Tiffany Fitzgerald Is Driving Change: The Founder of “Black Girls Golf” Is Breaking Barriers and Redefining the Game

She’s bringing more Black excellence to the green — one swing at a time!

Meet Tiffany Fitzgerald, the trailblazing founder of Black Girls Golf, an organization transforming one of the most exclusive sports in America into a more inclusive and empowering space for women of color (The Story Exchange). What began as a personal attempt to fit into the corporate world has evolved into a national movement dedicated to equity, visibility, and opportunity on the fairway.

From Corporate Boardrooms to the Golf Course

Before her entrepreneurial journey, Fitzgerald was working long hours in a marketing role in Des Moines, Iowa. Like many ambitious professionals, she believed dedication alone would lead to success.

“I had my head down, I was there early, I stayed late. I was busy checking off all the boxes: go to college, get a good job, do all those things… No one told me to play golf, though,” Fitzgerald recalled (The Story Exchange).

That simple realization became a turning point. Fitzgerald noticed her male coworkers often closed business deals or formed relationships on the golf course — a space she had never been invited to. Recognizing that golf wasn’t just a sport but also a gateway to professional networking, she decided to change that.

She went to Kmart, bought her first set of clubs, and signed up for a beginner’s lesson. The next time her colleagues planned a golf outing, she boldly invited herself.

“It was probably, even to this date, still one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life,” she admitted. “Not knowing what to do, where to stand, when I could talk, when I couldn’t talk, swinging and missing—it was rough.”

A senior male coworker eventually stepped in to guide her, helping her feel more comfortable. Others followed suit, and Fitzgerald soon found herself captivated by the rhythm, challenge, and peace of the game.

Turning Frustration Into a Movement

By 2012, Fitzgerald had found her calling. She left her corporate job and relocated to Atlanta, determined to create a safe and welcoming environment for Black women interested in golf. The following year, she officially launched Black Girls Golf — a nonprofit initiative designed to “bridge the gap” between the sport and communities of color.

At the organization’s first event, only about a dozen women showed up. The attempt to teach everyone in one day didn’t exactly go as planned — but the energy, laughter, and sisterhood made it a success in spirit.

“I just stuck with it,” Fitzgerald said. “I knew that this was something that had to happen because Black women have certain perceptions about golf — that it’s boring, it’s expensive, it’s for old white men. Golf isn’t really a sport that meets people where they are. I felt like Black Girls Golf could be that bridge.” (Essence)

A Growing Legacy of Inclusion

Eight years later, that bridge is thriving. Today, Black Girls Golf boasts more than 5,000 members nationwide, creating both community and access. The organization hosts beginner clinics, mentorship programs, and viewing parties for professional tournaments that double as networking events. Before the pandemic, Fitzgerald even partnered with Clemson University in South Carolina to develop a youth golf initiative for young girls interested in the game (Golf Digest).

“The goal really is to normalize seeing Black women in these spaces,” she explained. “I want to show up with as many Black women as I can on the golf course — and have people not be shocked or surprised.”

The organization has received backing from major corporate partners genuinely interested in supporting diversity in golf, including BMW, Adidas Golf, and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (Forbes). Fitzgerald was careful to align only with brands that showed authentic commitment to racial equity — not those seeking positive PR in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

The Next Phase of Expansion

While membership is free, Black Girls Golf charges modest fees for its events to sustain operations. Atlanta remains the group’s headquarters, but Fitzgerald is actively expanding into new cities through traveling clinics and mentorship programs. Next month, the organization will host a historic retreat in Texas, expected to be the largest gathering of Black women on a golf course in U.S. history (Good Morning America).

Fitzgerald currently employs a few paid interns and is preparing to hire full-time staff as the organization scales. Her long-term vision is to make golf accessible to women of every background — and to ensure the next generation sees themselves represented in every corner of the sport.

“I know that I’m at the tip of the iceberg for what I’m doing,” she said. “There are so many more women I could be introducing to the game.”

Redefining the Future of Golf

In a sport historically dominated by white men, Tiffany Fitzgerald’s work stands as a beacon of progress — one that honors golf’s traditions while boldly rewriting its future. Through Black Girls Golf, she’s not just teaching women how to play; she’s teaching them how to take up space, claim visibility, and unlock doors that have long been closed.

Congratulations, Tiffany — keep swinging for equity, community, and change. The green has never looked so powerful.