A Lifelong Obsession. A 15-Year Journey. And a New Chapter with Eastside.
Before Joseph Bramlett ever made a cut on the PGA TOUR…
Before the national championship at Stanford…
Before Q-School, injuries, comebacks and winning the Korn Ferry Tour Championship…
Before signing with Eastside Golf…
There was just a kid crawling around on the living room floor, watching his dad groove his swing in the mirror.
“My dad was one of those guys who got the golf bug right before I was born,” Joseph says. “When it was his turn to babysit, he’d go out to chip and putt, throw me in the grass and trust that I couldn’t crawl too far off.”
Joseph’s first steps came with a golf club in hand – not just because it looked fun, but because he was trying to mimic his father’s move. That connection, and that early exposure to the game, sparked a drive that’s lasted a lifetime.
“I remember walking into kindergarten thinking, I’m going to play on the PGA TOUR one day. I wanted to be on that stage with the guys I watched on TV with my dad. I fell in love with it. I’ve been somewhat obsessed ever since.”
That obsession became the focus. That focus became talent. And eventually, it led him to his dream school.
Stanford Roots
Joseph was born at Stanford Hospital and raised just 20 minutes down the road. He grew up watching Tiger Woods dominate the college game at Stanford, attending basketball camps on campus and dreaming of one day wearing the Cardinal red.
So when the acceptance letter came and Stanford’s head coach, Conrad Ray, offered him a scholarship, there was no hesitation.
“Stanford was always a dream. Once I got in, it was a no-brainer.”
His four years on campus didn’t just live up to expectations – they launched him toward the career he’d always envisioned. As a freshman, Joseph helped Stanford capture a national championship. He left college prepared for the next step, mentally and competitively.
From Campus to the PGA TOUR
Joseph’s transition to professional golf was sharp and decisive. After qualifying for the U.S. Open as an amateur, he chose to stay amateur for one more summer to compete in a strong schedule of elite events — a strategic move, especially after battling a wrist injury that limited his chances for sponsor exemptions.
By fall, he was ready. He entered PGA TOUR Q-School and did the unthinkable: navigated all four stages and earned his TOUR card on his first try. He was the first Black golfer to earn a TOUR card via Q-School in more than 25 years (the prior being Adrian Stills).
“Right out of college and straight to the PGA TOUR,” he says. “That kicked everything off.”
Now, nearly 15 years in, Joseph Bramlett continues to evolve – as a player, as a person and as a symbol of what's possible when talent meets resilience.
The Journey of Professional Golf
A comeback story still being written.
After blazing onto the scene after a successful amateur career, the path through professional golf has been anything but linear. But in 2013 everything stopped.
While competing on the Korn Ferry Tour, Bramlett suffered a devastating back injury – an annular tear between his L4 and L5 discs. What he thought would be a short recovery turned into four years of uncertainty. The game that shaped his identity was suddenly out of reach.
“I didn’t realize I was putting myself at risk the way I was at the time,” he says. “But it was a ticking time bomb.”
He sought answers from over a dozen spinal surgeons. The consensus? Surgery might end his career. So he waited. Rested. Rehabbing, restarting, re-injuring. For years. The setbacks weren’t just physical – they took an emotional toll.
“Yeah, I’ve had those moments,” he says of the darker times. “You start asking yourself, Who am I without this?”
Eventually, with the help of an expert instructor and physical therapist, he rebuilt his golf swing from the ground up – reprogramming his footwork, balance and sequencing. Restoring his mobility and flexibility. The team of experts built a foundation Joseph could finally stand on.
And slowly, he came back.
By 2018, Bramlett had clawed his way back into Korn Ferry Tour events, grinding through qualifiers and outlasting doubts. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was real. And it led to something extraordinary.
In 2021, he won the Korn Ferry Tour Championship – his biggest professional accomplishment to date and a full-circle moment in his journey.
“That was huge for me,” Joseph says. “It felt like the culmination of so much hard work in the dark.”
This year, that fire still burns. His goal for 2025 is simple: reclaim full PGA TOUR status. After finishing last season in the 126–150 category, his starts have been limited. But he made the most of an early opportunity at the Puerto Rico Open – where he finished third, his best result yet on TOUR and played in the final pairing on Sunday.
“I was right there with a chance to win on the back nine,” he says. “That’s the kind of moment you dream about – that’s what keeps me hungry.”
Beyond chasing his first PGA TOUR win, Joseph continues to trust his strengths – elite ball striking, high swing speed and consistent iron play – and stay grounded in his journey. Every tee shot now carries more meaning. Every round is another chance to write the next chapter.
Joining the Eastside Family
A deeper purpose, a shared mission.
For Joseph Bramlett, joining Eastside Golf wasn’t just a branding decision – it was about alignment, identity and purpose.
“Being a mixed kid in the game of golf always made me feel a bit different,” Bramlett says. “And what Eastside Golf stands for deeply resonates with me.”
Growing up, he found connection at the Bill Dickey Invitational, a junior tournament that brought together the top minority golfers from across the country. For Bramlett, it wasn’t just a 36-hole event – it was a formative experience.
“It gave me a wonderful sense of community,” he says. “It showed me there were others like me in the game. That made a huge difference.”
Those early friendships still mean something. Many of the players he competed against back then are now competing on the APGA Tour – grinding, just like he’s done, to break through. That’s why he’s stayed involved with the APGA, supporting the players and the mission when he can.
When it came to joining the Eastside Golf family, Joseph first met Co-Founders Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper in Detroit during the early days of the brand. “It was right around COVID,” he recalls. “We talked at my hotel. I had just signed with another apparel brand, so the timing wasn’t right, but I really liked the messaging and what they stood for. It stuck with me.”
That conversation planted a seed. Years later, now proudly wearing the Swingman, Bramlett sees this partnership as a natural evolution – not just of his personal style, but of his values.
“I’ve always been a pretty buttoned-up, traditional guy,” he says. “But Eastside gives me a little more swag than I’ve had in the past – while still keeping it professional. It helps me feel confident and authentic on the course.”
At 37, Joseph is starting to think about the bigger picture. About legacy. And about how he can leave the game better than he found it. Being part of Eastside Golf is one step in that direction – a chance to champion community and inspire the next generation.