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Out of the Rough: Ted Rhodes and His Fight Against Golf's Color Barrier
The long-overdue biography of golfing pioneer Ted Rhodes.
After winning The Masters in 1997, Tiger Woods paused to express gratitude to three African American golf pioneers. One was Ted Rhodes. As prolific as Woods would go on to become, his success paled when compared to that enjoyed during the 1940s and 50s by Rhodes.
In Out of the Ted Rhodes and His Fight Against Golf's Color Barrier, Dan Taylor tells the remarkable story of Rhodes's life and career. He details Rhodes's impoverished background, how he was barred from golf courses in his hometown by Jim Crow laws, and his rise to prominence in the sport. Relegated to the all-Black United Golfers Association by a “Caucasians Only” membership policy adopted by the PGA tour, Rhodes shattered course records. Befriended and supported by heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, Rhodes blazed a trail for Black golfers, becoming the first in more than fifty years to play in the US Open, suing for his right to play in the PGA, and becoming the first Black professional golfer to play in a PGA tournament and on the circuit.
Ted Rhodes was one of the most impressive talents golf has ever seen, a man who achieved greatness amidst immense obstacles and a pioneer whose game and character opened doors for future generations of Black golfers. Out of the Rough is a long overdue tribute to this golfing icon.
After winning The Masters in 1997, Tiger Woods paused to express gratitude to three African American golf pioneers. One was Ted Rhodes. As prolific as Woods would go on to become, his success paled when compared to that enjoyed during the 1940s and 50s by Rhodes.
In Out of the Ted Rhodes and His Fight Against Golf's Color Barrier, Dan Taylor tells the remarkable story of Rhodes's life and career. He details Rhodes's impoverished background, how he was barred from golf courses in his hometown by Jim Crow laws, and his rise to prominence in the sport. Relegated to the all-Black United Golfers Association by a “Caucasians Only” membership policy adopted by the PGA tour, Rhodes shattered course records. Befriended and supported by heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, Rhodes blazed a trail for Black golfers, becoming the first in more than fifty years to play in the US Open, suing for his right to play in the PGA, and becoming the first Black professional golfer to play in a PGA tournament and on the circuit.
Ted Rhodes was one of the most impressive talents golf has ever seen, a man who achieved greatness amidst immense obstacles and a pioneer whose game and character opened doors for future generations of Black golfers. Out of the Rough is a long overdue tribute to this golfing icon.
- GenresSports
240 pages, Hardcover
Published February 19, 2026
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Dan Taylor
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June 4, 2026
When Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters, in his press conference he paid tribute to three men considered to be pioneers for Black golfers - Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder and Ted Rhodes. The work and struggles Rhodes had in opening the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) up to Black golfers is largely unknown and this book by Dan Taylor is an excellent biography of this golfer whose accomplishments should be better known.
Rhodes grew up in Nashville where Jim Crow laws made it hard for him to pursue golf, but he did get a caddying job on a public course and it was there where the golf bug hit him. He was mentored, took the game seriously and was invited to play in a tournament sponsored by heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, an avid golfer himself. That was where Rhodes became more well known as a golfer who had great potential.
Taylor’s writing illustrated Rhodes’ struggles to get into a PGA tournament as the organization had a strict “Caucasians Only” policy. Rhodes still was able to rack up great scores in the United Golf Association (UGA) that was for Black golfers, but the prize money was a pittance compared to PGA purses. While the coverage of Rhodes’ success was very good, Taylor’s account of the deals made and broken by the PGA, their blatant discrimination against Black golfers and their heavy handedness when addressing this matter with sponsors such as Bing Crosby and his annual tournament was very revealing. It showed just how bad Black golfers were viewed by the organization.
Once Rhodes was able to break the color barrier, he and Charlie Sifford did have some success. But where Rhodes was really making his mark was in coaching other Black players. One very famous pupil of his was Althea Gibson. Once she was tired of tennis because she had defeated nearly every other player, she wanted to try her hand at golf. Struggling at first, she eventually became proficient enough in the game under Rhodes’ tutelage that she became the first Black woman to compete in the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
When Rhodes died at age 55, the golf world grieved as the sport lost a true pioneer. This book is one that should be read by those who enjoy golf but may not be aware of the contributions Rhodes made to the sport. I was one of those golf fans who did not know about Ted Rhodes - I am very glad that I do now.
I wish to thank Bloomsbury Academic for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Rhodes grew up in Nashville where Jim Crow laws made it hard for him to pursue golf, but he did get a caddying job on a public course and it was there where the golf bug hit him. He was mentored, took the game seriously and was invited to play in a tournament sponsored by heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, an avid golfer himself. That was where Rhodes became more well known as a golfer who had great potential.
Taylor’s writing illustrated Rhodes’ struggles to get into a PGA tournament as the organization had a strict “Caucasians Only” policy. Rhodes still was able to rack up great scores in the United Golf Association (UGA) that was for Black golfers, but the prize money was a pittance compared to PGA purses. While the coverage of Rhodes’ success was very good, Taylor’s account of the deals made and broken by the PGA, their blatant discrimination against Black golfers and their heavy handedness when addressing this matter with sponsors such as Bing Crosby and his annual tournament was very revealing. It showed just how bad Black golfers were viewed by the organization.
Once Rhodes was able to break the color barrier, he and Charlie Sifford did have some success. But where Rhodes was really making his mark was in coaching other Black players. One very famous pupil of his was Althea Gibson. Once she was tired of tennis because she had defeated nearly every other player, she wanted to try her hand at golf. Struggling at first, she eventually became proficient enough in the game under Rhodes’ tutelage that she became the first Black woman to compete in the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
When Rhodes died at age 55, the golf world grieved as the sport lost a true pioneer. This book is one that should be read by those who enjoy golf but may not be aware of the contributions Rhodes made to the sport. I was one of those golf fans who did not know about Ted Rhodes - I am very glad that I do now.
I wish to thank Bloomsbury Academic for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Displaying 1 of 1 review