Together with community and family, Seattle Parks and Recreation renames Jefferson Park Golf Course after Bill Wright

Community and family came together to celebrate Bill Wright's (1936-2021) legacy and the renaming of the Golf Course

On Saturday, October 19, Friends of Bill Wright and community came together with Seattle Parks and Recreation to officially change the name of Jefferson Park Golf Course to Bill Wright Golf Complex.

Bill Wright was the first African American to win a United States Golf Association (USGA) event, winning the 1959 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. Bill was a graduate of Franklin High School and went on to play college golf at Western Washington University, winning the 1960 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Golf Championship individual title.

Mr. Wright was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2013. He was an original junior member and fixture of Fir State Golf Club and Jefferson Golf Course. He broke the color barrier of American Golf and will be appropriately honored at his home course, Bill Wright Golf Complex.

"Bill Wright was a true pioneer in American golf, breaking down barriers and people of color and fighting for the game to be more inclusive for African Americans and people of color," said Mayor Bruce Harrell. "I'm proud that the Bill Wright Golf Complex will not only honor his talent in the sport on the course where he learned to play as a teen, but will also continue his trailblazing legacy of unity, courage, and determination in our community for years to come."

"The renaming of the golf course at Jefferson Park to honor Bill Wright is a powerful testament to his legacy as an athlete and trailblazer. His story is a reminder of the progress we've made and the work ahead. The city of Seattle and our Parks department is proud to celebrate his contributions by ensuring his name and impact are forever remembered at this historic golf course," said Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth (District 3).

"In celebrating the renaming of Jefferson Golf Course to Bill Wright Golf Course, we honor not only the first African American to win a USGA event but also a beloved community pillar whose triumphs challenged and changed the face of American golf. Bill's legacy of breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations stands as a testament to his enduring impact on our community and beyond," said AP Diaz, Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation.

"The Bill Wright Golf Complex will be that place where they felt like I could learn golf and I could be my unique and individual self. So, I'm hoping that this stands as a beacon for, you know, inclusive golf for all of Washington and the United States. So that's my hope," said Derek Liddell, President AP National Golf Club, and Friend of Wright Family.

"This is something that needed to happen and having people come together continually. It's like that stone that's rolling and continues together more momentum because more people are pushing that rock along and it's no longer a solitary endeavor," said Kathy Colombo, Beacon Hill Council Member.

"You know, the community came together to do this project. It wasn't just us; it was everybody and that is so important. It becomes a portrait for other communities of the rest of the country to see what can be accomplished together," said Bob Woodard, Fir State Golf Club.

"Our country struggles to realize its tremendous potential because of greed and fear of the people who enjoy prosperity because of our history racial discrimination and exploitation of people of color. We are celebrating the renaming of the Bill Wright Golf Complex because this memorializes a small part of that history to inspire our youth to ensure that it never happens again," said Berdell Knowles, President Fir State Golf Club. "From now on, everyone who comes to this historic golf course atop Beacon Hill will learn about this black man's triumph over institutional racism to earn a living on his elite talent. Our country is built on generations of "white-only" policies that denied resources and opportunities to people of color and created unfair advantages for whites. So, it's important that we understand why there are such broad gaps in education, wealth, and other economic indices and the outcomes and disproportionate poverty."

The Bill Wright Golf Complex is a public golf course in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. The course is maintained by the City of Seattle and managed by Premier Golf Centers LLC. The course measures over 5,900 yards and features vistas of the city's skyline and Mt. Rainier. Jefferson Park also includes a nine-hole Executive golf course, a restaurant with banquet facilities, a driving range and instructions are available for individual or group lessons for any level of golfer.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.