Black SWINGERS ON THE RISE

BLACK SWINGERS ON THE RISE

As Arthur "Ace" Masakela confidently strode down the middle of the eighteenth fairway to play his second shot, he found his ball resting a full six feet ahead of the two hundred yard marker. This perfectly placed drive of three hundred twenty two yards was the best of his meteoric career. Having been on the P.G.A. Tour for only four years, he had won three previous times. One Major for each year ! Now for the first time ever an Afro American was on the threshold of winning the modern Grand Slam Of Golf.

All day during this final round, the record size gallery was thrilled time after time by unbelievable shot making, as Ace showed he indeed possessed the talent of a master world class golfer. All that remained was to get on the last dance floor, hole out in three, then sign the scorecard and accept the check and trophy.

Now, as he asked his caddie for the four iron, Ace noticed a tarnished quarter laying in the fairway just a few inches to the right of his ball. As was his habit of collecting and saving coins that he found, he asked his caddie to lean over to see if the date was readable. To his utter delight, the quarter was dated the year of his birth,1958. Then he said to his caddie; After I swing,pick it up for me.

Now with renewed concentration, he stared at the flag waving at him from the distance, and took up his address position. Ever mindful of a precise grip on the club, he waggled once, twice, then pressed the club head slightly forward. Suddenly in the blinking of an eye, there was a swishing sound, and the ball was propelled forward and rose into the air like a missile seeking it's target.

His classical swing with a high style finish, taught to him by his father, the caddie, was something to behold within itself, but as the ball reached it's destination at the elevated 18th green it overshot the pin by thirty feet and came to rest just on the edge of the back fringe.

Ace knew he had hit the shot just a bit too good, and was going to be faced with a tricky downhill putt. But three putts to get down would give him an eleven under par sixty one;Six strokes less than his closest competitor. Then all of a sudden there was a great roar. The ball was beginning to roll backwards and as the incline gave it momentum it hit a spike mark, altered it's direction slightly, and miraculously rolled into the cup for a double eagle.

As Ace and his caddie reached the green the noise from the gallery was still deafening. Suddenly realizing the ball was in the cup, he jumped into his father's arms and began to cry tears of joy. Now he was a winner of the four most prestigious titles in all of golfdom. The magical game was over and Arthur "Ace" Masakela was now the National Champion. He had finished the round in only fifty eight strokes, thus establishing a new record unlikely to be broken for many years to come !

Oh come now. This could never be, you cry. Is there a real future in pro golf for Blacks besides carrying players bags, you ask ? Of course there is ! Although the proceeding scenario is just an imaginative fairy tale, it does hold the possibility of becoming reality to some extent.Yours truly is a certified golf lover with twenty years experience of playing the game. Some of which has been very good, and of course,some really awful.

Even so, I have on many occasions had the wonderful experience of teaching kids the fundamentals of golf. Because many of them took to hitting the ball, like ducks take to water, it leads me to believe and predict that there will be more than one Major Championship won by an Afro American within the next fifteen years. This may sound like a long time,but one must consider the percentages. Whereas winning a major title may be only a Walter Mitty type dream for myself and many others, it very well could become reality for one or more of the many black kids across the nation that are being introduced to the game at a very early age. Blacks in my opinion, generally will excel at any sport they become interested in and I see the same thing becoming the case with golf.

Golf was once a great bastion of segregation and blacks did not have the equal opportunity to play the game, and for the most part could not afford green fees, equipment, and perhaps the desire and luxury of time to practice even a few hours a week. Also, over the years many blacks showed no interest because the game was not considered macho enough or because it was considered to be for only the elite and idle rich. However, recent claims suggest that golf could have evolved from a game played by African tribesman called " kumbati".

In that game the participants used a long stick with a hand-carved knob like end, and competed in hitting a small ball made of animal skin to a designated area marked by a stake in the ground. Of course, that was not golf. But it can certainly be considered as a forerunner; just as a shepherd boy hitting small stones with his crook to past time, while tending sheep.

In any case, time does bring about a change and now it's mostly a matter of motivation. Show a kid how much fun he can have with his buddies trying to see who can hit it farthest off the tee, chip it closest to the pin, or roll it into the cup with the fewest tries. Point out how much money and respect he can earn if he gets good enough,walking around on television wearing nice slacks and sweaters while endorsing goods and products. This applies equally well with the young ladies. If a kid starting at six to ten years of age today is given proper instruction and encouragement over the years, he could become a millionaire by the time he's twenty five.

Of course, I realize that in order to become a world class player it takes a real commitment and years of dedication. Plus getting through any qualifying school may be the toughest test of all. But first, one must be exposed to the game to even have a chance. A (Klubs For Kids) type program currently under development, will hopefully provide a starting point for many interested children. I can still hear them screaming in my ears."Let me hit it next. No me. No it's my turn".

Whereas some kids are not big enough for football, tall enough for basketball, fast enough for track, etc., there are no such restrictions or limitations for the greatest game in the world. Besides, to give even a few of them a worthwhile alternative to standing on the corner getting into trouble with gangs, drugs, and who knows what else, should be incentive enough for parents and civic minded hackers, to encourage kids to get involved.

At any rate not only is there a future in pro golf for Blacks, but as I see it there is the possibility that they will dominate in it for a period. This is probably a frightening thought to some people and quite laughable to others, but as more and more young blacks come to know that it builds imagination, concentration, confidence and character, and that it pays in more ways than one to play,more will be rising to the occasion. Doubt it if you will, but mark my words. A new generation comprised of black golfers will take over where Rhodes, Sifford, Elder, and other fine players leave off. It's only a matter of time before an Afro-American wins the U.S. Open, or several are included on a team that wins the Ryder Cup for the United States Of America. Otherwise, many will come to know the recreational and social benefits derived from playing the beautiful game for a lifetime. Fore !

Epilogue: This article was first drafted in 1982. At that time Tiger Woods was only seven years old. Certainly not, am I Nostradamus. However, Eye Am Golf. Golf Eye Am. Allow yourself to become so. Help Grow The Game ! ! Yours golfingly, Thurman L. Aldridge.