Black-owned country clubs and golf resorts tell a story that reaches beyond the fairway. They connect recreation with entrepreneurship, hospitality and the right to enjoy places where Black golfers were once excluded.
That story begins with a remarkable landmark in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Founded in 1921 by Black investors, Shady Rest Country Club was the first Black-owned and operated country club in the United States. Today, visitors can play its public golf course and miniature golf while discovering a chapter of Black history that deserves a place on more travel itineraries.
The wider landscape includes family-owned courses, resort hospitality, private clubs and newer businesses that bring golf to beginners through putting, simulators and mobile experiences. This guide highlights documented examples and makes a distinction between Black ownership, shared ownership, Black-owned management companies and historically Black golf landmarks.
Shady Rest Country Club in New Jersey: America’s first Black country club
In 1921, the Progressive Realty Company, a group of Black investors, purchased the former Westfield country-club property and established Shady Rest. At a time when segregation restricted access to recreation, the club offered a place for Black people to gather, play sports and enjoy social life on their own terms.
Golf was one part of its identity. Shady Rest also became a cultural gathering place, associated with figures including W.E.B. Du Bois and performers such as Ella Fitzgerald. The historic clubhouse linked sport, entertainment and community life in a setting created through Black enterprise.
For travelers interested in Black heritage, that makes Shady Rest more than a place to complete a round. Its history invites visitors to consider who built access to leisure and how those spaces helped communities thrive.
John Shippen Jr. and Shady Rest’s Black Golf Legacy
Shady Rest was the home course of John Shippen Jr., the first American-born professional golfer and the first Black golf professional. His legacy makes the club a meaningful destination for travelers interested in the pioneers who helped shape American golf.
Alongside Bill Powell’s Clearview Golf Club in Ohio, Shady Rest tells a story of Black achievement, entrepreneurship and the determination to create welcoming places to play.
Shady Rest Country Club: A Historic Landmark Preserved
Founded in 1921 as America’s first Black-owned country club, Shady Rest remains a treasured part of New Jersey’s Black heritage. The Township of Scotch Plains acquired the property in 1938, while the private Black club continued operating until 1964.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022, Shady Rest continues to inspire preservation efforts led by Preserve Shady Rest and its supporters. A 2024 African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund grant supported plans to preserve the property and share its remarkable history with future generations.
Visit Shady Rest for Golf, Family Fun and Black History
Located at 820 Jerusalem Road in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Shady Rest offers a public nine-hole golf course and an 18-hole miniature-golf course. Its par-33 golf course stretches 2,247 yards, making it an inviting choice for a shorter round during your New Jersey getaway.
Bring your clubs, enjoy miniature golf with the family or make Shady Rest a heritage stop on your itinerary. For a closer look at the clubhouse’s history, explore upcoming events and visitor programming through Preserve Shady Rest.
Plan your visit at Shady Rest Country Club and discover its history through Preserve Shady Rest.
Black-owned golf courses and country clubs to know
Clearview Golf Club — East Canton, Ohio
Clearview Golf Club is a Powell-family golf landmark founded by Bill Powell in 1946. Its distinction is different from Shady Rest’s: Powell designed and built the course himself, creating a place where golfers could play regardless of race. Renee Powell and Larry Powell continue the family’s leadership of the club.
Clearview belongs on the itinerary of travelers who want their golf trip to include the people and places that expanded access to the game.
Explore: Clearview Golf Club.
Martin Downs Golf Club — Palm City, Florida
Owned by Black entrepreneur Stanley Campbell, Martin Downs Golf Club offers an inviting addition to a Florida golf getaway. Campbell’s investment in revitalizing the club brings a spirit of entrepreneurship to this Palm City destination.
For travelers looking to explore beyond Florida’s best-known golf resorts, Martin Downs offers another reason to bring your clubs and spend time on the fairways.
Plan your round at Martin Downs Golf Club, then explore nearby accommodations on Black Hotel Guide and book through our booking partner links.
The Golf Club of Dallas — Dallas, Texas
Owned by Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, The Golf Club of Dallas brings together golf, Black community ownership and a longstanding Oak Cliff tradition. Acquired by the church in 2020, the club adds a meaningful destination to a Dallas golf getaway.
Pair a round with time exploring Dallas’s dining, culture and neighborhoods for a trip that reaches beyond the fairways.
Plan your visit at The Golf Club of Dallas, then find your Dallas stay on Black Hotel Guide and book through our booking partner links.
