African American Legends of Golf and the James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund
Supporting African American Golfers in Pennsylvania
Senator Hughes has supported Black golfers throughout his time as an elected official. Watching his father, James Hughes, enjoy the game of golf and push past any closed-minded notions about who should play the sport, inspired Senator Hughes to advocate for inclusion in golf and work to develop more opportunities for Philadelphians to get out on the green.
Groundbreaking at Historic Cobbs Creek
Restoring the Historic Cobbs Creek Golf Club
Senator Hughes has announced $4.3 million dollars in funds to support the restoration of the Cobbs Creek Golf Club.
In recent years, the course has been closed and neglected. Now, the Cobbs Creek Foundation and the Tiger Woods Foundation will start a three-year project to bring the course back to life and expand how it serves the community. When the project is complete, Cobbs Creek will serve as a historic golf course and education center for surrounding communities.
Senator Hughes has been key in securing state investments to make the project a reality.
$4,000,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program Grants
$325,000 in Multimodal Transportation Fund Grants
Plans include the creation of the TGR Learning Lab and restoration of the creek and surrounding ecosystem. The project is projected to create 150 new jobs for the West Philadelphia neighborhood and bring in $6.5 million dollars in revenue.
Cobbs Creek Was One of the First Integrated Golf Courses in America
The Cobbs Creek course originally opened in 1916 and was one of the first integrated golf courses in the country. Black golfers were able play on the course while most other courses in the US required Black golfers to play on segregated greens.
According to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Cobbs Creek became a critical site in the history of African Americans and the game of golf. The United Golfers Association—the nation’s Black golf tour—held its major championship multiple times at the site, while notable Black golfers like Howard Wheeler and Charlie Sifford (also known as the “Jackie Robinson” of golf) identified it as their home course. In 2016, the course was inducted into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame.
“I was delighted to see both Black and White golfers playing side by side there. Here was a place I could play without having to worry about some groundskeeper coming by to run me off the course.” – Charlie Sifford
James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund
When Senator Hughes’ father, James Hughes, passed, he and his family made the decision to establish a scholarship fund in his name. Given Mr. Hughes’ commitment to education and especially helping young people go to college, the focus of the funds was to provide scholarships to Philadelphia students attending Cheyney University and the 13 other State System of Higher Education Universities in PA. Thus the James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund was established.
Over a 10 year period, $1M was provided to deserving young people to attend and graduate from some of PA’s most important universities.
Because Mr. Hughes was an avid golfer, and a leader in advancing African American participation in the game of Golf, the vehicle for raising the scholarship funds was through a golf tournament, that was focused on lifting up the struggles and triumphs of African American golfers making it to the PGA tour. Consequently the African American Legends of Golf tournament was established.
At the tournament, which for many years was played at the world class DuPont Country Club, African American golfing legends were celebrated and honored. Golfers like: Charlie Sifford – Lee Elder – Calvin Peete – Charles Owens – Bill Bishop, and many others joined a large number of supporters and fans, golfed and enjoyed the festivities.
Special guests like: Pete McDaniels author of Uneven Lies – Stephen A. Smith – Sonny Hill – Mike Quick – Glyn Turman – Teddy Pendergrass, and many others joined in the festivities. Joined by the Hughes Families’ extra special guest host, Ernest Oglesby, one of James Hughes’ closest friends, and golf “hustling” partner, golfers and corporate friends participated in one of golf’s most significant tributes to golf history, diversity, and scholarship.
The African American Legends of Golf Tournament and the James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund, will always be remembered for golfers who fought through huge and historic barriers, and a man who chose to live a life of service and to make a difference, while enjoying the game that he so dearly loved.
