Between 1963 and 2018, eight African American female golfers were on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. However, today, there is only one. Mariah Stackhouse is the only full-time black player on the tour. Her journey hasn’t been easy, considering that golf is largely a white-dominated environment. In this article, we shed light on her story.
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Mariah Stackhouse’s Early Life
Mariah was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her father, Ken Stackhouse, introduced her to golf when she was two years old. He prepared golf clubs for her to practise and play. On the other hand, her mother, Sharon, worked as a hospital administrator. Her first tournament came when she was six.
The young golfer attended predominantly black schools, so she didn’t quite experience the racial discrepancies. Further, her parents refrained from speaking about the racial experience most black people face to prevent her from thinking that all white people are bad. Also, they wanted her to appreciate the gains made to accommodate black people in society. She explained to Golf Week.
“I think he wanted me to have that distinction,” said Mariah, “not to harbor resentment and allow me to enjoy the progression we have made as a society. That’s what every movement has been about – being able to move more freely.”
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Playing on the Golf Tour
In 2011, Mariah earned a berth in the U.S. Women’s Open Field and was the first black person to achieve this feat. In 2014, she competed in the U.S. Curtis Cup Team and was the first black woman to do so.
Mariah took her talents to Stanford University. She was an All-American in her four years at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). She played at the Peg Bernard Invitational Tournament, making a memorable 61. In 2015, Mariah defeated Baylor University in 19 holes to give Stanford its first NCAA women’s golf championship.
The following year, Mariah made it to the LPGA Tour. Her first tournament was the Portland Classic and became the second woman after her idol Renee Powell to earn a tour status.
“My parents did a lot to inform me about the history of Black professional golf and high-level amateur golfers as well,” said Stackhouse. “I was familiar with Renee’s story growing up and the stories she shared traveling on the road,” she told KPMG Women’s PGA.
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“The mental toughness she had and the fight off the course chasing that dream of a professional golfer, it’s incredibly inspiring to learn and to respect.”
Powell had nice words to say about her. She described her as an impressive, confident young lady. That said, Stackhouse realizes that to get ahead, she has to work hard at her craft.
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Awards and Recognition
Throughout her time on the LPGA tour. Mariah Stackhouse has won several events.
- 2021: Finished T41 in the LPGA Q-Series to earn LPGA Tour membership for the 2022 season
- 2020: Recorded a season-best finish of T5 at the Cambia Portland Classic
- 2019: Recorded a season-best finish of T5 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer
- 2018: Recorded two top-10 results including a career-best T7 finish at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer
- 2017: Recorded a career-best T8 finish at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
- 2016: Competed in five LPGA events with her career-best finish coming at the 2016 Cambia Portland Classic where she finished T47
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Amateur
- Graduated from Stanford University in 2016 with a degree in Communication
- A four-time All-American at Stanford who helped lead the Cardinals to the 2015 National Championship
- Played on the victorious 2014 U.S. Curtis Cup team
Mariah Stackhouse is paving the way for black female golfers. Her father has played a pivotal role in her journey and she keeps scaling the heights. Hopefully, her impact will be long-lasting.
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