Tiger – I really miss that young man. He was such an inspiration to up and coming young people thinking about playing golf, especially young Black children. So golf, let’s see who’s giving it a swing these days.
First we have Mr. Lee Elder, the first African American to play in the Masters as well as the first to play in the Ryder Cup.
1896: John Shippen, whose father was African-American and mother was Shinnecock Indian, plays in the second U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, where he worked as a caddie, at the age of 17. Some of the professional players threaten to boycott the event when they discover his race, but back down when USGA President Theodore Havemayer defends Shippen and another entrant, Shinnecock Indian Oscar Bunn. Shippen ties for sixth and wins $10. He goes on to play in five more U.S. Opens. He was the first African American to play in the U.S. Open.
1899: George Grant, a dentist in Boston, invents the modern wooden golf tee.
In 1950 Ann Gregory won the Sixth City Open in Cleveland, the Midwest Amateur, and the United Golf Association’s national tournament, as well as tying the women’s course record at a Flint, Michigan tournament. On September 17, 1956, she began competing in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, thus becoming the first African-American woman to play in a national championship conducted by the United Golf Association.
Althea Gibson was the first African-American LPGA Tour member, joining in 1963.
Yes, she played golf too. But she dominated tennis.
Read more here: More Black Golfer Timeline
L-R: Ginger Howard, Mariah Stackhouse, Sadena Parks, Robbi Howard (caddie for her sister Ginger), Cheyenne Woods. Not pictured Shasta Averyhardt) Photo Credit: Ginger Howard
More about these little ladies here: Read more…
See ya next time!
Tamara
tamara@tamarashiloh.com