The African-American golfers who have worked to break down the color barrier in golf needed to be the best in their sport while refusing to let theirdisadvantages destroy their ambitions. Their lives and personal qualities have inspired people of all races and nationalities, exemplifying what itmeans to be a true champion—on the playing field and in daily life.

John Shippen is
the first African
American to play in
the U.S. Open.

1890 – 1899

African-American owned Progressive
Realty Company purchases
Westfield Country Club andtransforms it into Shady Rest Golfand Country Club, the first documented country club owned by
African Americans.

1900 – 1909

1910 – 1919

The United States
Colored Golf
Association isfounded in
Washington, D.C.
It is renamed theUnited Golfers
Association in1929.
Dr. George Grant
invents the golf tee.
But the prominent
African-American
dentist nevermarkets his
invention andanother golfer
is credited with it
25 years later.

Formerheavyweightboxing champion,
Joe Louis, receives
an exemption toplay in the San
Diego Open as anamateur.
He is the first
African American
to play in a
PGA-sanctionedevent.

1920 – 1929

1930 – 1939

William and Marcela
Powell open ClearviewGolf Course in
East Canton, Ohio,
the first golf course
designed, constructed
and operated byAfrican Americans.

1940 – 1949

Althea Gibson
becomes the first
African American tojoin the Ladies
Professional Golf
Association (LPGA)Tour.

THE UNITED GOLFERS ASSOCIATION (UGA)The UGA was formed in 1925 by a group of black businessmen to provide equal
access and opportunity to the game of golf. The organization operated a series of golf
tournaments for blacks during the era of racial segregation. Many talented golfers
played on this tour, including Ted Rhodes, Bill Spiller, Pete Brown, Lee Elder, Willie
Brown, Jr. and Charlie Sifford.
At the time, the Professional Golfers Association had an article in its by-laws statingthat it was “for members of the Caucasian race.” When this by-law was repealed in
1961, the United Golfers Association eventually disbanded.

8 American Champions and Barrier Breakers

with the idea of a mid-winter tournament inFlorida.

After World War II, black golfers, especiallyreturning servicemen, wanted opportunities toplay. There were few courses and even fewer
tournaments for them. Ray Mitchell, founderof a golf school in Harlem, N.Y., came up

Ann Gregory
is the firstAfricanAmerican
woman to playin a USGA
championship,the U.S.
Women’s
Amateur at
Meridan Hills
Country Clubin Indianapolis.

Alton Duhon
defeats Edward
Updegraff to win
the USGA SeniorAmateur at Tucson(Ariz.) Country
Club.

Pete Brown isthe first African
American to win an
official PGA Tour
event, the Waco
Turner Open in
Burneyville,Okla.
1960 – 1969

Entertainers, athletes and businessmen cameto see and be seen, bringing 2,000 visitors toFlorida.

The North-South Tournament became thelargest black-sponsored competition in theThe “Caucasianonly” clause isremoved from thePGA of America’sby-laws.

1950 – 1959

nation. Over the years the tournament attracted
top pro golfers such as Charlie Sifford andAlthea Gibson. Well-known amateur competitors included Joe Louis and Jackie Robinson.

The National Black
Golf Hall of Fameis established byHarold
Dunovant.

1970 – 1979

Renee Powell joins
the LPGA Tour. Aftercompeting for 13
years and playing inover 250
tournaments, sheretires to run
Clearview Golf
Course.

1980 – 1989

Charlie Sifford is thefirst African American
to be elected into theWorld Golf Hall ofFame. Sifford had
two victories on thePGA Tour and won
the UGA National
Open six times.

The PGA
grantsposthumous
membership toBill Spiller, Ted
Rhodes andJohn Shippen,
as well as anhonorary
membership toJoe Louis.

1990 – 1999

Tiger Woods wins theMasters by 12
strokes. He is the first
African American towin one of golf’s four
major championships.
In 2008, Woods
claims his ninth USGA
championship title,tying Bob Jones formost in USGA history.

Lee Elder is the first
African American tocompete in the Masters
Tournament.

Make a list of character traits exemplified in the actions of thepeople in this text. Can you find examples of perseverance,courage, integrity, leadership and ambition?

People exercise to build stronger muscles,
read to become stronger readers orpractice to become stronger athletes.
But developing stronger character
requires a different kind of practice.

What do you do
to build strong
character?

How can losing acompetition or
making a mistakedevelop character?

Make a list of rolemodels you admire
because of theircharacter.

American Champions and Barrier Breakers 9