April 9, 2021 | BY AAGD STAFF
It’s all about culture with golf in the mix for Bad Boy Golf Wear. Started by accident, owner Rick Ellerbe launched the Los Angeles-based brand in 2018 following a long airline flight.
“I had just purchased a TW (Tiger Woods) hat and I took a flight from LA to DC. While in Washington, DC, at a restaurant in Tyson Corner, a waitress spilled BBQ sauce on my brand new TW hat. I was so disappointed. On the 5-hour flight back to Los Angeles, I was thinking why not play golf in my own golf hat? Ellerbe’s next push came from his buddies. “My friends would always ask me ‘are you going for it?’ I would be like YEAH, I traveled too far to lay-up. The next words out of their mouths would be ‘you’re a bad boy!'”
The First Time
After producing the cap, Ellerbe was excited and wanted to share the design with the world but he did not know exactly what to expect. “The very first time I wore the hat and posted it on Instagram the reactions were remarkable. My colleagues and friends were like, you have something brotha!” With that, Bad Boy Golf had taken the leap into golf fashion wear.
Then, Ellerbe went to the Genesis Open in 2019 to see Tiger Woods play. “I was walking around with the BadBoyGolf hat on and a young lady asked me what is BadBoyGolf? Ellerbe excitedly explained it to her. “She looked at me with a smile and mentioned ‘I’m a bad girl golfer,’ she said, ‘We don’t lay-up either.'” Right then, 46-year-old Ellerbe’s business instinct kicked in and his BadGirlGolf brand was created that very same day. “She was totally correct because I have sold a lot more BadGirlGolf hats.”
Ellerbe started his company using personal savings and is proud to be 100% minority-owned and a veteran-owned company. He served in the Air Force for ten years, stationed across the globe. Honorably discharged, a top job with NASA came up and he was hired at NASA HQ as an International Contracting Officer for its Deep Space Network.
When he started BabBoyGolf, he admits to wanting to create a brand that “everyone could relate to….and start a culture that anyone of any skin color, age, or gender could get out and play the game of golf and have fun.”
“I believe everyone is a bad boy golfer or a bad girl golfer,” says Ellerbe who earned two Community College of the Air Force Degrees. The first in Management and the other in Human Resources. Ellerbe also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from McMurry University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
When Florida A&M University Men’s Golf Team (FAMU) reached out to Ellerbe for some of his products, he says “I was so—and I mean so—excited to hear that the team wanted to wear BadBoyGolf hats…it was a dream come true.”
“The FAMU Men’s golf team is the best HBCU golf team in their conference. When I saw the team wear BadBoyGolf hats in one of their tournaments this year, it made my 2020 year. So look out because more is coming for everyone to see from the FAMU Men’s Golf Team and BadBoyGolf,” he says.
“We all travel to far to golf courses to simply lay-up so, have fun and go for it.” This is why Ellerbe believes that players should have not only fun when on the course, but also should “have some swagger about your game and smile as you go the next tee box. Just make your next shot your best shot. We just bring a new attitude and charisma to the game.”
Ellerbe’s Introduction To Golf
“It’s a funny story,” says the Bennettsville, South Carolina native. “My grandfather used to have me out when I was a young kid with his weed saw. Then, when I picked up a club while in the Air Force, that swing came back to me naturally. My friends invited me out and they couldn’t stop laughing, because, I was swinging as hard as I could and the ball would just slice or stay on the tee.”
Ellerbe is staunchly competitive, so after that experience, every day after work he went to practice at the golf range. I started with my wedges and worked my way up to the driver. I was a high handicapper, or some may say a weekend hacker, but that’s where we all start.” He surely knows that golf is a game that you have to practice to get better.
“I took on that challenge to improve my game and now, when I play, I don’t mind playing with high handicappers because we were all there when we first started.” Today Ellerbe plays at a 15 handicap and is a member of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory golf club.
“It’s amazing to see BayBoyGolf/BadGirlGolf come into fruition. I have kids, women, and men of all ages supporting and wearing the brand. What makes me really smile is seeing my brand being worn by men, women, and children all across the world. It’s been seen in the USA, Africa, Dubai, Canada, and Europe. It’s such a blessing.”
For now, the brand’s featured collection for online purchase includes caps visors, ball markers, gaiters, and lapel magnets, starting at $15. Within the next 5 years, Ellerby has plans for releasing more products for his fashion line including polos, gloves, and towels.
For more information on BadBoyGolf and BadGirlGolf visit https://www.badboygolfwear.com or email Sales@badboygolfwear.com and be sure to like and follow on their social media platforms:
Facebook: badboygolfwear
Instagram: @badboygolf
Twitter: @badboygolfwear
TikTok: @badboygolf
