When Did African-Americans Begin Playing Golf?
Since the Reconstruction period in American history, African-Americans have been playing golf. Like other facets of United States’ society, African-Americans were met with opposition on the golf course. The PGA, for instance held its “white only” policy in place until the Civil Rights Movement was well underway. Nevertheless, African-Americans persisted—they designed and opened golf courses for African-Americans.
They also established the United Golf Associations, specifically for African-American players.
1896: John Shippen participates in the second U.S. Open held at Shinnecock Hills. At the time, Shippen was 17 years old and worked as a caddie. When professional players find out that Shippen is African-American, they threaten to boycott but ultimately fold. During the Open Shippen ties for sixth and wins $10. He will play in five subsequent U.S. Opens.
1899: Boston-based dentist George Grant invents the modern wooden golf tee.
1922: Joseph Bartholomew creates the design for a new golf course at Metairie Golf Club in New Orleans. His design launches his career as a golf course architect. Because of segregation in the Jim Crow Era, Bartholomew is never able to play or practice. However, he continues to design segregate public courses throughout New Orleans.
1926: Robert Hawkins organizes a tournament specifically for African-American players. Hawkins stages tournaments the following year as well and by 1928 he establishes the United Golf Associations.
The associations purpose is to tour players who are excluded from Professional Golf Association (PGA) events.
1939: Clyde Martin is appointed as head professional at the Langston Golf Course in Washington DC. Langston Golf Course is a segregated course. Martin eventually goes on to become Joe Louis’ instructor.
1946: William Powell is the first and only African-American to build, own and operate a golf course. Denied a G.I. Loan to build the course, Powell enlists the help of two African-American doctors. His brother also takes out a second mortgage on his home to support the endeavor.
1948: Powell’s Clearview Golf Club opens as a nine-hole course. Bill Spiller is not allowed to play in the Richmond Open. He fights segregation in golf for several years. Ted Rhodes is the second African-American to play in the U.S. Open.
1956:Ann Gregory becomes the first African-American golfer to enter the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
1957: Charlie Sifford wins the Long Beach Open. The Long Beach Open was established and co-sponsored by the PGA.
1961: Sifford earns a PGA Tour card. He is the first African-American to gain this distinction. The PGA ends its policy of segregation.
1963: Tennis professional Althea Gibson becomes the first African-American woman to compete in the LPGA Tour
1964: Pete Brown is the first African-American to win a PGA event.
1967: Sifford wins the Greater Hartford Open Invitational.
1969: Sifford wins the Los Angeles Open.
1970: Brown wins the Andy Williams San Diego Invitational.
1975: Sifford wins the PGA Seniors’ Championship. Lee Elder becomes the frist African-American to play in the Masters. Although Elder misses the cut, he is able to win four imes on the PGA Tour and another eight times on the Champion’s Tour.
1978: The Clearview Golf Club is expanded to include 18 holes.
1979: Calvin Peete is the champion of the 1979 Greater Milwaukee Open. This is the first of 12 PGA Tour victories in Peete’s career. Until Tiger Woods, Peete is considered the preeminent African-American golfer. Elder becomes the first African-American to play the Ryder Cup.
1980: Sifford wins the Suntree Classic. This tournament is now known as the Champion’s Tour.
They also established the United Golf Associations, specifically for African-American players.
1896: John Shippen participates in the second U.S. Open held at Shinnecock Hills. At the time, Shippen was 17 years old and worked as a caddie. When professional players find out that Shippen is African-American, they threaten to boycott but ultimately fold. During the Open Shippen ties for sixth and wins $10. He will play in five subsequent U.S. Opens.
1899: Boston-based dentist George Grant invents the modern wooden golf tee.
1922: Joseph Bartholomew creates the design for a new golf course at Metairie Golf Club in New Orleans. His design launches his career as a golf course architect. Because of segregation in the Jim Crow Era, Bartholomew is never able to play or practice. However, he continues to design segregate public courses throughout New Orleans.
1926: Robert Hawkins organizes a tournament specifically for African-American players. Hawkins stages tournaments the following year as well and by 1928 he establishes the United Golf Associations.
The associations purpose is to tour players who are excluded from Professional Golf Association (PGA) events.
1939: Clyde Martin is appointed as head professional at the Langston Golf Course in Washington DC. Langston Golf Course is a segregated course. Martin eventually goes on to become Joe Louis’ instructor.
1946: William Powell is the first and only African-American to build, own and operate a golf course. Denied a G.I. Loan to build the course, Powell enlists the help of two African-American doctors. His brother also takes out a second mortgage on his home to support the endeavor.
1948: Powell’s Clearview Golf Club opens as a nine-hole course. Bill Spiller is not allowed to play in the Richmond Open. He fights segregation in golf for several years. Ted Rhodes is the second African-American to play in the U.S. Open.
1956:Ann Gregory becomes the first African-American golfer to enter the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
1957: Charlie Sifford wins the Long Beach Open. The Long Beach Open was established and co-sponsored by the PGA.
1961: Sifford earns a PGA Tour card. He is the first African-American to gain this distinction. The PGA ends its policy of segregation.
1963: Tennis professional Althea Gibson becomes the first African-American woman to compete in the LPGA Tour
1964: Pete Brown is the first African-American to win a PGA event.
1967: Sifford wins the Greater Hartford Open Invitational.
1969: Sifford wins the Los Angeles Open.
1970: Brown wins the Andy Williams San Diego Invitational.
1975: Sifford wins the PGA Seniors’ Championship. Lee Elder becomes the frist African-American to play in the Masters. Although Elder misses the cut, he is able to win four imes on the PGA Tour and another eight times on the Champion’s Tour.
1978: The Clearview Golf Club is expanded to include 18 holes.
1979: Calvin Peete is the champion of the 1979 Greater Milwaukee Open. This is the first of 12 PGA Tour victories in Peete’s career. Until Tiger Woods, Peete is considered the preeminent African-American golfer. Elder becomes the first African-American to play the Ryder Cup.
1980: Sifford wins the Suntree Classic. This tournament is now known as the Champion’s Tour.