Lee Coble’s lifelong love of golf has led to decades of service to the game, sharing his knowledge, his time and his boundless energy to community golf initiatives. His volunteer resume includes serving as the 34th president of the Virginia State Golf Association (VSGA) as well as mentorship and fundraising for numerous junior programs while advocating for accessibility for everyone, including Hook A Kid on Golf, The First Tee of Richmond and Chesterfield County, and the VSGA Foundation’s Robins Junior Programs at Independence Golf Club.

When Coble was asked by this publication how he feels about being a recipient of the award, he responded, “Needless to say, when I got the call that would be receiving the 2024 Joe Dey Award at The USGA’s Annual Meeting, I was shocked to be honored with this award. Being honored this way means my years of your volunteerism and contributions to the game of golf have been recognized.   It is also a recognition of the support I have received from my family through all the years,” said Coble.

A longstanding USGA Committee member, Coble’s entry into the game came as an 11-year-old, caddieing at a nine-hole, racially segregated course in rural Mebane, N.C. That’s where he grew his desire to play and perseverance to overcome obstacles – values that would guide him on his lifelong journey from being denied a spot on his high school golf team to becoming the first African American to lead the VSGA. Coble currently serves as the head golf coach at Virginia Union University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Richmond, Va., a commitment driven by his desire to grow the game and be a positive force for the next generation.

“Golf is a game of relationships.  During my decades of volunteering, I have continued to nurture those relationships.  Giving back to a game that has given me so much more in return means so much to me.  Having served as the President of the Virginia State Golf Association (VSGA) and now, as a Head Golf Coach at Virginia Union University I can continue to encourage people to become volunteers.”

Presented annually by the USGA since 1996, the award is named for Joseph C. Dey Jr., the USGA’s executive director from 1934-1968, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975 and devoted his life in service to the game.

The Carolinas PGA SUPER SHOW was an annual three-day event held on the 3rd Sunday through Tuesday each February. The Show featured their Special Awards and Honors Dinner on Sunday night in North Carolina at Greensboro Country Club to celebrate the year’s Section Professional award winners and Hall of Fame inductees.

On Monday, they held their Section Annual Meeting (the largest meeting of PGA Professionals in the country) at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in the morning before opening their Merchandise Show and education series that ran through Tuesday afternoon. The Merchandise Show was the largest regional golf show and featured 200 plus vendor booths in a 60,000 square foot hall. They invited over 2,200 PGA Members from their Section and typically had 1,200-1,500 attendees including golf shop buyers and merchandisers.

There were education opportunities throughout the two days for their Members including a notable featured speaker on Monday night after the Merchandise Show closed. On Tuesday, they held their Winter Teaching Summit after the Merchandise Show officially ended with their Cash Jackpot drawing. The Cash Jackpot offered valuable prizes and cash for their Members who had to be present to win.

AAGD Contributor Michael Cooper traveled to Greensboro for the Carolina’s PGA Super Show. He took Student Success Coach of Bennett College Karyna Jones on a tour through the exhibitors. Bennett College is an all-female HBCU and it was her first exposure to the business side of golf. Cooper also supported superstar Ashaunta Epps, who was a panelist for two DEI sessions. She was joined by Don Rea, future PGA of America President, and others, including several HBCU students.

“I had a wonderful time at the Carolinas PGA Section Super Show sharing on DEI and golf industry careers, as well as connecting with industry peers,” said Epps, CEO & Founder of A Perfect Swing. “It was an honor to share the stage with these awesome golf minds at the Carolinas PGA Section #SUPERSHOW! Great job organizing and executing such informative and necessary sessions Josh Wagaman, Chris Noble, and Mia Hayasaki!” The golf business leaders enjoyed a room filled with HBCU students and local minority youth interested in learning about a career in golf.

Among the attendees were Jordan Young, 2023 Fellow, PGA WORKS, Mark Lathan, Director of Programs, First Tee Central Carolina , Corban Strother, General Manager, Sunset Hills Golf Course, and Terrington Myles, Director of Programs, First Tee Central Carolina. 

