♪♪ ♪♪ >> Golf, The gentleman's game, has been dominated by men for centuries.

Let's take a look at a group of women who are shaking up the game.

>> Black women in golf is on the rise.

Since Queens on the Greens was established, we have now expanded to three chapters.

We have chapters in Chicago.

We have a chapter in Texas, and we have a chapter in Detroit, Michigan.

♪♪ And I know there are more to come, because we are a group of women that want to include all black women.

And so there is there is truly a desire there to spread this around because of the fun that they see not only us, but the other chapters having as well.

♪♪ >> Our mission for Queens on the Greens is to empower more women of color to learn and play golf.

♪♪ Historically, this is not a space that we have been in, and if you decide that you want to get into the space of golf, sometimes it's very uncomfortable to be the only one.

It's uncomfortable to be the only one in any space.

You can think about, you know, me, as a black woman, showing up to the golf course by myself.

you know, a lot of people may doubt that I have skills.

People wouldn't want to play with me.

They would, you know, kind of maybe just ignore me.

But when we show up in mass as Queens on the Greens in our purple polos, people take notice.

We have the skills to play, and we have earned our respect here in these spaces, and we are proud of that.

♪♪ ♪♪ My name is Angela Solomon, and I am the founder of Queens on the Greens.

♪♪ In 2020, my friends and I decided that we would come to the golf course because golf was one of the only things activities open.

It was outside, it was socially distant, it was safe, because we were all living through a pandemic, and we wanted to have a way to get together with our friends.

♪♪ So I really started not being really about golf.

It was more about just getting away from the stress and the worries of the day, living through the pandemic.

♪♪ So we just came to the country club, to the golf course, to just have some girlfriend time.

And we had all taken lessons before, but we had never actually played on the course.

So they were all very nervous about actually playing on the course because we really didn't know what we were doing, and we hadn't had lessons that recently, but we had them in the past.

♪♪ Golf can be very intimidating.

First of all, the country club itself, this is a space that we historically have not been.

The golf course is a place that we have historically not been.

And then, you know, especially women, I mean, so here we are, you know, we're a minority in a couple different ways.

So it was just that convincing, not being confident in your game.

We didn't know -- we couldn't play.

We had only taken lessons before.

We never played on the course.

So, you know, it did take some convincing them to come outside.

Now, what made it easier, the circumstances that we were living through, being it was the pandemic in 2020, that made it a little easier just to convince you to come outside and not only come outside, come to the golf course.

So that made my job a little bit easier, but I did have to convince them to actually play on the course.

>> I was trying to practice what you showed me before I forget.

♪♪ You too, Angela.

Thank you, girl.

[ Indistinct conversations ] Oh, well, you know, if I was, I would say -- >> I am.

Exactly.

Are they playing down here though?

>> I don't know, but they need to move.

>> Oh, Lord.

Let me see what's going on down here.

♪♪ >> When I come to the course, I'm excited because I know I'm about to spend, you know, four hours-- if I'm playing 18 holes, I'm about to spend four hours outside.

And I just love the outdoors.

It's very calming.

I love nature -- sometimes I even get distracted with, you know, the deer and the -- you know, the rabbits and all the wildlife that you see.

But I just love it, you know, just to be, especially on a beautiful course, just looking at the scenery, enjoying the outside, hearing the birds singing.

It really is a way to just shut everything else out that's going on in your life and just focus on hitting that little white ball for four hours.

So it really is -- I think it's -- and I even heard that golf, playing golf extends your life like by 6 or 7 years just because of the serenity that it brings, the calmness, the peace really alleviates stress.

So I'm always excited when people call and say, hey, you know, let's play.

I'm like, absolutely.

I even sometimes, you know, commit to playing before I even check my schedule.

And a lot of times I'm like, I have to call back and say, you know what?

I forgot.

I had this, because when somebody mentions golf, that's it.

It's just, you know, you just want to play golf.

So like I said, we just really have a lot of fun playing it.

We have a lot of fun being together.

And golf is just a great thing, not only for your health, but just for your whole wellbeing, I believe.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> Historically, golf has been less welcoming to black women compared to other popular sports.

However, since 2018, there has been a 23% increase in the number of women and girls playing golf on the course.

♪♪ >> Good putt.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> Additionally, 43% more black, Asian, and Latino women have taken up the sport.

Through sisterhood, hard work, and dedication to the game, the Queens are striving to change the face of golf, one swing at a time.

>> Queens on the Greens is about golf, but it's much bigger than golf.

Queens on the Greens is about physical and mental fitness, especially in the days since the pandemic, where a lot of us have been sedentary, sitting in front of our computers.

You know, we haven't been active because now we're being able to work from home more than ever before.

Queens on the Greens gives us an opportunity to get moving, to get on the course, to get fresh air, to get outside.

Queens on the Greens is also about networking.

It's about networking for career and business growth.

We have some phenomenal queens with some phenomenal careers, and we don't lead with what we do, but we are just phenomenal.

