Powell, Renee

1946-present · Contribution: 1967-present

Pioneering professional golfer and golf-club operator; the second African American woman to play on the LPGA Tour (1967), and since the mid-1990s the head professional and operator of Clearview Golf Club, the course her father built

Sports & Athletics — collage image
Sports & Athletics

Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.

Impact on the world

The second African American woman on the LPGA Tour (after Althea Gibson), competing in 250+ events through 1980; first woman to play in a British men's professional event (1977) and first female head professional at a private UK club (Silvermere, 1979). Now runs Clearview and the Clearview Legacy Foundation, and founded Clearview HOPE (2011), a golf-therapy program for women veterans.

Life & background

African-American golfer born May 4, 1946; daughter of Clearview founder William 'Bill' Powell. Captained the Ohio State women's golf team. Honors include the PGA 'First Lady of Golf' (2003), the inaugural Charlie Sifford Award, an honorary doctorate from the University of St Andrews (2008), honorary R&A membership (2015), and election as the first at-large member of the PGA of America board (2019).

Sources

  1. Clearview Golf Club; PGA of America; LPGA; University of St Andrews