Miles Bennett
Golf has long been considered a racist sport, with a history of racial segregation and exclusion of Black people. Despite efforts to address these issues, racism remains rife within the sport, with several professional golfers sharing their experiences of racism and the lack of diversity in the sport. Golf has been described as a white, middle-class, evangelically Christian and unashamedly conservative sport, and its history of racism has been particularly evident at Augusta National Golf Club, which was committed to branding itself as the epicenter of Southern beauty, prosperity, and repose, with Black people only allowed to be present in subservient roles. While some golfers are becoming more aware of the entrenched racial issues, the sport continues to struggle with diversity and inclusion, with few Black golfers represented in worldwide rankings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History of racism | Golf has a long history of racism, with racial segregation for most of its existence in America. |
| Underrepresentation of minorities | There are few Black golfers in the top worldwide rankings, and the LPGA Tour has never had more than single-digit Black participants. |
| Country club culture | Country clubs, where golf is often played, have been associated with exclusivity and racism. |
| Racial stereotyping | There are stereotypes and double standards for golfers of color, who may be viewed as "showboats" or token representatives of their race. |
| Lack of diversity in leadership | Golf companies and organizations, such as the PGA and LPGA Tours, lack diversity in their leadership and decision-making positions. |
| Inaction and silence | There is a perception of inaction and silence within the golf community regarding racial issues, with some people choosing to ignore or revise the past rather than confront it. |
| Racist comments and exclusion | BAME golfers have reported experiencing racist comments, exclusion, and discrimination within the sport. |
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What You'll Learn
Golf's racist history
Golf has long been associated with racism, with a history of racial segregation and discrimination against people of colour, particularly Black people. The sport has been described as "dominated by white men" and has been slow to address its racist past and present.
The history of racism in golf is deep-rooted and pervasive. In the United States, out of the roughly 360 years that golf has existed, the sport has practised racial segregation for most of that time. Even today, there are only two Black men in the top 100 worldwide rankings and only one Black woman in the top 300.
The exclusion of Black people from golf has been intentional and systemic. Golf courses and country clubs have often been exclusive spaces for wealthy white people, with people of colour, particularly Black people, actively discouraged or prevented from participating. For example, the Augusta National Golf Club, home to the prestigious Masters Tournament, was founded in 1933 with a commitment to branding it as the "epicenter of Southern beauty, prosperity, and repose". The club's co-founder, Clifford Roberts, once said, "As long as I'm alive, all the golfers will be white, and all the caddies will be Black."
Black golfers have faced discrimination and racism throughout the history of the sport. Tiger Woods, one of the most famous golfers of all time, has spoken about feeling out of place at major country clubs, sensing the stares and unspoken questions of "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here." Woods' niece, Cheyenne Woods, has also experienced racism in the sport, encountering a flyer posted to her family home promoting white supremacy and a "them-and-us" culture at junior golf events.
In addition to discrimination and exclusion, people of colour in golf have also faced "horribly racist comments" and microaggressions from their peers. One mixed-race golfer recounted how his fellow golfers made racist comments during social gatherings, only to apologise profusely when they found out about his racial background. Another golfer, World Long Drive champion Maurice Allen, shared how he received hate mail accusing him of "race-mingling" and calling him "Django" and "Obama Bin Laden."
While golf has started to confront its racist history and present-day issues, there is still much work to be done to address the systemic racism and discrimination that has plagued the sport for centuries.
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Lack of representation
Golf has long been considered a white, middle-class, and conservative sport, with a history of racial segregation. The sport has begun to confront its racist history, but there is still a lack of representation for people of colour, particularly in positions of influence.
The PGA Tour was the last major American sports organisation to desegregate, and the LPGA Tour has yet to see the number of Black participants reach double digits. There are only two Black men in the top 100 worldwide rankings and one Black woman in the top 300. Since Tiger Woods joined the PGA Tour in 1996, there have been fewer Black golfers. Woods himself has spoken about the racism he has faced, and his niece, Cheyenne Woods, has also discussed her experiences of racism in the sport. She has faced comments about only getting attention because of her famous last name and has spoken about the lack of diversity in golf.
Other golfers have also shared their experiences of racism in the sport, including receiving horribly racist comments and facing barriers to participating in events. One golfer, Zane, who is mixed-race, has spoken about how his contemporaries would make racist comments when they were unaware of his Black heritage. Another golfer, Maurice Allen, has spoken about the hate mail he has received and the racist comments he has faced as the only Black man in competitions.
The lack of representation for people of colour in golf extends beyond the players to the golf companies and organisations. One golfer, Hack, has pointed out that none of the golf companies have Black influencers, which makes it difficult for young Black people to see themselves in the sport and aspire to be golfers. There is also a lack of people of colour in leadership and administrative positions within golf organisations, which contributes to the lack of investment in minority communities and the lack of accessibility for people of colour in the sport.
The Clearview Golf Club, owned by Bill Powell, a Black man, stands out as an exception in the sport. Powell built Clearview in 1946 after facing racial discrimination in his attempts to play golf following his service in World War II. His daughter, Renee Powell, became one of only eight Black women to be full-time members of the LPGA Tour.
