100 years of Black excellence celebrated as United Golfers Association hosts Invitational to uplift and support rising stars.

According to a report by the Golf Wire, the United Golfers Association is gearing up for an exciting event, the UGA Invitational, presented by Coca-Cola Beverages Florida. This event will not only celebrate the organization's 100-year legacy, but also uplift the rising stars of the golf world from historically Black colleges and universities. It's a wonderful opportunity for these talented individuals to showcase their skills and potentially earn player development grants for the winners in the junior divisions.

Scheduled to take place on Valentine's Day in 2025, the weekend-long event will be held at the beautiful Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor. Along with the UGA Invitational for junior players, there will also be the Legacy Cup for primarily HBCU students. But that's not all - attendees will also have the chance to show their support for eight incredible Black women on the Professional Golf Tour Circuit.

Founded in 1925, the United Golfers Association was created by a group of African American golfers who wanted to provide a platform for Black golfers to compete and advance in a time when racial segregation was prevalent in the United States. Thanks to their efforts, UGA became a beacon of hope and a way for talented Black golfers to combat discriminatory practices and gain recognition in golf's mainstream industry. BLACK ENTERPRISE has shared some details about the organization's journey and its impact on the world of golf.

As we look forward to the UGA Invitational, it's also important to honor the Black golfers who paved the way for future generations. The event will pay tribute to trailblazers like Ted Rhodes, Renee Powell, Charlie Sifford, Calvin Peete, Althea Gibson, Jim Dent, Jim Thorpe, and Lee Elder - the first Black golfer to play in The Masters. We will also take a trip down memory lane and learn about the history of the National Championships, which took place from 1926 to 1976. This event marks a new era for aspiring golfers, such as Tarek "Ty" DeLavallade, who was not aware of UGA's existence until he was invited to speak on a golf diversity panel at the African American Golf Expo in 2020. Since then, he and his business partner, Andy Walker, have been working to highlight UGA's legacy and have successfully raised funds and secured partnerships with corporations to support young Black golfers who dream of playing at the college or professional level.

In addition to Coca-Cola's generous support, other corporate sponsors include AARP, Cisco, CDW, Disney, Universal, the Tampa Bay Rays MLB team, and the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. It's heartening to see these big names coming together to uplift and empower young Black golfers. And in recent years, we have seen more and more HBCUs, such as Florida A&M University and Fayetteville State University, gaining recognition for their talented golf teams. The North Carolina A&T State University golf team, led by former NBA player J.R. Smith, was even featured on the Undisputed docuseries in 2023.

It's clear that the UGA Invitational is not just a golf tournament, but a celebration of talent, legacy, and progress. And with the support of these amazing corporations and the dedication of individuals like Tarek DeLavallade, the future of Black golfers looks brighter than ever. As Allen Iverson once said, "New game, same killer instinct."

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