Why is Calvin Peete not talked about?

[boogielicious]

I also think the Peete gave rise to the many, many "Can I be a PGA Pro if I start in my 20s?" threads on golf forums everywhere.  He did it and it is extremely rare.  It makes his story all the more remarkable.

[Shindig]

I also think the Peete gave rise to the many, many "Can I be a PGA Pro if I start in my 20s?" threads on golf forums everywhere.  He did it and it is extremely rare.  It makes his story all the more remarkable.

He and Larry Nelson, the latter of whom won fewer times on the PGA Tour, but had three major victories, including the last major prior to my birth (an important distinction!)

[Dloy]

I also think the Peete gave rise to the many, many "Can I be a PGA Pro if I start in my 20s?" threads on golf forums everywhere.  He did it and it is extremely rare.  It makes his story all the more remarkable.

Good point. I'd almost bet lunch that this never happens again. He was playing not long after (if at all) players were driving old cars from tourney to tourney, living out of motels and campgrounds and playing for a 10K purse. It's big business now and the colleges are pumping out dozens of viable contenders every year.

[Gunther]

Try being an African American now Just like it was than You don't know unless you are and it happens to u

You said you're African American, just curious what the flag is in your avatar.

[Fourputt]

I'm an older guy I guess. I remember watching Calvin compete. I liked him a lot. Always seemed like a class act.

He was, as are the majority on Tour.

[Golfingdad]

You said you're African American, just curious what the flag is in your avatar.

You made me curious so I looked it up ... it's Iran.

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gunther

You said you're African American, just curious what the flag is in your avatar.

You made me curious so I looked it up ... it's Iran.

You were one second ahead of me.

[Gunther]

You made me curious so I looked it up ... it's Iran.

Not even sure what to say. Takes all kinds? Probably as proud of his country as Bergdahl. Thanks for looking that up.

[flopster]

He's never taken a lesson and didnt pick up the game until his 20's

Probably a good reason why he actually didn't win any PGA events until he reached the age of 40 or there about.

So because of this thread, I went to the range on my lunch break with balance and ONLY balance in the back of my mind. One of the best range sessions I've ever had. Just thinking about keeping as properly balanced as I could be kept my head still...and I didn't swing as hard. I found the sweet spot nearly every time.

Going to have to remember this one.

I would have it stamped on top of my driver if it helped that much, just hitting the sweet spot is where the distance is in spite of all the GI clubs out there, I would bet a guy who swings 95mph will drive it farther than the 105mph guy consistently just by hitting the ball with the center of the club, and also have less back problems.

[flopster]

Racism believe it a million percent . Happens daily still just being upfront here

Not a single person mentioned anything about race until this troll shows up, we where actually talking only about the mans golf achievements and I'm sure Mr. Peete would appreciate that the conversation stayed there but of course some troll thinks hes doing some favor by bringing it up like this. By the way if you would take the time to watch I could not help but notice how much applause and cheering Mr. Peete was receiving when he walked up the 18th fairway of that TPC win, and by the way that was in Florida also for those that understand.

[mdl]

So I agree with @whorippedit that Peete surely experienced rampant racism, and I also agree that it's not super surprising that he's not super well remembered given he played 20-30 years ago and wasn't a big winner, hall of fame type player.  But I do find it a bit puzzling that a guy who so totally dominated one aspect of the game (driving) for an entire decade, not that long ago, isn't talked about much.  I'd never heard of him.  Maybe racism plays some role in that.  Seems like as a golf fan under 35 I should know his name as maybe the most accurate driver of the last 30-40 years.

[RonTheSavage]

So I agree with

[whorippedit]

Not racial ? Wish worlds was this way I'll be headin back to the bad grammar ghetto Never had chance to explain Mr Peete .. And all racial tensions he felt his entire life . Paved roads for us I'm an Converted muslim is that fine ? Iranian flag for my father ok withya ! I'm outta here , sorry to offend

[mdl]

To learn about Mr. Peete and other African American golfers just google uneven fairways. It's a really good documentary the GOLF CHANNEL did a few years back to highlight achievements of African American golfers. I watched it and learned a great deal. The whole thing is on you tube so you should give it a look. If there were motives to keep this info under wraps I doubt the golf channel would've put it out lol. Everything doesn't have to be racial for crying out loud.

