John Shippen

The First American Golf Professional

John Matthew Shippen was born December 2, 1879 in Washington DC to a black Presbyterian minister father and a full blooded Shinnecock Indian mother.  
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In 1888, at age 9, Shippen’s father moved the family to New Jersey for a ministerial position on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation.

By 1893 Shippen was caddying at Shinnecock Hills Golf Course and learning to play the game from Scottish professional Willie Dunn Jr.   Shippen quickly picked up the game and was soon able to beat most of the members.  

Shippen’s impressive play led the members of the club to cover his entry fee for the 1896 US Open. 

Despite facing discrimination while at the tournament by European born players, Shippen finished 8th out of a field of 28 in 1896 and went on to compete in five more US Opens with a best finish of fifth in 1902. 

Shippen work in golf for his entire life, and served as professional for several clubs. In an interview later in life he is quoted as believing he was the first American born golf professional.  
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He died in May 20, 1968, and was posthumously awarded PGA membership though he was denied membership while he was competing. 

In 2021, The John Shippen National Invitational was started in John Shippen’s honor as a vehicle to showcase amateur and professional golfers of color. Winners from the Men’s and Women’s division receive an exemption into an PGA Tour and LPGA Tour events.

Currently the Men’s champion will receive and exemption into the Rocket Mortgage Classic, and the women’s winner to the Mejier LPGA Classic, and the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.

In addition to the National Invitational, the Women also have the John Shippen Shoot-Out presented by Cognizant where the winner receives an exemption to the LPGA’s Cognizant Founders Cup.

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