The largest outdoor demo in the world and the perfect start to the PGA Merchandise Show!
PGA Show Demo Day provides you with the opportunity to preview and test the newest innovations by leading golf brands in the industry. Golf equipment companies will showcase their newest clubs, golf balls, grips, scoring clinics, clubfitting best practices, instructional aids, and much more!
It has been estimated that over two-and-a-half million African Americans play the game of golf in the United States.  They are consumers of apparel, equipment and services (specifically travel and golf green fees) in this industry.
Kissimmee Bay Country Club
Kissimmee, Florida lies just south of Orlando and is located near the Orlando area theme parks. Remington Golf Club and Kissimmee Bay Country Club are located in Kissimmee and just 15min from the Orlando Airport. Both are popular golf venues for many Orlando area golfers. African American Golfers Digest recently visited both courses. I met with the courses’ management representative ChiPing Cheung and Director of Golf John Thomas.
Layouts of the courses are unique and provide a different challenge for any golfer. Both courses feature aqua golf driving ranges. Some part of Kissimmee Bay Country borders Lake Tohopekaliga (also known as Lake Toho) which provides a picturesque backdrop for some of its back nine holes. Moss covered oaks and plenty of water provide a pleasant yet challenging golfing experience. My favorite hole on Kissimmee Bay is hole number 15. It is a par 4 beautiful layout with water along the right side all the way to the green. A hazard along the left side and unpredictable winds from Lake Toho makes this a spectacular but treacherous hole. Kissimmee Bay opened in 1989 and is a Lloyd Clifton design.
Remington Golf Course, Kissimmee, FL
The Clifton, Ezell & Clifton Golf Design Group also designed Remington Golf Club, which was built by Clubcorp and opened in 1996. Remington is known for its smooth fast tiff eagle greens. Many improvements were evident at Remington during my visit. Food service is “par excellence”. The golf experience at both courses is referred to as “World Class Golf at hometown prices”. Remington is home of the “All Day pass” which provides breakfast sandwiches, golf and lunch replay specials for one very competitive price.
Mr. Cheung, a Cal Berkeley Engineering graduate who has enjoyed a long career on Wall Street, has been involved with the courses development for the past two years. His love for the game is reflected in the enthusiasm he displays for the success of the courses. He mentioned there are many planned improvements scheduled for both courses. A remodel of the Remington clubhouse was completed since my last visit there.
All area African American Golf groups (Tri City Golfers, Pro Duffers Orlando and John Mann’s Pins and skins group) frequently schedule both courses throughout the year. Kissimmee Bay and Remington, as do most Orlando courses, cater to a diverse clientele. Ownership is making a special effort through their relationship with African American Golfer’s Digest to attract more African American golf groups. Kissimmee Bay and Remington offer a special invite to these groups who visit the Orlando area. Whether your group is planning a winter, summer or mid-season golf outing in Orlando, please make sure to include these courses on your itinerary. You may contact the courses directly at (407) 344-4004 to customize a package for your travel group.
Kissimmee Bay CC
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Remington Golf Club
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Otis Windham is a freelance golf writer and author with over 30 years experience in the golfing industry. He has organized national and international golf travel for various golfing groups. He is past president and travel and events coordinator for 2 major African American golfing organizations. He is a member of the African American Golfer’s Digest Advisory Board.
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump mocked President Obama’s penchant for golf, suggesting that he was neglecting his presidential duties to indulge in his favorite pastime.
But Trump’s critique must be a campaign bygone, because on Friday the president-elect interrupted his busy schedule of transition meetings and foreign policy declarations to tee up with legendary golfer Tiger Woods.
The two met on a sunny and breezy morning at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, not far from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort where he and his family have been secluded for the past week.
Trump, whose company owns more than a dozen luxury golf courses around the world, is an avid golfer and follows the sport closely. Golf Digest recently listed Trump as among the best golfers in Washington, with a 2.8 handicap, and suggested he could be “the best-ever golfer president.”
