CONGRATULATIONS TO THE EBONY LADIES GOLF LEAGUE
GIRLS IN THE GAME honored the League at their 30th Anniversary Gala!
Thursday, February 27, 2025, 6pm - 9pm at the InterContinental Magnificent Mile
At Girls in the Game every girl finds her voice, discovers her strength and leads with confidence through fun and active sports, health and leadership programs. Girls in the Game empowers all girls to speak up, stand out, and inspire future generations.This year, our gala, Field of Dreams honors 30 years of Girls in the Game programming and helping girls in Chicago and beyond become healthy and strong women. The event celebrates and recognizes those who help girls find their strength, their voice, and realize their dreams whether through direct service or being role models, helping to change systems that have silenced the needs of girls and women for too long.In recognition of the outstanding example that you set as a leader, we are thrilled to share that our board, staff and girls have nominated the Ebony Ladies Golf League to be honored as a Champion at Field of Dreams, our 30th anniversary event, on February 27, 2025. Past Champions include the United States Women’s Hockey Team, Brandi Chastain, Tamika Catchings, and Curtis Granderson.___________________________________
The sold-out room of 600 attendees listened attentively as each honoree told her story and shared inspirational stories that made them the phenomenal women they are today!
ELGL (l to ): Verleaner Lane (2022), Lorraine Rice (1974), Tracy Raoul (2010), and Tracy Horne (2025, daughter of Founder, Louise Horne)
Honorees (l to r): ELGL, NK Gutierrez (Actor/Filmmaker), Julia Giese (Pres., NASCAR Chicago Street Race), Rohini Dey (Restauranteur)
Sponsor Taylor Electric Co., CEO, Kendra Dinkins (right). Family owned since 1922!
“In recognition of the outstanding example that you set as a leader, we are thrilled to share that our board, staff and girls have nominated the Ebony Ladies Golf League to be honored as a Champion at Field of Dreams, our 30th anniversary event.”
- Girls In The Game
EBONY LADIES GOLF LEAGUE
PIPE O’ PEACE GOLF COURSE
MARCH 15, 1974
SEATED (left to right): Louise Horne (Founder), Mary Truitt, Selma Barbour, Miljan Akin, Juanita Wilson, and Betty King.
STANDING (left to right): Rita Davis, Ernestine Stewart, Vasti Patterson, Dorothy Abbitt, Lydia Adams, Doris Mosley, Eunice Savage, Gladys Ford.
“There is a great need for all of us to get together to play golf, compete against each other, as well as have a lot of fun.”
- Louise Horne, Founder ELGL
The Ebony Ladies Golf League (ELGL) of Chicago, Illinois was founded March 15,1974 at Pipe O’ Peace Golf Course in Riverdale, Illinois by Mrs. Louise B. Horne. She invited a group of fourteen pioneering golfing women representing various golf clubs. The clubs included Chicago Women’s Golf Club, Choisettes, Pipe O’ Peace Men and Women, and Par 17 Ladies.
These dynamic women formed the first African American women’s golf league in the Midwest!
The ELGL colors are pink and black, and the mission was established to “promote good golfing skills among women”, which continues today by offering golfing opportunities for women of all skill levels. Ladies play 18-holes on Saturday based on their golf handicap in four divisions: Championship, A, B, and C; a weekday-play Senior Division (65 and over); a Sunday-play Developmental Division (D); and a weekday-play 9-Hole Club.
Many members had no golf experience, but the basic lessons offered through the league were advantageous!
The season begins with the Spring Meeting in March followed by the golf season from April to September with ladies playing games for fun and competitively. The culmination of the season is the Fall Meeting in October; whereby, the League Champion, Division Champions, and game winners are awarded prizes and trophies.
The Annual Jack & Jill Golf Outing has hosted as many as 150 participants for the event!
The Outing is held the first Sunday of August and proceeds have allowed ELGL to expand interests beyond golf to charitable giving to organizations such as: United Negro College Fund, American Cancer Society, Sadie Waterford Home for Girls, Family Rescue, Inc., Tabitha House, Bob-O-Links Junior Golf Club, and Sisters Network Inc. – Chicago Chapter of Breast Cancer Survivors.
Special recognition must be given to the following ladies for continuous dedicated support of the league:
Miljan Akin (founding member, 1974, seated, third from right), Lorraine Rice (first year member, 1974), Eleanor Fox (1975), Dorothy Davis (1977), Patricia Crenshaw (1978), Cassandra Curry (1980), Charlotte Mays (1982), and Alice Mitchell (1981). Congratulations Ladies for more than 40 years of playing golf!
Since ELGL’s inception until now, more than 400 women have held membership in the league!
Now, 50 years later, the ELGL Board of Directors and its members have remained committed to the mission – to promote good golfing skills among women – and has transformed the organization into a well-recognized and philanthropic non-profit organization playing golf at some of the finest golf courses and country clubs in and around the Chicago area.
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If you are interested in joining the Ebony Ladies Golf League, click the “JOIN ELGL” button. Direct questions to ebonyladiesgolfleague1974@gmail.com