Native Links, by author Dr. Mark Wagner, is a powerful and revelatory exploration of Indigenous contributions to American golf—a part of the game’s history too often overlooked. This compelling work uncovers the deeply rooted connections between Native communities and the sport, showing that Indigenous presence isn’t peripheral—it’s foundational.
Dr. Wagner opens the story with Oscar Smith Bunn, a Shinnecock Montauk Native who competed in the 1896 and 1899 U.S. Opens, decades before inclusion was even a conversation. The book then traces a compelling arc through players like U.S. Open champion Orville Moody (Choctaw), and contemporary trailblazers such as Notah Begay III and Gabby Lemieux. Drawing from oral histories, interviews, and firsthand experiences, Dr. Wagner not only restores forgotten names to the narrative but celebrates the rich, ongoing legacy of Native golfers.
Native Links is not only about players; it’s about land, resilience, and reclaiming space. Dr. Wagner highlights how many Native American tribes, empowered by gaming revenues, legal victories, and land-back efforts, have built museums, archives, government centers—and, notably, golf courses. These spaces serve as sites of both recreation and cultural affirmation, creating new opportunities for Indigenous youth to connect with the game and their heritage.
Dr. Wagner writes with humility and wonder, sharing his personal journey through Native golf circles—being smudged, mistaken for an outsider, taught Arnold Palmer’s grip, and playing against legends like Rod Curl and Steve McDonald. His search wasn’t just for stories, but for belonging. “All I wanted to do was find a home in these shared stories,” he reflects.
Published by Back Nine Press in 2024, Native Links is a beautifully told, necessary work for anyone who believes in the full, honest telling of America’s sporting—and cultural—history. Available on Amazon or at DrMarkOnGolf.com
