About The Long Game: 100 Years of Portland Parks Golf
Presented by Vincent Johnson, Assistant Director of Golf, City of
Portland
It delights many of us as a lifetime pastime, but the game of golf
has a history of being exclusionary. Studying the history of golf in Portland
(as in the United States as a whole) shows the challenges that women and people
of color have had regarding access to and involvement with the game. Join us
for an honest look back at Portland Parks Golf’s first century, including
successes and challenges. By studying where we’ve been and where we are, we
have the opportunity to better understand where we want to go – and how to make
the game the most inclusive it’s ever been. We want to serve Portlanders of all
ages and races during the next 100 years of Portland Parks Golf, and inspire
more passion – because that’s what is at the core of the game, and it should
and can be embraced by all.
Portland Parks Golf is recognized as one of the premier municipal
systems in the country; welcoming golfers playing more than 300,000 rounds a
year.
About the Speaker:
Vincent Johnson was born in Portland, Oregon and
learned the game of golf at Glendoveer Golf Course, starting at age 6.
With the support of his parents and family, Johnson achieved notable success on
the junior golf circuit. He attended David Douglas High School, where he
was a three-time all-state golfer while also being successful in basketball,
and playing piano in his school’s string ensemble. Vincent went on to
compete for Oregon State University’s golf team, earning his Finance degree in
three years, with a minor in music. After graduation, Vincent pursued his
lifelong dream of playing on the PGA Tour. In 2009, he competed at the
Genesis Open, one the PGA Tour’s premier events, and won numerous times on
smaller tours before finding work in the golf industry. In the fall of
2016, Vincent joined Portland Parks & Recreation (part of the City of
Portland) as Assistant Director of Golf. Vincent is excited to usher Portland
Parks Golf into its second century, where incredible opportunities for so many
people are waiting.