Sounds cool.  Thanks for the pointer.

And I don't mean it's a big conscious ongoing conspiracy.  Just saying that we're talking about a black pro golfer now in his 70s (80s?).  Racism is/was a huge factor in this guy's entire life.  Seems plausible to me that it's a factor in why more younger guys like me don't know about the guy who dominated the PGA off the tee throughout the 1980s.

This reminds me of a good story about racism in golf and America.  Played a random round with a cool, chatty old black guy once.  Was getting on in years but looked like he might have played off a ~5 or so in his prime.  Good golfer.  Told me a story about how he learned his golf from an older black golfer when he was young who'd been quite good but blocked from competition (older when this guy was young meant this guy was in his prime in maybe 1920s-1940s, and who knows how much of tournament winner level good is an exaggeration through time, but I just took it as the guy was a really good golfer).  Apparently this guy had made a lot of his living hustling golf.  Was easy back then to get white dudes to make large, uninformed bets against a black golfer.  No way he could beat them!

[inthehole]

Another video on pitching..

Thanks for posting.    Aside from obviously being a nice guy, he has a great way of expressing his views on how to hit the shot he's explaining.     I see what the OP is saying ... it's odd that Mr. Peete's accomplishments aren't recognized more in the annals of golf history - lets face it, he's a big part in a pretty unique club (African American PGA winners).     Other than Tiger, a lot of kids today haven't seen many black pro golfers, and for a minority child to see someone like Calvin could inspire more youths to play golf.     Come to think of it, I totally agree with the OP ... it is very odd that he isn't more of a public golf figure (I have no idea what his health might be or even if he has a desire to be in the public eye anymore - maybe he doesn't want the publicity).     It would only make sense that he could inspire young minority players to become interested in golf ... and it is in fact odd that he isn't more in the public eye of golf because of his fairly unique contribution.

[RJH999]

What the hell does this have to do with race? He's not talked about a lot because of three things. He played in the early 80s and never won a major and isn't close to being a hall of famer. Hell even major winners from that time don't get talked about. You don't hear tons about David Graham, Bill Rogers, and John Mahaffey much do you?

[Fourputt]

So I agree with @whorippedit that Peete surely experienced rampant racism, and I also agree that it's not super surprising that he's not super well remembered given he played 20-30 years ago and wasn't a big winner, hall of fame type player.  But I do find it a bit puzzling that a guy who so totally dominated one aspect of the game (driving) for an entire decade, not that long ago, isn't talked about much.  I'd never heard of him.  Maybe racism plays some role in that.  Seems like as a golf fan under 35 I should know his name as maybe the most accurate driver of the last 30-40 years.

He may have dominated in fairways hit, but he was not a particularly long, and that seems to define the best drivers far more than accuracy.

[Shindig]

To learn about Mr. Peete and other African American golfers just google uneven fairways. It's a really good documentary the GOLF CHANNEL did a few years back to highlight achievements of African American golfers. I watched it and learned a great deal. The whole thing is on you tube so you should give it a look. If there were motives to keep this info under wraps I doubt the golf channel would've put it out lol. Everything doesn't have to be racial for crying out loud.

I didn't realize there was a video version; I have (and have read) a book with a similar title on that topic, [i]Uneven Lies[/i], which I also recommend. [quote name="mdl" url="/t/74970/why-is-calvin-peete-not-talked-about/36#post_999136"] This reminds me of a good story about racism in golf and America.  Played a random round with a cool, chatty old black guy once.  Was getting on in years but looked like he might have played off a ~5 or so in his prime.  Good golfer.  Told me a story about how he learned his golf from an older black golfer when he was young who'd been quite good but blocked from competition (older when this guy was young meant this guy was in his prime in maybe 1920s-1940s, and who knows how much of tournament winner level good is an exaggeration through time, but I just took it as the guy was a really good golfer).  Apparently this guy had made a lot of his living hustling golf.  Was easy back then to get white dudes to make large, uninformed bets against a black golfer.  No way he could beat them!   [/quote] I love stories like this, where someone's racism costs him.