African American Golf History  

The Journey of African Americans in Golf

African American Golf History Activity Book

The Year of 2009 in African American Golf History 

Jamila Johnson is the first woman to coach a UMES men's golf team. She is the team's head golf coach.

Joe Louis Barrow Sr. (better known as Joe Louis, heavyweight boxing champion) was granted posthumous honorary PGA membership. Louis was an amateur golfer and also an advocate for getting African Americans entry into PGA events.

Dr. William Powell received the PGA Distinguished Service Award. Powell is the first African American to own, design, build, manage, and operate a golf course.

Ted Rhodes, John Shippen, and William "Bill" Spiller (professional golfers) are granted posthumous PGA membership. Shippen was the first African American to play in a US Open Championship (1896), and Rhodes was the second African American to play in a US Open Championship (1948). Spiller sought application into the PGA and also to play in PGA Tour events. He was involved in several lawsuits against the PGA.

Charlie Sifford Exemption Award—Named in honor of Charlie Sifford, the first African American PGA Tour member. This award is given to an individual who represents "the advancement of diversity in golf". Vincent Johnson was the first recipient of the Charlie Sifford Exemption. With this exemption, Johnson made his PGA Tour debut at the 2009 Northern Trust Open. Johnson was the first African American to play on Oregon State University men's team. He graduated in 2008 with a degree in finance.

Did you know...

Meadowbrook Country Club and Golf Course (Garner, North Carolina) celebrated its 50th anniversary in November 2009. Meadowbrook was founded in 1959 by a group of African American businessmen. In 2007, Meadowbrook was sold to St. Augustine's College, a Historically Black College located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The facility was renamed St. Augustine's College Golf Course and Recreational Complex.

Learn more about African American Golf History in "A Missing Link In History" and "African American Golf History Activity Book".

William Powell, PGA Distinquished Service Award 2009 recipient