Wiley Williams is a Weequahic Golf Course legend and outstanding New Jersey golf Pro. At Weequahic, the oldest public golf course in the state of New Jersey, Wiley almost single handedly put this course on the map with his stellar golf game and sharp ball striking skills. Even though Weequahic is now home to The First Tee Program of Essex County, Wiley first introduced Newark inner-city kids and surrounding area youth to golf many years earlier-way before The First Tee program ever arrived.
Wiley has an extensive list of who’s who friends, admirers, and fellow golfers from all walks of life. He even had Bob Hope and Telly Savalas in his circle of golfing friends at one particular time in his life, as well as close relationships with many notable athletes and celebrities in the metropolitan areas of New Jersey and New York. 
He’s enjoyed rounds with NBA former jocks Gus Williams and brother Ray Williams, Boston Celtics great K.C. Jones, basketball Hall Of Famer. He was instrumental in bringing golfing icon Lee Elder to Weequahic annually to host his Michelob Classic.
He remembers Renee Powell in her youth and also Althea Gibson in her heyday. Wiley has won a variety of golfing events and competitions, particularly on the local circuit. He won his first Essex County Men’s Golf Championship in 1967. 
He dominated many local public courses for several years.
He and Marvin Stith were the first African American golfers to win a major New Jersey golf event in 1969, when they took the New Jersey State Golf Association Four-Ball title, beating the defending champions.
Wiley also represented New Jersey in the National Public Links. He was the only qualifier out of the State, black or white. They only took four players, the other three players came out of New York. The year was 1969. Wiley turned Professional that same year and won 6, or 7, tournaments after turning pro in New Jersey State. 
He won the Brooklyn Classic Golf Tournament and the Cleveland Open.
He played with African American golfing royalty the late World Golf Hall Of Famer Charlie Sifford and Chuck Thorpe at the Cleveland Open. Chuck is the brother of legendary golfer Jim Thorpe. He also shared the links with the late and great Calvin Peete. Wiley believes that golfing pro James Black was the best ball striker he’s ever seen. 
Wiley started playing the game at the ripe old age of nine, naturally self-taught and coming from the caddie experience. Wiley, a resilient player, also competed in the Senior U.S. Open in 1996 in Ohio four days after being involved in a car accident.
Wiley, like so many others of his era, never had a sponsor. Although he was the proud owner of his own business called “Capital Floor Wax & Maintenance Co., (Newark, NJ) which he no longer runs. Wiley currently teaches golf at Weequahic Park Golf Course in Newark, NJ. And, if you’re interested in golf lessons, he can check his schedule and see if he can fit you in. Just reach him on his cell phone at 973-583-9793. Wiley, age 73, was born February 19th, 1942 in Wilson, N.C. He now resides in East Orange, N.J. Wiley Williams is a pioneer and trailblazer.
