Clearview Golf Course in East Canton, Ohio, stands as one of the most historically significant golf facilities in the United States. Known widely as “America’s Course,” Clearview represents a powerful story of perseverance, equality, and family legacy within the game of golf. Located at 8410 Lincoln Street SE just outside the small town of East Canton, the course was founded in 1946 by William “Bill” Powell, an African American World War II veteran who was determined to create a place where people of all races could enjoy the game of golf together.
After returning from military service, Powell faced racial discrimination and was denied the opportunity to play at many local golf courses. Rather than accept exclusion, he purchased a 78-acre dairy farm and began building his own golf course by hand. Working nights as a security guard, Powell spent his spare time clearing land, planting grass, and shaping the fairways himself. With limited equipment and the help of family and friends, he completed the first nine holes, which opened to the public in 1948.
Clearview Golf Club later expanded to a full 18-hole layout in 1978 and today stretches across more than 130 acres of gently rolling terrain. The course was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, recognizing its importance not only as a golf facility but also as a landmark in the struggle for racial equality in American sports.
William Powell died on December 31, 2009, at the age of 93. He passed away in East Canton, Ohio, following complications from a stroke. Today, the Powell family legacy continues through Bill Powell’s children, Renee Powell, LPGA/PGA, and Larry Powell, who operate and maintain the course. Renee Powell is one of the most influential figures in the history of the game. She became the second African American woman to compete on the LPGA Tour in 1967 and played in more than 250 professional events worldwide. After retiring from professional competition, she dedicated her career to promoting diversity in golf and eventually became the LPGA/PGA Head Golf Professional at Clearview.
Renee has also earned global recognition as a golf ambassador. She has conducted golf clinics around the world, including numerous trips to Africa, and has received many honors for her contributions to the game. Among them are the PGA of America First Lady of Golf Award and induction into multiple halls of fame.
Her brother, Larry Powell, has served as the course superintendent for more than four decades. Larry began working at Clearview as a child and has devoted his life to maintaining the family’s vision. A life member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, he is known for innovative turfgrass research and techniques that helped maintain the course even during years without a modern irrigation system.
In recent years, preservation and modernization efforts have become an important focus for Clearview. Fundraising campaigns led by the Clearview Legacy Foundation have helped support major improvements, including the installation of a long-awaited sprinkler and irrigation system designed to protect the course’s turf and ensure its sustainability for future generations. The foundation, established in 2001, also supports educational programs, youth initiatives, and community outreach through golf.
One of the foundation’s signature programs is Clearview HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), a year-round therapeutic golf program for military veterans, particularly women. The initiative reflects the Powell family’s commitment to using golf as a tool for healing, education, and community engagement.
In 2026, Clearview Golf Club will celebrate its 80th anniversary, marking eight decades since Bill Powell first began transforming farmland into a course that would welcome golfers of every background. The milestone highlights not only the endurance of the course itself but also the lasting impact of the Powell family’s mission to ensure that golf remains accessible to all.
Today, golfers from around the world visit Clearview not only to play its fairways but also to experience a living piece of golf and civil rights history. The course remains a symbol of determination, inclusion, and the enduring power of a dream that changed the landscape of American golf.
Location: 8410 Lincoln St., SE., Canton, Ohio 44730
Telephone: (330) 488-0404
