L-R: Mike Welton, Megan Padilla and John Perry on the 8th hole of the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Resort (Photo by Megan Padilla)

May 1, 2019

By Megan Padilla

A newbie golfer, I had the privilege of playing the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Resort with longtime African American Golfer’s Digest contributor John Perry. It was his 70th birthday and though he’d greatly anticipated playing all 18 holes of the Jack Nicklaus-designed course on his own, he’d slowed down to patiently coach a fellow writer Mike Welton, and me through the first nine. Not only did John suggest which clubs to use when, where to aim and how to swing, but also he introduced the etiquette of playing a course, which is pretty daunting to newcomers.

John Perry’s golf bag (Photo by Megan Padilla)

During our play on the Ocean Course and later, over a delicious birthday dinner at Hammock Beach Resort’s upscale Delfino’s Italian restaurant, I learned more about John and his lifelong connection to the game of golf. He and his story have left a huge impression on me.

John’s been playing for 59 years, since he began as a caddy at age 11 in the segregated south, at the Henderson Country Club in his hometown of Henderson, NC where the only two jobs for African American men, he recalled, “were working in the tobacco fields or being a caddy.”

John Perry on the 8th hole of the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Resort (Photo by Megan Padilla)

The only time he and his fellow caddies could golf was on Caddy Monday during the early morning hours. He doesn’t recall school getting in the way. Otherwise, “We had nowhere else to golf, so we made our own course in the backyard, dug our own holes and made flags and called it the U.S. Open.” Their clubs were cast-offs they’d pick up from the country club.

When John turned 18, he rode the Greyhound straight to New York City and soon after was able to golf for the first time as a regular guest at the Van Cortland Park Golf Course in the Bronx, the first public golf course in the country. “You just paid your fee and golfed,” he recalled. “It was liberating!”

John Perry relaxes at lunchtime at the popular eatery Captain’s Bar-b-que, located on Highway A1A, outside of St. Augustine, Fla.

After raising his own family, John went on to become the head coach of the John Shippen Youth Golf Academy in Scotch Plains, NJ. “I ran that program for 12 years, before my wife and I moved to Florida,” said Perry. Of course, John Perry never had the chance to meet John Shippen, who died in 1968. “Shippen was not only the first African American to play in the U.S. Open, but also the first American,” said John. It was 1896, the second year of the tournament. “Shippen is part of the African American exhibit at World of Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine,” said John, just north of where we met at Hammock Beach.

John Perry celebrating his 70th birthday at Delfino’s at Hammock Beach Resort (Photo by Megan Padilla)

A lifetime highlight:

Watching the Masters in April 1995 and then playing the course on Family Day in May. “All the money in the world can’t buy you a ticket to the Masters,” he said. “You have to be invited.” His invite came from his nephew Harden Perry III, who was the first African American manager at Augusta. “I was so excited, being a golfer all my life. To find myself on it, I was overwhelmed. It was like a dream come true to be on the course. Like going to the Holy Land.”

His dream foursome:

“Charlie Sifford, the first black golfer with a PGA card in 1961, Teddy Rhodes, he never got a PGA card but was probably the best black golfer ever, and James Black, an African American golfer who never got a chance to showcase his skills.”

Since Sifford and Rhodes are deceased, John is willing to sub in Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

The interview he hopes to land:

Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods.

Thank you John for sharing your life’s passion with me. Something you taught me on the course that I think I’ll take with me into my daily life, “Slow down, trust the swing, enjoy the game.”

Megan Padilla is a freelance writer & content strategist and resides in Orlando, Fla.

May 1, 2019

BY AAGD STAFF

The five Thorpe boys–Elbert Jr., Chuck, Bill, Jim and Chester all caddied at the Roxboro Country Club (Roxboro, N.C.) where their father, Elbert Sr., was a greenskeeper.  However, in those Jim Crow days of the 1960’s, none of these black men were able to play the course like white golfers were.  The brothers had to sneak on the greens at dawn (or dusk) and keep out of sight of course rangers and officials.

The siblings had all had grown up in a small house along the 2nd fairway of the Roxboro Country Club, so they were very familiar with the property.  Brother Elbert Jr. helped build the greens at the club and maintained them for 47 years.  He didn’t play golf due to a tractor fire accident that happened when he was 29.  It left him with only one good hand, his right. In spite of the injury, he was strong as an ox and able to pick up a 200-pound sack with that hand and sling it over his shoulder, according to reports.  Elbert died in 1994, at age 82.

The brothers were renowned for their golf wins around the area and competitions were found just about everywhere to test their abilities.  Of all the brothers, Jim was the biggest physically and he kept his muscles large by hauling mortar for bricklayers.  That strength would be pounded out through many long, accurate drives.

The Thorpe brothers’ father, Elbert Thorpe Sr. was the father of 12 children.   He worked as the greenkeeper at the Roxboro Country Club, where he spent lots of time working the course and keeping the property well maintained.  However, due to the racism of the era he never actually got to actually play the course.   Looking today and how much his five sons achieved in the sport, he most definitely would have been proud.  Especially of his fourth-youngest child, Jim, whom the family recognized as always “different”.

