Rhodes, Ted
1913-1969 · Contribution: 1940s-1960s
Golfer
Pioneering African American professional golfer; dominant on the all-Black United Golfers Association (UGA) tour and an early challenger of the PGA's whites-only membership clause

Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1913, Nashville, Tennessee
- Active since
- 1946
- Category
- Sports & Athletics
- Best known for
- Pioneering Black professional golfer who challenged the PGA color bar
Impact on the world
Rhodes was among the finest Black golfers of his era and helped lead the legal challenge to the PGA's 'Caucasian-only' clause, opening the professional game to the Black players who followed.
Sources
- Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame
1 more sources and references are available to members.
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Powell, Renee
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