Those of us that really and truly love golf will believe and support these words. Before I read the late Charlie Sifford’s question (that he experienced in the 50’s) about how can an activity (golf) that prides itself on being a gentleman’s sport—with the ultimate character component—how could it be so racist and hateful to Black people?
While doing research on the history, culture and the business of golf and realizing the intrinsic values of the game, in the year 2000, I asked myself the same question that Charlie Sifford asked in the 50’s: How can a game so rich in Godly values have a Caucasians-only clause? —A clause that discriminated against a person because of their skin color and not their character.
When I read Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and other historical facts about slavery and Jim Crow laws, I realized a causation with the PGA Caucasians-Only clause (that was in effect from 1934 to 1961) and Jim Crow (between 1877 and the mid-1960s).
White Christians, even the liberal ones, did not take a stance against this unjust law until poor Black people enacted what Dr. King called the “nonviolent direct-action program”. And, most of the players and officials in the golfing world did not speak out against the Caucasian-Only clause until players like Charlie Sifford, Ted Rhodes and other Black men that were professional golfers protested against the unjust law. Ironically, a white man (California Attorney General Stanley Mosk) stood up against the unjust law.
In 1959, Charlie Sifford gained the attention of the California Attorney General Stanley Mosk. Mosk demanded to know why the PGA would not allow Sifford to play on tour, if it were not just because of his race. Mosk advised the national PGA that it could not stage its tournament in California unless the clause was eliminated. Many believe that it was because of money, and not integrity, that the PGA gave in and approved Sifford as a tournament player in 1960.
Eventually, it was because of technology, and the “media” exposing the world to the bombings, killings, and other gruesome results of the unjust Jim Crow laws, along with the persistence, courage and faith of a few Black people, that enough white politicians had the courage to vote and end the Jim Crow laws. Mind you, for most white’s the law changed but not their hearts.
(left, LA Times article, 1961)
Our country and the world are facing issues with civility, personal integrity and love for our fellowman. The intrinsic values of golf are all about civility, integrity and respect.
I must admit, when I first endeavored into the golfing world, i.e. pleasure and business, I was naïve to the belief that all golfers played the game with integrity and respect. But the game of golf is like the game of life… we all as humans must do better to perfect the principle of the golden rule, do unto others as you have them do unto you!
I have faith that we can use our sport of golf and bring more civility, personal integrity and love for our fellowman.
With the power of forgiveness and perseverance, we can transform lives. Like Charlie Sifford, Martin Luther King, Jr., and people of their era, they believed in the good of man. And it took some benevolent white people to stand for trust, for Charlie Sifford and Martin Luther King, Jr., beliefs to be realized.
World Golf Hall of Fame Celebrates Black History Month
A lot of white people and some Blacks hate the celebration of Black History Month. In 2005, I was at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, FL, for a First Tee event. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the World Golf Hall of Fame also celebrated Black History month. That was the first time I met Charlie Sifford. If the leading industry in the golf world celebrates Black History Month, that should tell you something. Golf has come a LONG way from the Caucasian-only clause, to celebrating Black history month. However, we still have a long way to go and I am in for the long haul.
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Howard Bankhead
Executive Director
Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development
604 Jordan Lane
Huntsville, AL 35816 USA
256-604-8172
