At first glance, starting a golf ball company just because of the color of my skin might seem like an absurd idea. After all, does simply playing a sport automatically give you the right to profit from it? Does owning a brand mean you have an authentic connection to it? And is there even an opportunity to succeed in an industry that has historically been intentional about exclusion?
These were the very questions that sat with me, both in deep reflection and in the casual but sharp conversations on the golf course. The golf industry has long been a place where barriers—both spoken and unspoken—have kept certain groups on the outside looking in. So, what made me think I could step in and create something of value?
Then, it hit me. The reason I play golf has nothing to do with business or branding—it’s about the people I spend time with on the course. Life is chaotic. The demands of work, family, and responsibilities can pull you in a thousand directions. But for four, sometimes five, hours on the course, I get to step away from all of that and be fully present with my friends, exchanging stories, talking trash, and sharing perspectives on life.
That’s when I realized something bigger. The most valuable part of the game isn’t just the scorecard—it’s the conversation. And those conversations needed a platform beyond just the 18th hole. That’s why I started The Black 9—to bring those clubhouse and fairway discussions into text, to connect our experiences on the course with a broader community off of it.
Golf is more than a sport—it’s a culture, a network, a business, and for many, a pathway. The Black 9 is about capturing those realities and creating a space for Black golfers to share, learn, and grow together. Because ownership isn’t just about having a product to sell—it’s about building something that truly represents who you are.
And in that realization, I understood—starting a golf ball company wasn’t a foolish idea after all. It was just the beginning.