All Black Golf Club Celebrate 65 Years

All Black Golf Club Celebrate 65 Years

 
The Cosmopolitan Golf Club celebrated its 65th anniversary this year and has grown into one of the longest standing All-Black golf clubs in the state. Its membership currently stands at 122 and will host its annual fundraiser at Hollywood Park Casino on Saturday.

 

65 years since its inception, the Cosmopolitan Golf Club is still "Going Places."

That's the message that still resonates for one of the oldest African-American golf clubs in Los Angeles and as it moves into its seventh decade, it's still looking to expand its

While the success of Tiger Woods has captivated the sports world, the history of Black golf in Los Angeles still remains a mystery for most local fans. The Cosmopolitan Golf Club has played a key role in helping shape that.

The club was founded in 1944 to serve as a place where hundreds of Black golfers could play without worrying about racism keeping them from other clubs in the city.

Led by first president Henry Lewis and professional golfer Jimmy DeVoe, they scheduled monthly tournaments at the Sunset Fields courses to help attract golfers around the city.

Over the next six decades, it grew into the premier all-Black clubs in the area, with its home course at the Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills, and a charter member of the Western States Golf Association.

In 1956, the club created a junior golf program that still runs to this day. In addition, they have set up a Cosmopolitan Youth Foundation to help develop young golfers as well as provide scholarships for students.

On Saturday, the club will host its annual "Day at the Races" fundraiser at Hollywood Park in Inglewood. It's been a partnership for over 15 years that will end with the casino's closure within the coming months.

"We will certainly miss the venue," Cosmopolitan Golf Club president Harry Bellard said.

He added that the club will consider moving the fundraiser to Santa Anita Park in Arcadia but nothing is confirmed yet.

Their last event of the year will be their annual awards and installation banquet on December 5 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Torrance.

For more information on membership, contributing to the youth Foundation and the club in general, visit their website www.cosmogolfclub.com. To RSVP for the banquet, contact Melvin Gilliard at (323) 365-6585 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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