Duffers History

Pro-Duffers DC History

About 70 years ago, in the late fifties, a group of golfers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known as the “Del Val” golf club, contacted several of their former Howard University classmates who lived in the Washington Metropolitan area and expressed an interest in engaging in some friendly golf matches—area against area.

1954
The DC Nine
About 70 years ago – in the late fifties – a group of golfers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known as the “Del Val” golf club contacted several of their former Howard University classmates who lived in the Washington Metropolitan area, and expressed an interest in engaging in some friendly golf matches- area against area.

This very intriguing idea caught the fancy of nine DC golfers who decided to form a golfing group, with a name. The original group included Mark Brown, Otho Ferguson, Sewell Horad, William Hyde, Hugh Jackson, Mordecai Johnson, Leon Willis, William “Buster” Lofton, and John “Buster” Rector. Sewell Horad was chosen as leader (president) of the group.
1955
PRO-DUFFERS GOLF CLUB
Several months after the first encounter with the Del Val group, Robert Smith and Sewell Horad met a fellow golfer at Northwest Park Golf Club who identified himself as a “professional duffer.” The next time they met with the D.C. group, they proposed the name “Pro-Duffers” as a suitable title for the DC golfers. The idea was accepted unanimously, and the group became the PRO-DUFFERS GOLF CLUB.

It soon became obvious to the PRO-DUFFERS that in order to match the size and skill of the Del Val Club, they would have to expand their own membership. Their first act was to recruit all the golfers who were members of the “WHAT GOOD ARE WE SOCIAL CLUB.” Even with the increased membership, our success in defeating the Del Val Club did not change drastically. So the search began for some more skillful golfers. The next person to join the club was Booker Kent, who was sponsored by Bob Smith and Bus Lofton who had observed his game at the East Potomac golf Course and was impressed with his ability to play.
1959
Langston Golf Course
The largest single increase in the Pro-Duffers membership took place about a year later when a group of physicians, dentists and other professionals who played golf primarily at Langston Golf Course agreed to join the club. This group headed by St. Elmo Crawford, included Thad Mumford, Joe Murray, Bus Yancey, Joe D. Saunders and others. Through the years, we continued to increase our membership to the point where we found it necessary to declare a moratorium on new members.
1970
Pro-Duffers Southwest
During the early years, even with an increased membership all meetings were held in the member’s homes on a voluntary basis. It was during a meeting at Horad’s home that “Joe D.” Saunders introduced his friend and houseguest Foster Kidd, from Dallas, Texas. Kidd was so impressed with the group that he asked permission to form a group in Dallas, to be
known as the Pro-Duffers Southwest. His idea met with great success in Dallas. Soon after that, a small group of golfers in Memphis, Tennessee learned about the Pro-Duffers in Washington and the expansion in Dallas, and asked permission to form a group called the Pro-Duffers Memphis. C.C. Jones headed the Memphis group.
1980
Joe D’s Friend
During the early years, even with an increased membership all meetings were held in the member’s homes on a voluntary basis. It was during a meeting at Horad’s home that “Joe D.” Saunders introduced his friend and houseguest Foster Kidd, from Dallas, Texas. Kidd was so impressed with the group that he asked permission to form a group in Dallas, to be known as the Pro-Duffers Southwest. His idea met with great success in Dallas. Soon after that, a small group of golfers in Memphis, Tennessee learned about the Pro-Duffers in Washington and the expansion in Dallas, and asked permission to form a group called the Pro-Duffers Memphis. C.C. Jones headed the Memphis group.
1990 - Present
15 Chapters
Several years ago, Calvin D. Banks (who had been our Secretary in Washington) moved to California. Soon after he settled there, Cal asked and was granted permission to form a group of golfers in that area to be known as the Pro-Duffers West. This brought the count to four chapters. This chapter never got off the ground and eventually faded into the sunset. But, not to worry, as other chapters sprang up and blossomed into strong and viable chapters — among them Atlanta, Carolina, Columbia SC, Dallas, Del Val, Greenville MS, Houston, Little Rock, Memphis, South Michigan, Orlando, South Florida, and Northern Virginia. Today there are a total of 14 Chapters.