St. Augustine, Fla. (May 2, 2014) – The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum will officially open “Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African-Americans in Golf” today with a ceremony including Hall of Fame member Charlie Sifford and LPGA pioneer Renee Powell, along with PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem.
Developed with the support of the PGA of America, the PGA TOUR and the USGA, this permanent exhibition contains rare photographs, audio, video and memorabilia to highlight the long, rich history of African-Americans in golf starting with pioneers from the late 1800s through today’s game.
“I’m happy that golf fans from around the world can come to the Hall of Fame and learn about the amazing stories of African-Americans in golf,” said Sifford, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004. “It is gratifying to see so many within the golf industry come together with the Hall of Fame to make this exhibition a reality.”
Sifford’s PGA Player Card from 1960, the document that officially broke golf’s color barrier, will be one of many items on display, along with others from 1985 PLAYERS champion Calvin Peete, boxing legend Joe Louis and tennis great Althea Gibson. Tablet technology featuring profiles of prominent African-Americans in golf along with an interactive, touch-screen video display make this one of the Hall of Fame’s most advanced exhibits. The centerpiece of the exhibit is an original sculpture, “The DNA of the Golf Swing,” designed by renowned sculptor Mario Chiodo and features 13 African-American golf legends.
“The PGA of America is proud to contribute to this important exhibition at the World Golf Hall of Fame which honors individuals, including PGA members, who paved a brave trail to ensure racial equity in golf,” said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Pete Bevacqua. “Their stories should forever be remembered, as the rights they stood up for remain a noble cause. From those that opened the door for all to enjoy the game to golfers today who honor this tradition by playing at the highest level, we pay tribute to the legacies African-Americans have made to further golf and foster equality.”
“It certainly is fitting that such a meaningful exhibit for our sport is opening 50 years to the week that Pete Brown etched his name in golf history by becoming the first African-American golfer to win a PGA TOUR-sanctioned tournament,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “We should never lose sight of these poignant stories of overcoming significant challenges to make a lasting impact on golf, and the PGA TOUR is proud to collaborate with the other golf organizations to help tell this important story.”
“This exhibit honors not just great players, but great people who broke through barriers and did so with determination and dignity,” said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis. “The USGA is proud to collaborate with the PGA of America and PGA TOUR on this wonderful addition to the World Golf Hall of Fame. It demonstrates that the golf community is stronger when we work together to celebrate the game’s history.”
Best-selling author Pete McDaniel served as the lead writer on the project. McDaniel is the author of the acclaimed book “Uneven Lies: The Heroic Story of African Americans in Golf’’ and co-wrote and co-produced the documentary “Uneven Fairways.” He is a member of both the African American Golfers Hall of Fame and National Black Golf Hall of Fame.
Artist Mario Chiodo, renowned for his compelling sculptures based on history and social justice, created the centerpiece sculpture. Chiodo has designed monuments throughout the U.S., including the Harriet Tubman/Thomas Garrett Memorial in Wilmington, Del., the Contrabands Freedman’s Memorial in Alexandria, Va., and “Remember Them: Champions for Humanity” in Oakland, Calif., the largest human rights monument in the Western United States.
“It is an honor to open this unique exhibition, which is both part of the Hall of Fame’s ongoing mission to preserve the history of golf and a celebration of what can be accomplished with force of will and a love of the game,” said Jack Peter, Chief Operating Officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame. “We would like to thank the PGA of America, the PGA TOUR and the USGA, as well as Pete McDaniel, Mario Chiodo and the African-Americans in the game who worked tirelessly to help create this exhibition.”
For more information, including photos, about the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum and “Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African-Americans in Golf,” visit WorldGolfHallofFame.org.
***
About the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum
The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum preserves and honors the history of golf and the legacies of those who have made it great. The Hall of Fame and Museum, located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., serves as a steward of the game through engaging, interactive storytelling and exhibitions featuring artifacts, works of art, audio, video and photography significant to the history of golf and its members.
The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 nonprofit institution and is allied with 26 national and international golf organizations, including The European Tour, LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA. To learn more about the Hall of Fame or to lend support, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org.
About the PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, the PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, the PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As the PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.
About the PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is the world’s premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, NEC Series-PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR China.
The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in the communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.
Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to nearly 945 million households in 225 countries and territories in 32 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2012, tournaments across all Tours generated more than $130 million for local charitable organizations, bringing the TOUR’s all-time total of charitable contributions to $1.86 billion.
The PGA TOUR’s web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, equipment standards, and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s working jurisdiction comprises the United States, its territories, and Mexico.
The USGA is a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history, and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
# # #
As the Founding Partner of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum and World Golf Village, Shell Oil Company played a lead role in supporting the development and growth of the institution, which opened in 1998. Since then, their continued involvement has led the way for others to join in support of the Hall of Fame & Museum’s mission.
