Renee Powell will be the inaugural recipient of the Charlie Sifford Award, the creation of which was announced last week by the World Golf Hall of Fame.
The award will honor recipients for promoting diversity in the game. Powell will be recognized March 9 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, during the 2022 induction ceremony for the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Powell was the second African-American woman to compete on the LPGA Tour. She competed in more than 250 tournaments during her professional career, playing as a member of the LPGA Tour between 1967 and 1980, and has served at Clearview Golf Club in Ohio as head PGA/LPGA professional since 1995.
“As a youngster my parents fought to get me into tournaments when I was not welcomed because of the color of my skin, which instilled in me how important it is to get young people into the game to help build their self-confidence,” Powell said. “I’m honored to be the first recipient of this award and to see Charlie Sifford be recognized for breaking down barriers that never should have been put in front of him and all others of color who strived to play this game.”
The USGA announced Wednesday the 2029 U.S. Amateur will be played at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.
The club has hosted the U.S. Open four times (in 1920, 1931, 1957 and 1979), and will be hosting the country’s top amateur tournament for the second time. Eventual Masters champion Craig Stadler won the U.S. Am there in 1973, defeating David Strawn 6 and 5 in the final.
“The growth of the U.S. Amateur over the last 100 years has been phenomenal,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director for championships. “Part of that growth is a commitment by the USGA to take the championship to the best courses in the country, and Inverness is certainly among that group.”
The Country Club, in partnership with the USGA, has established the Lee Elder Internship, a one-week immersive experience at the 2022 U.S. Open at Brookline.
The program – named for one of golf’s true trailblazers – is designed to introduce under-represented youth to the game and its core values, while also showcasing golf’s many career pathways. During the course of U.S. Open week, 25 individuals will be exposed to multiple facets of the business of golf and gain firsthand experience and insight from industry leaders. The daily curriculum will cover tournament operations, media, course maintenance and design, sales and marketing, facility operations and management among other relevant topics.
The Country Club and the USGA will cover the program’s costs, including travel expenses and accommodations for all interns.
“Diversity remains one of the major challenges facing the golf industry, one that can only be addressed with continued emphasis and initiatives to reach underrepresented individuals,” said Will Fulton, general chair for the event, which is scheduled for the week of June 13-19. “This program is designed to play a role in this ecosystem by reaching new audiences at formative times, providing them with information and establishing relationships with golf leaders. It’s a model we have every expectation can be replicated in the future.”
Applications can be submitted immediately at tcc1882.org/leeelderinternship.
Scott Langley announced on Twitter last week that he is retiring from professional golf, ending a competitive career that included five seasons on the PGA Tour.
Langley, 32, was a two-time All-American during his time at the University of Illinois and was the NCAA individual champion in 2010. At that year’s U.S. Open won by Graeme McDowell at Pebble Beach, Langley was co-low amateur with Russell Henley as the two tied for 16th place overall along with Lee Westwood, Jim Furyk, Charl Schwartzel and Peter Hanson.
The following year he became the first alumnus from the First Tee program to then qualify for the PGA Tour. In 2018 he won the Panama Championship on what then was called the Web.com Tour.
“The last 10 years have been an incredible, transformative journey,” he said in the tweet. “ … I am grateful to say that I have lived out that dream.”
TAP-INS
Collin Morikawa was awarded honorary life membership on the European Tour as a result of his victory at the 149th Open Championship in July at Royal St. George’s (READ MORE). … Trust Golf announced Friday a four-year extension of its title sponsorship of the Women’s Scottish Open and an increase of the tournament’s purse to $2 million (READ MORE). … Staffs from the PGA of Australia and Golf Australia moved into a new Australian Golf Centre in Melbourne, Victoria, signaling an alignment of the two governing bodies Down Under (READ MORE).
Staff and Wire Reports