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Country clubs and racism
Country clubs, which often feature golf as their principal or sole sporting activity, have historically been associated with the upper classes. They were founded by upper-class elites between 1880 and 1930 and, by 1907, were considered "the very essence of American upper-class".
Country clubs have also been associated with exclusivity and discrimination. Historically, many country clubs refused to admit members of specific racial, ethnic, or religious groups, such as Jews, African Americans, and Catholics. This type of discrimination was not limited to the United States, as many of the gentlemen's clubs established during the British Raj in India were also exclusive and discriminatory.
In the 1960s, civil rights lawsuits forced some clubs to drop their exclusionary policies. For example, in 1962, twelve of the leading country clubs in the Greater Los Angeles area were open only to Christians, but by 1969, that number had dropped to eleven. In 1977, two Jewish men were admitted as members of the Los Angeles Country Club.
Despite these changes, racism and discrimination in country clubs and the sport of golf persist. In 1990, the founder of Shoal Creek, the host club of the PGA Championship, stated that his club would not be pressured into accepting "the blacks". This sparked widespread backlash, leading major sponsors to pull their ads from TV coverage of the event.
Even today, golfers of colour continue to face racism and discrimination within the sport and at country clubs. Tiger Woods, one of the most prominent golfers of all time, has spoken about feeling stared at and unwelcome at major country clubs. Other golfers have shared similar experiences, including hearing horribly racist comments and facing barriers to participating in events.
While some progress has been made, the sport of golf and its associated country clubs continue to grapple with a history of racism and discrimination.
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Racist comments
Golf has long been associated with racism and racial segregation. The sport has been described as "dominated by white men" and has been slow to address its racist history.
While golf has started to confront its past, with golfers becoming more aware of the entrenched issues, racism is still prevalent within the sport. This is evident in the experiences of Black golfers, who have spoken out about the racist comments and treatment they have faced.
One Black golfer, Zane, shared his experience of hearing racist comments from his contemporaries, who were unaware that he was half Black. He recalled an incident where one of his colleagues made a racist remark during a dinner outing, assuming that Zane was White. Zane's friend later informed the individual that Zane's father was Black, and the individual called Zane's room that night to apologize.
Another golfer, Maurice Allen, who is also Black, shared his experience of receiving hate mail from fans, accusing him of "race-mingling" and calling him "Django" and "Obama Bin Laden". Allen also noted that he is often the only Black man in competitions, which puts him in uncomfortable situations.
Cheyenne Woods, the niece of renowned golfer Tiger Woods, has also faced racism in the sport. She recalled receiving comments such as, "'She only gets attention or support because of her last name.' I had to totally disregard that. I am appreciative of the support, and I play golf because I love it." Woods also shared an incident from her youth, where she received a flyer at her family home promoting white supremacy, which made her realize that she was not accepted everywhere.
These experiences of Black golfers highlight the racist comments and microaggressions they endure within the sport of golf. It is important to acknowledge and address these issues to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for golfers of all races.
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Golf's racial segregation
Golf has long been associated with racial segregation and discrimination. Despite efforts to address these issues, the sport continues to grapple with its problematic history and the persistent lack of diversity among players and leadership.
The roots of golf's racial issues can be traced back to its early days in the United States. For much of its roughly 360-year history in the country, golf has been a predominantly white sport, with people of colour often excluded or relegated to subordinate roles. Augusta National Golf Club, which became the epicentre of American golf, was founded with a commitment to reflecting the social mores of the Jim Crow era. Its co-founder, Clifford Roberts, once stated, "As long as I'm alive, all the golfers will be white and all the caddies will be Black."
Even today, golf struggles with racial inequality and a lack of representation. There are very few Black golfers in the top worldwide rankings, and the LPGA Tour has yet to see double-digit numbers of Black participants in its history. Additionally, golfers of colour often face discrimination and exclusion. Tiger Woods, one of the most famous golfers of all time, has spoken about feeling out of place at major country clubs, sensing the unspoken question, "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here." Woods's niece, Cheyenne Woods, has also shared her experiences of racism and the challenges of being a Black woman in a sport dominated by white men.
The sport is also confronting instances of racism among players. Charles Howell III, for example, admitted to 'blacking up' and pretending to be Tiger Woods during a period of Woods's public struggles. While Howell has since apologised and undergone racial sensitivity training, his actions reflect the entrenched issues within golf.
Despite these challenges, there have been some efforts to promote diversity and address racism in golf. One notable example is Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, Ohio, which was built by Bill Powell, a Black veteran, in 1946. After facing racial rejection from golf courses in eastern Ohio, Powell decided to create his own course. Clearview has been open for almost a century and stands as a testament to inclusion and perseverance in the face of racial segregation in golf.
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Frequently asked questions
Golf has a long history of racism and racial segregation. Despite some efforts to address racism, it continues to be a predominantly white sport with few Black participants.
There have been numerous reports of racist incidents in golf, including "horribly racist comments", exclusion from events, and microaggressions. Golfers of colour have also reported feeling unwelcome at country clubs and being subjected to stares and comments like, "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here."
Some golfers and organisations are working to address racism in the sport. This includes speaking out about their experiences, calling out racist behaviour, advocating for increased diversity and inclusion initiatives, and providing scholarships for minority golfers. However, many feel that these efforts are insufficient and that more needs to be done to make the sport more accessible and inclusive.
