On November 15, 2004, Charlie Sifford was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. To honor the first black player on the PGA Tour, the Hall of Fame announced Monday the creation of the Charlie Sifford Award, presented by the Southern Company to those who promote diversity in golf.
The first recipient of the award will be Renee Powell, who, after Althea Gibson in 1964, was the second Black woman to attend the LPGA in 1967. Powell will be on Wednesday the 9th Players Championship. Tiger Woods, Susie Maxwell Berning, Tim Finchem and the late Marion Hollins make up the 2022 class and will increase the Hall of Fame membership to 164.
“As a teenager, my parents struggled to get me to tournaments when I was not welcomed by Powell about a clearance because of the color of my skin.” I am honored to be the first to receive this award and to see Charlie Sifford recognized for it To tear down barriers that should never have been placed on him or any other colored person who tried to play this game. I was taught early on, “by my parents, that golf should be a sport for everyone and that we can all diversify this game in so many ways.”
During her professional career, Powell played in more than 250 tournaments. Since 1995 she has been the Head PGA / LPGA Professional at Clearview Golf Club in Ohio, which was founded by her father William Powell in 1946 as the first golf course in the country to be designed, built, built and operated by a black person.
“The creation of this award will create a platform to celebrate the importance of Charlie Sifford’s contributions to golf despite the adversity,” said Greg McLaughlin, CEO of the World Golf Hall of Fame. “Working with Southern Company, the Hall of Fame is committed to ensuring its legacy lasts for generations to come by recognizing others – like Renee Powell – who are committed to making sport a welcome environment for all.”
“On behalf of the Sifford family, we are very proud and honored to have this award given on my father’s behalf,” said Charles Sifford Jr. “My father, my number one hero, just wanted to play the game he loved so much loved, and – in that regard – faced tremendous challenges as an African American golfer. His skill, perseverance, courage and determination drove him to continue his dream. He was successful despite having to overcome several barriers of discrimination. His hard-won commitment paved the way. for other minority golfers to continue their careers. This award is honored by the fact that a longtime family friend and successful African American golfer, Renee Powell, is the first recipient of the award. This is really something special. “