Geneva Faulkner Interview

Geneva Faulkner

Female African-American Teaching Professional

It was a pleasure interviewing this African American Female Teaching Professional, as few African American Women Professional Golfers currently exist or play on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour (LPGA). I had actually met Mrs. Faulkner three years ago when I first began to golf at a San Diego, California area golf course and even then I was impressed with her willingness to share her knowledge and love for the game. When I saw her again last month she had just exited the pro shop, and I asked a staff member who she was, as she looked so familiar. Before he could answer several golfers waiting in line in the pro shop stated her name and one said and I quote " she can flat out play". I even felt a sense of pride and I knew I had to interview her for Afrogolf.com. She is truly a pioneer, leader and innovator.

Answer: Since 1973, I have always had a passion to play golf all of my life, I just had a desire to play. But, I grew up in the south during an era that wasn’t very open for black golfers especially female golfers. My father would not let me play because in those days the only way blacks had an opportunity to be exposed to golf was to become a caddy and my father did not want me being a caddy, it was alright for the boys but not for me. So I knew that when I grew up I would play golf , I just loved the game. But I got married to Donald and had two wonderful son’s- Jason and Dwight. Donald was in the Navy and so we went over seas and when we returned in 1980 as soon as we were off the plane I went straight to the golf course.

Answer: Since 1985, I even played on the WPGT- Women’s Professional Golf Tour for five years. But the kids were young then and my first job was to be a good mother . But, I managed to play in one or two tournaments a year for about five years. I wish I could have committed myself full-time to playing, no telling what I might have done.

Answer: Yes, Donald was all ways 100% behind me and I really appreciated that.

Answer: Well I travel between here (San Diego) and Mississippi and I do clinics and work-shops nationally. When I am in Memphis, Tennessee I love to visit Pinehills Golf Course which has a great junior program with over 200 inner-city kids involved.

Answer: Well, now anyone with a desire can just go out and play, there are more African-American Golfers and public facilities available.

Answer: Well for one thing it cost four to five thousand dollars to just attend qualifying school and I could not get a sponsor in those days. And with raising the two boys it was just impossible with-out sponsorship.

Question: What about playing on the women’s senior tour or getting back out on the mini-tour ?

Answer: Well for one thing no women’s senior tour currently exist , I guess the big sponsor dollars are waiting for the current legends and big names to come of age. Which doesn’t help me or other women golfers, and I really believe that there are hundreds maybe thousand of women golfers who would love to compete but no venue exist for older women. N one seems to be ready to risk the dollars, but then again no one envisioned how successful the men’s senior and now super senior tour would become. I wonder why they don’t just tag it on to one of the current men’s events like La Costa to test the waters.

Answer: To get more involved in a youth program which could reach out to more economically under privileged inner-city kids. And of course I would love to be able to play on a women’s senior tour.