The Home City Golf Club, founded in Springfield in the mid-20th century, was the first Black golf club in the area. The club hosted an annual tournament called the “Home City Open” at Veterans Memorial Golf Course. Although this event didn’t receive much news coverage, one of the few clips available came from July 1953, which stated that Tom Middleton of Boston won the professional division, and Ethel Asbury, also of Boston, won the women’s division.
Charles T. Cross, one of the founding members, trained to be a Tuskegee Airmen pilot. After transferring to Westover Air Base, he settled in Springfield and took up golf as his top passion. According to his obituary, he dedicated his time and experiences to everyone he came in contact with, primarily young African Americans, in an effort to inspire them to have their dreams become a reality. He loved teaching and mentoring others and was committed to spreading knowledge whenever possible.
The paper trail is thin on this group. However, the USGA‘s database on African American golf featured a list of 21 members from 1987, including Leroy Clayborne, who was serving as Hampden County Deputy Sheriff at the time and head of the association. Like Cross, Clayborne had a military background, serving in the Army during World War II and later becoming a scratch golfer.
Also on the list were Joseph Perry Sr. and his son Joseph Jr. According to James Grochmal, Joseph Sr. was a talented golfer who welcomed him to tag along and play with his friends in his younger years. “In another era, he certainly would be successful on the PGA tour,” Grochmal wrote on the obituary page honoring the late Joseph Sr. “Joe encouraged me to play in the Home City Open, where he introduced me to Charlie Sifford. I still have a trophy for the amateur division, which is the largest one I ever got.”
The first national championship for African American golfers took place in Stow, Massachusetts, with the “Negro National Open” on Labor Day weekend, 1926, at Mapledale Country Club. The club hosted again in 1927 and 1928, leading to Mapledale founder Robert H. Hawkins formally establishing United Golfers’ Association (UGA), a group that served as a parallel institution to the all-white Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA). Among its stated goals, the UGA, “provided essential services needed to all golfers to those who might otherwise have been left out.”
#MassGolf Celebrates #BlackHistoryMonth
— Mass Golf (@PlayMassGolf) February 9, 2023
Recently uncovered resources tell the stories of African American success over the 120+ year history of organized golf in Mass. The 1st featured story: ‘Ponkapoag Hosts Historic UGA Championship In 1941’
Story: https://t.co/owudu3tIBh pic.twitter.com/RB2ADIxV4n
The UGA held its first national championship at the historic Ponkapoag Golf Course in Canton, Massachusetts, in 1941. During that time, segregation was the norm, and Black golfers were not allowed to participate in PGA events. Therefore, the UGA provided a platform for Black golfers to compete nationally, as they were not allowed to participate in the PGA tours. The UGA organized events throughout the country and provided a sense of community and camaraderie for Black golfers.
In 1961, the PGA finally ended its “Caucasian-only” clause and opened its doors to all golfers regardless of race. However, it was not until 1975 that Lee Elder became the first Black golfer to play in the Masters Tournament, one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. Elder’s participation opened the doors for other Black golfers to compete in major tournaments, paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive sport.
In conclusion, the Home City Golf Club, along with other Black golf associations like the UGA, played a crucial role in providing a platform for Black golfers to compete and come together as a community during a time of segregation and exclusion. Their contributions helped pave the way.
