Newark Golf Legend Inspires Community: ‘No Tiger Without Wiley’

NEWARK, NJ — Essex County officials paid tribute to Newark golf legend Wiley Williams during a ceremony to dedicate a section of the Essex County Weequahic Golf Course in his honor last week.

Williams, an East Orange resident, was one of the first African-Americans to win a New Jersey golf tournament, taught generations of young people the game of golf and adopted Weequahic Golf Course as his home course, county officials stated.

The Wiley Williams Corner will be located at Holes 10 and 11 and “will be an inspiration to the young golfers who participate in The First Tee program at Weequahic,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page here.

According to county officials, Williams began teaching himself golf at the age of nine by observing the more experienced golfers for whom he caddied. He continued to perfect his playing skills on the tees, fairways, sand traps and greens of Essex County Weequahic Golf Course, which he called his home course throughout his life. He went on to win a variety of local golfing events and competitions and won his first Essex County Men’s Golf Championship in 1967.

In 1969, he became the only New Jersey golfer to qualify for the National Public Links competition and, along with Marvin Smith, was the first African-American golfer to win a major New Jersey golf event, the New Jersey State Golf Association Four-Ball title.

That year, Williams turned professional and, during his career, would go on to win the Brooklyn Classic Golf Tournament and Cleveland Open.

Williams said that it was a “great honor” to see his name appear on the course he enjoys so much.

“I had no idea what could happen when I played golf… I just played because I enjoyed it,” Williams said. “The one thing I learned in life is that if you want something, you have to go out and get it yourself.”

“When I see so many people gathered here to pay tribute to my uncle it makes me proud,” said Williams’ niece Gloria Chambers-Benoit, who added that their family had come from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Texas to attend the dedication.

“[Williams] persevered at a time when it was difficult for people of color to be on a golf course,” Essex County Freeholder Rufus Johnson said. “There would be no Tiger Woods if there wasn’t Wiley.”

A bronze plaque recognizing the dedication reads:

“In 1951, by the age of 9, Wiley Williams showed natural talent for the game of golf, learning on his own as he caddied. Essex County Weequahic Golf Course was his home course and, through four decades of play, he approached the game as a gentleman golfer. Still teaching at Weequahic today, his love of the game is legendary, and he introduced multitudes of Newark’s young people to golf, understanding that the self-control, patience and concentration needed for a successful round would be the basis for a successful life. He became one of the first African Americans to win a major New Jersey golf event, the NJ State Golf Association Four-Ball title in 1969, the same year he represented the state in the National Public Links and turned pro. In 1981, the Professional Golfers’ Association recognized him as “a special friend of the NJ Professional Golfers Association and NJ Junior Golf,” which further helped break racial barriers in the golf community. In 1994, he was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame. We name the 10th and 11th Holes as ‘Wiley Williams Corner’ because there is no better ambassador for Essex County Weequahic Golf Course.”

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Essex County