Eastside Golf has made waves on the course and the concrete thanks to its unique take on the traditionally formal sport. Founded by Earl Cooper and Olajuwon Ajanaku, the two East Atlanta natives are on a mission to grow the game of golf and make it more accessible. Their impact on the world feels more palpable than ever with the brand joining forces with DJ Khaled for his upcoming DJ Khaled classic and the growing Jordan Golf collection jump-started by their collaboration in 2019. Eastside Golf’s ultimate focus is on opening the game of golf to a world of people that may not have experienced a day on the course before, to spread their love of the game Eastside Golf implemented its Community Golf Days starting in Memphis, TN wherein they offered tee times with free equipment rentals followed by an afterparty at Odds Atlier.
What did y’all see in the Memphis golf scene that made y’all wanna start the Community Days event here?
Earl: Well, I think two things. The Community Day for us was something that we always wanted to do. It was just kind of figuring out the right time. Community Day is something that has been on our minds for quite some time and being able to, you know, select a city like Memphis makes a lot of sense. There’s a lot of connections to the city. But I think also for us, having a conversation with FedEx St. Jude championship, we saw that there was an opportunity there where they really weren’t getting the representation but they wanted it.
And so to team up with them has been a great partnership. We’re super excited about what the day holds.
O: I guess the connection that I see or actually connection for me, my father’s from South Memphis, so they actually come back and be able to give back, you know, be able to see some of my family members now, they’re gonna be out here today and see what we have going on and potentially walk away with some free stuff. But I mean, at the end of the day, it’s about just showing the community what golf can do for you. So, and nah, it’s gonna be dope today.
You got family here, they take y’all to any hot spots?
O: Nah, nah. No hotspots just yet. We just got here today, so maybe tonight, maybe tonight. Me and Earl, we went to Beale Street today. So we saw all the different restaurants.
You gotta go at night. That’s when it’s poppin’ And Y’all here on the weekend, It’s gonna be right. So y’all started working to grow the game through apparel, now, y’all moved into events. So, what’s next for the Eastside Golf crew?
O: Honestly, hopefully, a golf course. You know, it might be some years from now, but definitely growing more events. And even tournaments, invitationals, maybe professional events, but at the end of the day if we could have something to where we can introduce the game a different type of way where everybody can come out public and they can, you know, hit a bucket of balls, buy a shirt. You know, introduce, you know, these people to the game in the most authentic way.
So I think that’s next for us. Maybe it’ll be some time, but it’s definitely on our radar.
Earl: Yeah. And I think also just given an opportunity to perfect this right here. This is our first one. So it’s been, you know, constant learning. This is something we’ll continue to have more and we’ll be strategic about it and it’s just gonna get bigger and better. Same thing, you know, again, how the brand started, just started with a few pieces. You perfect that and you grow on top of that. So we hope to have one of the dopest community days in general, that you’ve seen in any community and even on a golf scene. So we’re just, we’re gonna continue to build on this one as well.
Speaking of starting with a few pieces, y’all said that y’all knew that it was gonna take off when y’all went to the PGA event and y’all saw everybody coming up to you and asking about the logo, what’s it like to be like partnering with those events now? How has it changed for y’all since?
O: It feels as though we’re headed down the right path. It feels as though they see the vision of what we’re trying to do. They didn’t see it at first, honestly. You know, a lot of companies will admit that, but it’s crazy now. Those same companies are coming back around and we’re working with them. They’re seeing what we can do on and off the golf course. All the things that we’re trying to influence and all the people that we’re trying to touch, they definitely know that we have golf’s best interest at heart. So just to keep growing the game, man. it’s just dope to even see these companies love Eastside Golf like we do.
Yeah. Speaking of growing the game what’s it like to see the mainstream appeal of golf taking off? Like DJ Khaled’s Invitational, Jayson Tatum’s invitational, Travis is about to do the Jordan 1 Low Golf.
Earl:I think it’s great. I think it’s great. I think that’s what it’s all about, right? This sport is for everyone and for Tatum to do it or Khaled to do it, or Travis to do it, they’re doing it through their lens. And I think that’s the beauty and that’s what we want to encourage people. And I think hopefully one of the messages that we can get across today is that whether you come out here just to check out the clothes, you come out here to play nine holes, you come out here just to chip and putt or just come out here to meet us, all of that is golf.
And that’s what excites us and hopefully again, as, as we would say when you walk away, you now wanna say, “I wanna wear one of these lovely polos or a hat” or something like that. ’cause you can wear off the course as well. And I think that’s what makes our brand so special and unique.
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So speak about that. How do y’all toe the line between streetwear and activewear? Because I’m not the best on the green but I can wear this anywhere. This is not my first time pulling this out.
Earl: Yeah, right, right (laughs) You got it on.
O: For sure, it’s all about riding that line all the time. I mean, and what I mean by riding a line is when we create something or when I create something, it’s more of a how does this live at a lounge, you know, but then am I comfortable, you know? But then on top of that, will I be too hot if I were to the golf course? So answering like a list of questions and then seeing if that piece, I would say qualifies or is a yes on that list of questions, and then we move forward from there. Some of the answers are gonna be no, but then that tilted more towards streetwear.
