Black Golf History
Early Anecdotes - 1936
| The following anecdotes about early Black golfers in the Twin Cities are extracted from local Black newspapers: |
| Golf Divots by Jimmy Lee, Minneapolis Spokesman, April 24, 1936 There were eleven players at Como Sunday morning bright and early. Most ambitious of all was our dear Dr. Crump, who declares his game will be down in the 70's this season. Tommy Donaldson kept his foursome waiting nearly an hour, but no Tommy yet - wonder what happened to little Tommy? |
| Golf Divots by Jimmy Lee, Minneapolis Spokesman, May 15, 1936 The fine weather we are having has brought out many of the old-time golfers. I saw Sam Wright last week and he was telling me he intends to take a few of the boys in camp. Jimmy Hughes has bet the boys that he will break ninety before the season is over. O. K., Jimmy, more power to you. Paul Boswell and John Kendall played their first game of golf last week. Both fellows are serious about their game and should be trouble for some of the players - later. Johnny WIlliams of Minneapolis still has the boys in doubt. He made a bet with a certain guy that he would be shooting in the seventies before the season ended - well, Mr. Williams certainly is a man of his word and if his game continues to improve, I am afraid someone is going to be sorry. Wilbur Wright , Otis Woodard, and Sam Reed are the club's most graceful players - form, of course. John WIlliams is the club's longest driver. When Mr. Williams is really socking them they travel about 275 yards. Who said they don't come back? "Hezzy" Allen is Exhibit A. His game was really bad at the earlier part of the season; last Sunday at Keller, he shot the lowest score made - now ain't that grand - O. K. Hezzy. They say W. Squire Neal is back from "Chi" with a brand new set of clubs. Well, Mr. Neal, there are several gentlemen who have been anxiously awaiting your return - now let's see what the "Pros" down in the Windy City have done for you. The club has secured the service of Raymond Wright as an instructor. Mr. Wright is well known around the Twin Cities for his play in caddy tournaments, having won one in 1929. Heard the "Pat"Ball, the leading colored "Pro" in and around "Chi," will again play in the Keller open this summer. Mr. Ball played in the St. Paul tournament in 1934, and would have been trouble for some of the leading "Pros" had it not been for a disastrous first round. Should he come, our people should surely support him, because he certainly knows his A B C's on the golf course. Emmet Galloway tells me he is going to wait until the weather is really warm before he plays - well just wait until the well known "golf bug" nibbles this fellow - I know him. -- Well, I'll be seeing you next time. |
| Golf Divots by Jimmy Lee, Minneapolis Spokesman, June 5, 1936 Many of the fellows played good golf over the holiday week end. Sammy Reed led the field with a beautiful 80?86 out at Hiawatha course. Close to Samuel was that ever persistent little "Hezzy" Allen with an 87. Johnny WIlliams, Jimmy Murray, and Tommy Donaldson followed by shooting in the low nineties. Rev. Carlyle Stewart has returned to the club after having been away up until now. Rev. Stewart shoots a very good game and is one of the few left-handed players in the club. Glad to have you back, Rev. James Crowder of Sioux Falls, S.D., came up over the week-end to show the boys here in the Twin Cities just what the boys in South Dakota can do about this game called golf. Mr. Crowder really shot nice golf considering the fact he was playing over a course completely foreign to him - I hear he and Mr. James Murray had their usual private battle. Leroy Cope and our good secretary, Charles Noble, are really going in for this game strong. Can you imagine these fellows out in the morning at 5 o'clock - fighting recognition. I wonder if our good friend, Dr. James Crump is really feeling his ?oats?. Someone told me he couldn't go but nine holes Saturday. Theodore Allen and John Thomas are the game's most seasoned players. These fellows go around the course without ever saying a word - wonder what they are thinking. Johnny WIlliams hasn't broken eighty yet, but he still says he will - when he does I know a certain fellow who certainly will be sick. Well, stick around and I will tell you all about the tournament next week. |
| Golf Divots by Jimmy Lee, Minneapolis Spokesman, July 10, 1936 The double holiday found many of the boys out on the links shooting at old man Par. Some of those seen by the old "Tatler" were Jimmy and Percy Hughes, Otis Woodard, Charles Noble, Johnny Williams, Tommy Donaldson, Bert Smith, Bert Davison, Harold Carter, Dr. Crump, Rev. Stewart, Charles de la Compson, Dr. Brown, Harvey Moss, and last but not least, the two "bad" men of the little club, Hezzy (Runt) Allen and Jimmy (the veteran) Murray - ain't that a swell gang? Who said the boys ain't goin' in for their golf seriously? There were many good scores shot over the week-end, but I think the best was shot by little Tommy Donaldson. Thomas shot an ?86? over the tough Hilltop course Saturday and just to show that courses didn't make any difference with him, he shot Como Sunday in 89 - good shooting in any man's land. Our good Secretary, Charles Noble, also came up with a very good score. He uncorked an 88 at Hilltop Saturday and topped this off with a 95 Sunday at Como. This fellow, Charles Noble, by the way, is supposed to be the "bad man" of our second flight players, but his supremacy has been challenged by such players as Dr. Crump, Bert Smith, and Bert Davison - I wonder if Charles can handle these youngsters - well, time will tell. Saw Bert Davison on the links the other day and he had quite a smile on his face. Some one told me his score, no wonder he was smiling so - o.k. Bert, keep it up. Will some one please tell me what has become of such golfing geniuses as Leo Bohanon, Bill Gardner, Ivo Shelby, Ralph Ward, Dr. Weber, "Buster" Claiborne, Ray Wright, Brutus Cassius, Ray Brown, Adolph Thomas, and "Mickey" McGuire. I do wish youse guys would at least let the old "Tatler" know your hiding places - your scores might interest our dear public. Ran into Rev. Stewart and Father Thomas out at Hiawatha last week - they seemed to be playing a quiet little game together. Don't know who the winner was, but I think I am going to try and arrange a match between them and Father James and Rev. Gibson of St. Paul. Gee, that should be good -- I haven't had a definite word yet but I am still hoping that "Pat" Ball comes up for the Keller Open which will be held July 16th to 19th at Keller course, St. Paul. I am again urging as many of out people as can to go out and see him in action. It will be a treat to see one of our boys in this big match. |
| Golf Divots by Jimmy Lee, Minneapolis Spokesman, July 24, 1936 Yes, such good golf [referring to the Keller Open Golf Tournament] also inspires our local lads. Charles Noble shot 94 Sunday out at Hiawatha; Johnny WIlliams shot 88; "Henny" Allen had a 85; Jimmy Hughes an even 100; and Jimmy Murray (Saturday) an 88. By the way, have you been noticing the progress of this fellow Jimmy Hughes' game? Whenever he plays with his most "bitter" opponent, one Charles Noble, he immediately becomes a century man, but, any time he shoots with anyone else, he is well under the hundred mark. Now I ask you, ain't golf funny? Some time ago I spoke of the splendid driving of Johnny WIlliams. Now there is a new driving threat in our midst - a guy by the name of Bert Smith - really he does give Johnny a run for the honors. Well, I think I will have to have a driving contest between these two. One day during the week our good friend Dr. Crump had as his guests two gentlemen from Kansas City by the names of Franklin and Beck. The gentlemen made up a threesome at Hiawatha and all the scores were mighty fine. The doctor and Mr. Franklin shot 90 and Mr. Beck shot a 95. Just see what the doctor can do when he is pressed to it. Perhaps we'll have to import some more of those K. C. men. |