Tiger Woods’ Birthday (Friday, Dec. 30, he turns 41 years old)
Programming to Feature Highlights from
All 14 Major Championship Victories
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ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 19, 2016 – As the calendar gives way to a new year, Golf Channel will wrap up 2016 with a series of themed programming, led by a commemoration of the life and legacy of The King, featuring Arnold Palmer, on Saturday, Dec. 24, including the four-part Arnie documentary. Other highlights include:
*All Airtimes EST (Eastern Standard Time)*
| Top-10 “Fan Favorite Rounds from 2016 (Monday-Friday, Dec. 19-23 & Dec. 26-30) | ||
| Monday, Dec. 19 | Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 10 | 9 p.m.-Midnight |
| Tuesday, Dec. 20 | Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 9 | 9 p.m.-Midnight |
| Wednesday, Dec. 21 | Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 8 | 9 p.m.-Midnight |
| Thursday, Dec. 22 | Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 7 | 9 p.m.-Midnight |
| Friday, Dec. 23 | Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 6 | 9 p.m.-Midnight |
| Monday, Dec. 26 | Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 5 | 9 p.m.-Midnight |
| Tuesday, Dec. 27 | Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 4 | 9 p.m.-Midnight |
| Wednesday, Dec. 28 | Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 3 | 9 p.m.-Midnight |
| Thursday, Dec. 29 | Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 2 | 9 p.m.-Midnight |
| Friday, Dec. 30 | Fan Favorites – Rounds of 2016: No. 1 | 9 p.m.-Midnight |
| A Very Feherty Christmas (Saturday-Monday, Dec. 24-25) | ||
| Saturday, Dec. 24 | A Very Feherty Christmas – Lee Trevino | 9-10 p.m. |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Tom Watson | 10-11 p.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Johnny Miller | 11 p.m.-Midnight | |
| Sunday, Dec. 25 | A Very Feherty Christmas – Greg Norman | Midnight-1 a.m. |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Nick Faldo | 1-2 a.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Sam Torrance | 2-3 a.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Peter Oosterhuis | 3-4 a.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Peter Alliss | 4-5 a.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Ken Venturi | 5-6 a.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Dan Patrick | 6-7 a.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Bill Russell | 7-8 a.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Bobby Knight | 8-9 a.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Terry Bradshaw | 9-10 a.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Bob Uecker | 10-11 a.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Charles Barkley | 11 a.m.-Noon | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Paul Azinger | Noon-1 p.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – John Daly | 1-2 p.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Judy Rankin | 2-3 p.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Jack Nicklaus | 3-4 p.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Jordan Spieth (Part I) | 8-9 p.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Jordan Spieth (Part II) | 9-10 p.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Jason Day | 10-11 p.m. | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Rory McIlroy | 11 p.m.-Midnight | |
| A Very Feherty Christmas – Sergio Garcia | Midnight-1 a.m. | |
| Commemorating the Life, Legacy of Arnold Palmer (Saturday, Dec. 24) | ||
| Saturday, Dec. 24 | All Star Golf – Arnold Palmer vs. Gene Littler | 10-11 a.m. |
| All Star Golf – Arnold Palmer vs. Frank Stranahan | 11 a.m.-Noon | |
