Eastside Golf | The Brand Redefining What Golf Looks Like

Golf has always had its traditions: polished polos, quiet fairways, country-club dress codes, and a style that can sometimes feel disconnected from modern culture. Eastside Golf entered that world with a different idea golf could respect its history while still looking, feeling, and sounding like today.

Founded in 2019 by Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper, Eastside Golf is more than a golf apparel label. It combines golf, fashion, culture, storytelling, and community into a brand designed to make the game feel more accessible to younger generations and people who may not traditionally see themselves represented in golf.

And that is what makes Eastside Golf interesting: you don’t have to be an obsessed golfer to understand the appeal.

From its instantly recognizable Swingman logo to collaborations with Jordan Brand and Nike, Eastside Golf has built a visual identity that can move naturally from the golf course to the street.

What Is Eastside Golf?

Eastside Golf is a lifestyle golf brand that blends performance, fashion, culture, and storytelling.

The company describes its mission around raising awareness of golf among young people and non-golfers, promoting diversity, and making the game more attractive to a younger generation.

That distinction matters.

Eastside Golf isn’t simply trying to make another polo shirt or pair of golf shorts. The brand is interested in changing the way people experience and perceive golf.

Its collections can include:

• Golf polos
• Hoodies and crewnecks
• Joggers and woven shorts
• Golf gloves
• Hats and bucket hats
• Golf shoes
• Accessories
• Limited-edition collaborations
• Lifestyle apparel

The current product lineup also includes collaborations and performance footwear alongside everyday clothing, demonstrating how closely Eastside Golf connects golf functionality with streetwear aesthetics.

Who Founded Eastside Golf?

The story starts with Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper, two golfers whose relationship began at Morehouse College.

The pair played on the Morehouse golf team and were part of the team that won a national championship in 2010. Their college experience became an important foundation for what Eastside Golf would eventually become.

After college, their careers took different directions.

Ajanaku pursued professional golf while also working in finance. Cooper developed his career as a PGA professional and golf instructor. According to Eastside Golf’s biography, Cooper became the first African American golf professional at Detroit Golf Club.

Eventually, Ajanaku combined his entrepreneurial experience with his desire to continue pursuing golf.

That decision produced the idea that became Eastside Golf.

How Eastside Golf Started

One of the most interesting parts of the Eastside Golf story is how simple its beginning was.

Ajanaku created a sketch of a Black golfer wearing jeans, a sweatshirt, and a gold chain while swinging a club. The character was intentionally different from the traditional image often associated with golf.

He showed the design to Cooper, who suggested putting it on a shirt.

Ajanaku did exactly that.

According to the founder’s account, he wore the shirt around Detroit and people repeatedly stopped him to ask about it. That response helped convince him there was something bigger behind the idea.

Eastside Golf was officially founded on June 1, 2019.

What began as an attempt to support Ajanaku’s professional golf ambitions developed into a lifestyle brand with a much broader mission.

The Swingman Logo: Why Everyone Recognizes It

If you’ve seen Eastside Golf before, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed the Swingman.

The logo depicts a golfer swinging a club, but the character’s clothing and styling are intentionally different from the traditional golf stereotype.

That’s not accidental.

Eastside Golf says the logo represents resilience, authenticity, and its vision for redefining what it means to belong in golf.

The Swingman became much more than a logo.

It became a visual shorthand for the entire brand.

You can find the identity across hoodies, polos, hats, socks, gloves, footwear, and other pieces. The current Eastside Golf catalog continues to feature Swingman products as a central part of the collection.

Why Eastside Golf Looks Different

Traditional golf fashion tends to prioritize performance and conventional styling.

Eastside Golf takes a broader approach.

Its designs often combine:

Golf performance + streetwear + nostalgia + cultural storytelling.

That combination makes the clothing useful beyond the course.

A performance polo can be worn during a round of golf. A Swingman hoodie can work with jeans or sneakers. A bucket hat can fit into a casual streetwear outfit just as easily as it can fit into a golf wardrobe.

This versatility is one reason Eastside Golf has attracted attention outside traditional golf circles.

The brand’s own description of its newest collections emphasizes clothing designed for the course, clubhouse, and everyday life.

Eastside Golf and Jordan Brand

One of Eastside Golf’s biggest moments came through its relationship with Jordan Brand.

The partnership helped introduce the brand to audiences that extended far beyond traditional golfers.

Among its notable releases was the Eastside Golf x Air Jordan 4, launched in 2021. Eastside Golf describes it as a landmark collaboration that brought together golf, sneaker culture, and Michael Jordan’s well-known connection to the game.

The collaboration wasn’t simply about putting a logo on a sneaker.

Eastside Golf used footwear as another way to tell its story.

That approach continued through projects including the Red Clay Collection and Change 1961, with designs connecting golf history, fashion, and cultural storytelling.

The Meaning Behind the 1961 Project

One of Eastside Golf’s most meaningful projects is The 1961 Project.

The project focuses on an important moment in golf history: in 1961, the PGA of America removed its Caucasian-only clause following years of advocacy and legal challenges involving Black golfers.

Eastside Golf turned that history into a larger creative project involving:

• Footwear
• Apparel
• Storytelling
• Community initiatives
• Golf education
• Support for future golfers

The project included collaborations with Jordan Brand and was designed to connect the history of golf with conversations about its future.

This is an important part of understanding Eastside Golf.

The brand doesn’t treat clothing as the entire story. The clothing is often the entry point into a bigger conversation.

Eastside Golf Isn’t Just About Clothing

The company’s community work is another major part of its identity.

Eastside Golf has hosted Community Golf Days designed to introduce more people particularly young people and non-golfers to the game.

For example, its 2024 Community Golf Day in Detroit brought people together at Rackham Golf Course around golf, accessibility, and community.

