Just Let Me Play: The Story of Charlie Sifford, the First Black PGA Golfer (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Bitter, ornery, angry" Sifford, writing with freelancer Gallo, here provides an unrelievedly depressing autobiography that, one hopes, will cause shame in certain quarters and inspiration in others. While the man who has been called--inaccurately, he says--the Jackie Robinson of pro golf was the first African American to be accepted into the PGA (in 1960), Sifford encountered as much racism after joining the tour as he had before: not from fellow players, who simply treated him as a challenging opponent, but from organizers of the tour and especially from sponsors of various events. Sifford notes that playing on the Senior and Super Senior Tours he has made more money than before, but he is extremely pessimistic about the future of blacks in the game. Yet there's a lesson to be learned from this model of justified righteousness: "anybody . . . who decided that I wasn't good enough or marketable enough to enter their golf tournament . . . I don't stay down. I fight back." Photos.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

The first black golfer on the PGA tells of the consistent battles he has waged against bigotry in the exclusive world of golf and tells how his courage has opened the sport to a new generation of blacks.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 237 pages
• Publisher: British American Publishing (May 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 094516744X
• ISBN-13: 978-0945167440
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #930,133 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book!!!, April 27, 2001

By	Bobby Mims (Greensboro, NC USA) - See all my reviews

I read this book a few years back before it was offered through normal distribution channels. Mr. Sifford was actually distributing this book from his home. Being from Greensboro and a golfer, I was extremely impressed by Mr. Sifford's commitment to the game and his determination to play as a PGA professional. You truly wonder what the golfing world has already missed by not allowing Mr. Sifford and other African American golfers to pursue their dreams. When Mr. Sifford was attempting to break the "color barrier" there were more black professional golfers than there is today! His story is heartbreaking and encouraing, what he and other black golfers experienced (to include in my hometown of Greensboro NC) is almost beyond belief! I would strongly recommend reading this book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Any hacker worth his putter should read this one !, August 3, 1998

By A Customer

This book took me to a time when all african -americans could look to their heritage with pride. Jackie Robinson was a great man and I place the accomplishments of Charlie Sifford right along side of his. He showed us what real intestinal fortitude is all about. This should be required reading for all youngsters interested in participating in sports. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great story of courage under enormous pressure. This book teaches us about the strength and character we all posess inside.

3.0 out of 5 stars So so., June 28, 2004

By	A. F. Naromu (USA) - See all my reviews

The story of Sifford is a very inspiring one. The book was just written in a horrible way. Every other sentance starts with the word "hell". It gets boring afterwards. The first half of the book moves very slowly, but the second half picks up a little more speed. This book will let people know that before Tiger Woods, there was Charlie, Lee Elder, and a lot of other guys too. It is a very good book. What Sifford went through was just horrid, but that's the reality of the world we live in. I could never blame him for being so bitter after all these years of obstacles and not being praised for what he has done. Never mind praise - just for not being allowed to play the game of golf. My limited grasp on golf parlance probably made it a little boring to read this book. But it's a good book, although it may make you a little sleepy.