| All Star Golf – Arnold Palmer vs. Paul Harney | Noon-1 p.m. | |
| All Star Golf – Arnold Palmer vs. Bob Rosburg | 1-2 p.m. | |
| 1955 Canadian Open | 2-2:30 p.m. | |
| 1960 Masters Highlights | 2:30-3:30 p.m. | |
| 1962 Masters Highlights | 3:30-4:15 p.m. | |
| 1964 Masters Highlights | 4:15-5 p.m. | |
| Arnie & Me | 5-6 p.m. | |
| Arnie & His Army | 6-7 p.m. | |
| Arnie & The Majors | 7-8 p.m. | |
| Arnie & His Legacy | 8-9 p.m. | |
| Tiger Woods Birthday (Friday, Dec. 30) Programming, Including all 14 Major Championship Wins | ||
| Friday, Dec. 30 | Chronicles of a Champion Golfer – Tiger Woods | 6-7 a.m. |
| 1999 PGA Championship – Tiger Woods | 7-8 a.m. | |
| 2000 PGA Championship – Tiger Woods | 8-9 a.m. | |
| 2006 PGA Championship – Tiger Woods | 9-10 a.m. | |
| 2007 PGA Championship – Tiger Woods | 10-11 a.m. | |
| The 129TH Open – Tiger Woods | 11 a.m.-Noon | |
| The 134TH Open – Tiger Woods | Noon-1 p.m. | |
| The 135TH Open – Tiger Woods | 1-2 p.m. | |
| 2000 U.S. Open – Tiger Woods | 2-3 p.m. | |
| 2002 U.S. Open – Tiger Woods | 3-4 p.m. | |
| 2008 U.S. Open – Tiger Woods | 4-5 p.m. | |
| 1997 Masters – Tiger Woods | 5-6 p.m. | |
| 2001 Masters – Tiger Woods | 6-7 p.m. | |
| 2002 Masters – Tiger Woods | 7-8 p.m. | |
| 2005 Masters – Tiger Woods | 8-9 p.m. | |
| Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf (Sunday-Monday, Jan. 1-2) | ||
| Sunday, Jan. 1 | Ernie Els vs. Nick Price – 1999 | 3-4:30 a.m. |
| David Duval vs. Ernie Els – 2000 | 4:30-6 a.m. | |
| Jack Nicklaus vs. Gary Player – 2000 | 6-7:30 a.m. | |
| Gary Player vs. Lee Trevino – 1998 | 7:30-9 a.m. | |
| Paul Azinger vs. Seve Ballesteros – 1995 | 9-10:30 a.m. | |
| Jack Nicklaus vs. Lee Trevino – 1996 | 10:30 a.m.-Noon | |
| Roberto DeVicenzo vs. Sam Snead – 1967 | Noon-1 p.m. | |
| Arnold Palmer vs. Julius Boros – 1967 | 1-2 p.m. | |
| Arnold Palmer vs Chi Chi Rodriguez vs Gay Brewer – 1968 | 2-3 p.m. | |
| Gary Player vs. Peter Thomson – 1961 | 3-4 p.m. | |
| Gene Sarazen vs. Henry Cotton – 1961 | 4-5 p.m. | |
| Byron Nelson vs. Gene Littler – 1961 | 5-6 p.m. | |
| Fred Couples vs. John Daly – 1999 | 6-7:30 p.m. | |
| Jack Nicklaus vs. Tom Watson – 1995 | 7:30-9 p.m. | |
| Fred Couples vs. Phil Mickelson – 2000 | 9-10:30 p.m. | |
| Arnold Palmer vs. Gary Player – 1996 | 10:30 p.m.-Midnight | |
| Monday, Jan. 2 | Nick Faldo vs. Greg Norman – 1994 | Midnight-1:30 a.m. |
| Phil Mickelson vs. Colin Montgomerie – 1997 | 1:30-3 a.m. | |
| Sergio Garcia vs. Phil Mickelson – 2001 | 3-4:30 a.m. | |
| Fred Couples vs. Tom Watson – 1997 | 4:30-6 a.m. | |
Wishing all of our wonderful subscribers, friends and supporters a blessed holiday this season. May your New Year be filled with happiness and joy! Thank you for keeping us in your hearts and allowing us to share the great news of golf as it continues to grow and spread in our community. Your support has made all of the difference in helping us to remain steadfast while we work to expose and educate the world on the tremendous talent of our youth and seasoned golfers.
Tiger Woods has been named lead designer in charge of restoring two historic courses on Chicago’s South Side – Jackson Park and South Shore, according to the Chicago Tribune. Both courses are more than 100 years old and run by the city. Jackson Park is an 18-hole course that only stretches to 5,444 yards. South Shore is a nine-hole, par-33 course.
“This project can create incredible possibilities for the community on the South Side. We want to design a course that everyone will enjoy,” Woods said in a statement by his design company.
The project is expected to cost $30 million with construction starting this spring. The goal is to have a championship course and either a short course or par-3 course completed by 2020.