The brand has also emphasized supporting golf education and creating opportunities for people who might otherwise have limited exposure to the sport.

Its founders have repeatedly described golf as something that can create access to new environments, relationships, and opportunities.

What Does Eastside Golf Sell?

Eastside Golf’s product range has expanded considerably since its early days.

Current and recent products include:

Golf Apparel

The apparel collection includes polos, tees, hoodies, crews, shorts, pants, jackets, joggers, and other golf-oriented and lifestyle pieces.

Golf Shoes

Footwear has become a major part of the brand’s identity through collaborations and golf-specific releases.

The current collection includes products such as the Nike Air Max Plus G x Eastside Golf, while the brand’s collaboration history includes several Jordan golf silhouettes.

Hats and Accessories

Bucket hats, five-panel hats, gloves, socks, belts, and other accessories give fans ways to wear the Eastside aesthetic without building an entire outfit around the brand.

Golf Equipment

Eastside Golf has also extended its identity into golf essentials, including branded golf balls and tees.

Is Eastside Golf Only for Golfers?

No.

That’s one of the most important things to understand about the brand.

You can appreciate Eastside Golf without playing 18 holes every weekend.

Its lifestyle approach intentionally creates a bridge between golf and everyday culture. The clothing can appeal to golfers, sneaker enthusiasts, streetwear fans, fashion-conscious shoppers, and people simply interested in the brand’s story.

That crossover is part of the point.

Eastside Golf wants golf to feel less like an exclusive world and more like a culture people can participate in.

Where Does the Name Eastside Golf Come From?

The name has a personal connection to Ajanaku.

He grew up in East Atlanta, and that background became part of the brand’s identity. Eastside Golf has described Atlanta as more than simply its starting point it is part of the creative inspiration behind the company.

That gives the brand a stronger identity than a generic golf label.

It isn’t trying to appear as though it emerged from nowhere.

Its story is connected to Atlanta, Morehouse College, Detroit, golf culture, fashion, and the personal experiences of its founders.

Eastside Golf in Detroit

Detroit also plays an important role in the brand’s story.

Ajanaku created the original Swingman sketch while working in downtown Detroit, and Cooper developed a professional connection to Detroit Golf Club.

That connection became even more visible in 2025 when Eastside Golf opened its first U.S. retail store at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, giving the brand a physical home in a city deeply connected to its history.

The brand also expanded its retail presence through major retailers and opened an international location in Tokyo during 2025, according to Eastside Golf.

What Makes Eastside Golf Popular?

Several elements come together.

A recognizable identity

The Swingman gives Eastside Golf an instantly recognizable visual signature.

Golf meets streetwear

The brand doesn’t force people to choose between golf clothing and everyday fashion.

Strong storytelling

Many collections have a story behind them rather than simply introducing another colorway.

Cultural relevance

Collaborations with Jordan Brand, Nike, and other major names have helped connect Eastside Golf to audiences beyond traditional golf.

A larger mission

The company consistently connects its commercial products with youth development, accessibility, community, and golf’s history.

Where Can You Buy Eastside Golf?

The most direct option is the official Eastside Golf website, where the brand lists its current apparel, footwear, accessories, and collaborations.

Shop Eastside Golf Official Website

The brand has also expanded into select retail partners, including stores such as Nordstrom, Golf Galaxy, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, according to Eastside Golf’s 2025 announcement.

Because limited collaborations can sell out, shoppers should check the official product listing and authorized retailers rather than assuming a third-party listing is genuine.

Is Eastside Golf Worth Knowing About?

Eastside Golf is interesting because it represents something bigger than a change in golf clothing.

It shows how a traditional sport can intersect with fashion, music, sneakers, history, community, and modern identity without abandoning the game itself.

The founders started with a simple idea and a sketch.

That sketch became the Swingman.

The Swingman became a brand.

And the brand became a platform for a larger conversation about who golf is for and what golf culture can look like.

Today, Eastside Golf continues to position itself between the fairway and the street creating apparel and footwear while using its platform to tell stories about golf’s past and encourage more people to participate in its future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Eastside Golf?

Eastside Golf is a lifestyle golf brand founded in 2019 by Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper. It combines golf apparel, lifestyle fashion, storytelling, and community initiatives.

Who owns Eastside Golf?

Eastside Golf was founded by Olajuwon Ajanaku, with Earl Cooper as co-founder. Their partnership began at Morehouse College, where they played golf together.

What is the Eastside Golf logo?

The signature Swingman logo depicts a golfer swinging a club and represents the brand’s effort to present a more authentic and culturally diverse image of golf.

Is Eastside Golf a golf brand or streetwear brand?

It is best described as a lifestyle golf brand. Its products are designed for golf while also being wearable in everyday settings.

Does Eastside Golf make golf shoes?

Yes. Eastside Golf offers golf footwear and has collaborated with major brands including Jordan Brand and Nike.

Where is Eastside Golf from?

The brand has roots in East Atlanta, where founder Olajuwon Ajanaku grew up, while Detroit is also deeply connected to the company’s origin story and development.

When was Eastside Golf founded?

Eastside Golf was founded on June 1, 2019.

Final Thoughts

Eastside Golf is changing the conversation around golf by making the game feel more contemporary, culturally connected, and approachable.

Its story begins with two Morehouse golfers, a national championship, an ambitious dream, and a simple sketch. Today, that idea has grown into a recognizable lifestyle brand with apparel, footwear, major collaborations, community programs, and a growing presence beyond traditional golf.

The most compelling part isn’t simply what Eastside Golf sells.

It’s what the brand represents: the idea that golf can honor its history while making room for new people, new styles, and new stories.

And perhaps that’s why the Swingman feels bigger than a logo.

It isn’t just a golfer swinging a club. It’s an invitation to see golf differently.