Blue Wahoos Groundskeeper Honoring Father's Legacy In Special Golf Tournament

Blue Wahoos head groundskeeper Willie Lawrence chats with former MLB All-Star third baseman Jim Presley when the two former Pensacola youth baseball players met during recent Fred Waters Youth Clinic at the ballpark. (Bill Vilona/Blue Wahoos)

By Bill Vilona, Senior Writer

June 28, 2025

His responsibilities as Blue Wahoos’ head groundskeeper curtail Willie Lawrence from involvement in the Par Four Golf Club that his father helped flourish in Pensacola a half-century ago. But he made sure to be part of the organization’s milestone moment. Lawrence is among the field of competitors this weekend in

His responsibilities as Blue Wahoos’ head groundskeeper curtail Willie Lawrence from involvement in the Par Four Golf Club that his father helped flourish in Pensacola a half-century ago.

But he made sure to be part of the organization’s milestone moment.

Lawrence is among the field of competitors this weekend in the club’s 50^th anniversary tournament at Osceola Golf Course. The Blue Wahoos have donated gift items for the tournament raffle, as well as honoring the memory of Lawrence’s father, Willie Lawrence Sr., with a tee box area sponsored in his name.

The 36-hole, stroke play tournament had rounds on Saturday and Sunday.

“My dad was part of the group for many decades,” said Lawrence, as he took a break in field preparation during the Blue Wahoos past homestand. “It’s my obligation to continue to support the Par-Four group.

“I don’t have the time to be a member, since they do so many things in so many places and the golf season is the same as our season.

“All the guys participate in these tournaments throughout the southeast and being involved with baseball I can’t do that. But especially since we have an off weekend (Saturday-Sunday), there was no question I would play, just to keep dad’s memory alive and supporting the group.”

Founded in 1968 as a social organization, Par Four Charities Inc. will host this weekend its 50^th anniversary tournament, which has been known since 2016 as the Calvin Washington Memorial in memory of a beloved area golf leader.

It’s now the Pensacola area’s only multiple-day, stroke play, amateur golf tournament, open to all levels and ages of golfers.

This tournament’s history is powerful. When it began, there were few opportunities along the Gulf Coast for African-American golfers to play any courses, private or public. Segregation still existed.

The Par 4 Golf Club was preceded by one in Mobile, which will host the 65^th annual Gulf City Golfers Tournament July 11-13 at Mobile’s Azalea City Golf Course. Pensacola and Mobile are part of a 14-member circuit of similar clubs throughout the southeast known as the Southern Association of Amateur Golfers (SAAG).

All were formed during a time that courses were few and far-between for black golfers to play in tournaments.

“Par Four (Golf Club) and all these other golf courses like Azalea City and others, they fought the fight to allow African Americans to play golf at these public golf courses,” said Lawrence, whose father was an active member of the club for decades and introduced him to golf.

“Times were very different back in the late 1960’s early 70’s,” said Lawrence, who has played in more than 10 of the Par Four Charities tournaments. “When my Dad introduced me to golf, I couldn’t even play at Osceola. I was say, nine or 10 years old. You had to be at least 14 to play, but then were also times when they just wouldn’t let me play.”

The tournament experienced a four-year absence, beginning in 2020 with the first onslaught of the coronavirus. It was resumed in 2024 to make way for the 50^th anniversary event this weekend.