The Skyview Golf Association was founded and Incorporated in 1960 as a not for profit organization in an effort to promote golf competition among African American golfers throughout the United States. lt was also intended as a stepping-stone to get Black golfers eventually ready for the Professional Golf Associations (PGA) tour. This was the beginning of the long run in summer golf tournaments that still exists today.

The very first Skyview Tournament was an all African American event with 50 participants. The next year integration took place when Dr. Robert McGuffie a local pediatrician and Walt Gossett, both Caucasian, played. This opened the door for all people to participate. Since that first tournament that had only 50 people, the tournament has grown consistently each year.
The largest tournament was in 1975  when 254 golfers participated in the Skyview Open. Today, Skyview is one of the largest tournaments in the southeast.
 
The Skyview Tournament started with Charles Colette as the Tournament Director. He served in this capacity from 1960 until 1972. At the time of Mr. Collette’s illness and subsequent death, Billy Gardenhight was asked by the members to take his place as Tournament Director. For the past thirty five years, Billy has served in this capacity. During this time, the tournament has grown and is now a legacy throughout the entire country. This is a legacy that started with Charles Colette, Sam Chavis, Raymond Bland, John Dendy, Sam Quick, Tommy Lee Nance, Boyce Layton and Jesse G. Ray, Sr., the incorporators and directors of the Skyview Golf Association, lnc.
 
Since the inception of the “Skyview”, golfers have come from Tennessee, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, California, Texas, Michigan, Florida, Ohio, Louisiana, Georgia, Hawaii, South Carolina, North Carolina, Nevada, Arizona, and internationally from Canada and Bermuda to participate in our Annual PRO AM Tournament.
 

The annual tournament is hosted at the Asheville Municipal Golf Course, “Muni” as it is locally referred to, designed by world famous golf course designer Donald Ross. Numerous nationally known African American celebrities and golf professionals have participated in the Skyview Open, such as Lee Elder, Jim Dent, Jim and Chuck Thorpe, John Brooks Dendy and even World Boxing Champion Joe Louis to name a few.

 

 

Two friends from the past — Jim Dent and Morris Hatalsky–both former players and
winners on the PGA Tour.

 

Skyview Golf Association Board of Directors 2017-2018

Lee Shepard
President

Billy E.P. Gardenhight
Vice-President

Mildred Nance-Carson
Assistant Treasurer

Martha Gardenhight
Secretary

Willie Robinson

Charles Williams

Fred Woods

Claude Young

Ivory Walker

Alvin McGahee

Rev. Theodore Pea