Clearview golf course back nine11/20/2023 ![]() ![]() Bill passed on his love of golf to his two children, Larry and Renee, who work together to maintain and operate the historic public course today. The course celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Velasquez, the award-winning illustrator, paints his figures in linear poses that are unfortunately more static than active.Ī useful title in which young readers can gain an appreciation of a ground-breaking African-American sports figure. Clearview is the first golf course built and owned by a Black man. At one point, Willie’s principal tells him that in order to succeed he must be “twice as good” as the white children. Michelson, the author of As Good As Anybody (illustrated by Raul Colón, 2008), has written a straight-forward narrative spiced throughout with inspirational thoughts. When his daughter was born, he designed a golf club just for her. Clearview opened in 1948 and is now a National Historic Site. Nonetheless, he found a piece of land where, with private financing, he designed and built the first integrated golf course in the United States. Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, Ohio, is the only course designed, built, owned, and operated by an African American. Returning home after World War II from England, where he golfed as much as possible, William was barred from the local greens, denied membership in the whites-only (until 1961) PGA and turned down for financing from the GI loan program. To be back at East Potomac is a pleasant reminder of my junior golf experience, said Renee Powell. Young Willie could only caddy on the golf course near his Ohio home, although one white man did let him play. An inspirational story, suitable for Black History Month and for children interested in the game of golf.ĭespite growing up in a community that was racially segregated, William Powell persisted in playing the game he loved, golf. Velasquez’s large illustrations, often full spreads, capture the sense of time in soft, pastel shades of green, blue, brown, yellow, and pink. ![]() In 1948, he opened the Clearview Golf Club in Ohio. Later, while in the army, he was stationed in England where “no one seemed to think golf was a game for whites only.” Three years later, he returned to the United States and noticed that his daughter had “the grip of a champion golfer,” and he was determined that one day there would be a course where she could play. The youngster remembered the words of his principal, “If you are going to get ahead in this world, Willie, you can’t be as good as the white children you have to be twice as good.” As he caddied and earned a little money, he also studied the game. This time he agreed to let Willie carry his clubs. He was the only Negro in his class.” Awhile later he returned to the course and ran into one of the men he’d met earlier. His reply was, “Son, didn’t anyone ever tell you that your kind is not welcome here?” “Of course, Willie knew he was different. Steckmeister, Rob Steckmeister, Cakmar, Trentacosti. Tee times will begin at 12 noon with a buffet dinner to follow. One day, he approached two white golfers and asked the kinder looking of the men to teach him to play. The club outing will be at Brentwood CC on Sunday, August 6th. K-Gr 3–For third-grader Willie Powell, the new golf course was a beautiful sight. ![]()
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