Clearview golf course history12/19/2023 ![]() At the same time, you know, she didn’t want to put up with being slighted. You're just stuck in that kind of circle of anger and depression and victimhood," Pluto said. “But going through all the struggle, she really has stayed away from bitterness, as she told me, because, you know, when you're bitter, you just can't accomplish anything. Powell broke barriers and also reached across racial lines. And it's gone on for quite a while,” Pluto said. ![]() "She would talk (to them) and say, ‘Come out to the course and play.’ And she developed this golfing league free of charge for these women who are in the military. Some of the women were Vietnam veterans, and many were veterans of the Gulf War and the Iraq War. Pluto said she’s also been doing outreach work with female military veterans through her group, Clearview Hope. Today, 77-year-old Renee Powell is the head golf pro at Clearview Golf Course and her brother, Larry, runs the facility. “She said that was the first time it really struck her that it didn't matter, in the eyes of some folks, who you were. Powell told Pluto a story about a group of girls in elementary school telling her their parents said they could no longer be friends because she’s Black. “The remarkable thing is this is a woman of fiber and strength. Pluto said Powell also faced racism and death threats. “She says, you know, ‘I think back to like when I was just a little Black girl and here I am at St Andrews playing at the greatest course in the world,’” Pluto said. In 2015, Powell was among the first class of women to gain membership into the exclusive Royal and Ancient Golf Club in England. Andrews in Scotland, where the school also has a residence hall in her name. In 2008, Powell received an honorary degree from the University of St. She won a couple of tournaments and played, I think, for 13 years as a pro,” Pluto said. And Renee continued to play well and eventually became the second African American to play on the LPGA tour. “This is at a point where you either went for it or you didn't. “He bought an old dairy farm, which is now Clearview Golf course in East Canton,” Pluto said.Ĭlearview is the first golf course in the United States to be built, owned and operated by an African American.īy the time Renee Powell was 14, she was already winning tournaments. So, his dream when he returned from World War II was to open his own course. Pluto said Bill loved to play golf, but was denied entry at many courses because he was Black. Renee Powell started learning to play golf from her father, Bill Powell. ![]() ![]() ![]() He reached out to her for a recent column. Ideastream Public Media’s sports commentator Terry Pluto said he knew of Powell only by name and, after doing some research, was “blown away” by her journey. Trailblazing professional golfer Renee Powell is among this year’s inductees into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, along with former Browns return specialist Joshua Cribbs, IMG Executive Bob Kain and Collinwood High School girls track coach Lou Slapnik. ![]()
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