Founded at Encanto Golf Course in 1946 by 10 African Americans, Desert Mashie Golf Club president Booker Evans takes us through the past, present and future of this inclusive organization in the latest episode of the “Golf is Good for Everyone Podcast.”
As the story goes, the club’s formation was inspired by an “ace” carded on Encanto’s par-3 3rd hole. One of the impending members of the not-yet-created Desert Mashie Golf Club flushed a five iron, called a mashie back then, which went in the hole.
Since that day, Desert Mashie Golf Club has gathered a thriving and diverse membership, with a particular focus on the next generation of Mashies.
“Kids that learn golf develop a kind of integrity that goes with them to business,” Evans said in the podcast interview. “There’s nobody out there to tell you that you committed a penalty. As we’re raising our young people and contributing to their development and the community, they get that experience. They grow up to be people with solid integrity that carries over to the business world or law or whatever they choose to do.”
Evans observed that for golf “the rules are more important than who wins or loses,” a trait close to his heart as a longtime lawyer “who spent a lot of time in the office.”
Things changed on his birthday in 1990 when his wife bought him a set of clubs and shipped them to his office. “Once the game hooks you, it’s got you,” he said. “I’m playing a couple of days a week, still.”
Desert Mashie Golf Club opens doors, creating experiences for all Arizonans, especially those from communities where golf and all of its positive benefits wouldn’t be available aside from the game. Evans and the Desert Mashies are well on their way to expanding these values to all walks of life, and he’s inviting everyone to join them.
“We’d love to have you participate in any way,” Evans said. “Register for one of our tournaments – come out and play with us. We have a club that is open to everyone. You’d be welcome.”
