Retired NBA stars often channel their competitive drive and passion into business ventures, carving new paths in life after basketball. For Dwyane Wade and his former teammate Dorell Wright, that path led to the world of golf. United by their shared love for the sport, the duo launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at broadening access to the game and empowering underrepresented youth.

Their venture, ‘ACE Members Only’, is an organization dedicated to fostering youth engagement in golf while creating opportunities for communities traditionally underrepresented in the sport. During a recent conversation, Wade reflected on what inspired this endeavor and how their basketball journey laid the foundation for their new mission.

“It was really just understanding that you know, we’re two guys who’ve been able to have access to this world because of the game of basketball, right? And golf is one of those things that has opened up to us as access,” Wade shared. “It’s only because we’ve been able to get out of our communities, travel the world, experience and meet people, and then be able to play this beautiful game.”

The Miami Heat legend further spoke about how much golf has impacted people and their personal lives as well. Golf is an extremely competitive game and Wade emphasized the importance of exposing children to the said sport at an early age. He expressed a desire to create opportunities for youth to access the game and benefit from its life-enriching qualities and so this served as the philosophy behind “Ace”.

More about ‘Ace Membership Only’

Wade further added, “We just talked about you know, kids like us; Can we build something to give them an opportunity to experience this at a young age and they’re not picking up a golf club and they’re not being exposed to something that is such a beautiful tool for life. At 37 years old or in the mid-30s like me and DWright. Can we do it in a younger age and so we started Ace? And a big part of Ace is making sure that it’s a lot of groups out here.”

Just recently, the duo organized the inaugural ACE Members Only Golf Outing. This was held to raise awareness and grow the sport. “We went BIG this weekend for our first Basel event in Miami, celebrating @bigsummits business leadership in basketball, and the launches of @unrivaledbasketball 🏀 and @ace.membersonly ⛳, co-founded by NBA champions @dwyanewade and @dwrightuno,” the IG post was captioned as it featured a glimpse of the event. 

Dwyane further spoke about an organization in Miami that empowers youth by providing affordable access to golf for as little as $75 per year, including equipment, course access, and coaching. He shared that “Ace” was inspired by such efforts and aims to expand the game’s reach. After Wade explained the importance of the game, Metelus asked about the inspiration behind the unique name of their club.

Dorell Wright explains the reasoning behind the name 

When it came to naming their initiative, Dorell Wright drew inspiration from the idea of excellence. He referenced the “hole-in-one” in golf, a pinnacle achievement, and compared it to an “ace” in tennis, where a serve is so skillful it cannot be returned. These symbols of precision and mastery perfectly aligned with the vision of two basketball icons embarking on a mission to inspire greatness. Thus, the name “Ace” was born, carrying a deep, personal significance for both founders.

Reflecting on the name, Wright explained, “I got my Ace, hey, so we’re real members. It makes it feel even more official, and it feels even better that we both experienced that.” For both Wade and Wright, achieving a hole-in-one was a milestone that underscored their connection to the sport and the name of their initiative.

The significance of an “ace” became even more meaningful for the Miami Heat legend, who achieved his in historic fashion at Pebble Beach—a feat that many professional golfers aspire to but may never accomplish. This shared experience of hitting an ace highlights their passion for the game and solidifies the foundation of their mission. What are your views on this unique initiative by the Heat duo? Tell us in the comment section below!