Donnie Dotson, Founder & CEO of Carry

Alex Elias

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After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019, Ben Griffin joined PGA Tour Canada and quickly earned Korn Ferry Tour status the following season. Less than two years later, however, Griffin made the difficult decision to step away from the game due to financial challenges. If not for Doug Sieg, Managing Partner of Jersey City-based investment firm Lord Abbett, who offered financial support, Griffin might never have had the chance to pursue his PGA Tour dream. While Griffin’s eventual success is inspiring, his earlier decision underscores the harsh reality that for many, the path to the PGA Tour is both long and costly.

Driven by a desire to address that challenge, Donnie Dotson founded Carry in 2021.

“There are many golfers with the talent who have had to walk away from the game due to financial reasons,” said Dotson. “Additionally, countless players currently navigating the grind are saddled with credit card debt and don’t know how they’ll pay next month’s rent or afford a course to practice at.”

As Carry raises money from “Fan Investors,” Dotson emphasized that it’s paramount these investors are fans first: “You have to love golf first and foremost. Even if all ten players go on to win, and it’s financially lucrative, you won’t get the most out of it.”

With “Fan Investors” providing financial security, Dotson explained, “Players can be more aggressive. If they have a tough week or miss a cut, it isn’t the end of their season or career.”

Beyond financial support, Dotson said the backing of “Fan Investors” offers something even more valuable—a community.

“These players now have someone to talk with,” said Dotson. 

Ultimately, the hope is this leads to better play.

“The biggest difference between a player playing well or not is confidence. Confidence comes from many areas, including knowing you have the finances to compete or that someone is celebrating your wins and there for you when you’re struggling,” said Dotson.

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