Mpls Park Board Threatens to Overhaul First Golf Course to Welcome Black Golfers

April 7 - Written by S.J.

Hiawatha Golf Course narrowly escaped a massive redesign twice in 2021, and it looks like they’re going to have to do it again soon. 

The proposed restructuring would have reduced the course from 18 holes down to 9 in an effort to stop persistent flooding in the area. However, proponents of the nearly-ninety year old course’s preservation argue its cultural significance demands an alternate solution. 

Hiawatha Golf Course opened in 1934 and was among the first courses in the country to welcome Black and integrated tournaments. The course even hosted the prestigious Upper Midwest Bronze Golf Tournament for over two decades, which according to its website, “gave minorities an opportunity to play and compete against the best golfers at any level.” 

In July 2021 the Minneapolis Park Board commissioners voted against the $43 million renovation. The project had already been rejected just three months earlier, in April, after it failed to receive a supermajority vote. 

Last month the Park Board voted to revisit the course’s proposed overhaul. Advocates of Hiawatha’s preservation are once again gearing up to fight for the historic course and its legacy to remain intact. 

It is worth noting that there has been a Park Board election since the last time the controversial proposal was voted on. The nine-member board included three Black commissioners at the time of the last vote–Londel French, AK Hassan and LaTrisha Vetaw. Now, after the election and before the Hiawatha course redesign is voted on for a third time, there is only one Black board member, newcomer Alicia Smith. 

Hiawatha has become a beloved space for the Black golf community and, as advocates have argued, downgrading it to a 9-hole “executive” course would be a disrespect to those who fought for racial equity in the sport and would almost certainly negatively affect the course's future status.