Renee Powell to receive Donald Ross Award

Renee Powell, Head Golf Professional at Clearview Golf Club, Ohio, has been chosen as 2020 recipient of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) Donald Ross Award.

The award, which will be presented to Powell at the ASGCA Annual Meeting in October, is bestowed on a person who has made a significant contribution to the game of golf and profession of golf course architecture.

A talented golfer from an early age, Powell was only the second African-American woman to compete on the LPGA Tour. She later went on to become a global ambassador for the game before going back to where it all started, taking on the role of Club Professional at Clearview Golf Club.

Inspiration

Renee was nurtured into the game by her father, Bill.

After returning from service in World War II, Bill Powell was turned away from local courses because of the color of his skin. So, he sought out a plot of land in the town of East Canton and designed and built a golf course – by hand.

That golf course became known as Clearview Golf Club.

Legacy

Renowned as a pioneer for social justice and inclusion, Bill Powell’s memory lives on in the form of the Clearview Legacy Foundation.

Spearheaded by Renee and her brother, Larry, the foundation focuses on a number of aspects, including education and using golf as a tool to reach youngsters, minorities, seniors, troubled individuals, women military veterans, and those with mental and physical challenges.

Describing the family’s commitment to social justice, Renee Powell said: “We, in golf, have a wonderful opportunity to grow our sport by embracing diversity and being inclusive.

“One thing my father always said is that everyone should have the opportunity to play the game of golf, and that is one thing we practice at Clearview.”

Renee Powell will receive the Donald Ross Award at the 2020 ASGCA Annual Meeting which takes place in Cleveland, Ohio in October.