Pimping them out, putting rims on them, speakers on them, yeah, but this is the city streets. This is not the thing to do. If you can do that, you can get a car. So I'd rather see you in a hoop than in a golf cart. That's me, alright, listen, we thank y'all for real. This was a very different talk Because, like I said, we didn't know anything about golf. But this is what it's about. We learn from each other, all right.
Speaker 3:So with that being said, got to bid you all adieu. Thank you once again, scott Tiana, for always, always delivering. The Only One Mic Podcast is available on all platforms you stream your podcasts on. Also, check out our Only One Mic Podcast YouTube channel to catch up on the past and current episodes, and please don't forget to rate the show.
Speaker 3:On subscribe, I got to say y'all that um a hundred percent of our listeners are not subscribers. That's what the analytics is showing. So if you like the content, please just hit the subscribe button so that the analytics can go ahead and match the subscription level. Also, check us out on Instagram and X slash, twitter at the only one, mike P1 Facebook and LinkedIn at the only one my podcast. And you can contact us via email at the only one, mike zero zero at Gmail dot com, or call three zero two, three, six, seven, seven, two, one nine to have your comments and questions played on the show. We thank you once again for your time, the audience, scott Tiana Dre, as always, and we encourage you, please, to speak the truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant, because they too have their story to tell. So until next time, please keep in mind. If you never had to run from the Ku Klux Klan, then you shouldn't have to run from a black man. Peace.