Oneda Maryon Castillo facts for kids
Oneda Maryon Castillo (born April 13, 1952) is a golf instructor for the Ladies Professional Golfers Association (LPGA). She joined the LPGA in 1997. She was the third African American woman to reach the highest level of LPGA teaching, called Class A status, in 2003. As of 2022, she is one of only 15 African American women golfers to become a Class A LPGA Teaching Professional.
Oneda had a special goal: to play golf in all 50 states in the United States. She completed this amazing journey on January 13, 2018. Her last game was at the famous Kapalua Golf Course in Lahaina, Hawaii. She even shared her exciting story in a video with the LPGA Women's Network. You can watch the video here.
Today, Oneda is the Vice President of the Women's Golf and Travel Concierge company.
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Early Life and Sports
Castillo was born on April 13, 1952, in Akron, Ohio. She was the second of three children. Her mother raised her and her two brothers in Cleveland, Ohio, and Buffalo, New York. She graduated from Bennett High School in 1970. Later, she studied engineering at Lakeland College in Mentor, Ohio.
Her career path led her to become one of the few female machinists. She made parts for submarines. At the same time, she loved sports. She joined the National Women's Football League (NWFL). In 1980, she played for the Cleveland Brewers.
Oneda's interest in fairness began when she was young. In 1962, as a fourth grader, she and some classmates were sent to an all-white school. This was to show that schools in Cleveland, Ohio, were becoming integrated. However, the young students were kept separate from the other kids. They were taught alone in their own classroom.
Castillo remembers her aunt, Oneda Holzendorf, as the first golfer in her family. Oneda became interested in golf when she was thirty years old. Her husband, Ron Castillo, encouraged her to try it.
Oneda Castillo is the Director of Golf for the Women in Golf Foundation. She also works with special golf programs. These include The Georgia State Golf Association's Adaptive Golf Program and The PGA Hope Programs. These programs help veterans and other people with physical or mental challenges learn and play golf. She has helped many organizations across the country.
Castillo, along with Lajean Gould, who started the Women in Golf Foundation, hosts a special event. It is called the National Women's Collegiate Golf Championship. This is an annual three-day golf competition for college women. It started in 1994 and has been running for 27 years.
Becoming an LPGA Golf Instructor
In 1997, Castillo became a Certified Golf Teaching Professional with the LPGA. She worked very hard, studying many hours and attending workshops. In 2003, she became the third African American golf professional to achieve Class A status. This is the highest level for LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals. She even scored at the top of her group on the playing ability test.
From 2017 to 2023, Castillo was named one of the top 50 LPGA Teachers by LPGA Women's Golf Magazine. She has taught at many golf clinics, including:
- LPGA Golf for Women's Clinics
- Tiger Woods Golf Clinics
- Hook a Kid on Golf Clinics
- LPGA/US Girls Golf Clinic, Inc.
- Odyssey Travel Golf Clinics
She taught Zakiya Randall, who became the only person from Atlanta to win a medal and first place in the U.S. Women's Open local event. Zakiya was introduced to golf through First Tee of Atlanta, where Castillo was an instructor. Castillo also works as a National Evaluator for the LPGA. She has taught alongside famous golfers like Tiger Woods at his clinics. She also worked with Charlie Sifford's son (Charlie Sifford helped end segregation in golf). And she taught alongside Renee Powell, who was the second African American woman to play on the LPGA Tour.
Castillo decided to join the LPGA because of its history. The 13 women who started the LPGA made sure their organization did not have a "Caucasian Only" rule. This rule was in the original PGA charter. Castillo has met many of these founding women, including Patty Berg, Louise Suggs, Betty Jameson, Shirley Spork, Bettye Danoff, and Marilynn Smith.
In 2014, she became a Global Instructor for the new LPGA Global Education Program. She is the only African American person on that team. Each year, Castillo and the Women In Golf Foundation host the Spring National Women's Collegiate Golf Championship.
Awards and Achievements
- In 2017, Castillo was named one of the Top 50 Teachers by the LPGA Women's Golf Magazine.
- Castillo received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 from President Barack Obama. This award recognized her lifelong commitment to helping her community through volunteer work.
- Castillo was named Club Fitter of the Year in 2015 by the African American Golfers' Digest.
- Castillo was added to the African American Golfers Hall of Fame in 2014.
- In 2012, Castillo was chosen as the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Southeast Section Teacher of the Year.
Amateur Golf Wins
- Cleveland Metro Parks Championship
- Call Post Championship
- City of Euclid Championship
- Placed first in her LPGA Qualifying Tournament
