WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A North Carolina golf course has more of a meaning than just playing golf. Players are walking the footsteps of history.

Julius Reese hops on a golf cart every day to check the grounds of the Winston Lake Golf Course before players get to hitting balls.

“Anything can happen out here. You know, I kind of eyeball the golf course. I'll ride by and check on things in case something is wrong,” Reese said.

What You Need To Know

  • The Winston Lake Golf Course was built as a safe space for Black golfers during segregation

  • Winston Lake was one of the first golf courses in the area to host the Forsyth Invitational

  • The golf course is open Monday through Sunday

Reese is the general manager for the Winston Lake Golf Course in Winston-Salem, a position he’s held for the past 16 years.

“Very sacred to me to even be walking this golf course, around this golf course, just to be here on these 95-plus acres and experience the same things that that people created for us these days and live for us these days. And it's still here for me to enjoy it,” he said.

This course is special because it was built during segregation as a safe space for Black golfers to play.

“You know, it was a privilege and an honor to be able to play golf and be able to know how and be able to go on to a golf course in those days,” Reese said.

And they found ways to be a part of other courses.

“Because when we wasn't able to play golf, we had the opportunity to at least caddy for some of the local golfers that was coming around and make money,” he said.

The course started with nine holes and grew to 18 in the 1960s.

The most famous Black golfers of that time played at Winston Lake.

“Lee Elders, Charlie Sifford, Jo Johnson ... it's just so many the name that's played here at this particular golf course in the early 60s and late 50s, when we wasn't as minorities able to play golf anywhere,” Reese said.

This course was more than a place to play golf.

“Winston Lake Golf Course was the melting pot for social living. Everybody came here back in the late 50s, early 60s,” he said.

Winston Lake was one of the first three golf courses in the area to host the Forsyth Invitational. Joe Johnson was the first Black golfer to win it. 

“Johnson won the Forsyth Invitational, then that made everybody that was around him, it gave them the motivation and the knowledge that, hey, if he can win it, he practices here in Winston Lake, then I can win it,” Reese said.

The golf course now is owned by the city and is open to everyone. Reese and others are working to keep the history alive.

“That's my motivation to come here. You know, if I can keep this afloat and keep this going, then one day my legacy will be determined from other people,” Reese said.

The Winston Lake Golf Course is open 7:30 a.m. to dusk Monday through Sunday on Winston Lake Road in Winston-Salem.