Historical Timeline
Timeline of Fir State Golf Club (FSGC) HISTORY and its storied Junior Program. Note: Individuals names that are in this timeline were or are current products of the FSGC Junior Program or Its Membership
In 1945, Seventeen (17) golfers, fourteen (14) men and three (3) women formed an alliance to start a golfing club to address the inequality and access denied to diverse people of color wanting to participate and play within the greater Seattle Public golfing community. 1
In 1947, that golfing club came to full fruition in name and incorporation within Washington State as a non-profit corporation. The chosen name of the club would be Fir State Golf Club (FSGC), named after the designated State tree of Washington, the Evergreen Fir. The reason for this tree selection was its resilient strength and ability to weather storms. The adopted symbol or shield Crest is made up of fir trees crossed by two golf clubs. The club’s colors are green, white, and yellow. It’s Mission objective: To provide people from diverse social and economic backgrounds an opportunity to learn and participate fully in the sport of golf. Its Goals: To organize golf tournaments, club outings and golfing events with an emphasis on spirited competition, skill enhancement and camaraderie; To promoting and building citizenship, fellowship, high ethical standards, self-esteem and self-discipline while upholding the standards and integrity of the game of golf; To encouraging a greater sense of community through the game of golf; To starting a junior program committed to investing within the community by providing leadership, mentoring, tutoring and teaching golf proficiency; Later years providing scholarships base on scholastic aptitude.
Note: In Seattle and within United States in general, access to golf clubs either public or private and entry to sponsored tournaments were not open to diverse people of color regardless of their skillset or ability to compete. This was true and condoned legally throughout the country in most places during the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s periods. 2
1947 – 1954, FSGC was determined and driven to make a difference in the golfing community, and in doing so became a hero in the fight for equality and inclusion in the golfing communities of Seattle. In 1954, after seven years of political lobbying, the victory for equality and inclusion on public golf courses was mandated by the Seattle City Council, some 17 years ahead of Rosa Park’s refusal to give up her seat on a public bus in Birmingham, Alabama leading to the adoption of the 14th amendment of the United States constitution, better known as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 3
Starting in 1947 and throughout the 60’s, FSGC members Mr. Bill Wright Sr. and Mr. Rudy Mason, two outstanding amateur golfers of their time, served in the unofficial capacity as junior golf instructors for the club. Under their guidance they produced arguably one of the most accomplished junior golfers (Bill Wright Jr.) in the history of the FSGC to date. 4
In 1950, FSGC hosted its first club tournament at the privately-owned Inglewood Golf and Country Club in Kenmore, Washington. Mr. Ben Beasley an employee at the country club during this time was instrumental in helping arrange the Monday tournament. Note: Mr. Beasley was one of the original founding members of the FSGC. 5
In 1952, FSGC applied and became a member club in the United States Golf Association. 6
In 1954, FSGC members Bill Wright Sr. and his son Bill Jr. (one of the first FSGC juniors) submitted their entry forms to participate in Seattle Public Links Amateur Championship (SPLAC). Bill Wright Jr finished 1st in the tournament and his dad Bill Sr. placing third. 7
In 1954, FIR STATE GOLF CLUB was instrumental in the formation of the Western States Golf Association (WSGA) which is an alliance of thirty-two (32) African Americans golfing clubs covering seven (7) states west of Denver, Colorado. 8
In 1955, Bill Wright Jr won the Seattle City Jr Amateur Championship 9
In 1959, Bill Wright Jr (at 23yrs old) qualified for the United States Golf Association Public Links Championship, becoming the first African American to do so, which he went on to win that year’s championship which was held at Wiltshire Golf Club in Denver, Colorado. Note: Bill birdie holes 4 through 9 every day of the tournaments. 10
