Mission
Our mission is to preserve and honor the legacy of golfing pioneer and golf trailblazer Theodore “Ted” Rhodes by empowering underprivileged youth through the game of golf. We strive to provide access, resources, and opportunities that foster life skills, discipline, career readiness, and community engagement. Through education and mentorship, we aim to inspire the next generation to achieve their full potential both on and off the course.
Vision
Ted Rhodes’ vision was to make the game of golf open to all races. The Foundation is honoring his vision by introducing the great game of golf to youth in the urban areas and creating pipelines of minority golfers and minorities working in the golf industry by hosting career development events, golf clinics, golf tournaments, and educational events for youth. We provide financial support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) golf programs and golf team members to help further this mission. We also partner with local urban youth golf programs, such as the First Tee of Greater Chicago, First Tee of North Florida, First Tee of Tennessee, and First Tee of Tulsa. Our youth initiatives are part of our Future Golfers of America “Growing the Champions of Tomorrow” Program.
A message from Ted Rhodes’ daughter, Peggy Rhodes-White
My father was a skilled golfer, who was introduced to the game of golf when he was 12-years-old by caddying at the country clubs in Nashville, Tenn. Although African-Americans were not allowed to play at these courses due to segregation, being a caddy inspired my dad to learn to play golf. He made his first set of golf clubs out of clothes hangers and used a discarded 2-iron club to hit balls at the old Sunset Park. Due to his determination, he eventually found a golf course where he was able to play a few holes. And that’s how it all started, with homemade clubs, God-given talent, an open park and a whole lot of determination.
It’s hard to believe that with such a meager start, he would eventually go on to become a golf legend, teaching and playing with such greats as Lee Elder, Althea Gibson and Joe Louis, and yet falling just short of breaking the color barriers then at play in the PGA. What I do know, is that my father paved the way for so many African-Americans and minorities by his style, spirit and determination that even today his legacy lives as in the words of Tiger Woods, Ted Rhodes was one who “…made it possible for me to play.”
I can think of no better way of preserving my dad’s legacy than by helping advance the game of golf for other young minority players. Knowing how important it is for youth to have access to the possibilities that the game can afford, the Ted Rhodes Foundation seeks to both preserve the Ted Rhodes legacy, while supporting programs to help minority youth and future generations of players.
I hope you will consider contributing to the Ted Rhodes Foundation and helping us preserve my father’s legacy and ultimately continue to preserve and advance the game of golf for all players.
Sincerely,
Peggy Rhodes-White, DTM and GTAA Certified Golf Tournament Consultant and Planner
Founder and CEO, Ted Rhodes Foundation, Inc.
Major Accomplishments
- $26,500 Donated – Fisk University Golf Team
- $2,000 Donated – First Tee of Tennessee
- $1,000 Ted Rhodes Scholarship – Abdel Raoul – Prairie View A & M University Golf Team Member
- $1,150 Donated – First Tee of Lake County
- $1,300 Donated to Nashville Rescue Mission
- $1,000 Donated to Odyssey Golf Foundation
- Sponsor Annual Junior Golf Skills Challenge for First Tee of Hammond
- Sponsored 41 Nashville inner-city youth to attend PGA Tour Tiger Woods' Invitational only Junior Golf Clinic at Pine Hills Golf Course in Memphis, Tenn.
- Provided golf scholarship to MGAA member
- Received Tiger Woods Foundation Trailblazer Award
- Provided golf scholarship to Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development
- Provided golf scholarship to MGAA member
- USGA Member - Eagle Level
- Host Annual Junior Golf Tour
Ted Rhodes Foundation, Inc. Programs
Preserving the Legacy of Ted Rhodes
Through this program, the Foundation actively preserves the legacy of Ted Rhodes through speeches to businesses, schools, teams and community groups, sports and golf clubs and support organizations about what Ted Rhodes meant to the game of golf and the work the Foundation is performing in his honor. As part of this effort, the Foundation hosts an annual golf tournament each September at the Ted Rhodes Golf Course in Nashville, Tennessee to help support the various programs of the Foundation and various mentoring programs for youth. Our youth program is Future Golfers of America " Growing the Champions of Tomorrow'. The Foundation hosts golf clinics and an annual Junior Golf Tournament for youth (Ages 5-17) in the Chicago area/Northwest Indiana and Nashville.
Lastly, the Foundation created a formal relationship with Fisk University located in Nashville. Fisk is an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) School and the Foundation donates money to the Golf Team on an annual basis. In addition to giving scholarships to HBCU students on the golf team at their respective school.HBCU Scholarships & Initiatives
Through this program, we provide scholarships to college student athletes on the golf teams at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) golf team. We kicked off this initiative with a Prairie View A & M University student. Also, we provide financial support to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) golf teams programs. Fisk University Golf Team in Nashville, TN has benefited from this initiative.
Toastmasters Youth Leadership
Through this partnership with Toastmaster's International, we teach students how to be effective communicators and leaders. The students participate in the Youth Leadership program by leading an aspect of the meeting, writing their speeches, and giving speeches in front of their peers. The program is facilitated by Distinguished Toastmasters Peggy Rhodes-White, DTM and Tiffany White, M.Ed., DTM