COLLINS

comes to diversity and inclusion,” Collins, an African American, said. “ e game is, to be totally honest, an older, male game. It’s mostly 45-andolder men who play it.

“I feel like within the game of golf, you don’t need the money.

e money (to enhance the game’s diversity and inclusion e orts) is there. You just need people who care about other people.”

Collins wants to be and has been one of those people.

As the local PGA WORKS Fellow, he supported PGA REACH Colorado’s charitable programs, which include the Colorado PGA Junior Tour; the PGA Jr. League; Golf in Schools; Drive, Chip & Putt; and PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) — all of which are designed to grow the game of golf and make this “tucked away” game available to people of all ages, ethnicities and skill levels.

“My heart’s in growing the game and getting it into the hands of people who have never played,” Collins said. “For me, it’s really important to get them in the game so they can teach their children and so on and so on, and also to break the ‘ is is a 45-year-old white man’s sport’ stereotype.”

Apparently, Collins is doing the job he was hired to do … and then some.

Six months into his one-year fellowship, which began in May 2022, he was o ered a full-time job with the Colorado PGA Section. He’s now the manager of the section’s Junior Development Series, which gives players ages 6-18 an opportunity to gain competitive golf experience in a more relaxed and fun environment.

In addition to now managing the junior series, Collins is still supporting all the national initiatives he promoted while working as a fellow,