In 1963, Social bigotry within the club had forced some of the membership to break away and form their own club (Eastside Side Golf Club). These men over time had selflessly lost focus with the mission of FSGC. They wanted to disenfranchise the women members of FSGC from playing golf with the club at scheduled club plays. 11
In 1960, Bill Wright Jr as a student/golfer at Western Washington University, Bill again made history by becoming the first African American to win the NAIA Golf Championship. 12
In 1966, Bill Wright Jr played in United States Open held at the Lakes Course of the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California. The winner that year was Billy Casper in an eighteen-hole playoff over Arnold Palmer. 13
In the early 70’s through 1985, Mr. Wilber Ponder and Mr. Frank Jackson took over the roll as the club’s junior golf instructors. Mr. Ponder continued in this capacity until his retirement to Florida in 2000. He is credited with developing the golfing proficiency of many of the juniors you will find mentioned in this timeline. It is rumored that he had an influential hand in the development of Fred Couples smooth and silky swing. Note: Only Fred Couples himself can validate that rumor! 14
In 1971, Mr. Raymond Lucien an outstanding basketball player at The University of Montana was inducted into the schools Hall of Fame. 15
In 1972, Legendary NBA Hall of Famer Mr. William (Bill) Russell of the Boston Celtic’s became a member of FSGC. From 1972 through the late 90’s you would find Mr. Russell on the links during scheduled clubs plays. 16
In 1975, FSGC appointed Mr. Frank Jackson as its first official Junior Program Director. 17
In 1977, FSGC purchased a residential home within the city of Seattle (located: 3418 Martin Luther King Way, Seattle, WA 98144) which eventually became the club’s clubhouse. 18
In 1978, David Mann, Legendary, Professional Minor League Baseball player from the Seattle Rainiers and the old Negro League Baseball organization joined FSGC. 19
From the early 80’s through 2001 approximately, FSGC Junior Golf Program was the primary provider of African American student/golfers to Seattle’s enter city high schools and colleges within and outside of the state of Washington. 20
In 1986, Landon Jackson and Jet Singh (both FSGC junior class 1973) were FSGC’s first juniors to be awarded full scholarships by the National Minority Golf Scholarship Association to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where they spearheaded Southern’s golf team in winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship. 21
In 1989, Tracy Thorn (FSGC junior class of 1987) played in the Metro League State Tournament two consecutive years 1989 and 1990. He later went on to play for Alcorn State University from 1992-95. 22
In 1992, the FSGC junior program fundraising efforts took an enormous shot in the arm when club member Robert Woodard secured a commitment from Mr. Earl Woods to bring his then sixteen-year-old son (Tiger Woods) to sever as the first major host of the club’s Annual Fundraiser Golf Tournament and to perform a golfing clinic for the FSCG juniors and community at large. 23
In 1992, Mr. Bill Wright Jr earned his PGA Senior Tour playing card. 24
In 1992, FSGC member Mr. Thaddeus Gary was the first African American in the Pacific Northwest to receive his PGA instructor card. 25
From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Ken Griffey Sr. and Birdie Griffey his wife served as host for the clubs Annual Fundraiser Golf Tournament. 26
In 1993, FSGC members Mr. Alvin Horton and Mr. Sam Jennings attempted to qualify for entry onto the PGA Senior Tour. The qualifying rounds were held at Inglewood Golf and Country Club in Kenmore, Washington. Both members failed to qualify, missing out by a few strokes. 27
In 1995, Tyson LaNore (FSGC junior class 1988) as a freshman at Cleveland High school in Seattle, WA, became the second member of the FSGC to win the Metro League Golf Championship. The first being Bill Wright Jr in 1955 when tournament was called the Seattle City Junior Amateur Tournament. Tyson went on to finished among the top five (5) at the state tournament later in the year. 28
In 1996, Tyson LaNore earned a spot in the National Maxfli PGA Junior Championship. 29
In 1996, another FSGC junior, Adonis Duckworth (FSGC junior class 1988) at O’Dea High School in Seattle, WA, repeated the feat by Tyson in 1995, by winning the Metro League Golf Championship for the second consecutive year. 30
