The Charles County Chamber of Commerce and USTECH have addressed a racist comment at golf event that occurred during the Chamber’s annual Golf Tournament on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The incident, reported yesterday, involved a guest’s spouse displaying an offensive message on a phone, prompting responses from both organizations.
The racist comment at golf event was made by an individual who is not an employee of the Chamber but was present as a guest of an invited attendee. The message, which surfaced online, drew widespread attention. The Chamber issued a statement taking responsibility for the event environment. “We have been made aware that a racist comment was made by the spouse of a guest at a golf tournament we sponsored. That comment was offensive and unacceptable,” the Chamber said. It apologized to those affected, noting, “To anyone who heard the comment or saw the message online, we are sorry. No one should have to experience that. We recognize the hurt it caused, and we want to be clear that this does not reflect our values or who we are as a company.”
USTECH, which posted about the incident on its Facebook page (USTECH.com) yesterday, confirmed the comment was made by a guest’s spouse at the sponsored event. “We have been made aware that a racist comment was made by the spouse of a guest at a golf tournament we sponsored. That comment was offensive and unacceptable,” USTECH stated. The company emphasized that the individual was not an employee but a guest of someone invited. USTECH added, “The person who made the comment is not an employee, but they were present as a guest of someone we invited. We take full responsibility for the environment we create and the people we associate with at our events.”
Both organizations condemned the incident, with the Chamber initiating a formal inquiry and reviewing its sponsorship and guest policies. “We are reviewing our sponsorship and guest policies and will take immediate steps to ensure this does not happen again,” the Chamber stated. USTECH echoed this commitment, saying, “Racism has no place at our events, in our workplace, or in any space we choose to support. We are reviewing our sponsorship and guest policies and will take immediate steps to ensure this does not happen again.” Updates from both will be shared as they address the issue.
The racist comment at golf event has sparked a broader discussion on inclusivity at community events. The Chamber, a key economic development entity, and USTECH, a tech-focused sponsor, use the tournament to network with local businesses. Yesterday’s event was overshadowed by the racist comment at golf event, highlighting the need for enhanced oversight.
Community reactions vary, with some criticizing the oversight and others appreciating the quick responses. The Chamber’s board of directors and USTECH’s statement reflect a unified stance against racism. The racist comment at golf event underscores the ongoing effort to maintain equitable spaces, a priority both organizations aim to reinforce.
As investigations proceed, the Chamber and USTECH remain focused on learning from the incident. The racist comment at golf event has prompted a dialogue on accountability, with both pledging to lead by example. Further updates will clarify the steps taken to uphold their values.
