African American golf legend and trailblazer Ted Rhodes, from Nashville, TN, was celebrated at the 55th Annual Ted Rhodes Charity Golf Classic on September 7-8. The special guest for this year’s event was Pete McDaniel, a golf historian and contributing editor/senior writer for Golf Digest and Golf World magazine. McDaniel co-authored Earl Woods’ best-selling book Training a Tiger, and also wrote the critically acclaimed Uneven Lies – The Heroic Story of African Americans in Golf. He co-wrote and co-produced the documentary Uneven Fairways, which aired on the Golf Channel.
The Ted Rhodes Foundation, Inc. hosted the 55th Annual Ted Rhodes Charity Golf Classic – Preserving the Legacy – at the historic Ted Rhodes Golf Course in Nashville. This two-day amateur charity event honored the legacy of Ted Rhodes, a pioneering golfer from Nashville. It also served as a fundraiser for two local golf programs, drawing golfers from across the country to participate in this meaningful and historic event. In addition to great golf, attendees enjoyed food and fun.
The charity event benefited several organizations, including the Fisk University Golf Team, the Junior Golf Program – First Tee of Tennessee, and the Ted Rhodes Foundation HBCU Golf Educational Fund.
Ted Rhodes was the first African American professional golfer of the modern era to play in the U.S. Open in 1948. Throughout his career, Rhodes won over 150 tournaments and was posthumously granted membership to the PGA in 2009. He served as a golf instructor to notable figures like boxer Joe Louis, the first Black golfer to play in the Masters tournament, Lee Elder, and tennis legend Althea Gibson. Tiger Woods acknowledged Rhodes and other Black golf pioneers during his first Masters win, crediting them for paving the way for him in the sport. A golf course in Nashville now bears Rhodes’ name.
The mission of the Ted Rhodes Foundation is to preserve and honor the legacy of Ted Rhodes by providing financial support to HBCU golf programs, such as the Fisk University golf team, and awarding scholarships to team members. The foundation also hosts junior golf clinics to introduce the sport to youth in urban areas and partners with programs like First Tee of Tennessee to provide competitive golf opportunities and leadership training for young players.