The Grove XXIII — Hobe Sound, Florida
Owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan, The Grove XXIII brings Black ownership to the world of exclusive private golf. Designed by Bobby Weed, this Hobe Sound club reflects Jordan’s passion for the game.
Access is invitation-only, making The Grove XXIII a private retreat rather than a public golf destination. Its place in this guide celebrates Black entrepreneurship and ownership at one of golf’s most exclusive addresses.
Black-owned and Black-managed golf resorts on Black Hotel Guide
Golf vacations can combine time on the course with a spa visit, a beach holiday or a weekend of dining and relaxation. Several properties in Black Hotel Guide’s Country Club collection fit that broader travel experience.
Innisbrook Resort — Palm Harbor, Florida | Check Availability
Owned by Sheila Johnson’s Salamander organization, Innisbrook Resort pairs championship golf with a relaxing Florida getaway. Its celebrated Copperhead Course, home to the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship, gives guests the opportunity to experience a course played by some of golf’s biggest names.
Beyond the fairways, spacious accommodations, pools, dining and spa experiences make Innisbrook appealing for couples, families and golf groups alike. Spend the day working on your game, unwinding poolside or enjoying a restorative spa treatment.
Find your stay: Innisbrook Resort on Black Hotel Guide.
PGA National Resort — Palm Beach Gardens, Florida | Check Availability
GA National Resort brings championship golf, resort relaxation and Salamander Collection hospitality to Florida’s Palm Beaches. Managed by Sheila Johnson’s Black-owned hospitality company, this celebrated destination offers a golf getaway with time to unwind at the spa, enjoy dining and relax poolside.
Whether you’re planning a golf weekend with friends or a couples’ escape, PGA National combines time on the fairways with the comforts of a luxury resort.
Find your stay: Visit the PGA National Resort on Black Hotel Guide.
Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club — Anguilla | Check Availability
Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club combines Caribbean beach luxury with exceptional golf and hospitality from Sheila Johnson’s Black-owned Salamander company. The resort’s 18-hole International Course offers a scenic challenge, while the shorter Avalon Links provides another way to enjoy the game.
Pair time on the fairways with relaxing beach days, spa treatments and memorable dining. Whether you’re planning a couples’ escape, a golf getaway or a family vacation, Aurora brings golf and island relaxation together in one destination.
Find your stay: Aurora Anguilla on Black Hotel Guide.
Half Moon Resort — Montego Bay, Jamaica | Check Availability
Half Moon combines championship golf, beachfront relaxation and hospitality from Sheila Johnson’s Black-owned Salamander Collection. Its 18-hole championship course makes this Montego Bay resort an inviting destination for travelers looking to pair their love of golf with a Jamaican getaway.
Beyond the greens, enjoy beach days, spa experiences and memorable dining. Whether you’re traveling as a couple, with family or with golfing friends, Half Moon offers plenty of ways to unwind between rounds.
Find your stay: Visit the Half Moon Resort on Black Hotel Guide.
Inn at Perry Cabin — Maryland | Check Availability
Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Managed by Pyramid Global Hospitality under Black executive leadership, this inviting retreat combines golf with sailing, spa experiences and regional dining.
Enjoy time on the course, explore charming St. Michaels or unwind beside the water—an appealing escape for couples and travelers who enjoy more than golf.
Explore Inn at Perry Cabin on Black Hotel Guide and book your stay through our booking partner links.
Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club — Northamptonshire, England | Check Availability
Staverton Park offers an English countryside golf escape with an 18-hole championship course and comfortable accommodations. Managed by Pyramid Global Hospitality under Black executive leadership, the hotel welcomes golf groups, couples and travelers seeking a relaxing rural break.
Spend the day on the fairways, enjoy the hotel’s leisure facilities and settle in for dinner after exploring the surrounding countryside.
Explore Staverton Park on Black Hotel Guide and book your stay through our booking partner links.
Black-owned mini golf, putting and indoor golf experiences
Golf does not require a country-club membership or a full day on a championship course. Miniature golf, simulator venues and mobile businesses can make the game easier to include in a family outing, date night or event.
Visit the BHG Country Club collection to explore more black-owned Country Club Resorts
Swing ATL — Fairburn, Georgia
Swing ATL is a Black-owned miniature-golf business in Fairburn, with an 18-hole course and axe throwing. Co-owner Masika George has discussed the business in published interviews. The venue’s current website lists it at 8480 Senoia Road.
For Atlanta-area visitors, it offers a casual activity that can sit alongside a stay, dining and other local discoveries.
Explore: Swing ATL.
