Craig J. Gill
Caddying On the Color Line
Caddying On the Color Line
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Meticulously researched and rigorously vetted, CADDYING ON THE COLOR LINE reveals how Southern Black caddies—young and old—navigated a world of racial tension, professionalized a job once seen as unskilled, became expert golfers in their own right, and helped to pave the way for the rise of Tiger Woods. Along the way, the history of Black caddies reveals the unexpected reasons for the rise of the golf cart and helps explain why there are fewer Black golfers on professional tours today than in the 1960s.
The thousands of Southern Black men who called caddying their job over the course of the 20th century may not have lived extraordinary lives. But their daily struggles and triumphs abounded with resilience, pride, skill, and dignity.
This book tells their story.


Honestly, I'm not such a super fan of golf that I would normally pick up a book on the topic. But this book by Craig J Gill is about so much more than golf! It's a fascinating, and also challenging, deep dive into the lives of Black caddies in the South. It's a book about American History, Black History, the South, White Supremacy, the human spirit, and factors driving societal change, as well as an entrée into the worlds of the premier golf clubs in the South. This is such a valuable and deeply researched book, and I highly recommend it to anyone even vaguely interested in golf, or those who want to learn more about the complexity of America.
I wish more people knew the history of black golf caddies - and how relevant it is to understanding golf today! I learned so much reading this excellent book and it struck the hard to find balance between informative and interesting. I hope to see more from Dr. Gill!
Honestly, I'm not such a super fan of golf that I would normally pick up a book on the topic. But this book by Craig J Gill is about so much more than golf! It's a fascinating, and also challenging, deep dive into the lives of Black caddies in the South. It's a book about American History, Black History, the South, White Supremacy, the human spirit, and factors driving societal change, as well as an entrée into the worlds of the premier golf clubs in the South. This is such a valuable and deeply researched book, and I highly recommend it to anyone even vaguely interested in golf, or those who want to learn more about the complexity of America.
I wish more people knew the history of black golf caddies - and how relevant it is to understanding golf today! I learned so much reading this excellent book and it struck the hard to find balance between informative and interesting. I hope to see more from Dr. Gill!