Atlanta, GA — The Sapphire Golf Tour today announced the launch of the Sapphire Founders Club, a $1.75 million membership investment initiative designed to transform the landscape of women’s golf by providing Black women professional golfers with the resources, visibility, and competitive access they have historically been denied.
The launch builds upon the nearly 100-year legacy of the United Golfers Association (UGA) — the pioneering organization founded in 1925 that provided the first ecosystem, competitive platform, and community for Black golfers at a time when they were excluded from mainstream golf. The Sapphire Golf Tour represents the next evolution of that legacy, carrying forward the UGA’s mission of access, excellence, and representation for Black athletes.
Following a highly successful inaugural 2025 season with events in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Houston, the Founders Club establishes the financial infrastructure needed to scale the Tour and deepen opportunities for Black women professionals.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
For decades, Black women golfers have trained without sponsors, competed without recognition, and exited the sport early — not because they lacked talent, but because they lacked financial support and equitable access.
The Sapphire Founders Club exists to change that forever.
This is not a traditional fundraising effort.
It is the largest coordinated equity movement in the history of Black women’s professional golf — a national call for corporations, philanthropists, families, alumni groups, and allies to replace a century of exclusion with investment, infrastructure, and opportunity.
As the financial backbone of the Sapphire Golf Tour, the Founders Club supports:
- Travel, lodging, meals, and tournament entry
- World-class coaching and performance development
- Media visibility, storytelling, and brand-building
- Mental health, financial literacy, and life-preparedness tools
- NIL pathways for collegiate players and elite juniors
- Scholarships for emerging young Black golfers
- The Tour’s full 3P Development Framework:
Personal Development, Professional Development, Performance Development
“Athletes cannot rise without resources. Period,” said Tarek DeLavallade, Tour Commissioner of the Sapphire Golf Tour. “The United Golfers Association paved the way nearly a century ago. Today, the Sapphire Founders Club ensures that Black women finally have the resources, access, and infrastructure they have always deserved.”
2025 SEASON RESULTS
The Sapphire Golf Tour completed its inaugural competition season with three national events:
- DMV Sapphire Open
Country Club at Woodmore — Bowie, MD (August 25–27, 2025)
Champion: Cami March - Atlanta Sapphire Classic
Château Élan — Braselton, GA (September 27–29, 2025)
Champion: Georgia Oboh - Houston Sapphire Shootout
Hermann Park Golf Course — Houston, TX (October 24–26, 2025)
Champion: Georgia Oboh
These champions advance to the season-ending Sapphire Tour Championship, held at:
Queens Harbour Yacht & Country Club — Jacksonville, FL
November 21–23, 2025
THE MOVEMENT BEHIND THE TOUR
The Sapphire Golf Tour has already gained national attention for elevating Black women professionals and reshaping the visibility of women’s golf. However, the Founders Club is what unlocks the future. It ensures that:
- Professional players no longer choose between paying bills and competing
- Collegiate players can earn beyond the restrictive $999 limit
- Juniors with elite potential aren’t forced out due to cost
- International players can travel, compete, and build careers
- The next generation of Black women enters the pipeline with confidence
The Founders Club reflects the mission of the UGA — turning barriers into pathways and talent into opportunity.
COLLEGIATE FOUNDATIONS: WHERE OUR PROS GOT THEIR START
Sapphire Tour athletes represent collegiate programs including:
Texas Southern University (TSU), Norfolk State University (NSU), Xavier University, Howard University, North Carolina A&T State University, Bethune-Cookman University, Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), Prairie View A&M, Towson University, Villanova University, Washington State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and others.
2026 EXPANSION
Building on its inaugural-year success, the Sapphire Golf Tour plans to expand to seven events in the 2026 season.
Potential host markets under review include:
- Chicago
- Charlotte
- Orlando
- Phoenix
- Philadelphia
- South Florida
These markets would join existing tour locations as the organization continues to scale nationally.
ABOUT THE SAPPHIRE GOLF TOUR
The Sapphire Golf Tour is the first professional and developmental golf tour dedicated to expanding pathways and competitive access for Black women in golf. Built on the legacy of the United Golfers Association (est. 1925), the Tour leverages nearly a century of history to advance equity, representation, and long-term development for Black women in the sport. Through its tournament series, the Sapphire Founders Club, and its 3P Development Framework—Personal, Professional, and Performance Development—the Tour is creating a sustainable and transformational future for women’s golf.
