Dewey Brown

Dewey Brown (October 24, 1899 — December 22, 1973)^[1] was the first known African American member of the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA).

Brown became a member in 1928 after having worked as a caddie in New Jersey. He was a renowned golf club maker and golf teacher during the 1920s and 1930s, and he crafted a set of golf clubs for President Warren G. Harding. In 1934, he worked as an assistant golf pro at Shawnee in Pennsylvania. The PGA terminated Brown's membership when they discovered that he was African American. They previously believed he was white because of his light skin color. At the time, the PGA had a Caucasian-only clause in its bylaws.

Brown purchased Cedar River Golf Club in Indian Lake, New York, in 1947. His son took it over after Brown retired in 1972.

References

1. ^ "Dewey Brown: Superintendent, Professional, Gentleman" (PDF). Golf Superintendent: 31–34. July, 1974. http://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/gcman/article/1974jul31.pdf. Retrieved February 3, 2011. 

External links

• Cedar River Golf Course & Motel history
• Forbidden Fairways: African Americans and the Game of Golf

Persondata
Name	Brown, Dewey
Alternative names
Short description	Professional golfer
Date of birth	October 24, 1899
Place of birth	North Carolina
Date of death	December 22, 1973
Place of death