On Wednesday we marked the conclusion of Season 3 of the Underrated Golf Tour, with Izzie Kelly and Jaden Soong being crowned the 2024 Curry Cup Champions. It's been an incredible journey watching an idea written on a napkin evolve into a thriving junior golf tour now in its third year and continuing strong. Many of you know about my deep passion for golf, but I also want to share the inspiration behind why the Underrated Golf Tour was created.
Golf, as it stands, is a predominantly white sport, designed to benefit certain groups over others. One of the biggest challenges facing the golf world is the lack of access for underrepresented communities—whether it’s the limited availability of golf courses, the high costs associated with the sport, or simply the lack of opportunities to pick up a club and give it a try. The statistics speak volumes: only two Black men are ranked in the top 100 golfers worldwide, and just one Black woman is in the top 300. Less than 2% of all golfers are Black or Latinx. Renowned Black players like Tiger Woods are few and far between.
Youth sports have lifelong benefits—enhancing cognitive skills, increasing the likelihood of attending college, boosting career success, and improving mental health. Recognizing these troubling statistics and understanding the positive impact sports can have on children fueled my passion for bringing equity, access, and opportunity to the game of golf. Golf should be a sport for everyone, which is why the Underrated Golf Tour is building a new foundation from the ground up. While golf is at the core of what we do, our mission extends far beyond it. By offering specialized programming, coaching, and networking opportunities with brands and corporations, we aim to change these statistics and increase participation in overlooked communities.
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