CANTON, Ohio — William Powell returned home from Europe after serving his country in World War II only to find that golf courses in the United States continued to discriminate.

“Women weren’t very welcome on golf courses, and young kids weren’t very welcome and certainly people of color were not welcome,” said Powell’s daughter, Renee Powell.

No course in northeast Ohio allowed the accomplished Black veteran to play and so he did what many before him have done: he built his own.

“He built the first nine holes literally by hand,” Powell said.

Clearview remains the only golf course designed, built, and owned by a Black person. William Powell raised his two children on the green where Renee broke down even more barriers, becoming the second African American woman to compete on the LPGA Tour, following in the footsteps of her pioneering contemporary, Althea Gibson.

Now Clearview’s director, Renee Powell amassed a string of impressive accomplishments, not only as a competitive golfer but also as a dedicated ambassador for the sport. But she remembers tournaments that did not want her registration as a Black person and hotels that closed their doors on her.

Despite these challenges, she and William were the first father-daughter pair to be inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame. Beyond her achievements on the course, Powell has been a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in golf, working tirelessly to promote the game among underrepresented communities, including, most recently, female veterans through her initiative Clearview HOPE.

Today, Clearview Golf Club is open for business and on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks. The Powell family continues to welcome all golfers, embodying the spirit of equality and opportunity that William Powell envisioned when he first broke ground in Canton.

Meanwhile, Renee Powell's legacy continues to inspire generations of golfers, proving that barriers can be overcome with talent, determination and a commitment to inclusivity.