According to the Tribune, President Barack Obama personally called Woods to talk about being the lead designer. Obama’s Presidential Center will be constructed in Jackson Park not far from the golf course.
The entire project has been led by NBC/Golf Channel analyst Mark Rolfing. Rolfing will head the newly formed Chicago Golf Parks Alliance, which will oversee improvements to all of the district courses, youth programs and raising money for the non-profit.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is expected to formally announce the CGPA on Sunday.
The CPGA and Western Golf Association will also partner to promote caddie programs and prepare the championship course to possibly host the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship in 2021.
“The course will have tremendous shot values, which is obviously very important to Tiger,” said Rolfing to the Tribune. “This will be his first design that gets tested in competition; what his colleagues and peers think will be important to him.”
(L-R) Patrick Harris and Norman Blanco celebrate their UMES graduation.
University Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) PGA Golf Management Program Fall graduates Patrick Harris and Norman Blanco were all smiles following the December 16, 2016 graduation ceremony.  Harris, of Providence Forge, Va., is California-bound after accepting a job at the Turkey Creek Golf Club in Lincoln north of Sacramento.  Blanco, of New Orleans, Louisiana, completed a senior-year internship at Pebble Beach and has been hired by the five-star resort to work as a full-time assistant club pro.
The PGA Golf Management Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore prepares students for a career in the golf industry. The PGA Golf Management Program attracts and educates bright, highly-motivated men and women to service all aspects of this developing industry while working toward membership in the Professional Golfers’ Association of America.
It is a comprehensive degree program that integrates all the curriculum requirements of a Hospitality and Tourism Management major with the knowledge base of the PGA Golf Management Program including sixteen months of structured internship experience and a Playing Ability Test (PAT).
Hinesille, Georgia, golfer Marguerite Acker-West was playing a round at  Cherokee Rose golf course when she ran into Fraizer Sifford, nephew of the late World Golf Hall of Famer Charlie Sifford.  The two avid golfers exchanged warm greetings and shared memories of some of the greats of the game.
RELATED STORY: Marguerite Acker-West
Cherokee Rose is a 18 hole public golf course and features 6,101 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71 . The course opened in 1971.
New golf fitness and wellness sessions, and an expanded retail track added to
classroom seminars; outdoor instructional workshops, certifications programs
and daily keynote sessions also offered.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Dec. 13, 2016) – New golf fitness and wellness sessions, as well as an expanded retail track are among the extensive educational opportunities offered during the 64th PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Jan. 24-27, 2017. Outdoor instructional workshops, daily keynote sessions, certification programs and classroom seminars create a comprehensive educational calendar for PGA Professionals and industry leaders attending the PGA Show.
Detailed descriptions of educational programming, instructor biographies and online registration are now available at PGAShow.com. Early savings on conference registration fees are available through December 30, 2016. PGA Professionals are able to earn more than 30 MSR credits through participation in PGA Education, PGA Merchandise Show and PGA of America programs.
“The 2017 PGA Merchandise Show Education Conference offers an exceptional learning opportunity across multiple subjects to help PGA Professionals and golf retailers grow their business and careers,” said PGA of America Senior Director of Education and Organizational Development Dawes Marlatt, PGA. “Expert presenters, important industry insights, diverse learning environments and flexible registration options create an opportune education program relevant and accessible to every attendee.”
Tuesday, January 24
At the PGA Show Outdoor Demo Day at Orange County National Golf Center on Tuesday, Jan. 24, renowned PGA members and instructors David Leadbetter and 2011 PGA Teacher of the Year Mike Malaska will both present hands-on instructional workshops. John Holmes, president of Atlas Turf, will also conduct a workshop on turf playability, while GolfTEC will present a workshop on instruction technology. Additionally, the PGA Certified Professional Program Player Development Certification Program, the PGA of America Strategic Management Simulation Course and a condensed FlightScope® Academy program will be offered that day.
