Chief among the core values of Back9Network is one primary aspect: inclusion. We aim to invite everyone into the golf lifestyle – from those who are already part of the game to those who aspire to live the golf life, even if they rarely pick up a club. The Back9Network is dedicated to the growth of the game of golf through the inclusion of all people.
This is why we proudly throw our support behind Spirit Day, which is held annually on the third Thursday of October. The day focuses on speaking out against bullying and backing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. Millions of people wear purple to show their anti-bullying stance.
“The Ballot Box” located in the Back9Network entryway is a symbol of intolerance from the game’s past. B9N displays the relic as a reminder to everyone who walks through our doors of this unacceptable place in history and that we stand for inclusion and acceptance for any and all who yearn to play the game we all love.
Especially with the rise of the internet and social media, where people can hide behind computer screens while anonymously lashing out at others, bullying is a growing threat around the world. Words may not physically hurt anyone, but they can scar a person for a lifetime. Nearly everyone can recall a time in their lives when a bully ruined their day, their year, or their childhood.
Spirit Day began three years ago when teenager Brittany McMillan sought a way to remember the young people who lost their lives to suicide. She wanted to take a stand against bullying. Her idea caught on and now schools, businesses, celebrities and many more wear purple, which symbolizes “spirit” on the rainbow flag.
In addition to wearing purple today, Back9 is expressing its support by purple-izing our Facebook and Twitter pages. Our message is clear: no matter your size, shape, color or sexual orientation, we are about inclusion.
That’s the primary reason why we display a ballot box at the company headquarters in Hartford, Ct. As you can see below, the box was a way in which golf clubs would decide whether or not someone was worthy of joining their club. If any one ball out of 10 turned up in the rejection drawer, that person’s request was denied.
Needless to say, this ballot box is not in use. It is on display solely for the reason of showing a non-inclusive side of golf that we’d like to abolish.
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