Ohio Golf Journal April 2019

the second, competing professionally from 1967 to 1980. Those were not easy times traveling around the country for a young black athlete. Restaurants would refuse service, hotel reservations would suddenly be lost, plus she received death threats. Through it all sheprevailedand is still full of joy for the game, as well as, a love for teaching juniors, women and men at that same small golf course her father built outside of Canton in 1946. When The R&A voted to admit women members in 2015, Renee’ was shocked tohear her name included on that exclusive list of just seven women, with Princess Anne, Laura Davies, Belle Robertson, Lally Segard, Annika Sorenstam and Louise Suggs. RENEE’ POWELL FROM EAST CANTON IS AMERICAN GOLF ROYALTY By Fred Altvater O n a small golf course just east of Canton, Ohio, William and Marcella Powell raised three children on their small golf course, two boys and a girl. Renee’ gravitated to the game at a young age and her father even built a short course for her to learn the game. Renee’ excelled at golf, but with few junior golf tournament opportunities in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s for young women of color, her playing options were limited. The United Golf Association (UGA) was primarily a professional golf circuit for African-Americans barred from PGA tournaments, but they also sponsored women and junior events, for both boys and girls. Renee’ excelled in several of the UGA events and at the age of 16, was the first African-American female to qualify for the USGA’s Junior Girl’s Championship in 1962. She parlayed her golfing skills into a college scholarship, first at Ohio University and then at Ohio State. Althea Gibson was the first African-American to become a member of the LPGA Tour. Renee’ was Ohio Golf Journal W men G lf Greats