7/10/2020 12:07 PM
GREETINGS;
WOW! I have been a member of GCSAA for 56 years and I had no knowledge that I was swimming in a pool of racism. Rather than debate any issue with your post, I shall behave and give you my story. I am retired but I do work a few hours per week in the clubhouse.
Yesterday, my Executive Chef came in and said Ronnie Trump (he calls me that all the time). My President and your President met yesterday at the White House. Our Chef is Mexican. He said to his assistant, Izzy, who is Guatemalan, please get Ronnie Trumps favorite sandwich, yours and mine - come into the function room and we can watch the goats do their job of cleaning up the brush in the woods. We talked about some people affiliated with golf courses.
He mentioned Lee Trevino who was born in Dallas Texas, December, 1939, in a poor American Mexican - family. He was brought up by his mother with the help of his grandfather after his father abandoned the family. He started working in the Cotton Fields when he was five years old.
His association with golf started when his uncle presented him with an old golf club and some golf balls. Lee was born into abject poverty and he endured a difficult childhood. He could not attend school regularly and became a full - time caddy at Dallas Athletic club at the age of fourteen. At seventeen, he joined the Marine Corps, and for the next four years he played golf with the corps officers and participated in Asian golf events.
He won 6 major championships and 29 PGA tour events. He is an icon for Mexican - Americans, and often referred to as the "Merry Mex" and "Super Mex" both affectionate nicknames given to him by his Mexican American fans. He was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981.
Another minority in golf is TIGER WOODS -
First Tee, a youth development organization, impacts the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. First tee has reached more than 15 MILLION young people since its inception in 1997 and reaches youth on golf courses, in schools and at other youth serving locations.
A member of the New England Superintendents Association was a Portuguese gentleman that invented Vesper Velvet Bent named after Vesper C.C. He was well known throughout the industry. He and his son Manny Francis and Manny Francis Jr. built their own golf course in Marshfield, Mass. They are both deceased and the grandchildren are now responsible for the course, clubhouse and pro shop.
I do remember reading in the Golf Superintendents magazine about an African American Family that built their own golf course.
I am 82 years young and I do remember having a strap around my shoulder steering a plow making a drainage system on greens while somebody drove the tractor. Also, steering the sod cutter while someone heavier sort of sits on it for weight and someone driving the tractor pulling the sod cutter and spraying greens with a proportioner and broadcasting stolons on a nursery after making furrows with a four prong pitch fork.
I get offended when you say we can embrace the message for change, or continue to ignore elitism, discrimination, and the outright narcissism that exists throughout golf.
Mr. Williams, I am only one person and I think all Associations, Managers, Pros, Supers, etc. have come a long way in trying to do what is right for our industry. All people, minority or not can follow the example of Tiger Woods and Lee Trevino and even my Executive Chef Stay with it and keep trying.
Capt. Kirk
Retired Alien
Needham Golf Club
Needham, MA
Last modified on 11 Jul 2020 16:07 by Ronald Kirkman