Coach Bud Tate came to Tigerville in 2022 as the head men’s and women’s golf coach at North Greenville University. Prior to NGU, Tate spent 10 years leading both programs at Ohio Valley University, an NCAA Division II institution in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
During the 2024 season, Tate guided the NGU women’s golf team to its first-ever Conference Carolinas Championship, earning Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year honors in the process. In the 2024–25 season, the women’s team recorded five top-10 finishes, while the men’s team added three top-five finishes.
At Ohio Valley, Tate built a legacy as the winningest coach in program history for both men’s and women’s golf. He led the women’s program to 222 victories and eight tournament championships, including the 2015 ECAC Championship. On the men’s side, he guided the Scots to 231 victories and nine tournament titles during his tenure.
Tate is an associate member of the PGA and brings more than 25 years of experience in golf instruction. Before his time at OVU, he served as an assistant professional at South Hills Golf Club in Parkersburg under PGA professional Ted Daugherty. He also owned and operated Bud’s Golf Shop at Woodridge Plantation Golf Club in Mineral Wells, West Virginia, where he served as Director of Golf Operations under PGA professional Steve Koreski.
A graduate of Marietta College, Tate earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business and was a four-year member of the golf team, serving as captain during his junior and senior seasons. He later earned a second degree in education from Ohio Valley University, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA and Alpha Chi National Honors, and went on to complete a master’s degree in education from OVU.
Following his collegiate career, Tate moved to Florida, where he spent five years training under renowned instructor and former PGA champion Bob Toski. During that time, he competed in more than 50 South Florida Mini-Tour events, earning six tournament victories. He also played in over a dozen PGA Tour qualifiers, earning three alternate spots in PGA Tour events, including the Doral, The Honda Classic, and the Greater Greensboro Open.
Tate holds multiple course records, including rounds of 59 at Worthington Golf Club and the Golf Club of West Virginia, along with a 61 at South Hills Golf Club and a 62 at Woodridge Golf Course. He has competed in numerous events sanctioned by the WVGA, OGA, USGA, and the Tri-State Section PGA.
Coach Tate and his wife, Mandy, reside in Greer, South Carolina, with their two beagles, Lucy and Ollie. They have one son, Hunter, who is currently serving in the United States Air Force and is stationed in Alaska. Hunter and his wife, Ellie, have been married for six years.
