(By Virginia Donnelly, Trip Coordinator)
Wake-Robin Golf Club, Inc., (WRGC) the oldest registered African American Women’s golf club in the United States, celebrates 87 years of serving women in golf. This year a special trip to the historic Clearview Golf Course in Canton, Ohio was planned by a group of dedicated members to include myself, Tonia Butler-Kinsey, Robbin Coleman, Lois Hall, Velina Sutton, and Gayle Skeete. The chartered coach bus trip took place September 20 through September 22, 2024.
With a bus load of 31 people, we departed at 5:l0am on Friday, September 20th and arrived at the Clearview Golf Course at 12:30pm. We were met by an additional 30 people (Wake-Robin members and guests from other clubs) who drove on their own. Once there, we were greeted by Dr. Renee Powell who welcomed us to her historic golf course. We all had lunch in the newly built Clearview Museum banquet hall before hitting the course for a round of golf. We played as many holes as possible before it got dark.
On Saturday morning we ate breakfast early and went directly to the golf course. We had a photo session inside the new Clearview Museum with the Chicago Women’s Golf Club, the second oldest African American Women’s Golf Club in America. This was indeed a historic moment and enjoyable fellowship. During the outing it proceeded to rain, which was good for the course that had suffered drought conditions for more than 40 days. In fact, Renee and her brother, Larry, had been manually watering the Greens every evening well into the night. Thanks to their efforts, the greens were in great playing condition.
We were impressed with the dedication and commitment that went into maintaining the golf course. We had 20 members along with our 30 guests that included 23 diaspora female golfers from Winston-Salem and Raleigh N.C., New York City, NY, and Maryland as well as two male golfers who supported our trip. Unfortunately, the Chicago Women’s Golf Club had to leave at 1pm for their scheduled luncheon, therefore, a winner amongst the two historic clubs was not able to be determined.
On Sunday morning we ate breakfast early and 43 of us went to visit the Pro Football Hall Of Fame for an exciting and informative 3-hour tour. Afterwards, we boarded the bus and our cars for the ride back home. Those who rode the bus enjoyed the fun and games conducted by Robbyn, April and Tonia.
The bus arrived safely back to the Maryland State ‘Park and Ride” at approximately 7.35pm. This was indeed an enjoyable trip that allowed several African American women golfers to rally together at the historic Clearview Golf Course. We look forward to another golf fellowship again in Maryland, North Carolina, New York of possibly Chicago soon.
