CHARLESTON, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – The National Negro Golf Association is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a multi-day golf tournament at the Wescott Plantation in Charleston.
Hosted by the Philadelphia Chapter of the organization, more than 90 members from all over the country came to catch up with old friends and compete against each other in a summer tournament. Golfers came from Atlanta, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond and Washington D.C. to enjoy a weekend of fun, camaraderie and golfing.
The event began on July 17 and is ending tonight with a banquet. All of the participants range in age and skill levels.
Kenneth Jeffries, tournament director for the Philadelphia chapter, says they chose the location of Wescott Plantation because of its history and ties to Black culture.
“The rich African American history, culture, cuisine and Black excellence around here have made it an easy choice for us,” Jeffries said. “That’s why we chose Charleston. We’re fortunate enough to find a beautiful spot like the Wescott Plantation to host us. They couldn’t have been nicer.”
The group is one of the country’s oldest African American golf organizations. The association was founded in 1965 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and has since grown to more than 200 members across seven chapters.
“This is a brotherhood,” Guerra Benberry, national vice president and president of the Philadelphia chapter, said. “This is our 60th year in existence, and hopefully we’re looking for 60 more.”
The group also prides itself on giving back to the community through youth empowerment. The association says they have helped several African American professional golfers looking to advance their careers.
It was reported that 25 percent of Americans who played golf on a course in 2024 were Black, Asian or Hispanic, according to the National Golf Foundation. The association says they are proud to bring Black men together to show there is representation in the sport of golf.
“It’s an opportunity for us to kind of showcase the fact that, you know, hey, we do play,” Jeffries said. “You know, we may not be great. We may not be on tour, but there’s a huge population of African American golfers that love the game and love the sport.”
Bo Turocy, head golf professional at the golf club at Wescott Plantation, spent the weekend instructing the members of the association and says it’s one of the biggest events they’ve ever held. He said he grew close with all of the men and built friendships with many of them.
“You can tell they’ve all been friends for a long time, and these individuals have embraced me and my staff together to be as one with them,” Turocy said.
The next national tournament will be in the spring of next year.
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