Gordon Chavis
(June 19, 2013)–Former professional golfer Gordon Chavis is determined to change things for the better in his community and he is on a non-stop mission to do so. Chavis is pouring all of his heart and soul into trying to convince the Baltimore City Park Board into giving his local neighborhood permission to lease land for a much-needed 1 deck driving range.
“It would be located at the Cherry Hill Community District,” says Chavis whose efforts serve Timothy Bridges, Vice President of the Fayette Street Outreach, an organization that was created in 1994 by a group of residents who at the time were fed up with the drug and sanitation problems that plagued their Southwest Baltimore neighborhood.
The Cherry Hill neighborhood was developed fairly recently in Baltimore’s history. Like Armistead Gardens the community was founded as a home for African American veterans returning from both World War II and the Korean War. Cherry Hill was originally planned to be located in the area now known as “Armistead Gardens”, the first section built in 1953.
“We have already met with some of the community leadership about putting the range here, eventually to be a 2 deck driving range, primarily for inner-city golfers,” says Chavis.
“There’s nothing else like it in the area for local residents,” says Chavis. and with the newly appointed President of the Park’s Board, Chavis says he has been waiting—and waiting—to get a meeting scheduled. “After that, our next step would be to get the Mayor’s approval,” he adds.
Chavis—like many in his district—wish to give something back to the residents, especially its youth. “I grew up in Mount Winans, South Baltimore, just 3 miles from Cherry Hill. And I know that around here without a driving range these kids probably won’t ever get exposed to golf. Growing up, I didn’t live too far from Carol Park, a 9-hole course. It kept me busy and out of trouble.”
Over at the local Barbershop, Lenny’s House Of Naturals in Baltimore City where Gordon is a regular, he can often be overheard chatting excitedly with shop owner Lenny Clay (the former Barber for Oprah Winfrey); Chavis and Clay are working on the project together and have a million reasons on why it should happen. Timothy Bridges, who frequents the barbershop says, “If Mr. Gordon could get the city to develop a golf hitting range here, it would give the entire community and its youth an opportunity to learn about the wonderful sport of golf….I really believe this is a wonderful undertaking and I think it should happen.”
If all goes as planned, Chavis and his dedicated committee members hope to bring in youth 4-days a week, from 8-11 AM, from the local schools, churches and community centers.
There’s an abundance of youth just waiting for an opportunity to be involved and active in something like golf, a sport that is much different from what they are normally exposed to, something to help them develop their minds and have a positive attitude towards life.
“You never know…,” says Chavis who counts himself as a strong optimist,“…this type of program could produce some real golf champions.”
And Chavis, now age 74 and retired, knows something about that. He played on the PGA Tour as one of the first 5 blacks to get permission to play through qualifying; that was quite a few years ago, around 1961, for 2-years. He also qualified for the US Senior Open (1992), the last major PGA tournament that he played in.
“My mentor and a personal inspiration was William L. Adams, a businessman and entrepreneur. He was involved with a lot of business enterprises in Baltimore, was well-known for helping minorities get loans from local banks and he helped me. He financed me to get out on the PGA Tour and was very instrumental to me being able to play,” says Chavis. Mr. Adams died about 2009. During the latter part of his golfing career, another golf angel also came to his aid: Michael Camp, DDS, sponsored Chavis to play in about 10 of the Senior Tour tournaments.
Chavis makes no bones about loving this game and intends to be on the greens as much as he can, ’till his heart’s is content. “I play golf when the weather is good, everyday. Jim Thorpe and I formed a good friendship when I lived in Baltimore. We used to travel around to various tournaments and when we came off the Tour we remained friends.”
“Many people don’t know this but Jim and I were really tight. I don’t take friendship lightly and we depended on each other a lot….He helped me, and I helped him. That’s what friendship is all about.”
“I helped Jim secure some sponsors so that he could get on the mini-tour, where he played his way to the profession tour,” says the separated father of 4 adult children: a son in Orlando, Gordon, Chavis, Jr, Esq; a son in Maryland, Delwyne Chavis, DDS; his youngest son, Cjett Chavis a UPS route franchisee in Baltimore, and a daughter, Charita Chavis-Jones in Alberdeen, MD.
“I feel that if golf helped keep me off the streets and out of trouble, I believe it will help kids these days, too. It allowed me to learn how to caddie, keep money in my pocket, buy my own clothes and help my family out.”
