Ted Rhodes
Encyclopedia
Theodore "Ted" Rhodes was a trailblazing African-American professional golfer
.
Rhodes was born in Nashville, Tennessee
and attended the city's public schools. He learned the game of golf in his teenage years while working as a caddie at Nashville's Belle Meade and Richland golf courses. In the late 1930s, Rhodes joined the Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC). He served in the United States Navy
in World War II
. When his tour of duty concluded, Rhodes was discharged in Chicago
, where he met entertainer Billy Eckstine
and heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis
. He taught both men to play the game of golf
, and served as Louis' personal instructor, valet and playing partner.
In the late 1940s, Rhodes moved to southern California
where he was mentored by Ray Mangrum
. In 1948, he played in the U.S. Open
at the Riviera Country Club
in Los Angeles, California
and became recognized as the first African-American professional golfer. Rhodes and fellow African-American golfer Bill Spiller
initiated litigation against the Professional Golfers' Association of America
(PGA) seeking removal of the association's "Caucasian only clause". Although they prevailed in the out-of-court settlement, the PGA circumvented the agreement by changing its tournaments to "invitationals" and invited only whites to participate.
Rhodes played mostly in United Golf Association
sanctioned tournaments during his career, winning about 150 times. Rhodes returned to his native Nashville in the 1960s and mentored several black PGA players including Lee Elder
and Charlie Sifford
. He died at the age of 55. A month after his death, the Cumberland Golf Course in Nashville was renamed in his honor. In 1998, Rhodes was inducted into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame.
In 2009, the PGA of America granted posthumous membership to Rhodes, Spiller, and John Shippen. The PGA also has granted posthumous honorary membership to Joe Louis.
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
.
Rhodes was born in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and attended the city's public schools. He learned the game of golf in his teenage years while working as a caddie at Nashville's Belle Meade and Richland golf courses. In the late 1930s, Rhodes joined the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
(CCC). He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When his tour of duty concluded, Rhodes was discharged in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where he met entertainer Billy Eckstine
Billy Eckstine
William Clarence Eckstine was an American singer of ballads and a bandleader of the swing era. Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big-band, then as the first romantic black male in popular...
and heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
. He taught both men to play the game of golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, and served as Louis' personal instructor, valet and playing partner.
In the late 1940s, Rhodes moved to southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
where he was mentored by Ray Mangrum
Ray Mangrum
Ray B. Mangrum was an American professional golfer and the older brother of a more famous golfer, Lloyd Mangrum....
. In 1948, he played in the U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
at the Riviera Country Club
Riviera Country Club
The Riviera Country Club is a country club with a championship golf course. It is located in Pacific Palisades, California, a community within the city limits of Los Angeles. The country club opened in 1926, with George C. Thomas, Jr. as the course architect. The course has been the primary host...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and became recognized as the first African-American professional golfer. Rhodes and fellow African-American golfer Bill Spiller
Bill Spiller
Bill Spiller was one of the pioneers in the efforts to desegregate sports in the twentieth century. After being denied entry in the 1948 Richmond Open held in Richmond, California by the PGA of America, Spiller spent many years challenging the segregation policy of the PGA of America...
initiated litigation against the Professional Golfers' Association of America
Professional Golfers' Association of America
Founded in 1916, the Professional Golfers' Association of America is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and is made up of more than 28,000 men and women golf professional members...
(PGA) seeking removal of the association's "Caucasian only clause". Although they prevailed in the out-of-court settlement, the PGA circumvented the agreement by changing its tournaments to "invitationals" and invited only whites to participate.
Rhodes played mostly in United Golf Association
United Golf Association
The United Golf Association was a group of African-American professional golfers who operated a separate series of professional golf tournaments for Blacks during the era of racial segregation. Many talented golfers played on this tour, including Ted Rhodes, Bill Spiller, Pete Brown, Lee Elder,...
sanctioned tournaments during his career, winning about 150 times. Rhodes returned to his native Nashville in the 1960s and mentored several black PGA players including Lee Elder
Lee Elder
Robert Lee Elder is an American golfer. He is best remembered for becoming the first African-American to play in the Masters Tournament in 1975.-Background and family:...
and Charlie Sifford
Charlie Sifford
Charles Sifford is an African American former professional golfer who helped to desegregate the PGA of America.Sifford was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began work as a caddy at the age of thirteen...
. He died at the age of 55. A month after his death, the Cumberland Golf Course in Nashville was renamed in his honor. In 1998, Rhodes was inducted into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame.
In 2009, the PGA of America granted posthumous membership to Rhodes, Spiller, and John Shippen. The PGA also has granted posthumous honorary membership to Joe Louis.