New exhibit by the Players Championship honors African American achievements in golf

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — In honor of Black history month, TPC Sawgrass is offering a creative way to learn about some amazing golfers who made their mark in history.

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Action News Jax visited the Forward Together exhibit and spoke with the late Calvin Peete’s wife about his legacy inspiring young people to take up golf.

Calvin Peete was a tremendous ball striker who made an impact on the sport not just here in Jacksonville but worldwide.

The late pro golfer’s wife told us his success also came much later in life.

“Calvin didn’t start playing golf until he was 23 and for him to accomplish what he did in such a short period of time, to never have a formal golf lesson, to have 12 victories on the tour,” his widow, Pepper Peete, said.

His victories included the 1985 Players Championship win; in fact, Peete was the first African American to win the Players Championship.

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Although he passed away in 2015, Pepper told me she’ll never forget what his colleagues told him after that historic win.

“They said, ‘Calvin, that was the finest round we ever witnessed.’ I think he earned the respect of his colleagues, and you know golfers around the world,” Pepper said.

This new exhibit at TPC Sawgrass is teaching visitors about these talented trailblazers who helped grow the sport.

During Black History Month, you can read about those who made a major mark in the sport of golf like Calvin Peete, Tiger Woods and the Brentwood Four.

“The Brentwood golf course is a public facility here in Jacksonville, and they were attempting to play on a day that was not available to black golfers at the time and eventually filed a lawsuit that went to the supreme court, and they won that case and it led to desegregation in golf courses,” Jared Rice, the executive director of the Players Championship, said.

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Peete’s influence went beyond being a professional golfer. His commitment to the youth is what really stood out, inspiring a new generation of golfers.

“No greater joy than to watch a kid that had never had a golf lesson, never experienced golf before get the ball and loft it up in the air and see the smile on their face,” Pepper said.

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