Shippen, John
1879-1968 · Contribution: 1896-1960
Early American golf professional; the first American-born and first African American golf professional to play in a U.S. Open (1896), and long-time professional at the Black-owned Shady Rest club
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Impact on the world
Played the 1896 U.S. Open at age 16, finishing tied for 5th, and competed in several more U.S. Opens (best another T5 in 1902); now recognized by the USGA as America's first home-grown golf professional. No other African American played in the U.S. Open until Ted Rhodes in 1948.
Life & background
African-American golfer born Dec 2, 1879 in Washington, DC; son of a minister assigned to the Shinnecock Reservation, he learned golf at Shinnecock Hills. Head professional and groundskeeper at Shady Rest Golf and Country Club (NJ) until retiring in 1960. Posthumous PGA membership (2009); inaugural NJ Golf Hall of Fame (2018). Died May 20, 1968.
Sources
- USGA; National Register of Historic Places (Shady Rest)
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