The African American Golf Foundation, Inc. (AAGF) is a 501(c) non-profit organization founded in 1987 by Executive Director Edward Oden, at a time when golf was still not all-inclusive. Mr. Oden founded AAGF with a simple mission in mind: Bring the game of golf to children who have been excluded by reason of race or economics. The years that followed saw the advent of Tiger Woods and the millions of minority golfers who sought an opportunity to play.

AAGF has been there for the children of Atlanta area when few other local and national golf organizations were. AAGF has taught hundreds of minority children how to play golf; some have competed at the highest levels of junior golf. More importantly, all AAGF students have been blessed by the lessons golf teaches us: Integrity, hard work, and patience, just to name a few. AAGF takes great pride in the many contributions that our organization has made to golf, and the communities in which it serves.

AAGF does more than just provide a means for youths to learn and play golf. Meeting our students’ social, physical and educational needs is paramount to our organization. Our students receive continuous classroom training in the following areas; Golf Rules & Etiquette, Swing Analysis & Course Management, Cultural & Social Development, and Crime & Drug Prevention. 

Mission Statement

To serve the educational, social development and physical fitness needs of Metropolitan Atlanta’s underprivileged and minority, K-12 students through “golf academy” style after school and summer enrichment programs.

We creatively combine the sport of golf with academics and character/leadership development activities to help our youth succeed “on the course and off”.


Accomplishments

• Awarded Cobb Collaborative Grant – 1998

• Worked with DFACS in 2002 to introduce golf to more than 200 children through special summer programs

• Conducted a youth golf clinic for the 2002 Hank Aaron Invitational Golf Tournament.

• Partnered with Fulton County Parks and Recreational form 2000-2004 to provide summer golf clinics.

• Formed partnership with Cobb County Osborne Drug Taskforce (2005- Present)

• Received the 2006 Invaluable Community Service Award from Berean Seventh-Day Adventist Church of Atlanta


Our Goals

Research, identify and obtain resources and revenues that will allow the foundation to continue to support it’s programs. Form alliances with local, regional and national organizations to promote the development of academic education and junior golf programs, projects, and activities. Increase the number of participants in our junior golf development programs.

The following are some of our current and/or past sponsors that believe and share our same visions.

• Osborne Prevention Task Force
• Cobb County Schools
• Life College
• Southern Polytechnic State University
• Cobb County and the City of Marietta
• Cobb, Marietta, and Smyrna golf facilites