Black Golf Wire (2025)

20/01/2025

Let Freedom Ring…

11/01/2025

The Fifth Anniversary of the EXPO!

This has never happened – This is indeed a momentous and historic event. COME to the EXPO for an hour, a day, 2 days, just come. It is FREE and open to the public.

All you have to do is REGISTER HERE at NO CHARGE

Thanks to great sponsors like Golf Digest, the African American Golfer’s Digest, Golf Course Superintendents of America, the American Golf Industry Coalition and many others.
If you are involved in Golf in any way YOU SHOULD COME.
If you want to be involved in Golf YOU SHOULD COME.
COME OUT AND SUPPORT the EXPO and meet people from all over the world.
Just register at www.aagolfexpo.com at NO COST, FREE.

27/11/2024

Once, African American caddies were staples of professional golf—masters of the game behind the scenes. As the earnings and purses of PGA Tour have soared tremendously (Tiger Effect), caddies would have had the opportunity to earn a better % the prize money… but the that would mean Black caddies could have the earning potential to be paid more than Doctors, Attorneys, and even Golf Industry Leaders.

Fast forward: Black professional golfers, who were once more visible on the PGA Tour in the 80’s are now a rarity in 2024. The 70’s and 80’s, we had more active tour players like Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder, Calvin Peete, Pete Brown, Jim Thorpe, and Jim Dent than we have today.

Could the same thing be happening again 40 years later?
Hmmm… When WE do anything WELL, WE elevate the ROLE and the PRICE goes up… and then people of color are often pushed out and REPLACED with friends and “associates” who share the wealth and power together.

We must ask: Is golf truly becoming more inclusive, or is the progress and growing the game also pricing IT out of reach?

27/11/2024

Same Ole Ish… Is the PGA, really making an effort to change the narrative of who they are and making a true effort to invest in the game?
The Math ain’t Mathin. Same People in the Same Roles doing the Same Things!

27/11/2024

Let’s Go Greg!!!! week from today Greg Odom .jr will play in the second stage of PGA TOUR Q-School as he pursues status on the PGA TOUR.

In his first appearance in Q-School, Greg placed T8 in the prequalifying round and T10 in the first stage.

27/11/2024

Hey! United Golfers Association is inviting the Ladies for a Chat! Attention all Junior Golfers, Collegiate Players and women who want to see the future of golf having a conversation on what it takes to get to the next level in golf!!! The Zoe Slaughter, Tour Player { } will be hosting a Ladies Only Group Chat on November 29th at 1pm cst via and moderated by Morgan Taylor { }
UGA Q&A Conversations will be open dialogue with Zoe to discuss her journey as a recent collegiate player turned professional, growing up in golf and competing as an elite golfer, what it takes to get to the next level, mindset over the noise, and so much more… Open dialogue for all to learn, absorb and enjoy!
Microsoft Team Link Invitation will be emailed to all registered players, however is open to all interested UGA Family Members. If you are interested in participating email Morgan Taylor at [email protected]

25/11/2024

From Wendell Haskins:
Today marks the 10th anniversary of Charlie Sifford receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. Since that historic moment, Sifford’s legacy has been celebrated and elevated in remarkable ways, with numerous events honoring his contributions to golf and American history.

One exciting upcoming recognition is the redevelopment of his former home course, Cobbs Creek through Cobbs Creek Foundation in Philadelphia. I’ve been hearing fantastic things about this project and can’t wait to see the completed transformation. Here’s to honoring the incredible legacy of Charlie SIfford!🏌️‍♂️

14/11/2024

Congratulations to our 2024 Southwest Airlines Showcase At Cedar Crest Champions, Xavier Bighaus and Paris Fieldings ‼️✈️ It was an insane 3 days with amazing golf and unforgettable moments at Cedar Crest. Xavier set the course record today and finished with 8 under par. Paris finished with 5 under par.

