PGA bylaws barred Black players and teachers, so Lucius Bateman set up shop at Airway Fairways driving range near the Oakland Airport and groomed PGA players and a British Open champion.
I once played with Lucious as a young 13 year old boy from Oakland in 1963. He was coaching 2 younger boys who had great Wilson Staff clubs and me with my hickory shaft clubs from the Good Will store. Lucious was kind, quite and had a limp. I just remember him hitting a 3 iron about 200 yds stiff on the pin. I said to myself, who is this guy?
I now know Iwas playing with greatness and class. I soaked up a lot about golf and life that day.
Excellent story. It's so wild that this man could have been a great himself but racism took him out of the mix. He instead paved the way for others and empowered future PGA golfers. Incredible.
What a great story! Lucius was clearly an amazing player and coach. I also understand that he was even a better human that showed love and respect for others. May his legacy live forever. Thanks for sharing. I will share everywhere!
Thank you very much for that information. I would have never known and I've been born and raised here in Oakland since 1962. Such a great feel good story!!....Thank you again...
My dad took me for lessons from mr Bateman at Dougans Driving Range on the Hayward /San Leandro border in 1962. Met Dutch Harrison at the Lew Galbraith course at that time too.
I was also one of many kids who got group lessons from lucius every saturday morning at Alameda municpal G.C He groomed my swing, I still remember him putting his hand on my head to keep it from moving. He would occasionally play 9 with us for nickels and dimes and chuckle when he took our money. I took my last lesson from Lucius in 1972 while playing High School golf, at a range somewhere in San Leandro Ca. I still carry the Bag Tag from his Memorial Tourny
I used to play there as a kid growing up in Alameda, I would ride my bike along with my 3-golf clubs. There was also a 9-hole GC just across from the old Oakland Airport it was named the ‘Earl Fry’ GC… he held the low score record at the Alameda GC on bay Farm Island… fun little GC.
We need a book about the great Lucius Bateman! It's a great story and it needs to be told. I would hope that a reporter could follow up on this!
I once played with Lucious as a young 13 year old boy from Oakland in 1963. He was coaching 2 younger boys who had great Wilson Staff clubs and me with my hickory shaft clubs from the Good Will store. Lucious was kind, quite and had a limp. I just remember him hitting a 3 iron about 200 yds stiff on the pin. I said to myself, who is this guy?
I now know Iwas playing with greatness and class. I soaked up a lot about golf and life that day.
Art Watkins
Excellent story. It's so wild that this man could have been a great himself but racism took him out of the mix. He instead paved the way for others and empowered future PGA golfers. Incredible.
What a great story! Lucius was clearly an amazing player and coach. I also understand that he was even a better human that showed love and respect for others. May his legacy live forever. Thanks for sharing. I will share everywhere!
Great story. Thx
Thank you very much for that information. I would have never known and I've been born and raised here in Oakland since 1962. Such a great feel good story!!....Thank you again...
My dad took me for lessons from mr Bateman at Dougans Driving Range on the Hayward /San Leandro border in 1962. Met Dutch Harrison at the Lew Galbraith course at that time too.
I was also one of many kids who got group lessons from lucius every saturday morning at Alameda municpal G.C He groomed my swing, I still remember him putting his hand on my head to keep it from moving. He would occasionally play 9 with us for nickels and dimes and chuckle when he took our money. I took my last lesson from Lucius in 1972 while playing High School golf, at a range somewhere in San Leandro Ca. I still carry the Bag Tag from his Memorial Tourny
I used to play there as a kid growing up in Alameda, I would ride my bike along with my 3-golf clubs. There was also a 9-hole GC just across from the old Oakland Airport it was named the ‘Earl Fry’ GC… he held the low score record at the Alameda GC on bay Farm Island… fun little GC.