Exhibit unpacks history of golf course desegregation in Jacksonville during the ‘60s and showcases the African-American golf pioneers who paved the way for today’s players
ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (February 2, 2017) – The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum and the City of Jacksonville announced the opening of “Golf Heroes of the First Coast,” a 1,500 square-foot exhibition celebrating Black History Month at the historic Ritz Theatre and Museum in downtown Jacksonville.
Created in partnership with the Florida Times-Union, THE PLAYERS Championship and the Jacksonville Sports Council, the exhibit features stories, images and artifacts that detail the rich African-American golf history in Jacksonville, including the desegregation of city golf courses in the 1960s, Calvin Peete’s rise to the top at THE PLAYERS in 1985 and the numerous contributions and achievements by today’s golfers including 14-time Major Champion Tiger Woods, who won THE PLAYERS in 2001 and 2013.
The exhibit will remain inside the Ritz Theatre and Museum through mid-March.
“While the mission of the World Golf Hall of Fame is global in nature, our organization takes great pride in our Northeast Florida location and role in the community,” said Jack Peter, President of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum. “The opportunity to partner with others in Jacksonville to share the stories of the African-American men and women who helped shape the game today is a great privilege.”
Prior to the ribbon-cutting of the exhibit, the World Golf Hall of Fame hosted a panel discussion that included:
- Arthur Johnson, former caddie at Jacksonville-area courses in the 1950s and 1960s including Hyde Park and Brentwood. Johnson was also a key player in Cals Pals, a local youth organization created by Calvin Peete.
- Pete McDaniel, freelance golf writer and former contributor to Golf Digest. McDaniel collaborated with Tiger Woods on instruction and feature articles. He also co-authored the late-Earl Woods’ best-selling book, “Training A Tiger.”
- Pepper Peete, Calvin Peete’s wife and former Executive Director at The First Tee of North Florida. She has worked at The First Tee for 12 years, and currently works at the home office in St. Augustine.
- Garry Smits, golf writer for the Florida Times-Union for 35 years, covering golf, college sports and the Jaguars. Smits had the honor of following Peete during his final round and subsequent victory at THE PLAYERS in 1985.
The panel was moderated by World Golf Hall of Fame Historian Dr. Tony Parker.
Click here to watch the panel discussion or to obtain images of the grand opening of “Golf Heroes of the First Coast” exhibit at the Ritz Theatre and Museum.
Many city and community leaders were in attendance for the panel discussion and exhibit grand opening, including Jacksonville City Council Members Lori Boyer, Greg Anderson, and Samuel Newby; Steve Mona, CEO of World Golf Foundation; Jack Peter, President of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum; Dave Herrell, Sports & Entertainment Officer for the City of Jacksonville; Alan Verlander, Executive Director and COO for JAXSPORTS Council; Ty Votaw, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for PGA TOUR; Cleve Warren, Executive Director of the Florida State College at Jacksonville Foundation; and Paul Astleford, President and CEO of Visit Jacksonville, among others.
The World Golf Hall of Fame also celebrates the historic achievements of African-American golfers with a permanent exhibition at its Museum in St. Augustine, Florida. The exhibit, titled “Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African-Americans in Golf,” opened in 2014 with Hall of Fame Member Charlie Sifford and LPGA pioneer Renee Powell present for its unveiling. “Honoring the Legacy” contains rare photographs, audio, video and memorabilia to highlight the long, rich history of African-Americans in golf starting from the late 1800s through present-day.
Among the surplus of player memorabilia, the exhibit features unique artifacts including Sifford’s PGA TOUR Player Card from 1960 – the document that officially broke golf’s color barrier. The centerpiece of the exhibit is an original sculpture, “The DNA of the Golf Swing,” designed by renowned sculptor Mario Chiodo and features 13 African-American golf legends.
The “Golf Heroes of the First Coast” exhibition is open to the public in the Ritz Theatre and Museum in downtown Jacksonville. Guests who visit either the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum or the Ritz Theatre and Museum will receive a voucher for complimentary admission to the other Museum. For more information, visit www.worldgolfhalloffame.org.
Photos and b-roll of the exhibit can be downloaded here.
***
About the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum
The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum preserves and honors the history of golf and the legacies of those who have made it great. The Hall of Fame & Museum, located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, serves as a steward of the game through engaging, interactive storytelling and exhibitions featuring artifacts, works of art, audio, video and photography significant to the history of golf and its members. The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution and is allied with 26 national and international golf organizations, including The European Tour, LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA. To learn more about the Hall of Fame or to lend support, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org. As the sole founding partner of World Golf Hall of Fame, Shell Oil Company provides financial support and plays the lead role in charitable initiatives aimed at introducing golf to young people, and through the golf experience promotes scholastic achievement, community service and those values intrinsic to the game of golf: honesty, integrity and sportsmanship.
About the Ritz Theatre and Museum
The Ritz Theatre and Museum, located in Jacksonville’s historic African American community of La Villa, celebrating the artistic culture of African American life in Northeast Florida and the African Diaspora with museum exhibits, concerts, films, lectures, dance and dramatic arts.
About SMG
Founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to more than 230 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theatres, performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 14.4 million square feet of exhibition space and over 1.75 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Solider Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s Reliant Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions, catering and special events division, SAVOR, currently servicing more than 100 accounts worldwide. For more information visit www.smgworld.com.
###