Jim was the only son to attend college.  When he was just 18-years-old, he left his Roxboro home in North Carolina on a bus headed for Baltimore, Maryland.  Stories told says he only had $2.50 and a paper bag full of extra shirts with him on that trip.  A former halfback football player and center on the Morgan State football team (1968), and unfortunate injured resulted in him quitting the team, and leaving school, after only a year. Resilient, he found work in a shoe factory and mopping floors to keep himself afloat.

“When you’re broke, you can’t get a break,” Thorpe told SI.com in a 2002 interview. “Make some money, people give you all kinds of s—. People sent me all this stuff here,” he said referring to $90 cigars and a $400 lighter.  “I must have 50 Rolexes that I’ve won over the years.”  Jim turned pro in 1972 and by 1977 had won $4.3 million and four Senior events.  Today his PGA Tour stats reflect 408 events played, 397 cuts made and $$13,936,083 in winnings.

Back in their younger days, the Thorpe brothers kept their skills sharpened by building practice greens in their backyard.  Hitting balls by day, at night they would hang up lights and the action would continue. The brothers all caddied for one another during their rounds and in tournaments.  When Chester was 50 he caddied on the Senior tour while his brother Bill, then aged 55, was trying to qualify for the tour. “No one could beat those brothers,” says Arthur Johnson, a friend of the family who knew all of them personally. “They would travel together on the circuit and come home with lots of wins.”

PGA Diverse Business Opportunity Exchange is open for applications through May 31

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (April 30, 2019) – The PGA of America is encouraging diverse and locally owned suppliers to provide sourcing in support of the 102nd PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco; and the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.

Minority-, women-, LGBT-, Disabled- and Veteran-owned businesses are invited to participate in the PGA Diverse Business Opportunity Exchange. Companies can now register through May 31—at PGASupplierInclusion.org—to potentially interview with larger direct suppliers (also known as prime or Tier 1 suppliers) for opportunities during the PGA Championship, to be held May 11-17, 2020; and the Ryder Cup, Sept. 22-27, 2020.

“We are thrilled to be hosting our diverse business opportunity exchange for the PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park and the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits,” said PGA of America Chief People Officer Sandy Cross. “San Francisco is rich in culture and diversity, and the PGA has a history of successful championships in Wisconsin. We’re excited to provide an opportunity to connect our prime suppliers with qualified diverse suppliers, to bring value, service and innovation to the supply chain for each of these world-class events.”

Golf is an $84 billion industry, and major events like these generate substantial entertainment and tourism dollars for host cities and surrounding areas. Accordingly, building a supply chain representative of the population is imperative. Outreach efforts to diverse business associations include those within host cities, states and national associations.

“Major events like the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup bring value to our host cities,” said PGA of America Chief Championships Officer Kerry Haigh. “This is an opportunity to reflect the culture of the city of San Francisco and the town of Kohler, as well as their respective regions, within our championship operations.”

Companies interested in registering for the potential opportunity to participate in the PGA Diverse Business Opportunity Exchange should visit PGASupplierInclusion.org. A variety of services are needed, such as food products, temporary housing, florals and labor. A full listing of needs is featured on the website.

All registrations must be received by May 31, 2019, to be considered.

The announcement was made during Trophee Hassan II and Lalla Meryem Cup Tournaments

Rabat, Morocco (April 29, 2019) – Royal Moroccan Golf Federation and First Tee announced on Saturday they are partnering to bring character-building programs to Morocco. First Tee of Morocco will become the fifth international First Tee and first on the continent of Africa. The announcement was made at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco on Saturday by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid and First Tee President Greg McLaughlin. McLaughlin joined Golf Channel’s Morning Drive this past Saturday for the announcement.

First Tee has been in existence for 22 years, primarily in the United States, and has grown to approximately 150 chapters and over 1,200 program locations including four international (Canada, Japan, Korea and Mexico) chapters.

“Through this partnership, we hope to introduce more young Moroccans to the game of golf while developing their confidence, life skills and values,” said His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid. “My desire is to enhance the sport’s public perception, encourage greater openness to the larger public, and ultimately create opportunities for the emergence of an elite golfer able to hoist our flag high in international competitions.”

“Morocco has become an important part of the global golf community and is an excellent place to introduce First Tee programs to children in Africa,” said McLaughlin. “I have been impressed by the commitment and passion for the game during my visit here, and trust this will be a longstanding partnership for the benefit for the Moroccan community.”

First Tee programs will be offered at the Royal Dar Es Salam and other locations. Coaches will be provided with formal training from First Tee’s well-established and highly regarded program.

About Royal Moroccan Golf Federation

Founded on March 12th of 1960 the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation’s role is to ensure, as an authority, the smooth running of the golf practice in Morocco.
Beyond the organization, administration, management and development of amateur and professional golf in Morocco, it has a representative role, for sports associations or affiliated clubs, both nationally and internationally.

Since January 2018, the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation is chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid.

One of the main strategy direction is to broaden the base by encouraging the golf clubs all around the Kingdom to an aggressive policy of integration of young people of all social categories with as a priority, the respect of their schooling.

About First Tee

First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is a nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Since its beginning in 1997, First Tee has expanded to reach millions of young people on golf courses, in elementary schools and at other youth-serving locations. Its headquarters are in St. Augustine, Florida, USA, with programs in all 50 United States and select international locations.