The 88 year old Charlie Sifford remembers when he began as a caddie on the Revolution Golf Course as a young boy. He made 60 cents for carrying bags for 18 holes.

"I'd give 50 cents to my mother, and then I'd go get me a cigar with the rest," Sifford told a large crowd of admirers who turned out to see Revolution Park Golf Course renamed in his honor.

Dr. Sifford was born in Charlotte in 1922 and later became a successful PGA Tour professional. He is recognized as the first African-American to receive his official tour player’s card and compete in PGA events. During his career, Dr. Sifford won the 1967 Greater Hartford Open Invitational, 1969 Los Angeles Open, and the 1975 PGA Seniors' Championship. In 2004, Dr. Sifford became the first African-American inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

"Time to raise green fees," laughed Sifford as he spoke to the community leaders gathered on stage.

Dr. Charles L. Sifford Golf Course is one of seven public golf facilities owned by Mecklenburg County.