In celebration of Black History Month, Preserve Shady Rest, Inc. will present Rhythm & Roots, an evening of live music, dinner, and dancing on Saturday, February 28, from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the historic Shady Rest Golf & Country Club, 820 Jerusalem Road, Scotch Plains, New Jersey. The event brings together community, culture, and history at one of the nation’s most significant African American landmarks.
Guests will enjoy a buffet dinner from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m., followed by live performances from JB & The JB Blues Band and The Glenn & Oria Band, with DJ Smooth on the turntables. The evening is BYOB, and proceeds will directly benefit Preserve Shady Rest, Inc., supporting its ongoing restoration and educational initiatives. Tickets are $50.
Shady Rest Golf & Country Club holds a distinguished place in American golf history. Originally established in 1921 as the Shady Rest Country Club, it is widely recognized as the first African American–owned and operated golf club in the United States. During segregation, it provided Black golfers with access to a quality course and clubhouse at a time when many facilities barred them from play.
The club is also closely associated with John Matthew Shippen Jr., one of the first American-born golf professionals and a pioneering Black golfer who competed in the early U.S. Opens. Today, Shady Rest is listed on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.
Preserve Shady Rest, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring, maintaining, and promoting the historic clubhouse and grounds. Through fundraising events, educational programming, and community partnerships, the organization works to ensure that the site remains a living testament to African American achievement in sport and social history. For more information visit Website: www.preserveshadyrest.org or call phone: (908) 397-3552 or Email: preserveshadyrest@gmail.com
Rhythm & Roots promises an unforgettable night of music and fellowship while supporting the preservation of a landmark that helped shape the history of golf and Black excellence in America.
