McAdams Golf Club, circa 1920.
BY AAGD STAFF
February 12, 2019
McAdams Golf Club (MGC), located in Wichita, Kansas is one of the oldest African American golf clubs in the country.
It started in 1920 something. No one knows the exact date or event that started this journey. But, what is known is that a resilient and progressing group of young black men decided they wanted to fellowship through playing golf. Where they learned about golf—since there was no radio or TV—is a mystery. It is suspected they were caddies at a local golf course and they picked up the game, as so many others back then did. Some say that they picked up the game through working on the railroad.
Wichita during that era was a true railroad town and it was the main source of employment in the Black community. But, due to the era of segregation and Jim Crow, the black golfers recognized they couldn’t play on the local courses so, collectively, decided to do something about it. They formed the McKinley Park Golf Club around the time of the 1929 stock market crash.
“We have successfully held our annual tournament for 86 years and we’re still going strong,” says Club President George Kolb.
MGC is a group of guys who regularly get together to play golf. Once a year we sponsor a golf tournament and invite anyone who wants to play to participate. Players come from all over to experience the great golfing in our area. Proceeds from that tournament and membership fees help offset the costs of running our Junior Golfers Program.
George Kolb, President, McAdams Golf Club
MCG has a history rich with cultural and community heritage and provides scholarships to minorities.
“Our goal is to not only teach our youth the game but the life values that go along with it. For more than 80 years, we have served the greater Wichita community through our public service,” says President Kolb.
“We are proud of our members who come from all walks of life and the club’s unique heritage. We hope that you will come back often to see what’s going on, join us to play a round of golf and participate in the fellowship that McAdams Golf Club has to offer.” Interested persons are urged to explore and enjoy the McAdams Golf Club website and see the many activities that members are involved in.
McAdams Golf Club
P.O. Box 8355
Wichita, Ks 67208
