Ted Rhodes Foundation
The Ted Rhodes Foundation, Inc. is a U.S. non-profit organization created in honor of Ted Rhodes, an African American professional golfer active during the mid-twentieth century. Rhodes played a significant role in challenging racial barriers within the sport of golf. The foundation’s mission is to encourage and support future generations of minority golfers.{{cite web |title=Ted Rhodes Foundation, Inc./Mission |url=https://tedrhodes.org/about-us/ |website=tedrhodes.org |date=7 March 2015 |access-date=April 3, 2025}}
Ted Rhodes was one among the first black golfers to compete in a U.S. Open.{{cite web |last1=Wynn |first1=Linda T. |title=Theodore "Ted" Rhodes (1913 - 1969) |url=https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1055&context=conference-on-african-american-history-and-culture |website=digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu |publisher=Tennessee State University |access-date=March 17, 2025 |date=1998}} In the mid-1940s, he qualified for entry into the PGA's major tournaments;{{cite web |title=Richmond Golf Club/ A Rich History |url=https://www.richmondgolfclub.com/club/history |website=richmondgolfclub.com |publisher=Richmond (California) Golf Club |access-date=March 17, 2025}} however, he was denied participation solely based on his race. At that time, golf's major professional organization in the U.S., the PGA, had a "Caucasian-only" clause in its rules, preventing non-white players from competing.{{cite news |last1=Mardo |first1=Bill |title=Fight vs. Golf Jim Crow Won |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1144027603/?match=1&terms=%22Ted%20Rhodes%22%20%2B%20%22PGA%22 |access-date=April 4, 2025|publisher=Daily World |date=September 26, 1948 |location=New York |page=10}} Rhodes persisted in challenging this discrimination, paving the way for future generations of minority golfers.
The Ted Rhodes Foundation, Inc. organizes educational events, golf clinics, and tournaments for both youth and adults. It also offers financial assistance to golf teams at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to further its mission. In addition, the foundation collaborates with local urban youth golf programs.
Originally founded in 1970 by Nashville golf enthusiasts, the organization was incorporated in 1993 as a fund-raising entity by the daughter of Ted Rhodes, Peggy Rhodes-White. It was then renamed "The Ted Rhodes Foundation, Inc."{{cite book |last1=McDaniel |first1=Pete |title=Uneven Lies: The Heroic Story of African Americans in Golf |date=2000 |publisher=American Golfer |isbn=9781888531367 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5KmBAAAAMAAJ&q=Ted+Rhodes+Foundation |access-date=April 3, 2025}}{{rp|107}} The organization continues to promote diversity and access within the sport of golf.