Renee Powell picked up her first club at age three. Guided by her father, William, she learned about the game of golf at Clearview Country Club in East Canton, Ohio. It is the only course in the world designed, built, owned and operated by an African-American and, thanks to Renee and her family, it is still a venue where youngsters can learn the game to which she has devoted her life.
At age 12, Renee won the first tournament she entered. She would be responsible for a good many firsts in the golf world. In 1962, she was the first African-American to play in the USGA Junior Championship in Buffalo, New York. She played in more than 100 amateur tournaments and over 250 professional tournaments all over the world.
Renee and her family were honored in 1992 as the National Golf Foundation’s Jack Nicklaus Golf Family of the Year. It is a tribute to her father, Bill (founder of Clearview Country Club), her mother (the office manager until her death in 1996), her brother, Larry (course superintendent), and to Renee who took over as head professional in 1995.
The Powell family established the Clearview Legacy Foundation for education, preservation and turf grass research. In 2003, Renee Powell received the First Lady of Golf Award from the Professional Golfers’ Association.
In March, 2007, Renee received the first Rolex “For the Love of the Game” Award. In February of 2008, Renee was featured in an article on the USGA web site and on June 25, 2008 she received an honorary doctorate degree from The University of St. Andrews.