Mark Nance, a PGA of America Golf Professional for 30 years, isn’t enamored with formal titles. He’s fine being recognized as a passionate ambassador for golf, diversity and inclusion; an outspoken advocate for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and a trailblazer for minorities in the golf industry.
Nance, 57, is also the Indiana PGA Section’s 2024 recipient of the PGA Professional Development Award. But while that honor is much deserved and meaningful, it accounts for only a small fraction of his contributions to the game.
Growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Nance fell in love with golf by tagging along to the course with his grandfather. He also grew up in the presence of two of golf’s giants – Charlie Sifford and Renee Powell, PGA – who served as idols, mentors and guidance counselors. Nance even caddied for Sifford, who became the first Black member of the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004.
“I was fortunate to grow up around Charlie and Renee. I have always looked up to them,” assures Nance, who serves as Manager of Parsons Extreme Golf (PXG) in suburban Indianapolis, Indiana. “Charlie gave me the opportunity to caddie for him and it was the first time I was inside the ropes.”
In Powell, Nance has observed a champion for diversity, whose father operated the first Black-owned golf course in Ohio, and who has sponsored many programs for people of color for decades.
“Renee showed a lot of us how to succeed in golf if we worked hard and learned about the business while playing the game,” recalls Nance.
The articulate Nance played golf in high school and was recruited by some HBCUs. But he enrolled at nearby Ohio State University.
While at Ohio State, Nance received messages from Jackson State University Coach Eddie Payton, Walter’s older brother, who asked Mark to consider a golf scholarship. When Nance made the trip to Jackson, Mississippi, the young man from Ohio was hooked on golf and hooked on Jackson State.
“Coach was a great provider,” says Nance. “He also gave us life lessons that made us better men.”
While at Jackson State, Nance took a page out of the book of Sifford and Powell, and decided to make a difference — a profound difference.
Nance approached Payton and asked why Jackson State couldn’t host a national tournament and invite top teams to enhance its strength of schedule and perhaps qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Payton noted that it would be very costly.
Unfazed, Nance decided to call an old friend, Jimmy Chandler, who had looked after Nance’s development as a young golfer while serving on the board of the National Negro Golf Association’s (NNGA) Cleveland Chapter.
“When the thought of coming up with a tournament for all of the HBCUs came about, I knew Jimmy had the only group with the passion and funds to get it accomplished,” says Nance.
Thus, the National Minority Collegiate Championship was unveiled in the spring of 1987 at the same Ohio course where Nance caddied – Highland Park Golf Course. Now known as the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship, the event has become an annual tradition and the hallmark of the men’s and women’s golf seasons for HBCUs and many other minority-serving institutions.
“I played in the inaugural event, and have been involved for more than 30 years,” recalls Nance. “During that time, I have witnessed minorities in roles that were unobtainable in the past.
“As for PGA of America Professional roles, Kennie Sims is now the PGA Senior Director of Impact for PGA REACH, Mackenzie Mack is in charge of DEI with Callaway and Kendall Murphy oversees DEI with Troon.”
While following in the footsteps of Sifford and Powell, Nance is paving a path of his own while serving as a tireless ambassador for minority opportunities in golf. His commitment includes presentations at Indiana PGA Section Career Days and his involvement in PGA WORKS committees where he focuses on developing clinics, speakers, job fairs and educational materials.
“I always want to improve things for the next generation,” explains Nance. “I want young golfers to have more exposure to the game, more opportunities on the course and in the industry. If I play a part in making that happen, then I have succeeded.”
—Roger Graves