City Celebrates Jake Gaither Golf Course as National Historic Place

Community invited to unveiling of prestigious marker

April 24, 2023

On Monday, May 1, the City of Tallahassee's Jake Gaither Golf Course will celebrate another milestone in its rich 66-year history. The legendary golf course's much anticipated historical marker will be unveiled during a special ceremony. To mark the occasion, the City proudly invites the community to join in the celebration at 5:30 p.m. at 801 Bragg Drive.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places on Aug. 9, 2022, by the National Park Service, the course was opened in 1956 by the City. The opening of the nine-hole course gave African Americans a place to play golf during a time when they were restricted from playing elsewhere. It quickly became a community hub, serving as the site of Guinness World Record attempts and once home base for the Florida A&M University Golf Team. Today, it shines brighter than ever, welcoming thousands of golfers each year from every walk of life.

"This amazing course has been a pillar of the community for decades," Mayor John Dailey said. "We are proud to see it achieve national recognition, which is the result of immense dedication over the years by the men and women who have worked and played here—staff, volunteers and golfers."

After a short program including an unveiling of the historical marker on May 1, attendees will be able to tour the golf course, visit the pro shop and watch videos from the new Jake Gaither Golf Course Oral History Project.

Jake Gaither Golf Course sits on 120 acres. It is named for Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither of Florida A&M, then a respected citizen of Tallahassee and one of the winningest coaches in college football. When the nine-hole municipal course opened on Dec. 14, 1956, Jake Gaither Golf Course gave African Americans a chance to play. Many had learned the game by observing as caddies at Capital City Country Club, which was then Tallahassee's only golf course.

Attaining this prestigious designation took years of research and documentation, an effort spearheaded by Scott Edwards, a historic preservationist and the Florida Historic Golf Coordinator at the Florida Department of State. After consulting with the City and community members, he submitted the application to have JGGC added to the National Register of Historic Places. Edwards, like many, has personal ties to the course. He started playing at Jake Gaither Golf Course with his father and brother while in middle school. Now plays there with his own family.

"I can't say it enough; the importance of the Jake Gaither course is the community of those who have played here," Jan Auger, General Manager of Golf for the City, said. "They helped diversify golf in Tallahassee by teaching and mentoring young people and women. Today, it remains a place for everyone – from long-time players to those just learning the game."

The community of golfers at JGGC has included many people through the years known for their skills on the course and their willingness to share their knowledge of the game with others. These golfers are considered "Legends of the Links." At the historic designation celebration, oral history videos documenting some of these individuals will play in the Pro Shop. Those highlighted include:

• Leroy Kilpatrick, now in his 80s, who started playing the course as a teen. He was there the day JGGC opened and still plays the course today. In 1995, Kilpatrick made the Guinness Book of Records for playing 1,363 holes at Jake Gaither Golf Course in seven days.
• The late William E. Crumbie, the course's first manager and greenskeeper. He is also credited with assisting in the design of the course.
• The late Irene Perry, who was the first president of Jake Gaither's Women's Golf League.
• FAMU Head Golf Coach Mike Rice, who led the Rattlers to their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) golf championship in 2021.
• JGGC current Teaching Pro Kris Hannah, who was the first Black golfer to receive a golf scholarship and play on the team at Florida State University. He began playing at JGGC in middle school with his father.

To commemorate Jake Gaither Golf Course's 65th anniversary and further preserve its history, a mini-documentary was produced by the City in December 2021. The award-winning video is available for viewing on demand at YouTube.com/CityofTLH.

To encapsulate this newest milestone, the City created a book of the research completed to earn the historic designation. Featuring both historic and current images, the approximately 70-page tome takes the reader on a journey from the arrival of golf in Florida circa 1886 to the 1952 land purchase by the City that would allow for the development of the Jake Gaither Golf Course to course renovations in 2021. A digital version of the book is available at Talgov.com.

The Jake Gaither Golf Course, located at 801 Bragg Drive, is a nine-hole, par 36 that was designed by Frank Burandt. It is open year-round and offers a practice putting green and a pro shop with golf merchandise, rental clubs and snacks. The course provides challenges for golfers of every skill level. For more information, call the course at 850-891-3942 or follow it on Facebook. Visit JakeGaitherGolf.com for prices and to schedule a tee time.