Amaya shares her unique story of growing up with golf in Antigua, the stark contrast she felt returning to the game as a woman of colour in the UK, and the pivotal moment that led her to leave her law practice behind. We dive deep into her strategic approach to building trust and breaking down barriers in underrepresented communities, and vision for a more diverse and welcoming future for golf by embracing community, intentionality, and the transformative power of invitation.

Episode Chapters:
(00:00 - 01:28) Introduction and Welcome
(01:29 - 03:15) Amaya's "Invitation to Golf" - Learning the game with her father in Antigua.
(03:16 - 05:04: Early Exposure - Growing up in a diverse junior golf ecosystem.
(05:05 - 10:55) The Career Pivot - From practicing law internationally to becoming a "pandemic golfer" and finding community.
(10:56 - 14:23) The Turning Point - Hosting a "Getting Women Into Golf" event in London and landing a job at Golf Canada.
(14:24 - 19:52) Inside First Tee Ontario - Mission, strategy, and the critical importance of building trust in communities.
(19:53 - 23:25) Creating Pathways - Engaging families and the "next step" onto the golf course.
(23:26 - 30:08) The Regional Director Role - Building relationships with golf facilities and navigating capacity challenges.
(30:09 - 35:26) The Municipal Golf and Land Use Conversation - Opportunities for public access and partnership.
(35:27 - 39:18) Innovative Access Points - The role of putting courses, short holes, and "Golf in Small Spaces."
(39:19 - 42:10) The Indoor Golf Boom - Simulators as a key entry point for new golfers.
(42:11 - 45:10) Amaya's Vision for Golf's Future - Hoping for greater diversity at all levels of the sport.
(45:11 - 46:38) How to Connect and Outro

Key takeaways in this episode with Amaya that you will discover:
Trust is the Foundation:
You cannot simply invite new groups into golf. You must first build authentic trust within their existing communities. Amaya emphasizes partnering with local schools and community centers to run initial programs, creating a bridge of familiarity before transitioning participants to a traditional golf course.

Meet People Where They Are:
Growth requires identifying and intentionally removing specific barriers—whether transportation, cost, equipment, or intimidation. Success comes from adapting the delivery (using plastic clubs indoors, providing busing) and finding facility partners whose values and capacity align with the mission.

Access Comes in Many Forms:
The future of growing the game isn't solely dependent on 18-hole tee sheets. Community putting greens, short courses, indoor simulators, and programs like First Tee create crucial, low-pressure entry points that can complement traditional golf and build a broader, more inclusive participant base.

Three Compelling Quotes from Amaya:
*On Finding Belonging: * "When I was in the UK, suddenly I was the only woman of colour that I would find on any golf course. It became a moment of fear, of isolation, of no longer feeling like this sport is mine or belongs to me."

*On the Power of First Experiences: * "Seeing women that I wasn't seeing on the course, but that I needed to see on the course, holding a club for the first time. How hungry they were to know more, but had never had that invitation. That one event changed the course of my life."

On the Secret to Welcoming New Golfers: "People might not remember what you say, but they'll remember how you made them feel. And I think that's the most important part of running programs."

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out our extended bonus segment with Amaya on The ModGolf YouTube channel. Click on this link or the image below to watch.

Amaya Athill's bio page >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/guests/amaya-athill
Amaya Athill is a dynamic leader, advocate, and passionate force for change within the golf industry. As the Regional Director, Ontario for Golf Canada, she leverages a unique blend of professional rigour and heartfelt mission to break down barriers and make the sport more accessible and welcoming for all. Her journey is a compelling narrative of purposeful transformation: after building a successful international career as a civil litigation lawyer called to the bar in the UK and the Caribbean, Amaya made a decisive 180-degree pivot to follow her passion for golf and community. This shift was sparked by her own experience of feeling isolated as a woman of colour returning to the game in the UK, which ignited a drive to ensure others from underrepresented backgrounds could find belonging on the fairways.

Beyond her programmatic work, Amaya is a sought-after voice on diversity, inclusion, and the future of golf. She is the founder of the digital community "Golf, Interrupted," which highlights diverse stories in the sport and is also the founder of Black Women Golfers (Canada).

Links & Resources Mentioned:
Amaya's Instagram: @golf_interrupted
LinkedIn: Amaya Athill
Golf Canada: www.golfcanada.ca
First Tee Ontario: www.firstteeontario.ca
The ModGolf Podcast: www.modgolf.com

Listen and subscribe to The ModGolf Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the extended video conversation on the ModGolf YouTube channel.

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

As the creator and host of The ModGolf Podcast and YouTube channel I've been telling golf entrepreneurship and innovation stories since May 2017 and I love the community of ModGolfers that we are building.

