Her Story

The African American woman golfer has played a definitive role in the game of golf in America. Yet, HER STORY has been omitted in the annals of HIS STORY. The following excerpts are evidence that the African American woman golfer has a story to be told.

This Month's Featured Decade: 1940's

1940 - Geneva Wilson wins her 2nd United Golfers Association National Open Women’s Championship

1940 - The Chicago Women’s Golf Club is the first all female club to host the United Golfers Association Open Championships, the National Open, the National Men’s Amateur and the National Women’s Amateur Opens

1941 - Cleo Ball wins the United Golfers Association National Open Women’s Championship

1941 - Paris Brown is elected as the 3rd vice-president of the United Golfers Association

1941 - Marie Thompson (Jones) adds the 4th Amateur Golf Association Championship to her collection

1941 - Margaret Brown accumulates four honors at the Maryland State Open, the Murphy Cup, the Medalist prize, the Maryland State Open Cup and the John H. Murphy Trophy

1942 - Four members of the Wake Robin Golf Club, Helen Harris, Bonita Harvey, Francis Watkins and Kelly Snowden are harassed at the Fairlawn Course located in the Anacostia section of Washington DC

1944 - Geneva Wilson, Magnolia Gambrell, Frances Hill Watkins and Julia Siler attempt to qualify for the Tam O’Shanter All-American Golf Tournament

1946 - Lucy Williams (Mitchum) captures the Women’s Championship in the first Joe Louis Invitational

1946 - Paris Brown is named vice-president of the United Golfers Association for 1947

1946 - Lucy Williams (Mitchum) wins her 4th United Golfers Association National Open Women’s Championship

1947 - Ann Gregory is invited to play in the All-American Golf Tournament at the Tam O’Shanter in Chicago

1947 - Mae Crowder establishes the Vernondale Women’s Golf Club

1947 - Thelma Cowans wins her 1st United Golfers Association National Open Women’s Championship

1948 - Mary Brown wins the United Golfers Association National Open Women’s Championship

1948 - The first nine holes of the Clearview Golf Club are opened for play

1949 - Thelma Cowans wins her 2nd United Golfers Association National Open Women’s Championship