(San Francisco, CA – February 20) – Stephen Curry, four-time NBA Champion and two-time MVP announces his UNDERRATED Golf program in partnership with United Airlines will expand the golf tour to Europe for the 2024 season. Two years ago, Curry launched UNDERRATED Golf, and today, the brand is expanding its presence internationally, building the second tour, UNDERRATED Golf Europe. The schedule for the inaugural UNDERRATED Golf European Golf Tour will kick-off at Walton Heath Golf Course outside of London, May 29-31.

Over the past two seasons, UNDERRATED Golf has hosted 10 tournaments throughout the US. In that time, UNDERRATED Golf in partnership with its brand partners who understand the vision, help junior athlete golfers gain access to great courses and create a special and inclusive environment. The tour is expanding to Europe to provide access and opportunities to junior golfers and give them the chance to be front and center with top-tier college recruiters. Like the U.S., the current golf system for student athletes throughout Europe is exclusive and exclusionary, and UNDERRATED Golf will provide a viable pathway forward for everyone.

“We are thrilled to partner with United Airlines in launching the UNDERRATED Golf European Tour and expand the brand to London for season 3,” said Stephen Curry. “UNDERRATED Golf is a brand that will uplift and inspire underrepresented individuals who have yet to have equal access to the sport and the opportunities that come with it. Through this new initiative, we will be focusing on equity, ensuring that young females have the same access and opportunity as their male counterparts. It’s time that we level the playing field, and ensure these student athletes throughout Europe have the critical tools and skills for a successful and sustainable future.”

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The top three boy and top three girl winners from Season 2 (2023 Curry Cup) have been invited to play at Walton Heath Golf Club, a prestigious club near Walton-on-the-Hill southwest of London, for the UNDERRATED Golf European Tour opening tournament. Additionally, the top boy and girl winners from the London tournament will automatically win entry into the 2024 Curry Cup.

UNDERRATED Golf is a purpose-driven business endeavor with the overarching commitment to provide equity, access and opportunity to student athletes from every community by balancing participation in the sport to truly reflect our society. Dedicated to promoting opportunities for young athletes who may not otherwise have the chance to gain access to the sport and adjacent skills, UNDERRATED Golf is working with its corporate partners and sponsors to provide training, equipment, networking events and more. Furthermore, the program is also addressing the gender equity gap within the sport by enabling female players with the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

“United Airlines is proud to partner with Stephen Curry to support the UNDERRATED Golf Tour and the organization’s mission since its very first season,” said Jennifer Entenman, United’s Managing Director Global Sponsorships and Inclusive Partnerships. “Given the values alignment between our organizations, and with London being our most booked international destination outside North America, it’s a natural fit for United. We remain committed to advancing UNDERRATED Golf’s mission in the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond.”

At United Airlines, Good Leads The Way. United’s global workforce is on a mission to do good in the air and on the ground, working to make the world a happier, more inclusive and more fascinating place. The airline is flying toward the future of sustainable flight, diversifying the skies and reimagining the entire flying experience to better serve its customers, including investing in hundreds of new aircraft that offer expanded overhead bin space, seatback entertainment in every seat, and Bluetooth connectivity. United is the largest carrier across the Atlantic, flying nonstop from 38 transatlantic destinations for summer 2024, the most in its history and more destinations than all other U.S. carriers combined. From London, United will operate up to 20 daily flights to the U.S. in 2024.

With a mission to increase the participation numbers amongst competitive golfers from diverse communities, UNDERRATED Golf will have players compete hand-in-hand with their peers who currently represent the vast majority of today’s golfers, and in the coming years, will continue to grow the participant pool, ultimately creating a global footprint with the world’s best prospects.

“We are delighted to welcome The UNDERRATED Golf Tour to Walton Heath for its inaugural staging of a Tournament outside of the U.S.A.,” said Chief Executive of Walton Heath Golf Club. “We are proud to be part of supporting the junior game and providing special opportunities to inspire the male and female golfers of the future. To the players, good luck, we hope you are excited at the prospect of stepping foot onto our cherished Heathland and we look forward to welcoming you to Walton Heath in May.”

For each U.S. tour stop, 96 athletes will participate in tournament style events and team building activities while simultaneously networking with college golf coaches and golf executives. Ultimately, 24 of the best boys and girls will emerge from the tour to compete for the Curry Cup at the UNDERRATED Tour Championship, September 2-4.

For more information, please visit www.underrated.golf, and connect on social media via Instagram and Twitter.