what was the name of joe louis gof course

Is there a golf course named after Joe Louis?

The former Pipe O' Peace Golf Course in Riverdale, Illinois (a Chicago suburb), was in 1986 renamed "Joe Louis The Champ Golf Course". American Legion Post 375 in Detroit is also named after Joe Louis.

How did Joe Louis become interested in golf?

Noted entertainer Ed Sullivan had initially sparked Louis's interest in the sport by giving an instructional book to Joe's wife Marva. Louis spent significant time on the golf course rather than training for the match.

Who was Joe Louis's trainer?

After becoming part of the management team, Black hired fellow Chicago native Jack "Chappy" Blackburn as Louis's trainer. Louis's initial professional fights were all in the Chicago area, his professional debut coming on July 4, 1934, against Jack Kracken in the Bacon Casino on Chicago's south side.

What is Joe Louis known for?

Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981), best known as Joe Louis was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. He reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, and is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.

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Who was the first African American to play in a PGA event?

Louis and others put together a petition and delivered it to the California governor, Pat Brown, who declared that the clause was unconstitutional. The PGA eventually permitted Louis to play as an exempt amateur. Louis, the first African-American to compete in a PGA-sanctioned event, missed the cut but made a powerful case for the inclusion of minority players in the sport, leading to the removal in 1961 of the Caucasian-only clause.

Who paid for Louis' funeral?

His funeral was paid, in part, by Schmeling, a former competitor and friend, who also acted as a pallbearer.

Is Louis a credit to his race?

When someone flippantly called Louis "a credit to his race," New York Post sportswriter Jimmy Cannon responded, "Yes, Louis is a credit to his race – the human race."

Did Joe Louis Barrow Jr. have a sponsor exemption?

In 1952, the former heavyweight champion received a sponsor exemption from Chevrolet to play in the inaugural San Diego Open at San Diego Country Club. As Louis’s son, Joe Louis Barrow Jr., recounted in 2012, the auto maker had no idea that there existed a “Caucasian-only” clause in PGA of America by-laws.

Why did Joe Louis become known as Joe Louis?

Legend has it that before the fight, the barely literate Louis wrote his name so large that there was no room for his last name , and thus became known as "Joe Louis" for the remainder of his boxing career. More likely, Louis simply omitted his last name to keep his boxing a secret from his mother. After this debut—a loss to future Olympian Johnny Miler—Louis compiled numerous amateur victories, eventually winning the club championship of his Brewster Street recreation center, the home of many aspiring Golden Gloves fighters.

How many knockouts did Joe Louis have?

Joe Louis had only three losses in his 69 professional fights. He tallied 52 knockouts and held the championship from 1937 to 1949, the longest span of any heavyweight titleholder. After returning from retirement, Louis failed to regain the championship in 1950, and his career ended after he was knocked out by Rocky Marciano in 1951.

What was Louis' passion?

One of Louis's other passions was the game of golf, in which he also played a historic role. He was a long-time devotee of the sport since being introduced to the game before the first Schmeling fight in 1936. In 1952, Louis was invited to play as an amateur in the San Diego Open on a sponsor's exemption, becoming the first African American to play a PGA Tour event. Initially, the PGA of America was reluctant to allow Louis to enter the event, having a bylaw at the time limiting PGA membership to Caucasians. Louis's celebrity status eventually pushed the PGA toward removing the bylaw, although the "Caucasian only" clause in the PGA of America's constitution was not amended until November 1961. The change, however, paved the way for the first generation of African-American professional golfers such as Calvin Peete. Louis himself financially supported the careers of several other early black professional golfers, such as Bill Spiller, Ted Rhodes, Howard Wheeler, James Black, Clyde Martin and Charlie Sifford. He was also instrumental in founding The First Tee, a charity helping underprivileged children become acquainted with the game of golf. His son, Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., currently oversees the organization.

What is the statue of Louis' fist?

The aforementioned sculpture of Louis's fist (see Legacy above) was one of several Detroit landmarks depicted in "Imported from Detroit", a two-minute commercial for the Chrysler 200 featuring Eminem that aired during Super Bowl XLV in 2011.

How many times did Louis defend his title?

In the 29 months from January 1939 through May 1941, Louis defended his title thirteen times, a frequency unmatched by any heavyweight champion since the end of the bare-knuckle era. The pace of his title defenses, combined with his convincing wins, earned Louis' opponents from this era the collective nickname "Bum of the Month Club". Notables of this lambasted pantheon include:

What did Ronald Reagan say about Joe Louis?

Following Louis' death, President Ronald Reagan said, "Joe Louis was more than a sports legend—his career was an indictment of racial bigotry and a source of pride and inspiration to millions of white and black people around the world.". Detroit Monument.

When did Roxborough and Black sign Louis?

The contract, however, did not keep Roxborough and Black from attempting to cash in as Louis's managers; when Louis turned 21 on May 13, 1935 , Roxborough and Black each signed Louis to an onerous long-term contract that collectively dedicated half of Louis' future income to the pair.

Where did Joe Louis compete in the golf tournament?

He competed as an amateur at first, and back in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, he sponsored the Joe Louis Open in 1941.

How did Joe Louis help the world of golf?

Joe Louis helped to integrate golf. When Louis was able to compete in the event, he used that as leverage to help fight for other golfers of color to participate in PGA sponsored events. He did not want to be the only one to have this opportunity. On Nov. 10, 1961, something historic happened in the world of golf.

How long was Louis the boxer?

He was the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949. Louis impacted a lot of people with his success in being an African American boxer. He inspired many boxers, and his legacy will always be remembered throughout the world of sports. Louis also took an interest in golf as well as boxing.

What did Joe Louis do in the first round?

During the event, Louis shot a 76 in the first round the first day, and the next day he shot an 82. Louis did what no other person of color did at the time, and that would help change the landscape of the game of golf. Joe Louis helped to integrate golf.

Why was Joe Louis denied entry to the San Diego Open?

This was the tournament Louis was invited to play in, but because of the PGA’s membership clause of Caucasian-only members, Louis was denied entry to the tournament. Louis was not in approval of the decision that he could not participate in the event.

Why was Louis denied entry to the PGA?

This was the tournament Louis was invited to play in, but because of the PGA’s membership clause of Caucasian-only members , Louis was denied entry to the tournament. Louis was not in approval of the decision that he could not participate in the event. So, he went on and did something about that.

Where did Joe Louis live in 1941?

He competed as an amateur at first, and back in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, he sponsored the Joe Louis Open in 1941. Louis donated money and paid the entry fees and transportation costs for golfers who could not afford to attend the event.