SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. — The Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) is proud to announce that three-time Grammy Award-winning musician, philanthropist, and avid golfer Darius Rucker has officially joined the organization as an ambassador for the Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF), the charitable arm of the CGA. Known worldwide for his music and generosity, Rucker will now lend his voice and platform to help grow the game of golf and amplify the Foundation’s mission throughout North and South Carolina. 

“I’m honored to be part of something that’s making a real difference through the game I love,” said Rucker. “Golf has been a huge part of my life—not just because I love to play, but because I’ve seen the way it brings people together and creates opportunities. I’m proud to support the Carolinas Golf Foundation and the incredible work they’re doing across my home region.” 

As an ambassador, Rucker will help champion the Foundation’s efforts to promote access and opportunity in golf—particularly among youth, individuals with disabilities, and underserved communities. His involvement will include appearances at select Foundation events, engagement in awareness campaigns, and collaboration with the CGA to drive fundraising and outreach. 

Rucker, a resident of Pinehurst, N.C. just a few miles away from the CGA headquarters, is a longtime golf enthusiast with deep roots in the Carolinas and a strong track record of using his platform for good. His philanthropic endeavors include founding the annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, hosting collegiate golf events, along with support for public education, health care initiatives, and military veteran programs. 

 “Having Darius Rucker join the Carolinas Golf Foundation is a transformative moment for us,” said Andy Priest, Executive Director of the Carolinas Golf Association. “Darius is not only a cultural icon but also a passionate advocate for the game. His influence and authenticity will help us expand our reach, deepen our impact, and inspire new audiences to embrace golf as a force for positive change.” 

The Carolinas Golf Foundation was established in 1977 to support the growth and sustainability of golf throughout North and South Carolina. Over the past five decades, the Foundation has awarded more than $3.3 million in grants to support programs and initiatives that embody its mission to provide access to life-changing opportunities through the game of golf. 

Through initiatives such as junior golf scholarships, First Tee partnerships, adaptive golf clinics, turfgrass research and community engagement programs, the Foundation has become a vital resource for growing the game in meaningful and lasting ways. 

Rucker’s involvement represents a significant step forward in the Foundation’s evolution. His presence is expected to elevate the organization’s visibility and connect with a broader audience—particularly younger generations and those new to the game. 

“We’re excited to work alongside Darius to bring more attention to the positive impact golf can have in people’s lives,” Priest added. “He embodies the spirit of the Carolinas and the values we’re working to promote—access, opportunity, and a love for the game that lasts a lifetime.” 

The latest issue of Carolinas Golf Magazine, featuring Darius Rucker, is now available here.

For more information about the Carolinas Golf Foundation or to support its mission, visit www.carolinasgolf.org/mission. 

About the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)  

The Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization established in 1909 to promote and protect the game of golf in the Carolinas. The CGA supports golf clubs and golfers by providing competitions, education, resources, and benefits. It is the second-largest golf association in the country, representing over 700 member clubs and 220,000 individuals. Each year, the CGA conducts 48 championships and five team match competitions across various divisions, including men, women, juniors, and seniors. In addition, it organizes more than 150 One-Day events (net and gross) and manages qualifying tournaments for USGA national championships. The CGA offers a wide range of services and programs to support golf in the Carolinas, including the administration of the USGA Handicap System, tournament management software and support, course measurement and course/slope ratings, agronomy consultation, and guidance on the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, and Handicapping. Additional initiatives include Carolinas Golf Magazine, the Interclub series, the Tarheel Youth Golf Association, the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame, and expense assistance for USGA Junior and Girls' Junior qualifiers from the Carolinas. Through its charitable arm, the Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF), the CGA has distributed over $3.2 million since 1977 to support golf initiatives in the region, including junior and women’s programs.  

For more information about the CGA and its programs, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok at @cgagolf1909, or visit our website at www.carolinasgolf.org. 

About the Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF) 

The Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF) was established in 1977 by the Carolinas Golf Association to support golf-related initiatives across North and South Carolina. Both the CGF and CGA are 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organizations dedicated to growing the game and enriching lives through golf. 

 Over the past 38 years, the Foundation has provided more than $3 million in funding for a wide range of projects and scholarships. Through programs like Youth on Course, the CGF gives juniors the opportunity to play golf for just $5 per round at participating courses across the Carolinas—just one of the many ways the Foundation is investing in the next generation. 

 In addition to youth golf, the CGF supports initiatives that promote women’s golf, accessibility for disabled golfers, turfgrass research, college scholarships, and the preservation of the Carolinas' golf heritage through the Hall of History. 

About Darius Rucker 
Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide including their Double Diamond-certified (22x Platinum) debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits. Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012 and he won his third career GRAMMY Award in 2014 for Best Solo Country Performance with his Diamond-certified (11x Platinum) version of “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. His latest album Carolyn’s Boy (featuring recent single “Never Been Over” with Jennifer Nettles) is available everywhere now as is his New York Times bestselling memoir “Life’s Too Short,” released via Dey Street in 2024. 

As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker co-chaired the capital campaign that generated $150 million to help build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. and has raised over $4.3 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament. In addition, Rucker has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tenn. Rucker is also an avid sports fan, with his Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics line of NFL, MLB, NHL and NCAA apparel available via Fanatics.com, and he is part of the Music City Baseball investment group working to bring an MLB team to Tennessee in addition to serving as a partner at the MGC Sports & Entertainment agency.   

For more information, visit www.dariusrucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker. 

Media Contacts: 

For Carolinas Golf Foundation and Carolinas Golf Association: 
Jackson Sveen 
Director of Media and Marketing 
Carolinas Golf Association 
jackson.sveen@carolinasgolf.org, 910-725-4085 

For Darius Rucker: 

Ebie McFarland | Janet Buck 
Essential Broadcast Media, LLC 
ebie@ebmediapr.com  www.ebmediapr.com| janet@ebmediapr.com