Suburban Chicago golf club encourages Black women to take up the sport
RIVERDALE, Ill. (CBS) -- Golf can seem intimidating to people who have never tried it, but one group in the south suburbs is trying to convince women to not be afraid and go pick up a club.
On a beautiful, sunny Monday morning at Joe Louis "The Champ" Golf Club in Riverdale, the ladies were ready to play.
"Golf is a great sport. It's great physically," said Tracy Raoul, president of Ebony Ladies Golf League. "It's a mental game. You have to know how to let go of that bad stroke and move on to the next one."
The Ebony Ladies Golf League just marked its 50th anniversary recently with a very glitzy gala, and the ladies have a lot to celebrate. Raoul has been president since 2021 and has been on a mission to bring in more members.
"I am, again, proud to say since 2022, we've grown from 46 to 81 [members]," Raoul said. "Many of them did not ever pick up a golf club. I wanna grow the game and see more African American women playing this game."
That's been a tall order over the years, even well into the early 1900s.
"At one time, African Americans were not allowed to play this game," Raoul said. "They could caddy, and if they played, unfortunately, they had to play with subpar materials, equipment."
Black people were forbidden from playing golf even on public courses around the country, including Chicago until a few good men stood up.
"Walter Speedy and his three gentlemen sued the Park District because they couldn't play at the public course, Jackson Park," Raoul said. "So, they sued and actually won. In 1910, those men started playing."
Speedy's wife, Netty George Speedy, paved the way for women, but it took a lot longer. As an example, the Women's Jackson Park Golf Club started in 1921, Raoul said, adding there were no Black women who were a part of the club until the 1970s.
"We were not welcome at some of the white leagues," said Miljan Akin.
At 92 years old, Akin stopped playing golf just last year, but she's still a regular at the course. Louise Horne founded the Ebony League Back in 1974, and Akin was one of the 14 founding members.
"I love the game," Akins said. "And I just love being out here and I loved the competition."
Competition is a key word, even among close friends.
"I will tell you, ladies are extremely competitive, and I think that's what I like," said Cassandra Curry.
Curry's dad introduced her to golf when she was 7, and she's still hooked.
"It builds character," Curry said. "Even if you think you can't, oh yes you can."
So what would the ladies tell women who think golf is just too intimidating of a sport?
"If you want to play golf, play golf," said Eleanor Fox. "You can do anything that our male counterparts can do, and sometimes, we even do it better."
Kathy Davis added, "I'm gonna say, 'Yes, you can, and we're here to help you.'"
That's what Verleaner Lane found when she became an Ebony Lady three years ago, hoping to relax.
"I just needed something just for me," Lane said. "Because I can make it my own and it's my own skill level."
And even if they don't make the shot, Curry said the fun makes it all worthwhile.
"As long as there's breath and I can still play, I will be an Ebony Lady," Curry said. "Because I just love the league and I love our pink and black [outfits]. I think we look wonderful!"
Looking to the future, Raoul said she sees a rising movement of junior golfers with many more Black girls and boys taking up the game.
The Ebony Ladies Golf League is still looking for more members. For more information, visit EbonyLadiesGolfLeague.org.