Pro Duffers Contribute $5,000 to VUU Golf

July 19, 2018

Jim Martin (second from right), President of The Pro Duffers of Washington, DC, along with David Wilmot (left), Chairman of Pro Duffers Foundation and Charles Saunders (right), Treasurer of The Pro Duffers DC Chapter, presented a $5,000 check to E. Lee Coble, Virginia Union University Head Golf Coach on Tuesday, at the organization's July meeting on Wednesday, July 18. 

Coble was invited to address the group during their meeting.  This is the second year The Pro Duffers have donated to the VUU Golf Program, for a total of $8,000. ($3,000. in 2017-18 and $5,000. in 2018-19).

More than 60 years ago – in the late 1950s – a group of golfers from Philadelphia, PA, known as the "Del Val" golf club contacted several of their former Howard University classmates who lived in the Washington Metropolitan area, and expressed an interest in engaging in some friendly golf matches - area against area.

This very intriguing idea caught the fancy of nine DC golfers who decided to form a golfing group with a name.  And, even though they had not decided on a name, their purpose was well defined – BEAT DEL VAL.  Competitive spirit ran high, but early encounters were not too successful.

Several months after the first encounter with the Del Val group, Robert Smith and Sewell Horad met a fellow golfer at Northwest Park Golf Club who identified himself as a "professional duffer."  The next time they met with the DC group, they proposed the name "Pro-Duffers" as a suitable title for the DC golfers.  The idea was accepted unanimously, and the group became the PRO-DUFFERS GOLF CLUB.

"As I read through the history and the founding of the The Pro Duffers of Washington, D.C., I was reminded of my beginnings at VUU 3 years ago," said Coble.  "While their mission was to be the best and beat The Del Val Group, my mission at VUU was for our team to be the best and beat other teams in the CIAA.  We are well on our way."