Cumberland Rising: the Extraordinary Story of Ted Rhodes Golf Course, Black Golf's Mecca

Cumberland Rising is the extraordinary story of Ted Rhodes Golf Course in Nashville, Tenn., toldthrough the eyes of Rickey Hampton, an award-winning sports columnist.Ted Rhodes Golf Course opened in 1954 as Cumberland Golf Course for 'Negroes' under thesupposedly 'separate but equal' laws of the day. Of course, there was nothing equal about thenew Cumberland Golf Course. The course was only nine holes and was built in a floodplainalong the Cumberland River. The slightest rainfall would cause the course to flood. If that wasn'tbad enough, the course was located next to the city dump.Hampton's father, Joe Hampton, a former caddy alongside Ted Rhodes, was named the pro atthe segregated course. Joe Hampton's dogged determination transformed what was essentiallya pile of mud into one of golf's iconic courses and a mainstay in Nashville's Black Community.In 1969, the course was renamed Ted Rhodes Golf Course in honor of Rhodes, the trailblazingAfrican American golfer and Black golf's first superstar.Rickey Hampton was there, at his father's side, to witness every moment of theCumberland/Rhodes legacy. He shagged golf balls for Ted Rhodes and shadow-boxed with Joe Louis, theheavyweight boxing legend and Rhodes' friend. Rickey Hampton shares all thestories, the money matches, the great players, and the legacies of the men and women whomade Ted Rhodes Golf Course Black Golf's Mecca.