Wednesday – Friday, January 25-27
Daily keynote education sessions, Jan. 25-27, begin each conference day at the Orange County Convention Center and feature presentations by: David Leadbetter, PGA, who will present “Applied Biomechanics of the Golf Swing” (Wednesday); Michael Leemhuis, PGA Master Professional and Ocean Reef Club President, who will address CEO expectations for PGA Professionals (Thursday); and the Doneger Group, which will present a complimentary session open to all PGA Show attendees, “FutureRetail – New Growth Opportunities” (Friday). The keynote sessions begin a schedule of more than 50 classroom seminars led by many of golf’s most respected subject matter experts and industry leaders. Classroom seminars will focus on five key content tracks – Teaching and Coaching, Leadership, Sales and Marketing, plus an expanded Retail track and a new Golf Fitness and Wellness track.
Registration – Online, Early Savings & Single Sessions
Registration for the educational offerings at the PGA Merchandise Show is now available online at PGAShow.com . Early savings are available for registration made through Dec. 30, 2016, and single session registration is available in addition to single day and full conference. PGA Professionals are able to earn more than 30 MSR credits through their participation in PGA Education, PGA Merchandise Show and PGA of America programs.
PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit, presented by Omega
The biennial PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit, presented by Omega, is an additional PGA Show Week education opportunity, Jan. 22-23 at the Orange County Convention Center. The Sunday-Monday Summit will present the most current teaching and coaching techniques, plus biomechanics, motion and swing strategies. Hosted by 2008 PGA Teacher of the Year Martin Hall, the Summit also features 2015 PGA Teacher of the Year Cameron McCormick and 2016 PGA Teacher of the Year Mike Adams, among an impressive lineup of PGA Professionals and industry experts. PGA Professionals can earn 16 PGA Education Credits by attending the two-day PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit. Registration is available on PGA.org.
About PGA Merchandise Show:
The 64th PGA Merchandise Show, held Jan. 24-27, 2017, in Orlando, will welcome some 1,000 top golf companies and brands and more than 40,000 industry professionals from around the world to the industry’s annual global summit for the business of golf. The PGA Show Outdoor Demo Day, the world’s largest professional golf testing event, will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Orange County National Golf Center. During PGA Show days, Jan. 25-27, at the Orange County Convention Center, PGA Professionals, retailers and industry leaders will uncover the latest trends, source the newest golf merchandise, test the latest equipment, learn proven business best practices, network among peers and move forward the business of the game. The PGA Merchandise Show, the MAJOR of Golf Business, is a trade-only event, not open to the public.
Learn more at PGAShow.com and engage with us at:
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 7, 2016 – Golf Channel and NBC’s coverage of the Hero World Challenge and Tiger Woods’ return to competitive golf for the first time in 16 months delivered significant ratings increases for the networks.
Below are final numbers for Golf Channel and NBC:
Thursday (Golf Channel)
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Round 1 coverage delivered a .86 coverage rating / 782,000 viewers: +190% year over year and +74% over 2014, the last time Tiger Woods was in the field at this event.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Most-watched Thursday Round 1 since The Open Round 1 in July.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Most-watched Round 1 at this event on Golf Channel (2007-16).
–          Excluding Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, most-watched 4th quarter Round 1 in Golf Channel history (2006-16).
Friday (Golf Channel)
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Round 2 coverage delivered a .83 coverage rating / 768,000 viewers: +135% year over year and +50% over 2014.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Most-watched Friday Round 2 since The Open Round 2 in July.
Saturday (NBC)
–          Saturday’s live coverage on NBC delivered a 1.38 US HH rating / 2,049,000 viewers, +115% year over year and +86% from 2014. Most-watched PGA TOUR Round 3 since the Memorial Round 3 in June, excluding the Majors and Ryder Cup.
Sunday (NBC)
–          Sunday’s live coverage on NBC delivered a .96 US HH rating / 1,397,000 viewers, +67% year over year and +35% from 2014.
Digital
–          A total of 7.4 million minutes were streamed digitally. The 6th most-streamed golf event this year on Golf Channel/NBC behind The Open, the Olympics, the Ryder Cup and THE PLAYERS Championship.
