During her time in Georgia, Destany Hall’s aspirations of making a difference for others has only grown to new heights.

Hall has created a lasting legacy all her own in the last eight months as the Georgia PGA Section’s Paul Millsap PGA WORKS Fellow, sharing a passion and drive for golf and the people it connects that hardly goes unnoticed.

Named in honor of the four-time NBA All-Star Paul Millsap, the PGA WORKS Fellowship is a year-long immersion into the golf industry and gives people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to work for the PGA of America’s Georgia Section in Atlanta. PGA WORKS leverages scholarships, fellowships and career exploration events across America, as well the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship to engage diverse talent and help them pursue key employment opportunities in the golf industry.

Hall grew up in the Dallas suburbs and was an avid junior golfer. She spent her childhood playing golf or attending tournaments, and she was a member of the Northern Texas PGA Junior Tour, the Texas Junior Golf Tour, and the Hurricane Tour.

“I actually grew up on hole No. 7 at my home club and was lucky enough to be introduced to the game at a very young age by my grandfather,” Hall remembers.

Her talents on the golf course would take her to one of the largest HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in the country, Texas Southern University, to play for their women’s golf team. While Hall’s track in the golf industry was set early on, she’s now started seeing the impact that golf has made on her life.

“I know the reason I’m where I am today is because of other PGA Professionals,” she says.

After starting her Fellowship last summer in Georgia, Hall quickly came to this revelation of how she could instill the same values she’s learned through the game in young professionals and students, all by leveraging the same tool she used growing up: her local PGA Professionals.

“I want other young players and students who aren’t familiar with what a Section is or other careers in the golf industry to see there is something for them, too,” notes Hall.

Hall shares a passion for increasing the number of female professionals in the industry. She says it was hard to find a PGA Professional of color – let alone a woman PGA Professional of color.

As Destany’s golf journey was taking shape, her parents introduced her to Maulana Dotch, PGA, who she took lessons from at Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas. Dotch, the second Black woman to receive PGA Membership — PGA Hall of Famer Renee Powell was the first in 1996 — helped guide and inspire Hall to think more seriously about her future career in the game. After graduating with honors from Texas Southern Universitys School of Law, Hall did an internship at the PGA of America Career Services Department. She was also an Assistant Professional at Hermann Park Golf Course, Houston.

“At that point, I really wanted to start exploring other careers in golf – there are just so many paths you can take,” Hall adds.

With some experience under her belt now, Hall’s path seems to be crystalizing.

She led the creation of the Georgia PGA WORKS Mentorship Program. This program provides students from underrepresented backgrounds with the opportunity to form meaningful professional and personal connections with PGA Professionals, executives, and other professionals in the golf business.

The Georgia PGA WORKS Mentorship Program caters to sophomores and freshmen at high schools in the Atlanta metro area. Hall also enlisted the support of AJGA and First Tee to help students get involved in the program. She said that the program allows participants flexibility in scheduling to fit their academic and athletic schedules. Additionally, mentors can gain work experience through shadowing opportunities. They can also expand their network at Foundation events and Georgia PGA Section.

“It’s allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and help build something that future Paul Millsap PGA WORKS Fellows can take charge of and call their own during the Fellowship,” says Hall. “I really hope this program can be picked up by other Sections. Its becoming harder to transition from high-school to college and college into young adulthood. I just hope more leaders, especially in the golf industry, can see this as a valuable tool for young adults.”

Hall’s time in Georgia has convinced her that she is ready for whatever comes next in her career, but one thing is certainly clear: her legacy will continue to shape the sport of golf and beyond for those following in her footsteps.

“I’ve really tried to be intentional with my time, “says Hall. “What I love about the Fellowship is that it allows you to see what all is out there – even beyond golf. Thanks to the partnership between PGA WORKS, the Georgia PGA and the Paul Millsap Foundation,I feel like I’m already equipped for my next career move.”

PGA WORKS is a strategic initiative, designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce funded by PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America. Visit pgareach.org for more information about PGA WORKS.