Thank you to everyone who came out, competed, and supported. That’s a wrap! Thank you for flying Southwest 💙❤️💛

06/11/2024

Black golf caddies in the United States have a rich history that dates back to the early 20th century. They played a crucial role in the success of many golf legends, particularly at prestigious tournaments like the Masters. For almost 50 years, Augusta National Golf Club required all players to use Black caddies from the local community.

These caddies, many of whom grew up in the Sand Hills neighborhood adjacent to the club, became integral to the success of golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer [Despite facing racial discrimination, these caddies were highly skilled and knowledgeable about the course, often providing strategic advice that contributed to their players’ victories.

However, the landscape changed in 1982 when Augusta National lifted the ban on outside caddies, allowing players to bring their regular caddies from the PGA Tour. This decision marked a significant shift, leading to the decline of the once-thriving Black caddie corps at Augusta National. Many caddies, who relied on the tournament paycheck to support themselves, had to seek other work. The monetization of the caddie role also meant that caddies began to earn more through negotiated percentages of tournament winnings and salaries, but this change came at the cost of the traditional Black caddie community. Despite their crucial contributions, the legacy of these caddies went largely unrecognized for decades. Only recently have efforts been made to honor their impact on the game and the Masters Tournament.

25/10/2024

Congrats to Sascha Robinson of FAMU Golf Team for winning in the 2024 HBCU Collegiate Invitational presented by Bridgestone Golf. Also congrats to the FAMU Golf Team for also winning the Team Award with a Total of 869.

25/10/2024

Congrats to Morgan Horrell of Howard University for grabbing 1st Place in the 2nd Annual HBCU Invitational presented by Bridgestone Golf. She won the event with a 227 Total over three tough rounds at Laurel Springs Golf Club in Duluth, Georgia.

23/10/2024

The Untold Story of Idlewild Golf Course: Black America’s Golfing Haven

Idlewild Resort and its 18-hole golf course, nestled in northern Michigan, were once the heart of Black America’s vacation dreams. Known as “Black Eden,” Idlewild offered something that couldn’t be found anywhere else in the United States—a resort where Black people could freely enjoy life without the looming threat of segregation.

From the 1930s to the 1960s, Idlewild was a retreat for working-class African Americans from cities like Chicago, St. Louis, and Detroit. It was far enough from the spotlight to avoid the ugliness of Jim Crow but close enough to be accessible. Among its most treasured features was the Idlewild Golf Course, a safe haven for Black golfers. Here, they could play without fear of violence or exclusion, a stark contrast to the whites-only “sundown towns” and clubs prevalent across the country.

The course gained a reputation as one of the top destinations in the Negro Green Motorist Book, a travel guide for Black Americans navigating the dangers of segregated America. Great golfers came to Idlewild to play, and the course’s tee-time sheets were constantly filled, offering not only a game but a sanctuary of dignity and peace.

Idlewild’s allure was unmatched, drawing thousands of visitors to its clubs and theaters, including the legendary Flamingo Club, immortalized in the film Idlewild starring André 3000 and Big Boi. The resort was a vibrant hub for African American culture, hosting luminaries like B.B. King, Etta James, and Aretha Franklin.

In its heyday, Idlewild was more than a vacation spot. It was 3,000 acres of freedom, pride, and joy, offering a beautiful refuge for those denied basic human rights elsewhere. The course may be quieter now, but the history of Idlewild lives on as a testament to the spirit of a people who built a paradise in the face of oppression.

21/10/2024

We Love it! Congrats Tim. You deserve it all Big Fella! Wishing you all the best and cheers to many more wins on the tour!

18/10/2024

Teddy Rhodes was a trailblazing African American golfer whose remarkable career helped dismantle racial barriers in the sport during the 1940s and 1950s. Known for his smooth swing and competitive drive, Rhodes’ professional success and activism laid the foundation for the inclusion of Black athletes in professional golf.

