Local First Tee Participants Visit USGA Museum for Important Exhibit

FAR HILLS, N.J. (February 18, 2012) – More than 40 participants from The First Tee of Metropolitan New York (TFTMNY) attended the premiere of “American Champions and Barrier Breakers,” a special exhibit at the USGA Museum in Far Hills, N.J., that honors the golf accomplishments of three transcendent African-American athletes: Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis, and Althea Gibson. The exhibit celebrates the lives, athletic achievements, and important legacies of these American icons to the game of golf and features dozens of artifacts, including documents and photographs. The exhibit also highlights some of the numerous contributions that African-Americans have made to golf.

In addition to touring the USGA Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History, youngsters from TFTMNY’s Essex County and the Plainfield-West 9 facilities participated in a symposium featuring presentations by Joe Louis Barrow Jr., chief executive officer of The First Tee and son of Joe Louis; Renee Powell, the second African American to play on the LPGA Tour; Dr. Calvin Sinnette, author of “Forbidden Fairways"; Bill Wright, the first African-American to win a USGA championship, the 1959 U.S. Amateur Public Links; and Dr. Yohuru Williams, Chief Historian and Vice President for Public Education & Research for the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

“Our exhibition explores the role of these three great American champions and how their participation and convictions changed the game,” says USGA Museum assistant manager of operations Susan Wasser, who is curating the exhibit. "As the world’s leading institution for the study and education of golf history, the USGA Museum is well suited to preserve and celebrate the African-American golf experience in this way.”

Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, helping to open the door for other great black ballplayers. After retiring from baseball, Robinson became a competitive player among the great African-American golfers of his era and was a tireless advocate for equal opportunity in the game of golf.

Robinson played frequently with Louis, one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. Louis left an indelible stamp on golf as the first African American to play in a PGA Tour event, the 1952 San Diego Open. Louis also provided financial support to several African-American golfers and his golf legacy continues with his son’s involvement as chief executive officer of The First Tee.

Gibson was one of the top tennis players of her era, winning 11 Grand Slam titles – five singles and six doubles – between 1956 and 1958 and ascended to the world’s No. 1 ranking in 1957. The first African-American woman to win Wimbledon, Gibson also became the first African American to join the LPGA Tour and competed in 11 USGA championships.

The “American Champions and Barrier Breakers” exhibit is open to the public and runs through the end of July. For more information please contact the USGA Museum.