CitySwing — Washington, DC
CitySwing was founded by Tari Cash, whose work has been profiled by the PGA of America. Its business has included indoor simulator golf and a mobile golf truck that brings the experience to events.
This is a golf-experience business rather than a conventional outdoor course. Confirm its current venue, bookings and mobile-event availability directly.
Dialed in Golf Solutions — Tampa Bay, Florida
Visit Tampa Bay identifies Dialed in Golf Solutions as Black-owned. Its offerings include portable miniature golf, simulator rentals and waterfront driving-range experiences delivered to events.
That makes it especially relevant for group travel, celebrations and event planners. It should be described as a mobile provider rather than a permanent public driving range.
Skyline Park — Atlanta, Georgia
Explore Georgia identifies Skyline Park at Ponce City Market as having Black ownership. The rooftop attraction includes miniature golf alongside other games and activities. The cited source does not disclose an ownership percentage, so “has Black ownership” is the appropriate wording.
PopStroke — multiple US destinations
Co-owned by Tiger Woods, PopStroke brings golf-inspired putting courses into a lively setting for dining, drinks and friendly competition. Its layouts offer an approachable challenge for beginners and experienced golfers alike.
Whether you’re planning a family outing, date night or an afternoon with friends, PopStroke makes it easy to add golf to your travel itinerary.
Explore locations and plan your visit at PopStroke.
Golf and miniature golf in South Africa
Golf and Family Getaways in South Africa
South Africa brings together golf, wildlife and resort relaxation, with Black-owned hospitality businesses offering memorable ways to experience the country.
Skukuza Golf Course — Kruger National Park
Enjoy a round within one of Africa’s best-known wildlife destinations. Operated by Black female-owned Indalo Hotels & Leisure, Skukuza Golf Course adds a distinctive sporting experience to a Kruger National Park itinerary. Pair time on the fairways with safari adventures for a getaway that combines two very different outdoor experiences.
Ba-Phalaborwa Hotel, Golf & Spa — Phalaborwa
Formerly Hans Merensky, Ba-Phalaborwa Hotel, Golf & Spa brings golf and hospitality together near Kruger National Park. Associated with Black entrepreneur Senzo Tsabedze and the Afrirent/Indalo group, the property offers an appealing destination for travelers planning a golf-and-safari escape.
Forever Resorts — Family Golf and Resort Fun
Now part of a Black-owned hospitality portfolio following its September 2026 acquisition, Forever Resorts South Africa offers family getaways with activities beyond the fairways. Enjoy miniature golf at Warmbaths or chip-and-putt fun at Badplaas, alongside the resorts’ wider recreation offerings.
These relaxed golf experiences make it easy to include everyone—from younger players to adults looking for friendly competition between pool days and outdoor adventures.
Frequently asked questions about Black-owned golf travel
What was the first Black-owned country club in America?
Shady Rest Country Club in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, was established by Black investors in 1921 and is recognized as the first Black-owned and operated country club in the United States.
Is Shady Rest Country Club still Black-owned?
No. The Township of Scotch Plains owns the property. The township acquired it in 1938; the private Black club continued operating until 1964. Its Black ownership history remains central to its significance.
Can the public play golf at Shady Rest?
Yes. Shady Rest advertises public nine-hole golf and an 18-hole miniature-golf course. Check availability and any seasonal restrictions directly.
Are there Black-owned golf resorts where I can stay overnight?
Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Florida, is a documented example associated with owner Sheila Johnson and Salamander. BHG also features golf resorts with Black-owned management or Black executive leadership, which are labeled separately in this guide.
Are Black-owned miniature-golf businesses available?
Yes. Examples include Swing ATL in Georgia and event provider Dialed in Golf Solutions in Florida. PopStroke also has Black co-ownership through Tiger Woods. Their formats and ownership structures differ.
Does a Black-designed course mean it is Black-owned?
No. A designer, investor, manager and property owner can be different people or organizations. Likewise, a historically important course for Black golfers may be publicly owned today. This guide identifies the particular relationship supported by its sources.
Plan your golf getaway through Black Hotel Guide
Start with the history at Shady Rest, explore the golf businesses shaping the game today, and find a stay that fits your trip. Whether your itinerary includes resort golf or a family miniature-golf afternoon, explore Black Hotel Guide’s Country Club collection and book your accommodation through the partner links on your selected listing.
Before You Book — Check Black Hotel Guide First.
Booking through our partner links helps support Black Hotel Guide, a Black-owned travel company, at no extra cost to you.
