Bill Wright
By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Seattle Parks and Recreation, in collaboration with the Beacon Hill Council, First Day Golf Club, and the family of Bill Wright, has officially renamed Jefferson Golf Course as the Bill Wright Golf Complex. Wright, a pioneering African American golfer, made history in 1959 by becoming the first Black player to win a United States Golf Association (USGA) event at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.
“Bill Wright was a true pioneer in American golf, breaking down barriers and advocating for inclusivity for African Americans and people of color,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “I’m proud that the Bill Wright Golf Complex will not only honor his talent on the very course where he learned as a teen, but will also carry on his legacy of unity, courage, and determination in our community.”
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1936, Bill Wright was the only child of Bob and Madeline Wright. His mother was a schoolteacher, and his father, a postman, shared a passion for golf with Bill. When Wright was 12, the family moved to Portland, Oregon, and later settled in Seattle. Wright attended Seattle’s Franklin High School, where he played basketball and helped lead the Quakers to the state championship in 1954. His father introduced him to golf at Jefferson Park, the same course that now bears his name. It was here that future Masters champion Fred Couples would later hone his skills.
The renaming holds great importance for Wright’s family, particularly his nephew, Derek Liddell, who worked tirelessly to secure this recognition for his uncle.
“This event was extremely important—probably, for me, it’s hard to say, but it might be the most impactful thing I’ve been involved with in my life,” says Liddell. “The future will now have a better opportunity because of the actions we took over the last three years to get this renamed. I think it’s more about just looking forward and how the future will be able to enjoy parks that are named after our heroes.”
Despite being one of the top golfers in Washington State, Wright was not offered a scholarship from Seattle’s Division I colleges, the University of Washington or Seattle University. He instead chose to attend Western Washington in Bellingham, a small town near the Canadian border. Even in the Pacific Northwest, Wright faced racial discrimination during the era of segregation and Jim Crow. Although he was a state champion, the local country club refused to let him practice. When the team’s golf coach informed him that club privileges were withdrawn due to his presence, Wright chose to practice alone.
Wright completed his bachelor’s degree in education at Western Washington, where he made history by winning the 1960 NAIA national title, a year after his USGA triumph. He went on to marry his wife of 60 years, Ceta, and the couple relocated to Los Angeles, where Wright began teaching at an elementary school in Watts. Pursuing professional golf as a Black man in the late 1950s was nearly impossible, as the PGA of America still enforced a Caucasian-only clause, which was only lifted in 1961 thanks to pioneers like Charlie Sifford, Ted Rhodes, and Bill Spiller.
Wright’s breakthrough win in 1959 had led to an invitation to the prestigious U.S. Amateur that same summer at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. However, his triumph was again overshadowed by racism. When he arrived for his first practice round, two competitors scheduled to play with him refused to do so. But Charles “Chick” Evans, the 1916 U.S. Amateur champion, saw what was happening and invited Wright to join him. Evans was accompanied by Jack Nicklaus and Deane Beman, both up-and-coming players who would go on to have legendary careers—Nicklaus as one of the most celebrated players in golf history and Beman as the PGA Tour commissioner.
Although Wright eventually joined the PGA Tour, securing sponsorship was difficult, and he primarily earned his living as a golf instructor. In 1966, he qualified for the U.S. Open and went on to compete in five U.S. Senior Opens. Wright spent much of his teaching career at The Lakes at El Segundo, a nine-hole executive course near Los Angeles International Airport, where he taught generations of golfers.
Renaming Jefferson Golf Course in Wright’s honor took three years of dedicated work by his family, community leaders, and local organizations. The Parks and Recreation Department typically names new parks rather than renaming existing ones, making this an exceptional accomplishment. Liddell noted that this renaming was the second major effort by Seattle’s Black community to increase inclusivity in golf.
“This is the second time this community has done this,” says Liddell. “The first was fighting for non-white golfers to have a club they could join. So that happened in 1947. This is like the second time the community has come together to fight for inclusion in our city. We often, as a committee, talked about where America is today and why this is important.”
Seattle’s community leaders, including Seattle City Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth and AP Diaz, Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation, emphasize how vital it is to honor Black trailblazers as part of acknowledging progress and recognizing the work that remains. Wright’s legacy, they say, serves as a powerful reminder of his impact on both the sport and his community.
“The renaming of the golf course at Jefferson Park to honor Bill Wright is a powerful testament to his legacy as an athlete and trailblazer. His story is a reminder of the progress we’ve made and the work ahead. The city of Seattle and our Parks department is proud to celebrate his contributions by ensuring his name and impact are forever remembered at this historic golf course,” said Hollingsworth.
“In celebrating the renaming of Jefferson Golf Course to Bill Wright Golf Course, we honor not only the first African American to win a USGA event but also a beloved community pillar whose triumphs challenged and changed the face of American golf. Bill’s legacy of breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations stands as a testament to his enduring impact on our community and beyond,” said AP Diaz, Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation.
