![]() He would go on to become Joe Louis’ golf instructor.ġ946: Returning home to East Canton, Ohio, after serving in the U.S. Air Force, William Powell is denied a G.I. loan for his plan to build a golf course. Powell secures funding from two African-American physicians while his brother takes out a second mortgage on his home, and builds Clearview Golf Club with his own hands. He becomes the only African-American to build, own and operate a golf course.ġ948: William Powell’s Clearview Golf Club opens to the public as a nine-hole course.ġ948: Bill Spiller is denied entry into the Richmond Open, and spends many years fighting the segregation policies in golf.ġ948: Ted Rhodes becomes second African-American to play in the U.S. Open.ġ956: Ann Gregory, a dominant female player, becomes the first African-American player to enter the U.S. Women’s Amateur.ġ957: Charlie Sifford wins the Long Beach Open, an event co-sponsored by the PGA and with a field including many white players.ġ961: Charlie Sifford becomes the first African-American player to earn a PGA Tour card. He wins the 1967 Greater Hartford Open Invitational and the 1969 Los Angeles Open, as well as the 1975 PGA Seniors’ Championship and the 1980 Suntree Classic on what is now the Champions Tour.ġ961: The PGA of America removes its “Caucasian-only clause” from its Bylaws and opens the door for all players to participate in professional golf tournaments.ġ963: Tennis great Althea Gibson becomes the first African-American to compete on the LPGA Tour.ġ964: Pete Brown becomes the first African-American player to win a PGA-sanctioned event, the Waco Turner Open. He also wins the 1970 Andy Williams San Diego Invitational.ġ975: Lee Elder becomes the first African-American to play in the Masters. He misses the cut, but goes on to win four times on the PGA Tour and eight times on the Champions Tour. 1978: William Powell expands Clearview Golf Club to 18 holes.ġ979: Calvin Peete wins the 1979 Greater Milwaukee Open, the first of his 12 career PGA Tour victories. Peete was the most prolific African-American winner until Tiger Woods came along.ġ979: Lee Elder becomes the first African-American to play in the Ryder Cup.ġ986: Harold Dunovant, a Life Member of The PGA of America, establishes the National Black Golf Hall of Fame.ġ986: The PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship is created to elevate the game of golf in minority colleges and universities by giving them a chance to compete in a championship because of being denied opportunities to compete in NCAA collegiate golf events.ġ987: The first PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship is conducted at Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio.ġ990: Businessman Ron Townsend becomes the first African-American member of Augusta National Golf Club, site of the Masters.ġ994: Tiger Woods wins the first of his three straight U.S. ![]() Amateur titles.ġ996: Tiger Woods wins NCAA Division 1-A individual title as a member of the Stanford golf team. A few months later, he turns professional and ties for 60th place in his debut at the Greater Milwaukee Open.
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