The doors to a lifelong career in golf opened for James William Black, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, at Bonnie Brae Golf Course when he was just 12 years old. During the five years that Mr. Black caddied at the course, he had the opportunity to work in the pro shop and locker room. But it was when Mr. Black had the opportunity to work for Sam Snead, Jimmy Demaret and Clayton Heffner, shagging balls at Eastwood Golf Course, this is where he developed a love for the game after they inspired him and taught him the fundamentals.
In 1959, just five years after his introduction to the game, Mr. Black won the Negro National Junior Championship in Washington, D.C. Two years later, at age 19, he turned professional and won the Negro National Professional Championship. Because African Americans were banned from playing in the PGA at that time, Mr. Black played in the United Golf Association (UGA); an organization formed by African American businessmen in Washington, D.C., whose goal was to provide access and opportunity for Africa American golfers. Mr. Black played in the UGA from 1959 to 1963.
After the PGA reversed its policy banning African American golfers, Mr. Black played on the professional tour from 1963 to 1966. In 1964, Mr. Black became the first African American golfer from the south to qualify for the U.S. Open Golf Tournament, which was held at Congressional Golf Club in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. That same year, Mr. Black led his first PGA tournament, a profound accomplishment for an African American golfer during that era. This historic performance at the 1964 Los Angeles Open, at just 21 years old. He became the first African American professional golfer to score a 67 in the first round of his PGA debut.
After his professional career, Mr. Black set about building on the values of community service instilled in him by his parents and established a non-profit organization, Project ME (Motivation and Education) that encourages youth and young adults in inner cities to understand the importance of education. Mr. Black is a member of the National Black Golf Hall of Fame (1986) and the African American Golf Hall of Fame (2008).
