Macon Golf Course Joins National Register Of Historic Places

Thanks to all how posted or sent the link to Michael Caputo's Georgia Public Broadcasting piece on Charles L. Bowden Golf Course recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its place in the history of Southern desegregation.

Caputo writes:

On Feb. 23 the National Park Service approved the course’s application, submitted by Macon Golf for Kids and the Macon-Bibb County government. The listing was announced this week.

The application notes that the municipal golf course at 3111 Millerfield Road integrated before other public facilities in Macon, including the bus service.

Until June 1961, black golfers in Macon did not play at Bowden despite years of petitioning by dozens of black golfers for equal access.

Maconite Nathanial Veal, a Bowden caddy at the time, remembered when four black players took matters in their own hands. They announced to the City Council that they would simply walk in the front door of Bowden with their golf bags and play.

“And then they went out and played,” he said.