• Professional achievements: As one of the first African Americans to compete in the U.S. Open in 1948, Rhodes became a symbol of resistance against segregation in golf.
• Mentorship: He served as a mentor to prominent Black golfers, including Lee Elder and Charlie Sifford, who continued his fight for equality.
• Collaboration with Joe Louis: Rhodes was the personal golf instructor to boxing legend Joe Louis, who also fought for racial equality in golf and used his influence to support Rhodes’ endeavors.
• Advocacy and legacy: Rhodes’ relentless advocacy helped push for the inclusion of Black golfers in PGA events, paving the way for future generations and expanding the presence of African Americans in the sport.

13/10/2024

Join us in Screaming Happy Birthday to Coach Sam Puryear! Howard University’s Golf Team has been in great hands since you stepped in! Congrats to you and the Team on a great year ahead!

11/10/2024

On January 19, 1952, Professional Golfers Association president Horton Smith announces that a seven-man committee “almost unanimously” votes to allow Black golfers to compete in PGA co-sponsored events. With the announcement, Smith hopes that Black golfers participate in the next two events, the Phoenix Open and Tucson Open. “I shall feel our efforts here will have gone for little if the plan doesn’t work out the next two events,” he says.

The push for inclusion into a sport dominated by white players came after pressure from former boxing champion Joe Louis, a talented amateur golfer. At the San Diego Open on January 17, 1952, Louis competed in the PGA-sanctioned event as an invited amateur. (As an amateur golfer, Louis wasn’t governed by PGA rules.) But professional Bill Spiller, a Black golfer, was denied entry in the tournament.

In response, Louis criticized the PGA, telling the New York Times, “I want people to know what the PGA is… We’ve got another Hi**er to get by.” Louis told the Los Angeles Sentinel, “This is the last major sport in America in which Negroes are barred.” The pressure from Louis worked, and Louis, Spiller, Ted Rhodes and Eural Clark would go onto break the PGA’s color barrier at the Phoenix Open.
But it would take years for the sport to approach full integration. In 1961, Charles Sifford became the first Black golfer to earn a PGA Tour card. He won the 1967 Greater Hartford Open Invitational and 1969 Los Angeles Open.

In 1975, Lee Elder became the first Black golfer to compete in the Masters—considered the sport’s most prestigious tournament—at famed Augusta National Golf Club. The club didn’t have a Black member until 1990 (businessman Ron Townsend) or female member until 2012 (former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice).

09/10/2024

Dr. Renee Powell
Born on May 4th, 1946, Renee Powell started playing golf when she was just three years old in East Canton, Ohio. Her father was the first black American to build his own golf course in the United States, named Clearview Golf Course. He taught her the game and even made her golf clubs himself. Powell wasn’t just a golfer, as she played many other sports including basketball, ballet, and archery. Her first amateur tournament was when she was just twelve years old, and she even won her division. In 1962 she was the first black American to ever enter the U.S. Girls. Junior Golf Championship.

Powell attended Ohio University then transferred to Ohio State University, where she captained both teams. In 1967 she joined the LPGA Tour and was the second black American to do so. Despite overcoming barriers, Powell still faced a tough road ahead as she received death threats from those who thought black Americans shouldn’t be on the Tour. There were even times when she was not allowed to get a room in the official tournament hotel. In the 1970’s Powell moved to the U.K. To work on her golf game and was the first woman to compete in a British men’s tournament when she competed in the 1977 Surrey PGA Championship.

She retired from the LPGA Tour in 1980 but she continued her run in the golf industry, working as a TV commentator, an instructor, and currently serves as the Head Golf Professional at Clearview Golf Course in her hometown. Despite her setbacks over the years, Powell never gave up on her dream and currently uses her platform to inspire others to play the game she loves. She advocates for diversity in golf. The LPGA Renee Powell Fund was created to help increase the number of black girls participating in golf programs. In 1999 the LPGA honored Powell with a Service Award and in 2017 was inducted into the PGA America Hall of Fame. Her father is also in it, making them the only father-daughter duo in that Hall of Fame. Renee Powell might have only been the second black female to play on the LPGA Tour, but she is making sure she will not be the last.

09/10/2024

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Black Golf Wire

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