Golf tournament honors Memphis legends

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MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - If anyone plans on beating Dalton Nickleberry at The Links at Pine Hill on Saturday, May 16, they had better bring their 'A' game.

The 87-year-old said he played Mirimichi in the Woodstock community of North Shelby County from the men's tees (5,690 yards) and shot 81 this week.

"I don't expect to do well but I just enjoy it," said the octogenarian who has devoted a lifetime to the game he loves. "At 87 years old, it's just a pleasure and a privilege to be out there."

The Links at Pine Hill will host a golf tournament on Saturday, May 16, that celebrates the origins of the game in Memphis' African-American community.

"I caddied a little bit starting back in 1942," said Nickleberry, a retired meat packer who says he practiced in parks after he'd get off from work.

But in racially segregated Memphis, there was no course where African-Americans were welcome.

The nine holes at Douglass Park opened in the early 1950s after some African-American leaders complained they had no place to play.

Learning the game as a caddie, Nickleberry coached countless young golfers at the Douglass course. Playing golf became so popular at Douglass, "you'd do good to get a tee time."

The 12th annual Odessa Dickens-Hayes and Dalton Nickleberry Golf Classic honors Memphis' first black golfers. The tournament also honors the late Odessa Dickins-Hayes, who taught many women how to play golf on the nine holes at Douglass.

"Both Ms. Dickens-Hayes and Mr. Nickleberry took it upon themselves to teach other blacks how to play," said James Kincaide, tournament chairman.

Festivities run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday evening, May 15, at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 1543 Brookins Street in the Douglass community.

"We'll recognize other senior golfers from back in the day," said Kincaide.

If you're interested in playing in the tournament, call Mr. Kincaide at 901-949-3886.

Audubon golf course and Pine Hill were among the first Memphis municipal courses to open to African-Americans in the early 1960s. If you go to Pine Hill on Saturday and see an 87-year-old driving the ball 245 to 250 yards, you can bet that will be Dalton Nickleberry, still showing the younger generation how it's done.