BY AAGD STAFF
(June 4, 2019)
Founded in 1944, The Knickerbocker Golf Club (KGC) is one of the oldest African American Golf clubs in the United States. The Club is a nonprofit organization and has been a center for golf, social and recreational activities for its New Haven, Connecticut members and the community. The Knickerbocker’s Facebook page shows a flurry of exciting activities and programs for its members.
The Club will host its 75th anniversary on Friday, June 7, 2019 from 5 pm to 9 pm at Fantasia Banquet Facility located at 404 Washington Avenue in North Haven, CT. The gala event will bring together past and present members and supporters in a dinner and awards celebration with special guest, Debert Cook, the distinguished Publisher of the African American Golfer’s Digest, attending the festivities.
“It’s hard to imagine golf without Tiger, but many of us can,” said Willie Holmes, the Knickerbocker Club’s residing historian and 75th Gala Celebration Chairman. “For those of us who remember what it was like for African Americans trying to break into what was once considered a white-only sport, it’s even harder to imagine why we’d want to,” added Willie Holmes who has spent seven decades at the Knickerbockers Club. He’s also been a past club president and is the club’s historian as the longest living member.
Longtime member Reginald Mayo, the former superintendent of New Haven Public Schools believes institutions like the Knickerbockers are still relevant and play a crucial role in allowing community elders to transfer history and culture to younger generations unaware of the struggles and sacrifices invested in removing racist barriers in America. “Cultural institutions like the Knickerbockers serve a role in filling in the blanks for the younger generation and serve as a vehicle for ensuring that our young people remember where we’ve come from as a people and that there is an obligation to pay it forward for the future generations the same way others did for us and we are doing for them,” he said.
Retired New Haven Police Chief and Knickerbocker member Melvin Wearing agrees. “No one knows our community better than we do and the Knickerbocker Golf Club is about simply more than golf. That was a starting point, the bigger idea was to pool resources and create a safe place that could have a positive and powerful impact on our community,” said Wearing. “Without a doubt for the past 75 years, I do believe the Knickerbocker Club has done that and I don’t see that commitment ending any time soon,” added Wearing.
The public is invited to attend the Gala Awards program. “This is a very special year for the Knickerbocker Golf Club, Inc. Founded 75 years ago we are excited and invite everyone to celebrate this illustrious Diamond Anniversary with you, our friends, members past, present and future,” said Holmes. “We, the Knickerbocker Golf Club, are very thankful to all who have made the long, wonderful, sometimes challenging yet awakening and awesome breathtaking journey with us for many years. Our celebration is not merely a dinner and award celebration for we must all be aware of just how we are able to give something back to society and our community.”
The Knickerbocker Golf Club Inc., 75th Anniversary Golf Tournament takes place on Saturday, July 27th at Alling Memorial Golf Course located at 35 Eastern Street, New Haven, CT 06513 both entertainment and golf packages – and team entry are available by contacting Mr. Willie Holmes at 203-623-0601, or Wayne Ricks Sr. at 203-915-4758, or the Knickerbocker Golf Club at 293-865-1431 or email knickerbockergolfclub75@Ya
A portion of the proceeds to benefit the Knickerbocker Scholarship Fund.
