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Palm Beach County Hosts 2023 African American Golfers Hall of Fame Celebration

The 2023 African American Golfers Hall of Fame & African American Collegiate & Youth Golfers Hall of Fame Celebration took place in The Palm Beaches from May 25-29. This event brought countywide impact and entailed a variety of activities, which included a golf tournament on the Links at Boynton Beach, educational roundtables at the Riviera Beach Marina Village Event Center, youth golf clinics, and the African American Golfers Hall of Fame & African American Collegiate & Youth Golfers Hall of Fame Celebration at Eastpointe Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens.

The weekend of events greatly promoted diversity and inclusion within golf. The African American Golfer’s Hall of Fame represents Palm Beach County’s only Hall of Fame that recognizes golf-related organizations and individuals on a national level.

The Palm Beach County Sports Commission has supported the African American Golfers Hall of Fame & African American Collegiate & Youth Golfers Hall of Fame over the last two decades. Honorees traveled from across the globe to enjoy the festivities. This event has produced powerful moments while recognizing the greatest pioneers, trailblazers, and legends of golf. Moreover, this Hall of Fame promoted and authenticated The Palm Beaches as Florida’s Golf Capital.

The 2023 celebration will include an inductee and award recipients that have significantly impacted the sports event and tourism landscape in The Palm Beaches. In addition to the Hall of Fame induction, the African American Golfers Hall of Fame has partnered with the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame to present two awards, the Champion of Equity and Diversity in Sports and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Community Sports Award.

“The African American Golfers Hall of Fame is incredibly proud to continue its longstanding relationship with the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission,” said Malachi Knowles, Founder and President of the African American Golfers Hall of Fame ahead of the event. “With the help of the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, we are thrilled to be able to honor these individuals that do vital work within our community.”

 

Angela Suggs, President and CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation, joined the prestigious list of the African American Golfers Hall of Fame inductees. During her leadership, the Florida Sports Foundation, which is the sports development arm for the state, supported the events, activities, and venues that were catalysts to Florida’s sports industry’s total economic impact of $146.5 billion.

Sean Pittman, who was the first President of the Orange Bowl Committee from Palm Beach County, was named the Palm Beach County Sports Commission’s Champion of Equity and Diversity in Sports. Pittman inspired a partnership between the Orange Bowl Committee and Palm Beach County, leading to a $3 million renovation of Glades Pioneer Park. Today, Orange Bowl Field at Glades Pioneer Park is one of Florida’s premier synthetic turf football fields that serves thousands of youth athletes from Belle Glade, Pahokee, and South Bay.

Palm Beach Lakes baseball coach, Bobby Gilbert, was honored with the Palm Beach County Sports Commission Community Sports Award. Coach Gilbert has dedicated his life to growing the number of minority youth playing America’s national pastime.

The best is yet to come for the African American Golfers Hall of Fame & African American Collegiate & Youth Golfer’s Hall of Fame and Palm Beach County. The promise of the first museum in the United States, dedicated to African American golfers’ history, will significantly increase cultural and historical opportunities for visitors and residents. The African American Golfers Hall of Fame Museum and Inner-City Youth Golf Learning Center is in the planning stages and will be born within the City of Riviera Beach. This museum will provide Palm Beach County with a “Hall of Fame” stage for its premier sport.

Please click below to take an in-depth look at the African American Golfers Hall of Fame & African American Collegiate & Youth Golfers Hall of Fame Celebration.