The Clearview Golf Club, also known as Clearview Golf Course, holds the historic distinction of being the first golf course in the United States to be designed, built, owned, and operated by an African American. Established in 1946 by Bill Powell, in response to the racial discrimination he faced at other golf clubs, Clearview opened its doors to the public—and to all races—in April 1948. Located outside East Canton, Ohio, the course was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Renee Powell, Bill Powell’s daughter, who learned to play golf there, is a PGA/LGPA professional and became the second Black woman to compete on the LPGA Tour.
Clearview Golf Club remains the only golf course in the U.S. to be entirely designed, built, owned, and managed by African Americans. It is one of only approximately 13 Black-owned or operated golf courses in the country. Situated two miles from East Canton, Ohio, the par-72 course spans 130 acres and features 18 holes. The name “Clearview” reflects the vision of the Greenville, Alabama-born man of creating a space where golf could be accessible to everyone, regardless of race. Today, the club is managed by Bill’s children, Larry Powell and Renee Powell.
Denied a GI loan, Bill secured financial backing from two Black physicians and his brother, who took out a second mortgage. With these resources, he purchased a 78-acre dairy farm and began transforming it into a golf course. Powell worked tirelessly, clearing the land and planting grass by hand during the day, while working night shifts at Timken. By 1948, the first nine holes were completed, and the club officially opened.
Despite facing hostility and vandalism, Bill remained committed to his mission. He even encountered a Ku Klux Klan member on the course but chose not to let such incidents deter him. https://www.clearviewgolfclub.com/ was simple: “I wanted this to be a place where race didn’t matter; where the only thing that matters is the game of golf.”
Mr. Powell was a life member of the Professional Golf Association and received recognition and honors throughout the country and the world. In 1992, the Powells were honored by the National Golf Foundation as the Jack Nicklaus Golf Family of the Year. That same year, Bill was awarded the “Cornerstone of Freedom Award” from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission.
In 1996, he was inducted in the National Black Golf Hall of Fame and in 1997, was presented honorary PGA membership by the Northern Ohio PGA Section and he later was given a lifetime one. Powell died on Dec. 31, 2009 at age 93. Yet, Clearview Golf Club continues to stand as a powerful symbol of perseverance, inclusivity, and the transformative potential of sport.
The Clearview Legacy Foundation for Education, Preservation, and Turfgrass Research is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable foundation established in 2001 to preserve the Clearview legacy and facilities for future generations.
Clearview Golf Course Regular weekday rates:
9 holes walking/20.00 9 holes riding 28.00
18 holes walking 23.00/18 holes riding 39.00
Senior rates available.
Location: 8410 Lincoln St., SE., Canton, Ohio 44730
Telephone: (330) 488-0404
