DR. MICHAEL COOPER
Blog: July 2012
Ability, But No Opportunity
I’d like to take a moment to pay homage to a few extremely talented Black golfers of the past, and to make a case that more are worthy of mention at the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Recently, I have been having fun researching the old United Golfers Association, believed to have been the cornerstone for Black golf for over 50 years. Back in the day, it was the only tour available for our talented competitors, and the stories, for the most part, are buried deep within the archives of Black newspapers and/or the memoirs of a select few. The fact that these champions are not known to the masses is sad for a number of reasons; not the least of which is a lack of appreciation for their abilities to compete at the highest level, in spite of seemingly insurmountable odds.
The United Golfers Association (UGA) hosted the first Negro National Open on Labor Day weekend, 1926, at Mapledale CC, in Stowe, MA. The winner was Harry Jackson, with a winning score of 293. That same year, a young Bobby Jones won the United States Open with an identical aggregate score of 293. It was the second of four US Open titles in a seven-year stretch from 1923-1930 for Bobby Jones, who most golf experts would rank in the top five golfers of all time. Bobby Jones was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.
The following year (1927), Robert “Pat” Ball, a popular Black instructor and club pro from Chicago won the Negro National Open title with an identical score of 293; while the US Open was won by Tommy Armour, who posted a score of 301 at Oakmont CC in Pennsylvania. Mr. Armour would never win another US Open, although he did win two additional majors. Robert “Pat” Ball eventually won four Negro National Open championships and continued to teach the game at Sunset Hills CC, and later Palos Hills. His wife, Cleo Ball, won the Negro National Open women’s title in 1941; thus becoming the only husband and wife Open champions. Tommy Armour was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1976.
Four players have won the US Open four times. They are Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus. Each of them has been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. In contrast, Howard Wheeler won the Negro National Open an astonishing six times. Even more astonishing, he did so over a span of 25 years. The lanky talented Black golfer, who played cross-handed, won his first title in 1933, with a winning score of 294. He won again in 1938, 1946, 1947, 1948, and for the sixth and final time in 1958, with a 282 total. By the way, Tommy Bolt won the US Open the same year (1958) with a total of 283. Tommy Bolt was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002.
The other multiple winners of the Negro National Open were Teddy Rhodes, who won it five times. Same for Charlie Sifford, who shot a scorching 277 in 1960; the same year Arnold Palmer shot 280 to win his only US Open title. Lee Elder won the title four times. John Dendy three. Edison Marshall, Pete Brown, and James Black two each.
(Above: Teddy Rhodes, courtesy the African American Registry)
Thankfully, Charlie Sifford was finally inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004. He continues to be the lone Black American with that distinction. Is he the only one worthy? Of course not. Many had the ability, but no opportunity.
It’s been said that the story of the African American golfer will soon make it to the World Golf Hall of Fame. I await the day that finally happens. It’s long overdue!
My apologies for only covering male professionals in this blog. It was not meant to belittle or marginalize the achievements of women, amateur, and/or junior golfers. For women golfers, the plight might be even more worthy of praise, as Lord knows they had to overcome every discriminatory practice and stereotype imaginable. Perhaps we’ll give them their due in a future article. I, for one, will fight just as hard for them to be duly recognized if and when our story makes it to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, we’ll continue to honor our past legends at the National Black Golf Hall Of Fame, which should always maintain its significance, with or without the more popular Hall.
I want to publicly thank Dr. Mikell Johnson for helping expose me to our rich history. Her book, The African American Woman Golfer is one of the finest pieces of research and history I have had the pleasure to read. I also thank my friend Pete McDaniel, Dr. Calvin Sinnette, and Lenwood Robinson; plus the late Arthur Ashe for their contributions to chronicling our stories.
Please share your thoughts and opinions with me by contacting me at urbangolf.mc@aol.com, and stay tuned for future blogs.
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ABOUT MICHAEL COOPER, PH.D.
Dr. Michael Cooper is the Director of Southeast Region Affairs for The First Tee. He also teaches Social Change and Leadership at Springfield College – Tampa, FL campus.
