Jun 27

Nicklaus got a bill, but Sifford earned respect

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No one is belittling anything Jack Nicklaus ever did…that he was denied Freedom Of The City (as Bobby Jones and Ben Franklin received before him) was a bit snippy on the part of the meisters of the burgh of St. Andrews. However, the blow was cushioned with the issuance of a monetary bill with the golden bear in his glory.

A story in Golf Digest struck a different tone, as it resonated with the theme that has echoed throughout golf since Tiger Woods hit the scene: african-americans and golf. I do not say “minorities,” as latinos and asians all have a certain prominence in golf. Other than Tiger, we cannot find evidence of black golfers making the grade. Tim O’Neal competes full-time on the Nationwide Tour…Lewis Chitengwa had the backing of Nick Price and a promising start on the Canadian Tour when he died a few years back from meningitis…Madalitso Muthiya competed at Winged Foot but fared poorly…Kevin Hall (also deaf) won the Big Ten championship a few years back, and makes appearances now and again (recently at the Memorial) on the big tours. None of these young men has shown what it takes to get to the Tour.

Charlie Sifford received an honorary doctorate from The University of St. Andrews this year. He was accompanied by Alton Duhon, the only other (than Tiger) black USGA titleholder, Sifford’s children, and members of the YGAA (Young Golfers Association of America), an inner-city program in LA. Sifford’s story is all-too-well known, one of the last remnants of a sorry time in american history. Recognition by the university is a wonderful thing, as it would be for Charles Owens, Jim Thorpe, Jim Dent, Lee Elder, Calvin Peete and a number of other great black american golfers.

What is left, however, is the promise, the hope, the absence. No matter how much we wish for a new, great black hope (male or female, we don’t care), we cannot wish her or him onto the stage. Are the opportunities there for black youth? Perhaps. Is the desire? Perhaps. The motivation? Perhaps. The answer? Not for me.

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4 comments

  1. § Judge Smails said on : 06/28/06 @ 00:20
    Why should we care whether or not there are successful black golfers? Should we care about whether or not there are Chinese golfers? Vietnamese golfers?

    Stop focusing on color and stop being so PC.
  2. § Ron Mon® Email said on : 06/28/06 @ 06:05
    I'm not being PC, JACKALOPE! Our country has a history of racial inequality, which somehow escapes you. Perhaps you brits choose to ignore this, or sweep it under a carpet and some scones. In any case, if we had a history of abusing the Chinese, the Vietnamese, or others, I would explore that issue as well. In case you haven't heard, JACKMANDU, being black or african-american is not about color. Perhaps you should look a bit deeper, and have more than a Fresca.
    Love, Ty.
  3. § John Fischer said on : 06/28/06 @ 16:15
    In part, I think one of the reasons we have fewer African-American golfers is because caddie programs have been replaced by golf carts and better paying summer jobs. Historically, many people from backgrounds where golf was not a part of their family life were exposed to golf through being a caddie. Witness, for example, Gene Sarazen, Ed Sullivan, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and the Turnesa brothers. And there isn't a caddie around who didn't pick up a club and hit some balls knowing that he or she could beat the player they were caddying for. I have hopes for Kevin Hall having watched him as a junior player. Winning the Big Ten Championship shows Kevin has the game. He just needs to move it up a notch.
  4. § Garfield Richards said on : 06/29/06 @ 15:37
    I think that focusing on the lack of representation of blacks in golf, or sports in general, is besides the point. As a black person -- and someone who really is terrible at playing basketball, running, dancing, acting, singing, throwing, etc -- I learned earlier on that the only other option was to do well in academics (note that I didn't say become rapper or drug dealer). That actually worked out well for me. Blacks in the US would have more economic and political power if they focused on excelling in finance and accounting, law and medicine; all those professions contain a part of the educated class that politicians love to romance...more members of the middle class also go on to positions of power and decision-making in society - more so than basketball or football plays. Sure there are some good examples of exceptions. But not enough. And I do believe that excelling in academics is more important than producing another self-centred Kobe or brain-dead Ricky Williams.

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