IT WOULD be fair to say that the development of the British Black Golfers  (BBG) organisation is in full swing. The brainchild of Ray Nyabola, the organisation’s ambitions among others is to make a pastime steeped in so much tradition and negative perception, accessible to the black community. At the heart of Ray’s’ ambitions is making golf a pathway for black youngsters.

An excited Ray told the Voice of Sport: “For me BBG has been in my head for the best part of a decade if not more. I started thinking about golf and the black community while I was living in Birmingham, a vibrant and mixed community.

“I didn’t have the nous to push it forward, so I reached out to other organisations about possibly playing in some of their tournaments. Nothing came of that and then life got in the way.”

Father-of-three Ray was bitten again by the famed golf bug once life settled down and, as they say, the rest is history. “I then got the golf clubs out again, started playing more,” he admits.

It has been a testing year for so many with the pandemic, the killing of George Floyd and subsequent global and domestic demonstrations surrounding the American’s death. Ray was determined to use the period as positively as he could.

“Where society was, and still is, made it easier to implement BBG by setting up a platform to engage people,” he says. “I want to see more black golfers and what’s the best way for me to do that I asked myself.”

“In February this year, I committed myself and said ‘I’m just going to do this’, I was just going to put it out there and see what happens.

“From there we’ve just gone from strength to strength, unearthing new golfers more or less every day. We’ve started formulating different conversations with golfers from different communities.

“The overwhelming response has been so positive. Every day I wake up, I get messages in my inbox saying we needed this initiative, and we admire the work that you are doing. The wider golfing community acknowledges that we need to be part of the sport.”

With the vision clear in his mind, Ray set out to seek support from other keen black golfers who could help him bring the vision to life. He found that support in Julia Regis, the wife of the late football legend Cyrille Regis.

Julia was encouraged to take up golf by Cyrille some time ago and is now an avid golfer who is well aware of the benefits of the sport.

“I came across Black British Golfers via social media. I loved seeing so many black golfers being profiled and once Ray reached out to me I was keen to see how I could support the project,” said Julia.

“I had my first lesson nearly ten years ago. I fell in love with golf for a number of different reasons, I love being outdoors in nature for one and the fact that you can play into your 80s or 90s and still have success on the course. Yes, there’s a competitive aspect but you are also playing against yourself and the course. The social aspect, meeting new friends and enjoying golf whilst on my travels abroad is an added bonus too!

“I describe the golf course as my happy place. Golf has also helped me to manage anxiety and my mental health. When I can’t play it affects me because I know what it gives me. It’s good for the mind and soul.

“ At the end of 2019, I decided that I wanted to organise an event for black women in Birmingham amongst my social network to experience golf. I arranged that for May last year but Covid put a stop to it.

“When I met Ray, I thought something more strategic would have greater impact in terms of attracting people from our community to play, especially young people,” she adds.

“I am delighted to be a part of the working group that supports Ray in connecting and profiling Black British Golfers and will help in any way I can. I am so excited to see the young golfers coming through, and we want to support them to firstly enjoy the game but also maximise their ability and talents in the sport.”

Speaking to the pair via Zoom, you get an strong sense that providing access to the sport for young people fills them with unbridled anticipation. “My excitement at unearthing young black golfers is a key part of the journey,” Ray confessed.

“The sport is for everybody. Once you get your clubs and get on the course, everything else ceases to matter and at that point you have a chance to show your talents and skill. I feel for young golfers, especially, this is their time. 

“We’ve not been able to connect the dots in the past. But it’s now a lot easier for me to discover golfers wherever they may be and bring it all together via BBG. The sport has a real community aspect and the ability to bring people together.”

The vision is to help develop, via golf teaching professionals, black players who will eventually play on the amateur and professional circuits.

Ray continues: “If we are able to pursue this vision of showcasing black talent, I am confident that we can find a gem or two that can play on the Tours and  build a really successful career out of it.”

The modern game of golf originated in 15th Century Scotland and has a long and glorious history. So just how will BBG attempt to deal with the stigma surrounding the game of golf?

Julia understands the need to do so when she says: “ Eliminating some of the perceptions of the game is vital. It is the reason I wanted to bring this group of black women to my golf club in Edgbaston, Birmingham, so they could see for themselves how much fun golf is. To my knowledge, I’m still the only black woman at my club, and I’ve been there for about nine years now.

“There’s still much work to be done to challenge some of the perception and make golf more accessible especially for working women. At the same time, the benefits of playing golf far outweigh the issues that still exist.”

And what about the hundreds of women that have most likely been victims of that perception for centuries now? “I’d say to them that golf is worth trying! If you try it and hate it, then you chalk it up as an experience, but you may well love it.

“I couldn’t believe how technical it was. It can be frustrating but every time you hit the ball at that sweet spot, you remember the work and practice you’ve had to put in to make that happen and this makes all the bad shots fade into oblivion,” Julia adds.

If you’re talking about black golfers, American icon Tiger Woods has to be in the conversation. Woods is widely regarded as the greatest golfer of all time and one of the most famous athletes in the world after winning 15 Major tournaments

Ray is of the opinion that we can find a Black British Golfer who can perform on the world stage and rack up wins and Julia is in wholehearted agreement!

“It’s not something I have to think twice about. The sport is a great leveller. If you have the ability to hit the ball well, and think your way through a golf course, you’re a golfer!

“Since BBG’s inception we’ve been able to tell black British golf stories without over reliance on Tiger. This is not to take anything away from Tiger who is a legend.

“There’s every chance of finding a golfer that eventually plays on the European or PGA Tour. Not all kids from the community have a wicked right foot or a right hook; a strong jump shot, or an explosive start off the blocks. Golf is a chance for kids to still be able to partake in something that is fun and also competitive.

Julia adds: “Most professional golfers start out when they are young. Typically, young black golfers don’t get the access whether that be for social or economic reasons. Now, we are seeing a bit of a shift.

“We are seeing several young, talented players who have started golf at young ages. This should mean that we will start to see young black golfers coming through the ranks and moving into the the upper echelons of the game. This really excites me.

“When I see ten and eleven-year-olds with great swings they remind me of a young Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo or Rory McIlroy, it’s that level of talent that we have within our community and we want to be proactive in supporting them.”

Ray concludes: “Although I am the founder, BBG is a team effort. We wouldn’t be here without the likes of Julia as well as Zane Scotland and Henny Koyack both of whom have been instrumental to the growth of the platform.

“I look up to them both and they are great advocates for what we are trying to do. They have blazed a trail in the sport for others to follow.”

BBG is creating an impressive platform which will bring together a large swathe of black British golfers from across the UK together for the first time.

After speaking to Ray and Julia, it is easy to be excited about some of the plans they have in the pipeline to promote golf from within the community.

Instagram: Blackbritishgolfers