AKRON, Ohio — According to the National Golf Foundation, 25% of the 28 million Americans who recreationally golfed in 2025 were people of color, the highest proportion on record.
An organization in Ohio is helping that growth.
What You Need To Know
Tiretown Golf Club started in 1950 in Akron
Tiretown is now the largest predominantly African American golf club in the United States
The club was recognized as the PGA Tour Champions Charity of the Year in 2024
“It’s been our mission to give the opportunity to everyone to play the game,” Tiretown Golf Club President Ralph Paulk said.
Tiretown Golf Club started in Akron in 1950 and has grown into the largest predominantly African American golf club in the United States.
“It was to give Black players, men and women, a chance to play golf,” Paulk said. “Most places they couldn’t play. Fortunately for us, Good Park where we are today and Ridge Top were the only two places in northeast Ohio that allowed Black folks to play back then.”
Ralph Paulk has been with the organization for more than 30 years, serving as the President since 2017.
“I think the thing that I’m most proud of is how the members have been able to transition from a golf only organization to one that believes that service to the community is as important as the game of golf,” Paulk explained. “That’s something you can’t put a price on.”
Tiretown was recognized as the PGA Tour Champions Charity of the Year in 2024 and received $30,000 to continue its mission of service, specifically with the youth, by providing scholarships and exposing Black children to the game of golf.
“We’ve discovered that having our juniors participate in golf is inspiring them to have other aspirations and do different things,” said Paulk.
Frank Williams is 81 years old and has been a member of Tiretown for more than half his life. He said seeing positive outcomes from kids that go through the youth program is what’s most rewarding.
“It’s almost like a father raising a child. You look back and go ‘wow, I really love what I’m doing because I can see the outcomes’ and the outcomes are fantastic.”
Tiretown has partnered with several organizations including the NAACP in Akron to provide volunteers for this week’s Kaulig Companies Championship.
“Our partnership together has exposed each other to different ways to get involved in the community,” Akron NAACP President Judi Hill said. “You get a chance to interact with the individuals who come in and want to enjoy the sport.”
Paulk said Tiretown will continue to make a positive difference in Akron and across the state of Ohio.
“It’s helped the organization grow, beyond anything that we could have imagined,” he said. “We have an opportunity to be a part of and influence what goes on in the community. That kind of commitment is invaluable.”