In 1996, Landon Jackson (FSGC junior class 1973) was hired as an assistant pro at Pebble Beach Golf Links on California’s Monterey Peninsula, becoming the first African American to hold any pro status at Pebble Beach. 31
In 1997, FSGC celebrated its 50th Anniversary by hosting a golf clinic open to the community and established in June of that year the club’s Junior Program Foundation as a 501(c) 3 entity. 32
In 1998, The PGA Championship was hosted in Seattle, WA at the Sahalee Country Club. The FSGC was selected to be the hole Marshall’s on the par 3 (8th Hole) of the tournament. Note: Vijay Singh won the 1998 PGA Championship. 33
From 1999 to 2000, Mr. Dale Ellis, NBA All Star and prolific shooting guard of Seattle Sonics Basketball Team served as host for the Annual Fundraiser Golf Tournament. 34
In 2001, Mr. Warren Moon, NFL elite quarterback, Ex-Seahawk and NFL Hall of Famer served as host for the Annual Fundraiser Golf Tournament. 35
In 2002, Mr. Mike Cameron, MLB All Star center fielder for the Seattle Mariners took over the reins for the Annual Fundraiser Golf Tournament. 36
From 2003 to 2004, Mr. Nate McMillan, NBA All Star player and coach for the Seattle Sonics Basketball Team served as the host of the Annual Fundraiser Golf Tournament. 37
Starting in 1992 through 2001, the resources generated from the Annual Fundraisers enable the Junior Program to provide its high school graduates with financial aid scholarships to Universities of their choice and the ability to sponsor its juniors to compete in WSGA junior competitions in Oregon, California, Colorado, and Arizona. 38
From 2001 to present here is a short list of Universities/Colleges that Fir State Juniors have attended and graduated from, Yale University, Vanderbilt University, University of Washington, Boston College University, Morehouse College and Oregon State University, Walla Community College, Bellevue Community College, Jackson State University, Santa Clara University, Tennessee State University and Southern University 39
In 2001, Andia Winslow (FSGC junior class 1993) became the first female in Fir State Junior Program and its second member to earn a spot in the National Maxfli PGA Junior Championship held in Palm Gardens, Florida. 40
In 2002, Andia Winslow as a college freshman at Yale University, became the first African American male or women to compete at the varsity golf level in the Ivy League, helping the Bulldogs to secure the storied women’s Ivy League Championship. 41
In 2002, Tyson LaNore (FSGC junior class 1988) played as the No. 1 golfer on the Walla Walla Community College golfing team, leading the way for Walla Walla to win the conference Championship. Individually, Tyson finishing tied for 7th Place in the tournament. 42
In 2003, Fir State GC, Eastside GC and Leisure Hour GC of Portland, Oregon were instrumental in forming the Pacific Northwest Golf Association, this was the alliance of the six (6) African American golf clubs (Fir State GC of Seattle Washington, Eastside GC of Seattle Washington, Leisure Hour GC of Portland Oregon, Pine State GC of Spokane Washington, Tee &Turf GC of Tacoma Washington and Hy-Tee GC of Kent, Washington). 43
In 2006, Andia Winslow became only the fourth African American to ever complete on the LPGA tour, given a sponsor exemption into the Ginn Clubs and Resort Open. 44
In 2006 also, Club member Mr. Alan “AL” Hairston, the legendary basketball coach who led Garfield high school in Seattle Washington to five (5) state basketball titles, was inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. Note: Al played professionally in the NBA for the Seattle Supersonics, the sonics drafted him as a point guard in the fifth round of the 1968 NBA draft, from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. 45
From 2010 to 2016, the FSGC was in a serious state of decline due to; membership age attrition, loss of juniors and junior program perpetuated by the gentrification of residential areas within a radius of five(5) miles from Jefferson Park GC , lack of interest and support from African Americans within and outside of the enter City, and the advent of the First Tee Initiative which to date has very low numbers of African American participation. 46
