As a child I knew Joe Louis, Teddy “Rags” Rhodes, Lee Elder, & Charlie “Hoss” Sifford. That was in the late 1950s. My dad was a life member of the PGA & part of a group of white & black pros, hustlers, athletes, & entertainers who hung out at Western Ave (now Chester Washington) GC in Los Angeles. It was a public course. Others that were around were Don & Harry Mills of the Mills Brothers, Peanuts Lowry & Gene Mock of the Philadelphia Phillies, Smiley Quick (who had competed on the Ryder Cup Team once). I also recall meeting Billy Eckstein, Harold Nicholas, Hogie Charmicheael, the Ink Spots. There was also Maggie Hathaway, a civil rights/golf personality in the LA scene for many years.

I heard a lot of stories, but have never investigated dates, tournament names, etc. Joe may have played in PGA tournaments prior to Charlie Sifford. Joe, my dad & Teddy Rhodes were about the same age. Charlie was 10 years younger & Lee Elder was about 10 years younger than Charlie.

So, Joe was into golf before Charlie was totally on the scene. Teddy Rhodes & my dad gave Joe lessons in the 1940s. Teddy first, then my dad entered the picture when Joe wanted to take lessons & play when in training at French Lick, IN. My dad was from IN & returned there in the summers, but wintered in LA, where Joe lived.

If Joe Louis played in earlier PGA tournaments, he was doing so in a sort of exhibition match that was occurring within a tournament context… sort of a parallel event. In the tournament, but not. Mildred “Babe” Didricksen Zaharias did the same.

One person who should never be forgotten in golf circles, however, is Teddy Rhodes. He was a really terrific player, colorful, & great guy… who was born too early.