Rogers Park, Tampa facts for kids
Rogers Park Golf Course is a famous 18-hole golf course in Tampa, Florida. It's a public course, meaning anyone can play there. The land for the park was bought by the City of Tampa in 1947. Back then, during a time called racial segregation, this park was a special place for Black residents to have picnics and play games.
The golf course itself was built starting in 1948. A man named Willie Black led the construction work. The course was finished in 1952. For many years, Rogers Park was the only golf course in Tampa where Black residents were allowed to play.
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The History of Rogers Park
Rogers Park is located next to the Hillsborough River. It covers about 160 acres of land. The park was created in 1952 by a businessman and kind person from Tampa named Garfield Devoe Rogers. The park is named after him.
In 1949, a local newspaper, The Tampa Tribune, reported that a new city park for Black residents was being started. The land was being cleared near the waterworks. The City of Tampa bought about 30 acres of land for this park from Tampa Electric Company. There were still two small pieces of land with houses inside the park area that were privately owned.
Why the Park Was Needed
The mayor at the time, Mayor Hixon, said that Black people in Tampa had needed a place for recreation for a long time. He believed this was the best spot for such a place. He wanted the city to keep working on the park.
Garfield Devoe Rogers Sr. passed away in 1951. He was 66 years old. A committee chosen by Mayor Hixon decided to name the new city park in honor of Rogers in June 1951. The committee leader, Lee Davis, said they chose Rogers' name because they appreciated all the good things he had done in the Tampa Bay area during his life.
Park Dedication and Early Days
The park was officially opened and dedicated on June 17, 1951. Mayor Hixon and other speakers were there. A very important speaker, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, was supposed to be there but was delayed. Before he passed away, G. D. Rogers was the president of the Central Life Insurance Co. of Florida.
In 1954, a newspaper article mentioned that a 9-hole golf course had opened at Rogers Park. This was seen as a big achievement for the City of Tampa's construction projects. The Superintendent of City Parks, Ben Sanborn, even received an award for his work in making Tampa more beautiful. One of his achievements was developing Rogers Park, including the 9-hole golf course.
In 1955, Sanborn announced plans to make the 9-hole course into a full 18-hole course. The 9-hole course had been open for about 18 months by then, meaning it likely opened around May 1952.
Building and Improving the Course
Tampa Mayor Curtis Hixon gave permission to a group of golf caddies from Palma Ceia Country Club to build a 9-hole golf course at the site. Willie Black, who became the first Head Golf Professional, worked with many volunteers. They cleared trees and shaped the land to create the course.
In 1976, the City of Tampa gave the management of the golf course to the Tampa Sports Authority. A big renovation project started, costing $400,000. This project expanded the course and added a new watering system.
In 2000, the course was renovated again. The old watering system was replaced, and the greens (the smooth areas around the holes) were rebuilt to high standards set by the USGA (United States Golf Association). Parts of the course were also reshaped. A building for maintenance was added in 2001, and a clubhouse was built in 2002.
Famous Golfers at Rogers Park
Many talented African-American golfers played at Rogers Park. Some of them include Jimmy Taylor, Charles Owens, Ted Rhodes, Gordon Chavis, Charlie Sifford, Dick Thomas, and Cliff Harrington.
In 1963, Jimmy Taylor helped start a golf competition called the Mid Winter Classic. This event was part of the United Golfers Association, which was formed in 1925. This association was sometimes called "The Chitlin Circuit." The Mid Winter Classic competition is thought to have continued until the late 1970s or early 1980s. It was then brought back in 2010.
Willie Black
Willie Black was an African American golf caddy and golfer. He was also the first head golf professional at Rogers Park in Tampa. He helped build this course with volunteers so that African-Americans in Tampa, Florida would have a place to play golf during the time of racial segregation. Today, Rogers Park is located on a street named Willie Black Drive, in his honor. He was also recognized for his achievements by being included in the National Black Golf Hall of Fame.
Golf caddies from all over Tampa heard about Willie Black's course. It was only the second golf course in Florida that allowed African-Americans to play, after one was created in Miami Springs.
