In the spring of 1973, four African American golfers concluded that there were not enough African American men playing golf in South Bend, Indiana. They decided to attempt to remedy this situation. These four African American golfers: Wart Donaldson, Bill “Corky” Locke, Alan McIver and Lennie Smith developed a list of African American men who they thought might be interested in forming a golf club. A meeting was called in April 1973 and over twenty men attended. At that meeting a discussion was held on various ways a golf club could be organized. At the conclusion of the meeting, it was decided to meet again in May to form a golf club and to elect officers. At the May 1973 meeting the club was formed and was named “The Michinana Golf Club” Bill “Corky” Locke was elected the first president of the club. In 1976 the club’s name was changed to “The Par Putters Golf Club” The clubs first meetings were held at the “Gold Triangle” night club located at 525 North Hill Street South Bend, Indiana. The Par Putters Golf Club now meets at the “Charles Martin Youth Center” in South Bend, Indiana.
