Charles Sifford: the PGA’s First Black Golfer
As February is Black History Month, it’s fitting to talk about Charles Sifford, the first African-American to play on the PGA tour. Sifford was born in rural North Carolina in 1922. He started in golf as a caddie in the 1930s, making 60 cents/day. Of course, caddies get to play in their free time and by age 13, Sifford was frequently shooting par.
Charles Sifford won the National Negro Open five times in a row (1952-1956), while repeatedly being denied a PGA card. He was finally invited to the tour in 1960, when the PGA dropped it’s “Caucasian Only” rule, under pressure from the California attorney general.
Even though he was 39 when he joined the PGA, Sifford won two events–the 1967 Greater Hartford Open and the 1969 Los Angeles Open. He went on the become one of the original members of the Champions Tour in 1975.
Sifford made history again in 2004 when he became the first African-American inductee in the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida.
Two generations of African-American golfers are indebted to Mr. Sifford’s efforts. Tiger Woods was quoted at Mr. Sifford’s induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame as saying, “He has my respect and my gratitude for the sacrifices he made to open the doors to this great game to people of color.”
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9 opinions for Charles Sifford: the PGA’s First Black Golfer
Black History Month around b5 Media
Feb 24, 2008 at 10:04 pm
[...] From “Green Posse,” a look at the first Black player on the PGA Tour [...]
Randy Johnson
Mar 10, 2008 at 10:44 am
Watching Joe Louis- A Biography, it told of Joe being the first black to play in a PGA tourney in San Diego around 1951. Mention was made of Charlie Sifford being in the group to bring blacks into golf. Apparently this was not true? Would like to know. Thank you.
Sandy Mitchell
Mar 10, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Hi Randy! Thanks for reading Green Posse. According to Sifford’s World Golf Hall of Fame Bio, he and Louis were part of an all-black foursome at the 1952 Phoenix Open, a non-PGA event. I believe the difference is that Lewis played in 1951 as an amateur and that Sifford was the first African-American player to win a PGA Tour card. You can read more about it here:
http://www.wgv.com/hof/member.php?member=1105
clyde rodney
Jul 28, 2008 at 9:32 am
Mr Sifford should have been inducted years ago.He is a great man who took on the establishment and done us proud.Even though he was hindered in his golf career he did alot for golf.By the way he played along with the fact that he is a proud man.Without his contribution door would still be closed to this day.
John Vaughan
Sep 5, 2008 at 7:55 am
I was lucky enought to have played a round of golf with Mr. Sifford, At Firestone CC in Akron Ohio. On a mini tour called the Ohio Tornado Tour in 1998. He was quite a gentleman. A very humble and gracious man. He still played good golf at his age.
1966 Golf, 25th Crosby National Pro-Am part 3 | Photos from the Vault
Jan 15, 2009 at 10:40 am
[...] The old clippings can be jarring at times to read and are a measure of how language has evolved in the over 40 years since they were written. In a post Tiger Woods world, if Sifford’s ethnic origin was considered necessary for the story he would likely be called the first African-American to play the PGA tour. [...]
Scholastica8
Jan 21, 2009 at 1:04 am
I’m a little late to comment on this but….
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.
Bill
Feb 20, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I think it’s a great idea to allow players of color to play in PGA tournaments under the Charlie Sifford exemption. This week, Vincent Johnson is one such player. I’ve watched Vincent play while he was a student at OSU, and he was quite impressive in his play and character. He had a bit of misfortune in his round today, but from what I’ve observed he has what it takes to be on the PGA tour. The exemption is allowing him to experience first hand what it’s like to play with the big boys. Kudos to Mr. Sifford for enabling this to happen!
Roberts
Jun 2, 2009 at 9:22 am
I have had the pleasure of practicing and playing with Charles Sifford’s relative. I have great respect and admiration for the Sifford family.
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