Lee Elder, who is known for being the first Black golf pro to play at the Masters, has died at age 87. Elder was loved by the golf community as a whole and was a role model for many Black golfers and will be missed.
Legacy
Elder learned about golf through his career as a caddy, the only role that Black people could have on the golf course during the segregation of the 1950s. This enabled Elder to have access to golf courses and equipment and he was able to learn how to play golf. He honed his golf skills during his time in the army and joined the United Golf Association Tour for Black players in the early 1960s. In 1968, at age 33, Elder earned his first tour card for the PGA.
Elder paved the way for the next generation of Black golfers and has often been cited as a role model and inspiration for Tiger Woods.
Remembering Lee Elder
Upon the news of Elder’s death, Jack Nicklaus posted on Twitter: “Lee was a good player, but most important, a good man who was very well respected by countless people. The game of golf lost a hero in Lee Elder.”
Fred Ridley, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters had this to say: “Lee was an inspiration to so many young men and women of colour not only through his play, but also through his commitment to education and community.”
Elder was a pioneering golfer who broke racial barriers and was well loved by the community as a whole not only for his skill, but for his diligence, commitment to positive change, and his amiable personality.
We recommend getting out to the golf course this weekend and hitting a few balls in memory of Lee, or do some reading on his career and learn more about the impact he had on the sport.
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