Ohio golfing legend, Renee Powell has received some of the most prestigious awards in golf over the past several years. In 2017, she and her father, William were the first father and daughter inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame and this past year, she Captained the American Junior Solheim Cup Team. She was one of the first women to become full members of the Royal & Ancient, plus The University of St. Andrews named a building in her honor.
The World Golf Hall of Fame recently created the Charlie Sifford Award to honor golfers who advance diversity in the game. Powell will be the first recipient of this high award and will be recognized during the 2022 World Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony, during the PLAYERS Championship in Ponte Vedra, Florida.
Powell was the second African American woman to ever compete on the LPGA Tour and after her competitive days were over, she promoted the game through teaching. She has organized international trips to Scotland and Africa for minority junior golfers and is active in PGA HOPE and REACH, especially for female veterans.
“As a youngster my parents fought to get me into tournaments when I was not welcomed because of the color of my skin, which instilled in me how important it is to get young people into the game to help build their self-confidence,” said Powell. “I’m honored to be the first recipient of this award and to see Charlie Sifford be recognized for breaking down barriers that never should have been put in front of him and all others of color who strived to play this game. I was taught early on by my parents that golf should be a sport for everyone, and we can all diversify this game in so many ways.”
Renee competed in more than 250 professional tournaments and played as a member of the LPGA Tour from 1967-1980. Since 1995, she has also served as the head PGA/LPGA professional at Clearview Golf Club, the club built by her father, William, in 1946. It was the first golf course in the United States, designed, built, owned and operated by an African American. The Clearview Legacy Foundation focuses on education, preservation, and research, utilizing golf as a tool to reach everyone, with an emphasis on youth, minorities, veterans, seniors and other underrepresented groups.
Powell Named PGA Professional of the Year
In 1996, Renee became the first African-American Woman member of the PGA. This year, she became the first woman to be named PGA Golf Professional of the Year, one of the highest honors for a working club professional.
The award was presented to Renee at the Northern Ohio PGA Section’s Annual Meeting, the award embraces a wide range of services executed by a club professional such as, outstanding leadership abilities, strong moral character, and outstanding service to the Association and the game of golf.
“I am deeply honored by the Northern Ohio PGA for this recognition, and share this with those who have supported Clearview Golf Club and its legacy,” said Powell. “I am all about growing the game as are my peers, and at the same time I have devoted myself to following my father’s example by growing diversity in the game of golf.”
