THE PITCH
Cheeky , but effective . Curry listened as Ferguson launched into his elevator pitch for creating Howard Bison golf . Remarkably , Curry was intrigued . In fact , the more he considered it , the more he saw how a Division I golf program at Howard could mirror the mission of the “ Eat . Learn . Play .” nonprofit founded by Curry and his wife , Ayesha . They work to support and educate under-served youth . To do that by increasing opportunity and access to the lifelong virtues of golf , Curry reasoned , would be a bonus .
Over the next few months , Curry ’ s people talked to Howard ’ s people . Finally that August , Curry and Ferguson played their round of golf — the day Curry announced at Washington ’ s historic Langston Golf Course that he would fund men ’ s and women ’ s golf at Howard for six years .
MORE THAN MONEY
On the “ No Laying Up ” golf podcast last November , Curry called his reported $ 6-million gift “ a creative lane to grow the game that ’ s authentic to me .” And his involvement goes beyond money . He helped Howard search for a coach , Sam Puryear , and also lent his fashion eye toward designing Howard ’ s match uniforms .
Curry said his goals include injecting fun into golf ’ s “ pretentious ” culture and opening the eyes of all Howard ’ s students , not just the golfers , to career options in the golf business . According to a 2018 report
A past VSGA-VIP Foundation scholarship award winner , E . J .
Whiten began his college career at Hampton and transferred to Howard after the Pirates ’ program was disbanded .
by We Are Golf , a coalition of golf-industry organizations that promotes diversity in golf , Blacks hold only three percent of golf jobs .
“ There are a lot of opportunities that get thrown at ( me ),” Curry said . “ This one checked so many different boxes , it made sense . And it ’ s not just Howard . I ’ m starting with Howard , but there are so many HBCUs that have amazing golf programs , or have the potential to really lean into it . I think the sky ’ s the limit for what this could truly mean .”
DREAMS CAN COME TRUE
Personally , Chesapeake ’ s Everett “ E . J .” Whiten Jr . hopes Howard golf means a launching pad to the PGA Tour .
An all-state player at Great Bridge High School , and a former Virginia State Golf Association scholarship recipient , Whiten , led Hampton University ’ s team in scoring average ( 76.48 ) two years ago as a freshman . Hampton eliminated its golf program after last spring ’ s pandemic-aborted season , however . No worries . Howard ’ s newly hired coach Sam Puryear was on the phone to Whiten the next day .
Whiten said he had only heard a little about Curry ’ s gift at that point , and didn ’ t know Puryear at all .
“ But Coach P . already knew my game ,” said Whiten , among six Howard men who are slated to begin play this spring . The women will start up next year .
Transferring to another HBCU wasn ’ t his priority , Whiten said , although he said he enjoyed being part of a Black team at Hampton for the first time .
“ A lot of schools reached out to me , but Howard was my best option ,” said Whiten , 20 , who has three years of eligibility . “ Coach P . told me we really can make something happen here . My dreams can come true .”
CHRIS LANG , ASSOCIATED PRESS
ODU women ’ s golf coach Mallory Hetzel said she knew when the NBA suspended play that other sports would follow .
COACH P
Puryear is an impressive hire . A team captain at Tennessee State , Puryear has coached and cultivated contacts throughout golf for 25 years . He was Stanford University ’ s first full-time golf assistant coach ; he helped the Cardinal win the 2007 NCAA championship played at Williamsburg ’ s Golden Horseshoe course .
Callaway CEO Oliver Brewer III , Howard student Otis Ferguson , HU president Wayne Frederick and Stephen Curry pose at Langston Golf Course in Washington , D . C . vsga . org M ARCH / A PRIL 2021 | V IRGINIA G OLFER
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