Greetings Golfers:
What an amazing year 2016 was here at Clearview!!! Amazing because it was in 1946, 70 years ago, that Dr. William Powell began building Clearview Golf Course and we are still open and in business.
If you read Dr. Sinnette’s book ” Forbidden Fairways” you will see how many African American owned golf courses existed at one time. When you look at that number today you cannot even count the number on two hands. With roughly 24 million golfers and approximately 16,000 golf courses in the United States for a black designed, built, owned and operated golf course, open to the public to still be in existence is everything short of a miracle.
So What Was 2016 like??
For the past couple of years the USGA has done a wonderful job with the direction of Susan Wasser to highlight the achievements of African Americans in golf and to try to preserve much of our history that is quickly disappearing.
When the bus arrived at the USGA there were two large banners of William Powell hanging outside the building and a beautiful showcase of various archival items from Clearview and the Powell Family currently on loan to the USGA. Although many people know a bit about Clearview, it was extremely impressive to see that the governing body of golf in the U.S. is highlighting the significance of this course to golf and to America.
We continued by hosting an event geared to senior 70 plus, which was quite fun.
Clearview HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is a women military veterans golf program that we do year-round to support those who have served our country and using golf as not only a recreational sport, but also a therapeutic one. HOPE is an affiliate of the PGA HOPE program. (Please go on youtube where you can see some videos and articles by the New York Times about our women.) In the latest issue of Women’s Golf Journal (Cheyenne Woods is on the cover) you will see a 6-8 page article about some of our women veterans. Here at our golf course we are very proud of this program.
May was a very exciting month for us as my brother Larry (Powell), a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame during their 30th Anniversary. He becomes the first GCSAA member inducted. We are so fortunate to have him here at Clearview as our superintendent. With little money he is constantly working miracles, especially with the large undulating greens here. There are no better greens in our state and that includes both private and public courses.
In June Shirley Spork, one of only 3 living Founders of the LPGA graced the course for our annual LPGA Pro-Am with a dinner hosted by NFL Hall of Fame member, Franco Harris.
Also in June Jessie Brooks and Ron Fuller hosted the Annual Pioneer Tournament which brings in 100 golfers from all over the country. They named the tournament for Mr. Powell for his contributions to golf for all people. We so appreciate the dedication of these two gentlemen!!
Several years ago Cheryl-Lynne Thompson from Bermuda and I began working on a special golfing event and in August it finally took place.
From an “OceanView to a Clearview” Â featured 8 men and 4 women from OceanView Golf Course playing 8 men and 4 women from Clearview in an International Team Match with a Ryder Cup- Solheim type format. We at Clearview were perfect hosts as Bermuda took home the roving plaque for this first match.
Our 32nd Annual William Powell Clearview Celebrity Tournament took place in August with NFL Hall of Fame member Leroy Kelly returning for the 32nd time. So commendable of Leroy who had such great respect for both my mom and dad and continues to return for this event.
This past September the women’s golf team at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland played for the Renee Powell Cup, although I was unable to attend this year, I do plan to travel to St. Andrews to present this special award. Such an honor for a person who lives on the other side of the Pond from Scotland.
This year the PGA of America celebrated its 100th Anniversary. There is a beautiful coffee table book with the history of the PGA, but more significantly is a picture of my father and I on the cover, both PGA members (it took a long while before he was able to become a member though because of the Caucasian only clause until 1961) There is also a full page picture of Bill Powell in his WWII uniform on the inside.
In November as we celebrated the 100th annual PGA meeting, I had been asked by Secretary Suzy Whaley to write and deliver her nominating speech for her to become the next Vice President of the PGA of America. It was indeed an honor as she is the first female officer of the PGA.
To this being not only a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the building of Clearview it was also the 100th Anniversary of the birth of William Powell.
We and all who knew him were blessed to have been able to be in his presence for 93 years and to see how one person could change the climate of one sport that was not always open to all. Although much has been done still much has to be done.
As we now will begin looking into the future of Clearview for the next 70 years, I and we at Clearview are looking for your support to keep this Dream and Legacy alive.
