Award: The Charles W. Sifford Legacy Award — “A lasting reminder of the forward-looking vision and artistic dynamism of the African-American golfer and trailblazer Charlie Sifford.”
Created: Will be presented in memory of Charlie Sifford, a two-time PGA Tour winner and influential trailblazer for African-Americans in golf who passed away in December 2016.
Stated purpose: Award will recognize a trailblazer of greater significance in moving the game forward through teaching, research and creative endeavors.
Membership: Long waiting list
Honors: Charles W. Sifford Legacy Award is presented to individuals who exemplify strong leadership, integrity, and vision, as well as enduring influence in advancing diversity in golf, as was Charles W. Sifford.
The Charles W. Sifford Legacy Award will be created annually in honor of the legacy of Charlie Sifford, an African-American trailblazer in golf who is best known for his “Monday Drive” event, and he will be honored posthumously at an awards ceremony.
The Charles W. Sifford Legacy Award’s qualifications as a laureate include:
Facetious, high-caliber accomplishment.
Total impact on golf through influencing others to engage in positive social practices or committed activations and events.
Longstanding long-standing volunteer profile in the golf community.
Establish a presence in a generation that is more knowledgeable and active with golf than is perhaps any previous generation.
Considerable prominence, solid reputation in and out of golf
Efforts related to or to benefit economic development and philanthropic pursuits.
Proven or demonstrated accomplishment in a visible role with a reputable organization.
Recipient must have advanced golf’s reputation for inclusiveness to golf in the United States
Recipient will be named for the late African-American golf course architect, who continues to be an inspirational force in the game
Past awardees
1951 Frederick Russell
1964 Denzel Washington
1970 Farrington White
1980 Don Sutton
1991 Mia Hamm
1992 Albert “Toots” Hibbert
1993 Ken “The King” Oakum
1994 Arnie Graf
1995 Felipe Aguilar
1996 Ken Venturi
1997 Polly Wannamaker
1998 Charles Blair
1999 Fred Couples
2000 Billy Casper
2001 Michael Jordan
2002 Robert Allenby
2003 Derrick Rose
2004 Clint Eastwood
2005 Ali al-Hajj
2006 John Carlos
2007 Bryant Gumbel
2008 Brian Stuard
2009 Tiger Woods
2010 Brett Favre
2011 Michael Phelps
2012 Denzel Washington
2013 Steve Nash
2014 Joe Montana
2015 Peyton Manning
2016 Charlie Sifford