Mission
Our mission is to preserve and honor the legacy of golfing pioneer and golf trailblazer Theodore “Ted” Rhodes by empowering underrepresented 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 broke barriers so that the game of golf could be open to all.
Today, the Foundation continues that work by expanding access to golf in urban communities and developing clear pipelines for aspiring golfers and future leaders within the golf industry.
Through competitive tournaments, instructional clinics, career exploration events, and educational programming, we empower youth with both athletic and professional pathways. We also provide financial support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) golf programs and student-athletes to help preserve and strengthen this legacy.
Also, we partner with local urban youth golf programs, such as the First Tee of Greater Chicago, First Tee of North Florida, First Tee of Tennessee, First Tee of Atlanta, LEO Academy, I AM A Golfer Foundation. 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
- $28,000 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
- Sponsored 41 Nashville inner-city youth to attend PGA Participated in the Tiger Woods' Invitational only Junior Golf Clinic at Pine Hills Golf Course in Memphis, TN
- Awarded golf scholarship to MGAA member
- Received Tiger Woods Foundation Trailblazer Award
- Awarded golf scholarship to Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development
- United States Golf Association Member - Eagle Level
- Host Annual Ted Rhodes Junior Golf Tour
- Inducted - African American Golfer's Hall of Fame
- Received Legends Award by United Golfers Assn.
Ted Rhodes Foundation, Inc. Programs
Preserving the Legacy of Ted Rhodes
Through this program, the Foundation actively preserves the legacy of golf pioneer 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 charity golf tournament (Ted Rhodes Golf Classic. Preserving the Legacy) each September (weekend after Labor Day) at the Ted Rhodes Golf Course in Nashville, Tennessee to help support the programs of the Foundation.
Under the banner of Future Golfers of America – Growing the Champions of Tomorrow, the Ted Rhodes Foundation advances a national youth golf movement.
Through instructional clinics and the multi-city Ted Rhodes Junior Golf Tour, we serve youth ages 5–18 in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Jacksonville, Montgomery, and Nashville — cultivating skill development, competitive excellence, mentorship, and exposure to collegiate and professional opportunities in the game of golf.
HBCU Golf Programs
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.
The Foundation created a formal relationship with Fisk University located in Nashville, TN and the Foundation donates money to the Golf Team on an annual basis and sponsors the team to play in our annual Ted Rhodes Golf Classic..
In 2025, the HBCU partners list increased with two new partnerships with HBCU schools Delaware State University in Dover, DE and Wiley University (formerly Wiley College) in Wiley, TX. More partnerships to be announced.
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
