John Shippen

Who was John Shippen?

John Matthew Shippen, Jr. was an African American/Native American golfer who competed in the several early U.S. Opens. He was the son of a Presbyterian minister, and was born in Washington D.C.. When he was nine his father was sent to serve as minister on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation, close to one of America's earliest golf clubs, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. John, Jr. worked as a caddy at the course and was taught to play by the club's Scottish professional Willie Dunn.

The Shinnecock Hills course was chosen to host the second U.S. Open, and the members were so impressed with Shippen's talent for the game that they decided to pay his entry fee for the tournament, along with that of his close friend, Oscar Bunn, a Shinnecock Indian. Shippen was allowed to play because he registered as an Indian rather than as a black. When the professional entrants for the competition found out about this they threatened to boycott the event, but they backed down after USGA president Theodore Havemeyer stated that the tournament would proceed even if only Shippen and Dunn took part. Shippen was paired with Charles B. Macdonald, winner of the first U.S. Amateur in 1895.