Herbert Dixon, Black Golf Pioneer, Dies at 106
He was not on the list.
Life & Career Highlights
Humble Beginnings: Born on September 16, 1919, Dixon moved to Bartow, Florida at age eight. He fell in love with golf at age 14 while working as a caddie at Bartow Golf Course, practicing behind the caddie shack during segregation when Black players were barred from regular play.
National Success: Competing on the United Golfers
Association (UGA) circuit in the 1940s and 1950s, Dixon won over 50
tournaments. His landmark victory came in 1951, when he won the National Negro
Open Championship, snapping PGA legend Charlie Sifford’s five-year winning
streak.
Longevity & Legacy: Even into his late 90s and 100s,
Dixon continued to play regularly at Bartow Golf Course. The driving range at
Bartow Golf Course and Herbert Dixon Boulevard were both named in his honor.
Hall of Fame Inductions: Dixon was inducted into the
National Black Golf Hall of Fame (1998), the African American Golfers Hall of
Fame (2012), and the Polk County Sports Hall of Fame (2019).
Services & Memorial
Celebration of Life services are scheduled for September 4 (6:00–8:00 PM) and September 5 (11:00 AM), with final location details to be announced by his family and community leaders.
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