Being that February is Black History Month, we thought we’d again share the story of NCGA Hall of Famer Lucious Bateman.
Born in 1906 in Louisiana and raised in Biloxi on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Bateman started his golf career caddying at the Edgewater Hotel and Golf Club in Biloxi, where he tied the course record as a teenager.
Unfortunately, he’d never get the chance to really show his skills as a player. That was because black players weren’t allowed on tour, let alone sometimes the course. And by the time the tour did finally open its doors to black players in 1961, Lucious was already past his prime.
So Bateman, following service in World War II, opted to make an impact and leave a legacy another way---by teaching. Working primarily at Airway Fairways near Oakland Airport, Bateman ended up teaching hundreds of youth. Known as Bateman’s Boys, among his many pupils are some greats---John Lotz and Dick Lotz, Al Braga, Don Baucom, Gary Plato and the late major champion Tony Lema, who went on to win the 1964 British Open and 12 tour events.
Not once did Bateman ever charge one of his Bate’s Boys for a lesson, or for a bucket of range balls.
Prior to his passing in 1972 at the age of 66, Lucious was asked by Golf Digest if he’d lamented the chance to show his skills as a player. Replied Lucious, “My mother taught me that everything happens for the best. What may seem like a tough break often works out the other way. I have no complaints.”
Today a Lucious Bateman Museum is located at Chuck Corica Golf Complex in Alameda.