The Urban League of Central Carolinas will honor the life and legacy of Hall of Fame golfer Charles Sifford at the 2nd Annual Dr. Charles L. Sifford Golf Legends Tournament and Luncheon. The event will be held on September 19, 2016, at TPC Piper Glen Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. This year the event’s luncheon will recognize 4 additional African American golf legends, honored as the 1st recipients of the ULCC’s Trailblazers Award:
- Jim Dent (4 time PGA champion, 12 time Sr. PGA champion)
- Rhonda Powell (1st African-American to play U.S. Jr. Championships, 2nd African-American to Join LPGA and the daughter of the only African American to design, build and operate a golf course),
- James Black (1st African-American in the south to qualify for the U.S. Open, 1st player under 21 to shoot 67 at LA Open)
- Walter Morgan (4 time Sr PGA champion).
Charles Sifford, a trailblazer in his own right, fought to abolish the PGA’s “Caucasian male only” clause and forced the PGA to open the door to African Americans, and all others to follow. The first African American to receive a PGA card and play in an official PGA tour event, his achievements resulted in induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2014. A sports legend to the Charlotte community, Sifford paved the way for golf greats like Lee Elder, Calvin Pete, Jim Thorpe, Jim Dent and Tiger Woods. Sifford’s lifetime endurance of harsh treatment and unspeakable indignities to play the game he loved made him a catalyst for diversity and inclusion in the game of golf.
Proceeds from the Dr. Charles L. Sifford Tournament and Luncheon will go directly to the Urban League’s Youth and Adult Workforce Readiness Programs. Last year, he ULCC provided more than 400 students in grades 3—12 with technology and workforce skills training. The Adult Workforce and Entrepreneurial programs served over 2600 Charlotte area residents by providing training and free national certification courses in HVAC, Fiber Optics/ Broadband, Premise Cabling, Customer Service, Microsoft and Entrepreneurship. ULCC program graduates earned more than 12.1 million in income since their inception.
Background – Charles Sifford
Charles Sifford was a self-taught golfer who began his life on the links as a caddy. The son of a factory worker, he caddied as a youngster at segregated country clubs in Charlotte, NC earning 60 cents per day. He fell in love with the game and became a 13-year-old prodigy who frequently broke par at challenging courses. By the age of 15, he was a top flight player,well known by many golfers in both the Black and White communities. However, that renowned came at a price, and threats of lynching resulted in Sifford’s move to Pennsylvania. He subsequently enlisted in the military and served WW II in the Pacific fighting in the Battle of Okinawa. After leaving the military he was still a top flight player with his mind set on becoming a professional golfer, and the opportunity to compete with the best PGA players. However, with the rules still excluding him from the PGA, he began his professional golf career on the Negro golf circuit; known as The United Golf Association (UGA) (circa 1950s). Sifford dominated the National Negro Open from 1952 to 1960, winning the event 6 times, in addition to 11 other UGA tournaments.
in 1960 Sifford legally challenged the PGA’s “Caucasian Male Only” membership policy. He fought and won his battle in the state of California. At the age of 38, he quickly established himself on the PGA Tour as a standout among some of golf’s biggest names including: Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Sam Snead and a young rising star – Jack Nicklaus. Sifford placed second in the 1960 Orange County Open – his 1st PGA tournament and went on throughout his career to win 2 additional PGA events, as well as the PGA Seniors Championship. He remained in the top 60 ‘purse’ winners on the tour during his career. His most bitter defeat was never receiving an invitation to the Master though more than qualified to compete.
‘Charlie’ Sifford was the first African American – and the only non-white person – inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2014. He received an honorary Doctorate of Law degree from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland in 2006. Sifford was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom – one of our nations’ highest honors – by President Obama in 2014. Charles Sifford passed away in February 2015.
