Black Golf History
The Upper Midwest Bronze Amateur
Golf Tournament
| The Upper Midwest Bronze Golf Tournament was originally called the Minnesota Negro Open Golf Tournament. It was started in 1939 by Jimmie Slemmons and run by him for several decades. Thaddeus Nicholas and Dick Kelly took over the running of the tournament from Jimmy Slemmons. In 2012, Darwin Dean took over the responsibilities for the tournament. | ||||||||||||||||
From 1939-1990's, the tournament was played on 3 Minneapolis golf courses:
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| View a statistical list of the history of the Bronze Amateur Golf Tournament. | ||||||||||||||||
| The first tournament was held in 1939 at Armour Golf Course. The next year it moved to Theodore Wirth Golf Course. During World War II, the tournament took a hiatus, but resumed again in 1946 at Theodore Wirth Golf Course. | ||||||||||||||||
 Participants at the 1948 Negro Open Golf Tournament Theodore Wirth Golf Course |
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| The tournament had men's, women's and junior competitions. This promoted a fun and festive atmosphere, including colorful attire. Read more about the colorful attire! | ||||||||||||||||
| Long-time promoter Jimmy Slemmons solicited prize donations from local businesses, allowing the tournament to give away thousands of dollars in prizes. | ||||||||||||||||
 Prizes at the 1948 Negro Open Golf Tournament Theodore Wirth Golf Course |
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| In 1955, the name of the tournament was changed to the Minnesota Bronze Amateur Golf Tournament due to pressure from the NAACP and other groups. They did not want the word Negro to be used, and there was concern that the title indicated restriction to only black golfers. They did not want any indication of discrimination. Read more about the name change. | ||||||||||||||||
| For most of the tournament's history, it was held on the last weekend of July. And, for many years a banquet was held prior to the tournament. | ||||||||||||||||
 Bronze Tournament Banquet |
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| The Bronze Tournament drew contestants from all over the country. One of the most famous contestants was Heavy-Weight boxer Joe Louis. He won the tournament in 1957 at Theodore Wirth Golf Course. The winner of the woman's division that year was Ann Gregory, thought the be one of the best female black golfers in the history of golf. | ||||||||||||||||
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| In 1968, the Bronze Tournament was moved to Hiawatha Golf Course, and was played there into the 1990's. During its run at Hiawatha Golf Course, the tournament peaked with over 300 contestants and thousands of spectators. Neighborhood residents remember the streets being full of cars all around the golf course. | ||||||||||||||||
 1971 Upper Midwest Bronze Open Golf Tournament Hiawatha Golf Course - Gallery | ||||||||||||||||
 1971 Upper Midwest Bronze Open Golf Tournament Hiawatha Golf Course - Steve Howe at the 5th Green | ||||||||||||||||
 1971 Upper Midwest Bronze Open Golf Tournament Hiawatha Golf Course - Play on Final Hole | ||||||||||||||||
| Many consider the late 1960's and mid-1970's at Hiawatha Golf Course to be the heyday of the tournament. The number of entrants in the tournament ranged between 250 and 350 contestants, from all races and sexes, young and old, while drawing some of the best golfers in the State of Minnesota and around the United States. See a list of participants from the 1973 Bronze Tournament at Hiawatha Golf Course. | ||||||||||||||||
 1979 Upper Midwest Bronze Open Golf Tournament Hiawatha Golf Course - Driving Range | ||||||||||||||||
| Starting in the 1990's the promoters of the Bronze Tournament held the tournament at a variety of golf courses. The tournament still continues to this day. In 2018, it was once again played at Theodore Wirth Golf Course. | ||||||||||||||||
