ABOUT + REGISTER — Underrated

UNDERRATED Golf is a purpose-driven business endeavor with the overarching commitment to provide equity, access and opportunity to student-athletes from every community by balancing participation in the sport to truly reflect our society.

We launched with a mission to increase the participation numbers amongst competitive golfers from diverse communities and have them play hand in hand with their peers who currently represent the vast majority of today’s golfers. our vision of golf better reflects and balances the diversity of our society and most of all provides access to the countless opportunities that the game of golf brings both on and off the course.

We are dedicated to enacting real change by creating lanes for youth from underserved communities to gain access to all of the opportunities the sport golf offers. We are focused on equal representation of all genders, while being a force multiplier for them to realize their potential, positively impact the sport and be true benefactors to all participants in the game—from skills on the course to competing in major tournaments and pursuing leadership roles across industries.

Through our regional events, we are working to identify and recognize talented young golfers whose combined passion and potential deserves attention. the best 24 boys and girls on the underrated golf tour will earn 24 spots to compete for the Curry Cup as part of our season-ending UNDERRATED Tour Championship.

Beyond our work to elevate junior golfers, we are grateful for our brand partners and sponsors who understand the impact we are making on a societal front, and in turn, looking to us to add value to their corporate initiatives focused on equity, access and opportunity. Together, with them, our golf programming will be the strongest vehicle to success in the game and life for these young people.

We like to think of UNDERRATED Golf as an inspiring movement. We are the vehicle to all the unique opportunities the sport makes possible over a lifetime.

If these words speak to you, we invite you to sign up and register your name for consideration as part of UNDERRATED Golf’s team.

register now

FAQ

OUR STORY

Our passion is rooted in statistics. Today, there are only two Black men in the top 100 worldwide rankings and only one Black woman in the top 300. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods, who is recognized as the most important golfer of all time, is of Thai, white, Black and Native American descent. Although his reign on the sport is celebrated, the number of professional Black golfers coming up in his shoes continues to be less and less.

As a predominantly white male sport, the system and institution of golf was designed to benefit certain groups over others. UNDERRATED Golf believes the game of golf is for everyone, but we know that there is significant work to be done to make it a just, fair and inspiring sport for all. We are building that foundation from the bottom up, offering young overlooked golfers special programming experiences including an ongoing speaker series and networking events with brands and corporations, allowing them to understand what it means to make connections and build a successful career. Our platform also serves as a powerful recruitment tool for corporate entities to hire future leaders who will further our mission locally, nationally and globally, while also helping these establishments diversify their staff.

All of this is part of the bigger picture and our collective goal to utilize golf as a means to provide equity and access to a world of opportunities. The game is helping us ensure that these dreams are within reach, regardless of ethnic background, gender or class.

KEY PILLARS

UNDERRATED Golf believes that all people, regardless of their race, ethnicity or gender, should have the access and resources they need to play golf. Our work is dedicated to creating initiatives for youth from underrepresented communities, to pursue the sport, and realize their potential. We pay special attention to those individuals at the high school level, where a student-athlete’s ability first catches the attention of college and professional institutions. Why? Because, it is at this time in a young golfer’s life that the sport begins to shape the kinds of opportunities they are offered, and in turn, positively impact their future on and off the course.
Like the word equity, our promise through UNDERRATED Golf is clearly defined. We promise this special program will focus on balancing the playing field for Black and LatinX communities. We promise our efforts will equally support all genders of student-athletes, with invitations to compete in our tour and championships, ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to play. We promise to shine a light on the untapped talents that the game of golf has yet to see on the fairway. We promise to hold ourselves accountable.
Less than 2% of all golfers are Black or LatinX. UNDERRATED Golf is working to change this statistic for the sport with a goal of bringing participation amongst these communities up to 26% to better reflect our society.
The biggest hurdle we are up against is the lack of access underrepresented communities have to golf courses, and equipment due to the high cost of green fees, as well as the private and members-only nature of many golf facilities. This is the most finite barrier to the sport for student-athletes from these communities, as early on in their development, they are not given the chance to pick up a golf club and play. But, it does not stop there. The lack of access compounds over an individual’s lifetime, resulting in less opportunity. Golf is a major catalyst for making friends, and from there, building networks, developing influential relationships and nurturing business ideas and endeavors.
If the keys to the course are never shared then the inspiring and impactful opportunities that come with the game are never within reach for so many. Through UNDERRATED Golf, we are committed to turning that key and opening doors for underrepresented youth to experience the joy of golf, and ultimately, the social and professional benefits of the sport without financial limits holding them back.
The access UNDERRATED Golf provides young golfers is what leads to opportunity. This is what drives our programming and serves as our North Star. We are opening doors for today’s youth to hone their golf skills in a safe and welcoming environment that allows them to prosper beyond the course. These opportunities come to life in the form of college scholarships, workforce development, seminars and team-building exercises, as well as career path counseling specific to the industry’s job market and beyond—as golf is such a powerful connector across every realm of the world.
We understand that what makes golf unique is how it multiplies into other endeavors and expands one’s potential off the course. UNDERRATED Golf is uncovering and aligning opportunities for Black, LatinX and other marginalized individuals with a gift for the sport to practice, converse and gain wisdom from prominent industry figures. We are here to make that reality possible.