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Telling the story is an editorial commitment by Minority Golf Magazine to brings its readers an awareness of the men and women golfers who have made a difference. These are the professionals who dedicated their lives to the sport of golf and sought to challenge the walls of discrimination to make headways for those of us today who share a rich heritage because of their efforts.
The magazine has generated its own work as well as the works of others who are also dedicated to telling the story.
In this issue we salute the effort of J.C. Calloway and present excerpts from his book titled Invisible Golfers: African Americans’ PGA Tour-Quest. We have highlighted the efforts of two men who have played major roles in opening doors of opportunity for many golfers of color–Calvin Peete and Jim Thorpe. Before Tiger Woods, these two men won more PGA Tour event than any other African-American. Ed.
By J.C. Calloway
The PGA Tour, after the 1960s and during the 70s, experienced an emergence of black professionals; and as we have observed, some major accomplishments were made. However, when the tour became wide open for all qualified players, Calvin Peete and Jim Thorpe were the notable black professionals who competed regularly (mostly in the 1980’s and early 90’s). During this time, golf’s popularity grew beyond all expectations: prize money increased and media coverage greatly expanded. Naturally, because of their success in competition, these players became millionaires and were seen frequently during television broadcast coverage of PGA Tour events. We saw that they were dedicated and hardworking, with individual styles which, of course, produced many victories for them. We will take a look at their careers. But no one can write about golf in the present or about minority participation on the PGA Tour, without recognizing the overwhelming presence and the irresistible image and influence of Tiger Woods — the greatest of them all. He is the very essence of the wide open tour. But let us begin with Calvin Peete.
Calvin Peete
One of the most amazing and inspiring human interest stories in golf is that of Calvin Peete. Based on his late introduction to the game, his ability to overcome a handicap, and his ball striking efficiency, Peete was considered a phenomenon when he played on the regular tour.
As one of 19 children (from his father’s two marriages), Calvin dropped out of school at age 13 and picked vegetables and beans as a migrant worker in Florida’s agricultural fields to help support his family. When he was 12, he fell out of a tree and broke his left elbow. Afterwards he was never able to extend the arm fully again. It never healed properly and remained permanently bent.
As a teenager, Peete sold clothing, jewelry and various ornaments to migrant workers throughout the East Coast (from the back of his 1956 Plymouth station wagon); and earned an average of $200 a week. He was introduced to golf incidentally one day by friends who took him to a municipal golf course. “They had said we were going to a clambake,” said Peete, “Instead, here was this golf thing. I couldn’t get a ride home, so I went along with the fool idea.” (Sports Illustrated, April 1983)
At that time Peete was 23 years old; and the only previous contact he had with the game was when he used to bounce a golf ball off a concrete wall as a young boy. He had always considered golf a “dumb game,” but after that one round with his friends, he was hooked–though, no one expected that he would someday become one of golf’s finest ball strikers.
Peete practiced diligently on his game, (many times from dusk to dawn) and taught himself the golf swing by studying books and later by filming his swing with an 8mm camera. He was so obsessed with improving his swing, that he woke up frequently in the middle of the the night, got dressed and practiced some more at a local park using only bleak street lights to see his shots. Just five years after he first discovered the sport, Peete turned professional. (This kind of progress was exceptional in the annals of the game–perhaps accomplished only one other time by another pro.)
Peete made two attempts to get his PGA Card and failed. But he remained steadfast in his effort by competing in black tournaments and mini-tour events. Finally, in 1975, after gaining additional tournament experience, he earned his PGA card. That following season he played on the regular tour and earned approximately $21,000. After his first three years, he reaped some benefits from his hard work. In 1979 he won the Milwaukee Open, finished second in the Quad Cities tournament and finished 11th in the U.S. Open.
That same year he eventually recorded seven top ten finishes and made $122,481 in earnings, which placed him 27th on the PGA money list. At age 36, it was apparent that Peete had established himself as a competitive tour player. In the 1980’s he would flourish as one of golf’s premiere players.
