Despite being an NBA MVP, Steph Curry’s has a love for golf, and he’s taking that passion to the bank by bankrolling Howard University’s new golf program through 2025.
The historically Black university announced the development Monday in a news release. Fox 26 Charlotte reported Curry will contribute $1 million toward plans to introduce and grow access to golf at the HBCU, where scholarships will also be offered. To do so, the Howard press release states Curry will access major players in sports and the community, including sports apparel company Under Amour, sporting goods brand Calloway Golf Company and his own Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation to collect items including uniforms and equipment for the effort.
“Golf is a sport that has changed my life in ways that are less tangible, but just as impactful,” Curry, who grew up playing the game with his dad, said in a statement. “It’s a discipline that challenges your mental wherewithal from patience to focus, and is impossible to truly master, so when you hear about these passionate student athletes who have the talent but don’t have a fair shot at the game, it’s tough. I feel really honored to play a small role in the rich history of Howard University, and look forward to building their first men’s and women’s golf teams with them.”
Men’s and women’s golf teams will be introduced at Howard by 2020. It will be the first set of Division I teams in the sport at the school. Previously, Howard had a Division II golf team as well as different intramural teams and intercollegiate clubs for the elite golf.
University President Wayne A. I. Frederick said in a statement that the school is “honored to partner with NBA Champion Stephen Curry to launch what is sure to become one of the best golf programs in the country.”
Speaking at a press conference at the Washington, D.C., university August 19, Curry said he was inspired to make this effort a reality after a conversation with Howard senior and golfer Otis Ferguson IV, whom the basketball star met during a visit to the school earlier this year. Curry had been on campus to promote his documentary “Emanuel” in January.
“I know Otis talked about wanting to start a golf club here and he was sending out flyers trying to have people come to a room on Howard’s campus and just get people interested in the game,” Curry said. “But he wanted to take it to another level. The idea around recreating Howard’s golf team, turning it into a Division I program for men and women was born on that specific night. Seven and a half, eight months later we are here announcing the first Division I golf program for Howard University all because of this guy here.”
Ferguson has expressed his excitement on Twitter by retweeting a video of the announcement Tuesday and saying, “GOD SHOWED OUT!!!🙏🏾”
