DENVER - Some of golf's greatest moments have happened in Colorado. It is where Arnold Palmer launched his famous charge to win the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills. It is where Jack Nicklaus won the U.S. Amateur at the Broadmoor. But one of the greatest moments happened at a municipal course in Denver.
"Back in those years, Wellshire was thought of as one of the finest public courses in the United States," Dan Hogan with the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame said.
It was created in 1926 by legendary architect Donald Ross.
Thirty three years later, in 1959, Wellshire hosted the USGA's National Public Links Championship.
It was a different time, when America and the golf world saw things in black and white.
"They weren't thrilled about me doing anything," Bill Wright said.
Wright was 23 and a very talented golfer who simply wanted to prove it at Wellshire.
It was not easy. The golf association in his hometown of Seattle did everything it could to stop him because of the color of his skin.
"They didn't want to be on the same plane with me," he said.
It took a ruling by Washington's governor to clear the way.
"I remember walking along and watching him play," Hogan said.
Hogan remembers 1959 well.
"Lots of unrest," said. "[A] troubled time."
But that unrest and trouble took a pause in Denver for one week.
"He was really embraced. People came out to watch him play. He drew good sized galleries," Hogan said.
"I can't explain it. It was wonderful," Wright said.
The crowd began pulling for Wright, possibly sensing they were watching history.
"I played it well," Wright said.
"[He] had a marvelous short game. He up and downed it all over the golf course and it was fun to watch him play," Hogan said.
He also showed he could do more than just hit a golf ball well.
"They were making noise while the other guy was putting," Wright said.
So Wright stepped in and showed his character.
"Thank you for pulling for me, but at the same time I want to beat him. I don't want you to beat him, see and everybody caught a hold of that and said that I was a gentleman for doing that," Wright said.
Wright went on to win that match, which led him to the final one.
"I was putting well," he said.
On the 16th hole at Wellshire, Wright won, changing the game forever. He became the first African-American to ever win a USGA Championship.
"We were all happy. There was no question about that," Wright said.
"He made a real breakthrough. He meant a lot to amateur golf," Hogan said.
Now, 51 years later, Wright is a member of the PGA. It was an organization he could not join until after winning in 1959. They still had a Caucasian only rule until 1961.
"I think he had a lot to do with that," Hogan said.
But the day he won, Wright told a sports writer it was never about that.
"I told him this is not about anything but golf," he said.
Wright played on the PGA tour for a short time and now spends his days teaching lessons at a driving range in Los Angeles.
"I still have that competitive spirit," he said. "I still like to play golf."
But neither he nor Hogan will forget that day history changed in 1959.
"I'm happy that it happened in Denver," Hogan said.
"I remember almost everything that happened," Wright said. "It was very important in my life."
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