So if you look at our member directory, if you need to talk to somebody or have a mentor or your children need, you know, a mentor or some advice on their education or a job.

I mean, Queens on the Greens directory is top notch for that.

So and also, again, as I said, Queens on the Greens is about friendship.

So I always like to say that yes, golf brought us together, but it is about much more than golf.

It's much bigger.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> I've taken many lessons over the years.

I believe in taking lessons every two years, as a matter of fact, because the game of golf is pretty challenging, and we have those nuances about ourselves that we just can't seem to get away from, and they creep up on us in our golf game.

And so I have to go back and get a touch up just so that I can recognize that.

Wait a minute, Regina, you're sliding again, or you are -- your golf club is too steep.

Those are the things that are natural and natural part of me that I need to make sure that I'm in tune with.

And so taking lessons is very, very essential for the game.

And as a matter of fact, it's essential for everyone.

I'll always advise all new golfers start with golf lessons, and especially before you start with those-- start those bad habits, go get some lessons, figure out the correct way to do it, and then take it from there.

It's a game changer.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> Ha!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Indistinct conversation ] ♪♪ >> Now you got space between you.

Much better.

♪♪ You need more velocity.

Hit with more velocity.

>> OK. >> So either lift your swing if you want it to go further or add more power.

So if you're used hitting too much power, then just lifting your swing.

>> Okay.

>> Then how to get it there.

>> Okay.

>> So keep the same power you had.

>> I was trying to do that.

>> And then just let the -- just lift up your swing.

>> Too much.

>> You did a little bit of both.

You did a bigger swing and then you added more power.

So does everybody understand what I just said?

>> Yeah.

Now you can putt that.

>> Yeah.

>> You pick a day that you gonna practice your putting.

[ Indistinct conversation ] Fly balls.

I would probably use a 60 or something for something like this.

>> Okay.

That's what I need.

>> Yeah.

>> You need something that's going to drive... >> Is that what I need?

>> And it's not headed to roll -- I mean, I headed to land too far out.

I would have -- should have had maybe 20% of the way and then 80% in the roll.

>> So I should get a 60 in a gap or just -- >> Well, you want to practice several different wedges.

>> Oh, okay.

>> You can use-- you can use three clubs for the same thing.

>> Okay.

Yeah.

>> Check top.

And it's just a habit that you've created that, you know, is going to take time to break.

♪♪ Better.

You see the difference between that one and that one?

>> It's going down the slope.

>> Exactly.

>> It's going on straight.

So you gotta make sure you check the slope first.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> So I tell people that even Tiger Woods has a coach.

So we're always learning, like, I don't know anybody who has mastered the game of golf.

Even the pros, you know, need some coaching and need some practice.

And they do practice.

And so we make that a core value.

In the Queens, we offer various golf lessons.

Like I said, we offer things for queens of all levels of experience.

So we have a beginner's golf clinic called Learn to Play Golf, and we do that monthly.

We also have our -- we start the season with our Queens on the Greens Golf Academy, and that's actually a six week progressive learning academy, six sessions of classes with the golf pro.

And it's like the same core group of like 16 people.

And that's awesome because it's almost like your graduating class.

So it's a very progressive curriculum.

And when you graduate from that, you are -- we consider you course ready.

We consider you ready to come.

You know, your confidence should be where you're at least moving the ball forward.

And then you can come to Nine and Dine.

So Nine and Dine, we have that every Thursday.

That's where we play nine holes and then we eat.

And so you know that's always a treat for our advanced intermediate players that have already golf experience.

We have a course called Pursuit of Par.

And that is a monthly session that we have that is working on a specific aspect of the game, whether it's short game, whether it's, you know, drive, or whether it's alignment, it's an advanced curriculum for players that already have experience, but notice some gaps in the game and their game, and they want to get better and they want to make more pars or better.

So like I said, we offer learning experiences for every level.

>> All right.

>> Well, that's what I'm trying to get from.

>> So take your time, loosen up, relax.

♪♪ Yeah.

That's okay.

So you're coming up.

>> Yeah.

>> I want you to hit down.

Keep your body over the ground.

That impact, you keep your body over the ground, you're going to keep your body in flexion.

Okay?

We're not coming up.

Right?

We're hitting down.

Okay.

So take a couple of practice swings and just relax a little bit.

Your feet in a little bit.

Right there.

Back swing.

Okay.

This is too tight.

You gotta loosen it up.

Yeah.

You're like [groans].

Trying to strangle somebody.

What other sports have you played?

>> Baseball.

>> Yeah, there it is.

So, yeah, that's your baseball swing, right?

We got to loosen that grip up a little bit.

You can't have it too tight.

Okay?

♪♪ So do that again.

Better.

Better.

Yeah.

Make it a little looser.

♪♪ Okay.

Better.

You feel the difference in those two?

Okay.

Let's do it again.

Got to have the face close.

Loosen up the grip.

Okay, loosen it up.

Loosen it up.

