Amira Alexander, a young golf starlet from Kent State University, was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Today she calls Alpharetta, Ga her home. Her parents, John and Tracy Alexander welcomed her into the world on January 20, 1994. The 23-year old has two siblings, Damari and John Jr. Growing up, Amira spent a great portion of her formative years in Georgia, where she attended summer golf camps, as well as junior golf tournaments, sponsored by the Women In Golf Foundation (WIF), an Atlanta-based organization founded by LaJean Gould who also serves as its President.
Amira received a full golf scholarship from the University of Georgia in Athens. There she majored in Education with a minor in Psychology. While there, she was also the lone minority on the women’s golf team for three years. And being on the team has afforded Amira the opportunity to compete in World University Golf Championships with collegiate golfers from all over the world.
VIEWING THE WORLD AS HER GOLF COURSE
She’s played in Switzerland, France, United Kingdom, and other destinations. Courses she has teed up on include the Port Stewart Golf Club in Northern Ireland and the famous Augusta National Golf Club (during her Sophomore year in 2014). One of her most cherished highlights to date is when she saw Tiger Woods’ locker in the Champion’s Locker Room of Augusta National.
After three years at the college, Amira transferred from the University of Georgia, Georgia Bulldogs, to Kent State University in Northeast Ohio, again earning a golf scholarship to complete during her senior year.
Adding celebrity notches to her golf belt, Amira met former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice while attending the Stanford University Alums golf event at Stanford University. “It was the annual Intercollegiate Golf Outing that Ms. Rice hosts each year,” says Amira, who is an admirer of several legendary women golfing pioneers, including Renee Powell, whom she hopes to meet someday soon.
Being on course is a staple for Amira and she has a long list of competitions. She’s competed in several Bill Dickey Junior Golf Outings— in her own backyard of Alpharetta, Ga., where they were first held, as well as the Disney course in Orlando, Fl. She’s played a lot of golf in the American Junior Golf Association events with Mariah Stackhouse and Ginger Howard. Have also played and hung out with Sadena Parks Cheyenne Woods and Shasta Averyhardt, some other very notable women of color in the game of golf.
Amira says her goals and aspirations are to play on the LPGA Tour starting in 2018. She hopes to start the Symetra Tour in March or April of 2017.
AWAKENING THE DREAM
“Now the time has come for me to begin a new journey.” Says her GoFundMe page. “Since I was a child my dream has always been to become a professional golfer on the LPGA tour. This journey is going to be a major challenge in my life. The cost and sacrifices of this endeavor are going to be a major challenge for me. The average cost for women on the LPGA tour can run about $30,000-$50,000 per year. That will include my traveling expenses, tournament entry fees, and coaching/caddy fees. I am in no position financially to undertake that amount by myself. Therefore, I ask you, my family and friends to support me in any way possible.”
Amira says golf teaches etiquette, honesty, respect, and builds character. It’s a Ladies & Gentlemen’s game played by Kings, Queens, Politicians, Scientist, Doctors, Lawyers, as well as Bus Drivers, Sanitation Workers, Security Guards, Custodians, and Auto Mechanics. Also, the goal in golf is the same for everyone, so don’t ever give up, regardless of who you are.
Amira would like to see golf made more affordable. She would like to see more people of color on the golf course. Would also like to see more balance between the privileged and underprivileged
Her dream foursome would include Tiger Woods, Barack Obama, Lorena Ochoa and herself.
In talking with Amira I get the assurance that she has what it takes, she just has to take what she has and go for it. I’m confident she’ll do just fine. I’m looking forward to talking to her again down the road a piece, perhaps when she steps from the winner’s circle.