Throughout his career Peete maintained his diligent work ethic, constantly studying his swing. He frequently carried a video tape with him (while traveling on tour) which contained clips of his hitting the ball well. This was the method he used to give himself lessons. “I figured I could learn more from watching myself than from watching others,” said Peete. His swing had become so exact and so machine-like that his tour colleagues nicknamed him “Xerox”–referring to the carbon copying machine.
Calvin Peete defied the odds, and during a ten year span on tour he became the most proficient ball striker of his era. He inspired a new generation of young black golfers and clearly demonstrated that through hard work and self belief, one can overcome physical and economic handicaps and advance one’s game to a higher level of performance. In an interview with Black Enterprise magazine Peete said, “It just goes to show what a person can do if he asserts himself. No matter how big the foe may be, the foe will fall if you have the determination.”
Jim Thorpe
Perhaps one of the most enduring PGA Tour professionals is Jim Thorpe. His relentless determination to compete continuously on tour is a prime example of what it takes to survive the challenges that derive from the week-to-week grind that tour players face.
Thorpe actually began his athletic career as a football player. His prowess as a power running back in high school earned him a scholarship to Morgan State University. He was introduced to golf as a teenager by his father, who was a greens superintendent. Thorpe was once noted as saying, “In those days, I would rather play football. My older brother Chuck was the best golfer in the family.” Chuck had played on the tour off and on during the 70s and had demonstrated exceptional talent: He hit 300-yard drives frequently, was a solid iron player, had deft touch around the greens and was considered by many as one of the best overall black players. It remains uncertain why Chuck never made it big on tour.
When Jim decided that he wanted to pursue a career on the PGA Tour, Chuck was there to assist him. The two brothers played and practiced at Pineherst in North Carolina and worked on the weakest part of Jim’s game, which was his long irons. After months of preparation, Chuck told Jim that he was ready for the tour. In the fall of 1975, Jim obtained his PGA Tour card. But that following year he only made $2,000 which wasn’t enough to maintain his playing privileges, so he had to return to the qualifying school.
Two years later in the fall of 1978, Jim obtained his card once again by becoming the co-medalist with Jim Fought at the Q-school. In the 1979 season, Jim got off to a blazing start when he tied for second place with Tom Watson in the Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open and ended up only two strokes behind winner Bruce Lietzke.
In 1981, Thorpe made national sports headlines when he led the opening round of the U.S. Open, where he shot a blistering 66 at Marion Golf Club in Ardmore, Penn. By doing so, he became the first black to hold sole possession in any round of that major championship. After his opening round of 66, he shot scores of 73, 70 and 72, and finished eight strokes in back of the winner, David Graham. Thorpe picked up a check for $5,000 and gained more confidence in his ability to perform well on tour.
In 1985, Thorpe experienced his best season ever when he became a two-time winner. He won the Milwaukee Open (outlasting Jack Nicklaus in the final few holes) and later, the Tucson Open. He came close to becoming a three-time winner, but lost the Western Open to then amateur Scott Verplank in a playoff. He also won the highly competitive Seiko-Tucson Match Play event by defeating Jack Renner in the final match. That year he finished fourth on the money list with $379,091 in official earnings.
Thorpe defended his title at the 1986 Seiko-Tucson Match Play Championship and once again took home the winner’s trophy as well as a check for $150,000, by defeating Scott Simpson in the final match. His combined earnings for the back-to-back victories in 1985 and 986 was $300,000. He finished 15th on the money list for 1986. Jim struggled on the tour however, for the next five years, primarily because of hampering injuries which included a fractured wrist. In 1991, he earned only $46,000 in official money.
However, he did appear in the winner’s circle once again that year. This time with his brother Chuck (who caddied for him), he won the Amoco Centel championship–a non PGA sponsored event that was created for the forty-years-and older group. Though it wasn’t considered a regular PGA event, many tour players competed. Thorpe’s victory earned him a check for $115,000. Shortly afterwards, he suffered back problems which limited his playing capabilities. In 1996 he was given a special medical exemption.
It had been twenty four years since Jim Thorpe first made the tour. At one point he had made more than $1.5 million in official PGA earnings. His tenacity and will, no less than his game, are reasons for his tour longevity. Also, his unwillingness to succumb to pressure exemplifies the resourceful spirit that is necessary to overcome the obstacles which are always present on the PGA Tour.