Let that be the last thing you do is just [exhales] bring it down to a three.

Now take it back and stop.

Okay.

Okay, so you see how you're standing up?

Your body just came out of posture.

Okay.

So you're hyperextended.

You want to be in posture throughout the whole swing.

Hip flexion and deflexion.

Yes.

Okay?

♪♪ Better.

Yeah, keep this from hyperextending.

Keep it there.

And you're rotating around the body, rotating around your spine, and getting it back in posture.

Good posture.

There you go.

Turn.

Stop moving your head.

>> Oh, okay.

>> See, that's tight.

That's tight.

That's way too tight.

You got to loosen up that grip.

It's way.

And it's a habit, right?

You just got to get in the habit of not -- >> Yeah.

>> Loosen up your grip.

>> Whole process-- >> Yeah, just loosen up.

You got a lot of power, and we want to use that power when we need it.

But right now, we want to loosen up that grip a little bit.

Okay.

Keep those knees.

Yeah.

You see how you're transferring and your reverse pivot, you're doing this.

And that's a baseball swing.

We want to be coming forward.

>> Okay.

>> Shifting your weight from the right side to the forward side.

Feel that knee turning into this side, okay?

So your hip's turning, rotating, almost like this.

So do this a little bit.

Do this drill.

Turn through -- all the way through.

Turn all the way through.

Yep.

Keep your head here.

Yes.

I want everything going towards the target.

>> Yes.

>> Yep.

Through.

Okay.

Mm-hm.

>> All right.

So let's hit one.

Try not to hyper extend the leg >> Everything is working for me.

>> Same posture.

>> Coming back right here... [ Indistinct conversation ] Okay.

Go ahead, set up.

Relax the grip.

Relax the grip.

Keep this in flexion.

Everything stays in flexion.

Okay?

When you turn, put your weight inside the right heel.

Just take it back.

Club back.

Take it back.

Okay.

Keep it there.

Keep it there.

There you go.

That's much better.

Much better.

Start the downswing.

How do you start the downswing?

Nope.

You start with your hip first.

You start with the hip.

First, hip initiates the downswing, and then you drop your hands.

Okay?

Then you drop your hands to the ball.

Okay?

But you gotta loosen up that grip, okay?

>> Golf lessons are not just about getting better at the game.

The Queens believe that golf lessons also make the sport more enjoyable.

They want every member to understand the game's rules and improve the technique.

♪♪ The main goal of every golf lesson is not only to learn, but also to have fun while doing it.

♪♪ ♪♪ >> Have you had knee surgery or anything, hip surgery?

Okay, so let's get some knee flex in there.

Let's get in more of a golf posture, okay?

Now take it away.

Try not to hinge your wrist so soon.

You don't want to do that.

You want to take the club away.

Okay?

Take the club away in the back swing.

♪♪ Okay, so that came straight off the heel.

All right, you came out, and you came in and hit it off the heel, right?

♪♪ Try not to fold your arms in that.

>> Okay.

>> Extend your hands out towards the ball.

Okay?

Take a rehearsal swing.

Now I want to feel -- I want to see you actually make contact.

Make sure you're making contact.

Let it go.

Make sure you're making contact.

>> Oh.

Okay.

>> Make sure you're making contact with the ground.

>> Am I keeping you from water?

>> Uh-uh, I just had some.

Let me see your shaft here.

Your shaft is -- Okay.

This is good.

It's not too heavy.

Not too light.

Okay.

♪♪ Come on, just relax for a minute.

So you're dropping the club here.

You got to get those hands lagging through.

Okay.

Start with -- initiate the swing with your left hip.

Get your hands lagging through.

Getting ready to go?

All right.

Yeah.

It's hot.

All right.

Yeah.

Go ahead.

Yeah.

Go ahead.

Let me just see you do it.

But get those hands coming through.

Initiate with your left hip.

Hands follow.

There you go.

Good shot.

♪♪ >> I won't say that everyone is a professional golfer because most of the golfers are new golfers, but everyone is professional women.

So we all have jobs.

We all have families.

For instance, I have -- I'm a wife.

I'm a mom of three grown children.

I'm a grandmother to four granddaughters and one bonus grandson.

And so we all are professional in what we do in terms of our personal lives.

However, we may not be professional in golf, so -- but putting those two things together, you know, creates that dynamic that says, I want to play more golf.

My home is situated.

Let's get out there.

Let's get out there and therefore learn as much as we can and strive to be the best that we can.

So with that, I consider myself a professional just because of that drive that I have.

>> The future of Queens is to have a chapter in every metropolitan city and even internationally, because sometimes I do want to go play golf in Bahamas.

I want to go play golf in Jamaica.

I want to go play in South Africa.

And like I said, just having that camaraderie and knowing that you can connect with a Queen to go play golf and just travel the world together, I think is amazing.

So the vision is to have as many Queen's chapters across the world as possible, because we also want to make golf look like the world.

The world is a very diverse place and so should golf be diverse as well.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