One of My Clients is Featured in the Chicago Tribune

When Sonia Coffee was growing up in Columbus, Ohio, she said her dream job was to be a “bigwig in the corporate world.”

As the owner and founder of the CHW Management Group LLC, she became a bigwig in a section of the corporate world that does not feature a lot of African Americans nor women — the golf world.

When it was announced Monday University Park named CHW to oversee the University Park Golf Club and Conference Center, company officials said Coffee became boss of the first Black firm to manage a course in Illinois.

“This is Black history in the moment,” said University Park Trustee Donzell Franklin, who also noted Monday was National Women’s Day. “What better way to celebrate this day than by bringing in this beautiful woman into a leadership role at our golf course? That’s something that’s phenomenal and worth celebrating.”

Coffee said she is proud of reaching these heights.

“Every woman should be proud of the fact that we are making history together,” she said. “I could have not done this without all of them. There are not many Black or brown women in golf managing golf clubs. It means a lot that I can be a mentor and represent the youth of the country, that as Black women it’s possible to do anything we set our mind to.”

An occasional golfer herself, Coffee said she learned the ins and outs of the golf world by traveling with her mother, Marcia Lee, an avid golfer. Coffee said she met Tiger Woods and was inspired by his accomplishments and inspiration and lists her mother and Woods as her heroes. She is hoping to someday coax Wood to make an appearance at the University Park facility.

Members of the Village Board and other attending the news conference were invited to sign a huge get-well card for Woods, who is recovering from injuries after a recent car accident.

Coffee’s said she spent years volunteering at golf courses, working in offices and working on the grounds.

“I did everything I could to learn the golf business,” she said. “I always realized that I did want to do something in golf. I never imagined I would be in a position like this.”

University Park Mayor Joseph Roudez III said golf is a hidden gem of a sport and this course is also a hidden gem.

“At one time, everybody thought that golf was the good ol’ boys club and the rest of us were hesitant about coming here,” Roudez said. “I want to say that now the golf course is open to all residents. This is a collaboration of people working together for the good of the people.”

Roudez said he has been involved in football, baseball and basketball, but learned the game of golf and is now able to get some young people involved.

He said the course will offer camps for younger children and reached out to the golf teams of Governors State University and schools in Crete-Monee District 201-U to host meets there.

Franklin said that golf could be a way to help African Americans recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There is going to be an extremely important need for healing in the Black community,” he said. “Everyone knows the things that we’ve gone through with so many traumas due to the pandemic.”

He said it is exciting to be able to introduce members of that community to a $100 billion industry with job opportunities for engineering, turf specialists and marketing directors.

Coffee said that this course will offer Black educational scholarships, internships and jobs.

“My diverse team will work tirelessly to ensure every experience that a partnership wants,” she said. “We want to increase financial human capital that will last for generations to come, starting today.”

There is no firm opening date for the club, 23520 Crawford Ave., in 2021.

“Right now, I’m in an operational transition,” Coffee said. “As soon as I get that date, I’ll get that out there as soon as possible.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.