Philadelphia’s pioneering Black women’s golf club will receive statewide recognition for its historic contributions to golf, access and opportunity
PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Green’s Ladies Golf Club, Inc. proudly announces that the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission has approved a Pennsylvania Historical Marker recognizing the club’s trailblazing history and enduring contributions to the game of golf.
Founded in Philadelphia on May 1, 1954, The Green’s Ladies Golf Club was established as the first African American women’s golf club in the Delaware Valley. At a time when Black women faced racial and gender barriers that limited their access to golf courses, clubs and organized competition, founder Lorraine Sawyer and seven fellow golf enthusiasts created a space of their own.
The charter members—Opal C. Shields, Alma Fay Horn, Mary Francis Simpson, Lubertha Slocum, Lillian Cherry, Ann Wilson and Gladys Gray—joined Sawyer in laying the foundation for an organization that would open doors for generations of Black women in golf.
The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission described The Green’s Ladies as Philadelphia’s first Black women’s golf club, noting that it promoted access and youth training during segregation while creating opportunities for Black women to participate in national golf circuits.
The Green’s Ladies Golf Club is among 47 new historical markers approved for placement across 21 Pennsylvania counties. The selections include individuals, organizations, places, events and innovations that have made significant contributions to Pennsylvania and the nation. Fourteen of the newly approved markers recognize Philadelphia history. The new group will join more than 2,500 Pennsylvania Historical Markers already located throughout the Commonwealth. (Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission)
The approval carries special meaning as Pennsylvania and the nation commemorate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. It ensures that the story of Black women who claimed their rightful place in golf will be preserved alongside other people and institutions that helped shape the Commonwealth’s history.
More than 70 years after its founding, The Green’s Ladies Golf Club continues to honor its legacy through competitive and recreational golf, community service, charitable giving, youth support, fellowship and partnerships throughout the regional golf community.
The forthcoming marker will serve as a permanent reminder that Black women were not simply participants in the growth of golf—they were pioneers who created opportunities, built institutions and changed the game.
Details regarding the marker’s final wording, location and dedication ceremony will be announced as they become available.
Click here to read Official Press Release from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
About The Green’s Ladies Golf Club
Organized on May 1, 1954, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The Green’s Ladies Golf Club, Inc. is the first African American women’s golf club in the Delaware Valley. Founded by Lorraine Sawyer and seven charter members, the club was created to provide Black women with opportunities to learn, play and compete in golf during an era of racial and gender exclusion. Today, The Green’s Ladies continues its tradition of fellowship, service, charitable giving and excellence on and beyond the golf course.
