These BIPOC Golf Creators and Entrepreneurs Show a New Side to the Sport
Redefining what it means to be a golfer.
In fashion circles, rising streetwear brands are often credited with making golf more appealing to younger audiences. But the truth is that fashion is only one piece of the puzzle. Ultimately, the sport’s shifting attitude toward dress code, rigid rules of conduct and overall accessibility is being led by individuals. Each of them make up the movement that so many people are identifying with, and unlike in the past, they’re not just professional players or big-time celebrities. Some of them are coaches, podcasters, innovators and some can’t be labeled with simple identifiers. But a good number of them represent the diversity that has been so badly needed in golf.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most exciting BIPOC creators and entrepreneurs across fashion, technology and professional golf that are helping to shift the game in the right direction.
Bradford Wilson
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Like many of the new and influential voices in golf today, LA-based Bradford Wilson wears many hats. He’s one third of Group Golf Therapy, a podcast that explores the relationship between mental health and golf, he works with the Southern California Golf Association on getting junior golfers into the game, and he’s also a brand ambassador for adidas Golf. Most recently, he’s even partnered with Los Angeles Golf Club, which is one of six teams that will make up a new made-for-TV, tech-forward competition called TGL.
Wilson’s past makes his presence in the golf industry all the more fascinating. Born in New Jersey, he played college golf for two years, and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. In his early years living in LA, he recalls babysitting for big name celebrities and working odd jobs to make ends meet.
Erick Lottary
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Erick Lottary, or OG Lott, is known in some circles for making tunes that have appeared in NBA 2K. Others know him as the man behind RNG Golf Club, a brand disrupting the traditional golf uniform with streetwear staples. But recently, his most viral moments have come from his golf commentary that is uniquely “OG Lott.”
Pro Claps, as he calls it, features Erick’s unhinged stream of consciousness attempting to convey the unmatched finesse of pro golfers like Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas. You’ll have to watch the full video for yourself to fully understand.
Tisha Alyn
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The golf industry has really opened up to new creators and personalities in recent years, but few were as early to it as Tisha Alyn. Part of that success is due to her being a seriously talented player. As a four year member of the Cal-State Fullerton golf team, she had dreams of playing professionally post graduation, but realized she could have a greater impact on the game through creating content.
In her early years on tour, she documented the behind-the-scenes life of an up-and-coming player, then continued to make content after shifting her focus away from competitive golf. Her magnetic personality and strong sense of identity garnered her deals with an array of brands, and today she’s an advocate for young girls and LGBTQ+ individuals in the sport.
Josh Park
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Golf can be intimidating. Once you get past the traditional barriers of cost and dress code (which are gradually shifting), you quickly learn that playing is not as easy as you think. That’s what instructors like Josh Park are trying to change through making content that’s readily accessible and digestible to beginners and seasoned players alike.
In addition to his lessons, which he conducts out of Super Range Golf driving range in Orange County, Josh also hosts a podcast called Bad Bounce Boys and works with UK label MANORS as a brand ambassador. He recently appeared in the brand’s campaign for its Frontier Collection rebrand.
Hyunee Kim
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Before Hyunee Kim was @hyuneegolfs, she was @hyuneeeats, amassing a total of 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube through mukbang style videos. Although she was first introduced to golf as a child, her passion for the game didn’t truly formalize until 2021 as COVID was reorienting people towards outdoor activities.
As it happens, Kim takes lessons from Josh Park and has improved vastly since taking up the sport again. And as a Malbon Buckets Club member, she consistently brings a confident sense of style to the course.
Jeehae Lee
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Before artificial intelligence were buzzwords in golf, Jeehae Lee was already busy finding a way to harness its potential for everyday players. The result was Sportsbox AI, a game improvement tool that allows you to capture a 3D rendering of your motion with only a phone in-hand.
As a former LPGA professional golfer and Yale University graduate, Lee was inspired to make game improvement more user-friendly and accessible. Previously, the benefits of 3D motion capture were reserved for those who had access to a suit, but Sportsbox AI creates a model from a simple phone recorded video, and is already being used by leading golf coaches like Sean Foley and David Leadbetter.
Michael Huynh
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Michael Huynh once ran the successful Publish Brand, then looked up one day and realized the busy lifestyle he was leading wasn’t what he wanted for himself. He found golf as a way to slow down and invest time in a lighthearted pursuit, and realized there was a lack of brands representing his taste for streetwear.
That’s why he started Students Golf, which has become one of the most exciting up-and-coming apparel brands in golf, carried in key retailers like HBX, TrendyGolf, Nordstrom, Manor, Ps & Qs, Wish ATL, Boon The Shop, Shinsegae, The House and The Divot. Every garment Students makes is cut-and-sew, which is a big flex in an industry filled with printed blanks.
Amari Avery
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Once looked at as a young prodigy in the game, it feels like 19-year-old Amari Avery has been around a while. Born in Orange County, CA, Avery appeared in Netflix’s “The Short Game” and HBO’s “State of Play: Trophy Kids,” both documentaries dramatizing standout junior golfers, before reaching 10 years of age. Her own father even nicknamed her “Tigress,” making an obvious comparison to a certain 15-time major champion.
Today, Avery is a sophomore at USC playing on the varsity golf team, where she’s been able to propel herself within the top 10 ranking of best amateur golfers. All the while, she continues to maintain her influence off the course, appearing in a campaign with Malbon Golf last year alongside her younger sister and fellow golfer Alona.
Lily Muni He
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Born in China and raised in Canada and California, 24-year-old Lily Muni He is a prime example of a person who refuses to adhere to the typical pro golfer stereotype. Even before she reached the LPGA Tour, she had already amassed a large Instagram following that surpassed more established players, sharing her love for fashion, food and travel as an elite athlete.
She’s also half of one of Instagram’s favorite power couples, dating Formula 1 driver Alex Albon since 2019. The two often appear in each other’s posts, and the way they support each other in their respective sports is couple goals.