In 2016, FSGC merged with its former members that broke away to form the Eastside Golf Club in 1963. The other big event of the year was the sale off the FSGC clubhouse as part of the agreement to merge, because many of the incoming members were unwilling to provide additional financial assistance for maintenance upkeep on the property. 47
As of 2016 to 2019, FSGC has only one (1) junior golfer (Anthony Tucker, FSGC junior class 2014) on its roster, a far cry from the by gone years of this once very productive and legendary program. 48
In 2017, Landon Jackson (FSGC junior class 1973) was awarded a sponsor’s exemption, by Holland America Cruise Lines, into the PGA senior championships event (The Boeing Classic) held at Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Course in Snoqualmie, Washington 49
In 2017, the FSGC has experienced a resurgence in its membership numbers equivalent to clubs’ golden years, however the club’s original mission is still valid to date. 50
In 2017 Club member Mr. Alan “AL” Hairston was recognized and inducted into Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Hall of Fame for his dedicated service and exploits, transitioning from the sidelines of coaching to administrative duties, as the Seattle School District Athletic Director from 2009-2015; The WIAA 3A State Basketball Tournament Manager from 2007-2008 and as the 3A/4A State Tournament Manger from 2015-2018. 51
In 2018, the newly elected FSGC Board of Directors officially restarted the scholarship program by rewarding two local high students with FSGC Academic Scholarship; and submitting requirements to the Internal Revenues Service to reactivate the club’s 501(c)3 status of its Junior Golf Program. 52
In November of 2018, Kristin Patterson (FSGC junior class 1992) was selected among a team of officials to referee the 2018 NCAA Final Four Division One (1) Women’s Soccer Championship semifinal match between Georgetown University and University of North Carolina held in Cary, North Carolina. 53
On May 9, 2018, FSGC lost another one of its iconic members (Mr. David F. Mann). Dave played professional baseball for 13 years within the following team’s organizations; St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians. David the distinction of playing with and being roommate with the great Satchel Paige when they both played for the Miami Marlins in1960. In 1963 he was the first black baseball player to play with the Atlanta Crackers of the old international league. In 1962 he played alongside of future Hall of Famer’s Carl Yastrimski and Earl Wilson for the Seattle Rainiers for three years leading to his retirement in 1965. Dave Mann has held membership in FSGC for more then 40-years. 54
On December 17, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service reactivated the 501 © 3 status of the FSGC Junior Foundation. 55
On December 19, 2018, FSGC lost its oldest active member (Mr. William Garvey Lynch) in the clubs (72) seventy-two years of existence. Mr. Lynch joined FSGC in February of 1953 and has held active membership for sixty-five (65) years leading up until his Sunset on December 19, 2018. 56
On February 13, 2019, FSGC Board of Director voted to honor Mr. William Garvey Lynch for his dedicated service to Junior golf program by renaming the FSGC Jr Golf Program to the Fir State Bill Lynch Jr Golf Program. 57
On November 8, 2019, Cedric Davis (FSGC junior class 1987) was Inducted into the Southern University Sports Hall of Fame (621 Burbridge Street, Port Allen, Louisiana) as one of its outstanding golfers. 58
On January 10, 2020, FSGC restarted its Women in Golf Initiative, with the goal of getting more women involved in playing the game of golf at all levels, this has been a low point in the club’s recent history for number of years. The club has appointed Ms. Jenefeness Tucker as the coordinator to lead this effort. 59
In June 2022, FSGC entered partnership with the Why Not You Academy (WNYA) to coach and mentor the upstart varsity high school golf program. Robert Woodard was elected as Junior Director and Club President, Berdell Knowles, as the program ambassador. Mr. Knowles led the effort to establish the Jr. Golf program as a non-profit organization and secured funding for the initial WYNYA team. The Jr. Program continues to collaborate with PGA First Tee Program…however, with the primary objective of producing college level golfers and scholar students that will continue to honor this club’s storied program legacy. 60