I'm excited to announce that I just launched our ModGolf Patreon page to bring together our close-knit community of golf-loving people! As my Patron you will get access to exclusive live monthly interactive shows where you can participate, ask-me-anything video events, bonus content, golf product discounts and entry in members-only ModGolf Giveaway contests.

I'm offering two monthly membership tiers at $5 and $15 USD, but you can also join for free. Your subscription will ensure that The ModGolf Podcast continues to grow so that I can focus on creating unique and impactful stories that support and celebrate the future of golf.

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

We want to thank our partner British Columbia Golf for presenting this episode of The ModGolf Podcast!

When I mentioned Phillis' episode to the folks at British Columbia Golf they immediately wanted to support it, as one of their goals is to create a sport that is accessible and inclusive. They strive to create a golf environment that is respectful of participant's personal goals and is free from all forms of maltreatment. British Columbia Golf supports women golfers and players of all ages and abilities, while continually working to increase participation in the sport with programs such as the Cloud Series.

British Columbia Golf is the Provincial Sport Organization for golf as recognized by the Government of British Columbia and ViaSport. Golf Canada recognizes the association as the governing body within the province. British Columbia Golf provides programs benefitting golfers and the golf industry in the province. Check out their website https://britishcolumbiagolf.org/

Special Guest: Amaya Athill - Founder of Golf Interrupted / Regional Director with Golf Canada.

Are you a golf course owner or operator struggling with the complexities of running tournaments? Do you want to spend less more running them while increasing revenue and profit margins? Check out our friends at Golf Genius to learn how they can help make the magic happen. >> https://www.golfgenius.com/

Overview
A coalition of the game’s leading associations and industry partners hosted its 11th annual National Golf Day on April 24-25, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

National Golf Day celebrates the game’s nearly $84.1 billion economy, nearly $4 billion annual charitable impact and many environmental and fitness benefits. More than 300 industry leaders met with Members of Congress, the Executive Branch and federal agencies across 230 meetings on April 25 to discuss golf’s 15,000-plus diverse businesses, two million jobs impacted, tax revenue creation and tourism value.

"With one in 75 U.S. jobs impacted by golf, the industry plays a significant role in stimulating our economy nationwide,” says Steve Mona, CEO of World Golf Foundation, administrator of WE ARE GOLF. “Last year, a record 2.5 million people tried golf for the first time, further cementing why it is vital to share golf’s interests with our country’s lawmakers, showcasing the game’s many economic, charitable and fitness benefits.”

2018 Recap
Golf industry leaders arrived Monday, April 23 to participate in the second annual Community Service Project on the National Mall the morning of Tuesday, April 24. The project featured 175 participants across 18 projects focused on beautification, preservation and helping the National Park Service with turf deferred maintenance.

Following the Community Service Project driven by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, WE ARE GOLF Board Members, media and other special guests headed to the National Press Club for a special release of the U.S. Golf Economy report, which reported a total economic impact of $84.1 billion for the industry and a 22% increase since the previous report five years ago.

(L to R: Jay Karen, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association and WE ARE GOLF Chairman; Steve Mona, CEO of World Golf Foundation)

On Wednesday, April 25, golf industry leaders participated in a record-high 230 meetings with Members of Congress representing 40 states to discuss the game's economic, social and environmental contributions to society.

Conversations with Senate, House of Representatives, Executive Branch and federal agencies’ directors coincided with Tuesday’s release of the new U.S. Golf Economy Report. It shows $84.1 billion in activity was directly driven by golf in 2016, a 22% rise from $68.8 billion in the 2011 report. The industry supported $191.9 billion in total annual activity, including 1.89 million jobs and $58.7 billion in wages and benefits. Demonstrating golfers’ and businesses’ commitments to charity, $3.94 billion was raised in 2016 through tournaments and other golf activities.

Golf social media influencer and WE ARE GOLF ambassador Paige Spiranac being interviewed during National Golf Day

Special Guests: Clint Sanchez - Executive Director, The First Tee of Greater Washington, DC, Delphine Tseng - Founder and President, Landseer Communications & Consulting, Elisa Gaudet - Founder of Women's Golf Day, Jennifer Poth - Founder and CEO, Operation Support Military Golf, Lewis Myers - Commissioner of The Congressional Golf Association, Michael Breed - Host of "A New Breed of Golf" on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio, Rich Katz - Katz Strategy, Steve Jubb, PGA - CEO/Executive Director of The National Alliance for Accessible Golf, and Steve Mona - CEO of The World Golf Foundation.

Sponsored By:

• GOLFTEC Season 4 Title Sponsor: GOLFTEC, our Season 4 Title Sponsor has generously offered our ModGolf Podcast listeners a $50 credit!

The mission of the World Golf Foundation is to unite the golf industry in support of initiatives that enhance the growth of and provide access to the game of golf worldwide, while preserving golf's traditional values and passing them on to others.