So we still have more of the lifestyle, but we still have a lot of golf pieces as well that you could wear on and off the course.
Earl: Yeah. And I think too that it’s also just questioning tradition, right? And saying, well, why is it that way? Does it have to be that way? That’s also a common question that we ask ourselves. ’cause it feels that way. It’s like, especially in golf, you always kind of have like these questions in the back of your head is what I’ll say. Right? Like, and even we do even still to this day. So it’s like thinking of all of those questions prior to through the development process and saying, oh, okay, but you can wear that off the course and you see that in even, you know, in the Jordan footwear, right?
Like a lot of that footwear even, you know, you can catch it on our website, but we’re gonna be showing people how you can wear that footwear on and off the golf course. Now when you have a spike shoe, we definitely want you to wear it ’cause it can get kind of hazardous and slip, something like that. But at the same time, you know, just showing them as well.
So questioning tradition, I heard y’all say that golf is about the experience that you make of it. And if you’re not on the green to experience it yourself, like you’re not getting the full experience. So what makes like the perfect day for y’all going on the course? Like what, how is your experience? ’cause you know, some people like to get out there with the cigars and drinks. What makes that perfect experience for you?
Earl: For me is really playing with the people that I enjoy being around because it’s a way to spend time with them. I like a team match ’cause I’m gonna have a few bad holes so I need somebody to pick me up. I really don’t indulge too much when I’m out there ’cause I’m trying to stay, you know, focused. Especially if I’m in a team match after the round, the 19th hole for sure. You know what I mean? You definitely might catch me, you know, with a cigar or a cocktail or something like that. But, uh, for me I’m super relaxed.
I like the team format. Playing a really nice golf course too, though I do enjoy, you know, playing a good golf course for me whereas we would say you get to hit almost every club in your bag. Right. So it’s not necessarily just being all the way long or all the way short, a little bit of mix and just kind of hitting multiple clubs in your bag.
O: Yeah, yeah. For me, a great golf course first off, somewhere we can just have a good time, be a little loud, play my music, you know what I’m saying? But then, like he said, still enjoy it with some people that I enjoy, that I want to be around. And then, you know, maybe a transfusion or something (laughs). And then on top of that look and fly as well. Like, I want be out here, I wanna be comfortable. But then, you know, might take a couple pictures, but that’s a, that’s a great day for me.
Earl: Oh, and shooting maybe 65 as well. Winning a Trophy.
O: Yeah. I need that.
Earl: Setting the course record.
O: I Need that (laugh). That’s a normal day though. That’s just a normal day (laughs). Yeah, that’s a great day to me.
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So I have to ask this, we’re from the two roasting capitals of the USA. So how do you bring the trash talk to the courts?
Earl: Oh yeah. Well now we bringing that, we bringing that. That’s a really good question. I can tell one. If you have a putt that in your mind you feel like you should make, but then you miss it, he’s always like, “yo, take it away. (laughs). Like, get that outta here.” It’s just kind of like when you, when you feel like you should be getting out the hole, it’s like nah, you know, take it with you. When you hit a good drive, you kind of give the person that look. A “beat that” kind of thing. Yeah, it’s definitely a lot of trash-talking going on.
O: A lot of, I would say subtleties when it, when it comes down to it, like just trying to get into the, to the other person’s mind and the mental game. It is definitely mental. It’s standing over their putt maybe like four feet, you know, they make it, you say “never a doubt. (laughs).”
Why’d you make me putt it then “never a doubt?” The mind games. Hundred percent. But nah, nah, it’s all fun and games, but, that’s how we get it. I tell we saw mind games with us for sure.
To wrap it up, dream course, dream foursome?
I would have to say a golf course I haven’t played yet. Augusta National and then playing with, Barack Obama, playing with Jay-Z and Earl (laughs). There we go. That was a good one. He took like two of my answers. I definitely was gonna say Augusta. But I’ll, I’ll use another course that I really wanna play outside of Augusta is Cypress Point which is on the West Coast. And then I would obviously put O in that group, I would say my dad and I would put MJ. Yeah, put MJ in there.
You ain’t played with MJ yet?
Earl: Not yet. Not yet. Yet.
O: Not yet. Not yet. Definitely talk some trash.
I bet y’all don’t want to play MJ. He’s competitive (laugh).
Earl: We gotta make a little bit more money now. I’m joking.
O: Nah, (laughs) He’s a good guy. I’ve had, I’ve had dinner with him, smoke cigars with him, had little Cincorol with him. But I mean he wants to see us do good. You know, he calls us pioneers of the game of golf at the end of the day. And for him to want to see everybody that even has a slight interest in golf, or just in fashion. But now pick up a golf club and now wear Jordan golf shoes, Jordan’s period on the golf course and everywhere else he sees where golf can truly just expand and be the new sport that everybody plays.
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