Jeffrey Dunovant was born in High Point North Carolina to the Late Harold and Anne Dunovant. Jeff spent the majority of his childhood in Bronx, New York. He graduated from West Carrollton High school a suburb of Dayton Ohio. He played both football and basketball in high school; but his true passion was golf. Jeff's father, Harold was considered a pioneer of Black Golf and was one of the first black men to earn his Professional Golfers Association (PGA) membership.
In 1983 Jeff accepted a scholarship offer from Dr. Ralph Burns, who was the coach at that time. During his time as a Bronco the team won two consecutive CIAA team championships. Jeff was named First Team ALL-CIAA for all four consecutive years. In 1987 he was named captain of the team; along with earning MVP honors.
A National Minority Collegiate Championship was created in 1987 for HBCU Colleges and Universities. This is now known as the PGA Works Championship. Jeff was recognized as a National Minority Collegiate Championship All-American that year.
Jeff earned his Professional Golfer's Association Membership (PGA) in 1993, making him and his father (Harold Dunovant) the first and currently the only Black father and son PGA members. The duo also share the honor of being the first and only Black father and son “Quarter Century Members” of the PGA.
Currently Jeff serves as the Director of Golf Operations for the First Tee Metro Atlanta & John A. White Park Golf Course. He also serves as the Chairman & President of the National Black Golf Hall of Fame. The National Black Golf Hall of Fame was established in 1986 by his late father Harold Dunovant. Since his father’s death in 2002 Jeff has continued his father’s legacy with the Hall of Fame.
Jeff has dedicated his career to service to the golf industry and to Junior golfers. He has served on the Southwest and Georgia Section Board of Directors. Jeff is now serving on the National PGA Junior League golf Committee and is a First Tee National Trainer.
Jeff has received many honors and accolades during his career as a PGA member. In 2001 he was the
Southwest Section Junior Golf Player Development Award winner. In 2012 he was the North Chapter AND Georgia Section Junior Golf Player Development Award winner. In 2015 he was the Georgia PGA Section Player Development Award winner. In 2018 he was named Merchandiser of the Year (Public Golf Course) in the Georgia Section. Again, in 2019 Jeff was the North Chapter Junior Golf Player Development Award winner. In 2021 Jeff was honored with the Georgia PGA Presidents Award.
He has been coaching the Drew Charter High School golf team since it inception in 2015. In 2019 the Drew Charter High School boys’ team won the Georgia High School State Golf Championship, becoming the first school in history to win a State Golf Championship with all black players and coaches in the country. Jeff is married to Marie and hey have three Children Marshall, Kendall & Sydni and one grandchild Idris Jr.
