Posted on 02/04/2015 4:13:10 PM PST by Kid Shelleen
He started out in golf as a caddy, earning handfuls of change as a boy. Decades later, Charlie Sifford was named to the World Golf Hall of Fame, after a career marked by talent, character and the drive to change his sport. Sifford, the first black golfer to hold a PGA Tour card, has died at age 92. --SNIP-- at 17, he moved to Philadelphia, where he played on municipal courses such as Cobb's Creek Golf Club. The website Trenham Golf History says that at Cobb's Creek, Sifford often played against Howard "Butch" Wheeler, a black golfer from Atlanta who "played cross- handed, which was the case with many black men who were left-handed, as they had little access to left-handed golf clubs."
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
RIP
RIP.
I saw his story on the Golf Channel a few years back. It probably coincided with his induction into the HoF. I imagine it will air again since his passing.
I was disturbed by the way he was treated. I know it was a reflection of our culture at the time, but it really got under my skin.
I am glad he was alive to see his induction into the hall. The way he conducted himself through the adversity took an amazing strength. He was a stronger man than I would have been, I'm sure.
Had he not been a victim of segregation he may have set records even Jack couldn't match ...we'll never know.
When Sifford won the much more high-profile Greater Hartford Open by one stroke in August 1967 [at age 45], shooting a final-round 64 at the Wethersfield Country Club, he received an ovation from the galleries and pats on the back from his fellow pros. His triumph represented much more than his $20,000 pay check, however.
“If you try hard enough, anything can happen,” he said with tears in his eyes.
In winning the Los Angeles Open, Sifford shot a 28 on the back nine of his opening round and went on to defeat Harold Henning in a playoff.
Sometimes gruff when interviewed, Sifford struggled to overcome anger at the opportunities he had lost to racial discrimination, and he sought psychological counseling and listened to relaxation tapes.
“That helped some,” he once said. “But nothing’s going to help 30 years taken out of your life.”
wow... that sucks... its hard to believe people thought that way... well, since i moved to the south, no its not.
Charlie was certainly a gentleman toward me. I followed him for several rounds in the sectional SoCal PGA, c. '67, two rounds of match play daily for club pros at Recreation Park in Long Beach; winner qualifies for the PGA tournament. I was caddying, but the club pro I drew couldn't hit a fairway to save his soul, so I was soon free to spectate. Charlie had a wonderful swing, powerful low draw; his swing exceeded his putting, but his raw talent (first player I saw putt successfully out of a bunker) beat every opponent, until the morning he got out of bed and inexplicably the ball was no longer drawing.
Anyway, by the third day he recognized me and we had some pleasant chats. Courteous, friendly, encouraging, took a personal interest in me.
Ever after, I rooted not only for Charlie but also for his nephew, Curtis Sifford, a fine LA player who never made it on the tour.
Interesting addendum: Charlie played a one-round match on Shell's Wonderful World of Golf against Sam Snead, which Charlie won. Some time later, ol' Sam "revealed" that he had discovered on the back nine that he'd been carrying an illegal extra club, which required substantial penalties. Sam was leading, and he explained that rather than ruining the telecast by announcing penalties on himself, he decided simply to relinquish his lead deliberately and throw the match. Wounded pride at this West Virginian losing to a black man? Even if Sam's story was true, which is dubious, couldn't he keep his mouth shut and let Charlie enjoy what seemed to be his well-earned victory? I vividly recall Charlie urging in a 40' putt ("Get in theeeeeeeeeeere!") to claim the lead--sure looked like Charlie won fair and square.
Everyone smoked back then--you'd see Arnold Palmer lay his cigarette down to putt and then pick it up again. A little known fact is that Jack Nicklaus also smoked--but never on the golf course, which is why it was "little known." After ten-fifteen years on tour, he quit smoking, took up tennis, dropped thirty pounds, and continued dominating. Arnie quit, too, and started jogging.
Ever notice that you never hear of a pro golfer keeling over with a heart attack at 55? Unless they get cancer, or have an accident, they all seem to last until their eighties, or nineties like Charlie. Walking is good.
I should add that Charlie putted with that stogie in his mouth. Was there a correlation between that and his indifferent success on the greens?
Wonderful thread. Thanks to all for the stories!
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