In support of that mission, World Golf Foundation focuses on a variety of initiatives to grow and celebrate the game of golf around the world. Through The First Tee, the WGF focuses on positively impacting the lives of young people. Under the banner of the World Golf Hall of Fame, it recognizes and celebrates golf's greatest players and contributors and serves as an inspiration to golfers and fans worldwide. The World Golf Foundation's GOLF 20/20 initiative pursues programs to ensure golf's continued growth and vitality. All World Golf Foundation initiatives work together to support the growth of the game among youth, women and minorities, while also fostering diversity within the golf industry.



The World Golf Foundation also supports the golf industry in a variety of other roles, including acting as a centralized vehicle for communicating the industry's initiatives to the media, providing a forum for golf's organizations to collaborate on initiatives of mutual importance and commissioning and disseminating to golf's stakeholders research on key aspects of the game.

http://www.worldgolffoundation.org/

Join our mission to make golf more innovative, inclusive and fun... and WIN some awesome golf gear!

As the creator and host of The ModGolf Podcast and YouTube channel I've been telling golf entrepreneurship and innovation stories since May 2017 and I love the community of ModGolfers that we are building.

I'm excited to announce that I just launched our ModGolf Patreon page to bring together our close-knit community of golf-loving people! As my Patron you will get access to exclusive live monthly interactive shows where you can participate, ask-me-anything video events, bonus content, golf product discounts and entry in members-only ModGolf Giveaway contests.

I'm offering two monthly membership tiers at $5 and $15 USD, but you can also join for free. Your subscription will ensure that The ModGolf Podcast continues to grow so that I can focus on creating unique and impactful stories that support and celebrate the future of golf.

Click to join >> https://patreon.com/Modgolf

I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

Related Links:

WE ARE GOLF http://wearegolf.org/
@wearegolf is a coalition of golf's leading organizations working together to communicate the
game's economic, charitable, environmental and fitness benefits to Congressional leaders.

National Golf Day #NGD17 https://www.youtube.com/user/wearegolf

GOLF 20/20 http://www.golf2020.com/
GOLF 20/20's mission is to unite and activate the golf industry around key strategic initiatives that increase participation and retention of participants, inspire involvement and interest in the game, and promote sustainable best practices for golf facilities.

GOLF 20/20 Summary...
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/125064834/Website%20Changes%202016/GOLF%202020%20Summary%202016.pdf

The First Tee https://thefirsttee.org/
Their mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. Through after-school and in-school programs, they help shape the lives of young people from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect and perseverance through the game of golf.

Golf For Her http://www.golfforher.com/
The ultimate resource for women and girls who play or aspire to play golf.

On Social Media:
Twitter and Instagram: @wearegolf and @womensgolfday
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearegolf/

HISTORY OF THE WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION

In the late 1980s, PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman began to consider the benefits of having a PGA TOUR Hall of Fame near the TOUR's headquarters in northeast Florida and adjacent to the heavily-trafficked I-95 corridor.

A few years later, after land for the project had been secured, Beman called LPGA Commissioner Charlie Mechem and invited the LPGA to join with the TOUR in the project; the LPGA had had a Hall of Fame for years on paper, but never a place they could appropriately honor their great players.

Once the LPGA agreed to participate, the TOUR reached out to other major golf organizations; the USGA and the R&A agreed to contribute to the project, and the PGA of America subsequently decided to close the former World Golf Hall of Fame in Pinehurst and consolidate it with the new project. The new World Golf Hall of Fame, at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, was born.

When it became obvious that this was no longer a PGA TOUR project but rather something beneficial for the entire world of golf, Beman and his associates at the TOUR determined that a new management organization was required, an ecumenical entity that would have no other agenda than the promotion and honoring of the game's most significant contributors. In 1994 the World Golf Foundation was formed, with an independent Board of Directors. New PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem was named Chairman, and the other major golf associations had representation on the Board as well.

It was always assumed that a significant charitable outreach program would emerge from the Hall of Fame and the World Golf Foundation. It was Finchem's vision to find a way to bring the game of golf to youngsters who would never otherwise have the chance to experience the benefits and assimilate the values inherent in the game. Through his leadership, and the powerful support of Honorary Chairman President George H.W. Bush, The First Tee was announced in 1997. Today it stands as the most successful youth outreach program in the history of golf.

The third initiative of the World Golf Foundation was launched in 2000. The golf industry was not growing as it had in the 1990s even though interest in the game had never been greater. Industry leaders approached Finchem about having the World Golf Foundation oversee an initiative to focus on the future vitality of the game. GOLF 20/20 was created for that purpose, and the first annual 20/20 conference was held in November of 2000, in conjunction with the annual Hall of Fame Induction.

Special Guest: Steve Mona - CEO of The World Golf Foundation.