I shall be blogging on a monthly basis in African American Golfer’s Digest and hope you all will continue to support Debert Cook and this magazine.
Golfingly yours,
Renee Powell
LPGA Lifetime Tour Member, PGA Class A and R&A Lifetime Member
An excited crowd of fans gathered at the Charlotte Douglas Int’l Airport for a surprise welcome home for PGA Tour of Australasia Champion Harold Varner III.
(L-R) Andre Robinson and Harold Varner III
December 6, 2016 (Charlotte, NC) — A grand surprise homecoming welcomed back Australian PGA Championship winner Harold Varner III following his win at the PGA Tour of Australasia.
Nearly two dozen friends and fans of Varner gathered in the baggage claim area of at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport on December 3, awaiting Varner’s 4:00 p.m. American Airlines flight.
As soon as the champion was spotted, the crowd erupted with loud, resounding cheers.  Cameras flashed snapshots of the golfing professional and big hugs and hardy handshakes surrounded Varner all around.
“It was a real surprise for him and he was overjoyed to see everybody,” said John Love, a well-known Charlotte area tournament organizer who arranged the surprise gathering for Varner.  Also there was Andre Robinson of Washington, D.C., who is a godson of professional golfer Lee Elder.  Robinson was also mentored by Don Wills (brother of baseball player Maury Wills) along with his two brothers.  Andre attended Livingston College on a golf scholarship (1981-1985) and is now active in the National Guard Reserve.
In the crowd and offering their congratulations to the champion were members of the Par Busters Golf Club (Charlotte, NC), The Players Association (Charlotte, NC), Upstate Elite Golf Course (Greenville, SC), and several other well wishers.  It truly was a special occasion and Varner’s local fans wanted to make sure he knew it.
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Varner, a former Gastonia Forestview golf star, grew up in the Charlotte area, and witnessed a time when it was not possible for a black youth to play regularly on a city-owned golf course in the South. Yet, his golfing skills helped him to receive financial support from both black and white golfers who befriended him at a municipal course and at Gaston Country Club, where he worked during high school.
(L-R) Harold Varner and Terrain Gill
It Takes A Village
The Par Busters Golf Club are among Varner’s most staunch supporters, and the organization has been so for many years.  Varner’s dad, Harold Varner Jr., a used car salesman, now in his 60’s, has always been at his son’s side, encouraging him at every turn. Both gentlemen graciously received the well-wishers and hope for more tournament success to come.
At the PGA Tour of Australasia Championship Varner had a tough week.  Co-sanctioned by the Australasian and European Tours, the weather presented lightning and rain that ended his first round after 14 holes.  As a result, Varner then had a very early 5:30 a.m. tee off the next day.  Certainly, it was Varner’s intense training, dedication and relentless passion to win that helped him achieve his goal.
This is Varner’s first win outside the mini tours and the role of the champion included extra interviews, news conferences, photos opportunities and trophy presentations, all which somewhat caught him off-guard.
“Nobody told me about the other stuff that goes along with winning. There might have been 1,000 pictures out there,” he told the Charlotte Observer in a news conference, afterwards he filled the trophy with champagne, took a swig and passed it around. “Winning is cool.”
(L-R) Harold Varner III and Richard Degree
Other than Tiger Woods, Varner is the only golfer of black heritage on the PGA Tour.  Varner, in his rookie season last year enjoyed four top-10 finishes on the premier U.S. tour. He, no doubt, hops this most recent win is the start of great things to come in 2017.
Varner spent three solid years in golf’s minor leagues, after graduating from East Carolina (2012), developing his skills and preparing for professional Tours.  He successfully earned his Tour card last fall.  It was during his round at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte last May that he discovered the arduous rigors and additional stresses faced by Tour players.
As the first American to win the Australian PGA title since Hale Irwin in 1978 at Royal Melbourne, and the first non-Australian to claim the title since 1999, 26-year old Varner has raised the performance bar for himself.
(L-R) Vincent Harris, Harold Varner III, Harold Varner, Jr., Raymond Mitchell.
(L-R) Harold Varner III with Terrain Gill
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