Celebration 120

October 2 & 3, 2026 · Historic Clearview Golf Course

Two powerful legacies. One unforgettable celebration.

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Since 1986

The record, every name in it.

Harold Dunovant founded this Hall because the contributions of Black golfers were going unrecorded. What follows is that record: every class from the inaugural induction in 1986 forward, players, builders, organisations and locations.

Help us finish it. Many of these entries have no photograph and no line of biography. If you knew them, played with them, or hold a picture, we want it. The record only stays a record if somebody keeps adding to it.
20254 inducted
Debert Cook

Debert Cook

Class of 2025

Publisher of African American Golfer's Digest.

Michael

Michael "Coop" Cooper, PhD

Class of 2025

Chief executive of Cooper Consulting and a member of the Hall.

Carrie Russell

Carrie Russell

Class of 2025

Class of 2025.

Shady Rest Country Club

Shady Rest Country Club

Class of 2025

Scotch Plains, New Jersey. The first Black-owned country club in America.

20234 inducted
20215 inducted
JC

Honorable James Clyburn

Class of 2021

United States Congressman, South Carolina.

CC

Cobbs Creek Golf Course

Class of 2021

Philadelphia. A proving ground for generations of Black players.

SM

Steve Mona

Class of 2021

Former chief executive of the World Golf Foundation.

20164 inducted
LP

Lawrence Powell

Class of 2016

Son of William Powell. Runs Clearview with his sister Renee.

20155 inducted
20133 inducted
Earl Woods, Sr.

Earl Woods, Sr.

Class of 2013

Father and first teacher of Tiger Woods.

LG

Langston Golf Course

Class of 2013

Washington DC. Built in 1939 when Black golfers were barred from the city's other courses.

20123 inducted
AG

Ann Gregory

Class of 2012

The first Black woman to play in a USGA championship.

AS

Adrian Stills

Class of 2012

PGA professional and NBGHF member.

TW

Tom Woodard

Class of 2012

PGA professional and NBGHF member.

20113 inducted
RH

Rose Harper

Class of 2011

Chief executive of The Grass Ceiling.

20103 inducted
20085 inducted
PM

Pete McDaniel

Class of 2008

Author of Uneven Lies, the definitive history of African Americans in golf.

RP

Rogers Park Golf Club

Class of 2008

Tampa, Florida. Inducted in the category of Organizations and Locations.

20075 inducted
Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson

Class of 2007

Wimbledon and US Open champion who broke the LPGA colour line in 1964.

20068 inducted
Renee Powell

Renee Powell

Class of 2006

One of the first Black women to play the LPGA Tour. Runs Clearview today.

20034 inducted
20025 inducted
EP

Eddie Payton

Class of 2002

Longtime head golf coach at Jackson State University.

20014 inducted
20005 inducted
19995 inducted
19986 inducted
19974 inducted
19964 inducted
WP

William Powell

Class of 1996

Built Clearview Golf Club by hand in 1946, the only course in America designed, built and owned by a Black man.

19954 inducted
RL

Rufus Lewis

Class of 1995

Longtime board member and advisor. Ran the Rogers Park history interviews.

19945 inducted
HD

Harold Dunovant

Class of 1994

Founded this Hall in 1986. The first Black graduate of the PGA Business School.

MH

Maggie Hathaway

Class of 1994

Founded the NAACP's Beverly Hills-Hollywood golf committee and desegregated Los Angeles public courses.

19936 inducted
19926 inducted
19917 inducted
Gary Player

Gary Player

Class of 1991

Nine major championships. Recognised for opening the game across colour lines.

19904 inducted
19895 inducted
198810 inducted
198713 inducted
Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson

Class of 1987

Broke baseball's colour line and pushed golf to follow.

Bill Wright

Bill Wright

Class of 1987

First Black player to win a USGA championship, the 1959 Amateur Public Links.

198614 inducted
Lee Elder

Lee Elder

Class of 1986

First Black golfer to play the Masters, 1975.

Joe Louis

Joe Louis

Class of 1986

Heavyweight champion who forced the integration of a PGA event in 1952.

Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer

Class of 1986

Seven major championships. Inaugural class, 1986.

Calvin Peete

Calvin Peete

Class of 1986

Twelve PGA TOUR wins, more than any Black player before Tiger Woods.

TR

Ted Rhodes

Class of 1986

Joe Louis's teacher and one of the finest players of the segregated era.

JS

John Shippen

Class of 1986

Played the second US Open in 1896. The first American-born professional.

Charlie Sifford

Charlie Sifford

Class of 1986

First Black player on the PGA TOUR. Won the Greater Hartford Open in 1967 and the Los Angeles Open in 1969.

Bill Spiller

Bill Spiller

Class of 1986

Fought the PGA's caucasian-only clause and helped force its repeal.

Is somebody missing?

This record was rebuilt from the Hall’s own printed history and from the papers its members have kept. It is not complete, and some spellings may be wrong. If you can add a photograph, a date, a correction or a story, send it and we will put it in.

Send a Correction