History makers do many things for a spot in history but very few influence a whole culture. Renee Powell is part of the smaller group. Daughter of Bill Powell, the first black man to own a golf course, Renee Powell is one of the few women of color to play on the upstart Ladies Professional Golf Association’s (LPGA) Tour after the repeal of the Caucasians Only clause.
She began playing golf at 12 years and horned her craft all through to college, after which she made her debut in the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s Tour in 1967.
After retiring from professional tour playing in 1980, she retired to teaching golf in Africa and Europe, and today, she heads her father’s Clearview Golf Club, now in its second generation.
For Renee, these headlines fade away given what she has been able to do for the black golf community on and off the pitch.
From her humble beginnings in East Canton, OH, she learned to excel when the odds were stacked against her, and it’s definitely a spirit she imparts into anyone who ever gets the opportunity to interact with her.
Her tenacity of character enabled her to go through over 250 professional tournaments and win more than 30.
She is now concerned with increasing diversity in the good game, and she has been traveling the world over from Africa to Europe in golf clinics to promote her message.
Since 2011 she has run a therapeutic and recreational golf program for women veterans through the program HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), which seeks to expand the reach of golf to all audiences.
Her golf for everyone philosophy which she shares with her father, has seen her efforts feted as a member of Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland, being named PGA of America First Lady of Golf and many awards.
Deep down, Renee Powell is a fan of inclusion in golf, and it is through her advocacy and success that other African-American women were able to get into golf and excel at it.
She is a cultural and sports icon, and her contribution to black community golf can never be forgotten.
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