The newly formed Birmingham Golf Network (BGN) is hosted a Christmas golf mixer, Monday, December 9th at the Historic Tutwiler Hotel in downtown Birmingham. BGN is a group of minority golfers and leaders in the community focused on networking, sharing golf events, the love of the sport and giving back to the community. The organization is the brainchild of Gloria Dennard, who is an avid golfer and wanted a way for various golf groups and those interested in the game to be able to connect.
For BGN’s second event in less than one year since forming, this installment featured golf celebrity Dr. Catana Starks, a former swim coach at Tennessee State University, who made history becoming the first woman golfer and first African-American woman to coach a men’s college golf team. With determination, passion, and courage, Dr. Catana took an unlikely group of young men from around the world, who would not have had an opportunity to play nor succeed in golf, and created a world class golf team. She then coached them to an all-time record at the PGA National Collegiate Minority Championship. Her efforts inspired the movie “From the Rough,” which depicts her exciting experience which led to her spot in golf history.
Coach Starks retired in 2011 as Professor and Chair of the Department of Human Performance and Sports Science at Tennessee State University. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but reared in Mobile, Alabama, Dr. Starks currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
In a beautiful setting of festive holiday decorations of the Ridgely Ballroom at the Historic Tutwiler Hotel, various golfers and golf groups from throughout the Greater Birmingham Area, were able to join in exciting networking activities, while enjoying various speakers who shared information about golf activities. Keeping the event lively was the master of ceremony, Chris Osborne, American Red Cross; accompanied at times by BGN committee members: Gloria Dennard, Mike Gunn, Garfield Campbell, Jameka Brown, Evelyn Hayes, Arthur Bailey, Ed Sanders, and Sunny Slaughter.
The mixer was held from 6-8 p.m. In addition to a brief address by Dr. Cantana, who shared an excerpt of the movie, “From the Rough,” recognitions were made of the accomplishments of Miles College’s new golf team, coached by Leonard Smoot, accomplishments of local golfers at the national level, a brief promotion of Regions Golf Classic by Bill Horton, and other information advocating the merits of golf. Entertainment of soft, holiday jazz was provided by Foxxy Fatts Band. Door prizes were given and a few golf vendors were on hand.
The mixer was hosted by The Historic Tutwiler Hotel, Jameka Brown. Co-Sponsors included: Professional Women Golf Association (PWGA), Coca-Cola Company, Birmingham Westin and Sheraton Hotels, and Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau.
