Gillespie Golf Course
Greensboro Parks Foundation is proud to support the preservation and transformation of Gillespie Golf Course, one of Greensboro’s most historic and inclusive public recreation assets. Located on 104 acres off Florida Street in east Greensboro, Gillespie has served the community since opening in 1941 and continues to play a vital role in expanding access to the game of golf while honoring a powerful civil rights legacy.
Originally designed by renowned golf course architect Perry Maxwell as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Gillespie has evolved alongside the community it serves. Today, the course offers a unique 9-hole layout with dual tee boxes that allow for an 18-hole experience, a short course, driving range, pro shop, and grill—making it an approachable and welcoming destination for players of all ages
Donate to Transform
Gillespie Golf Course
A Course with National Civil Rights Significance
Gillespie Golf Course holds a profound place in Greensboro’s civil rights history. In 1955, six Black men led by Dr. George C. Simkins, Jr.—now known as the Greensboro Six—challenged the course’s whites-only policy by playing a round of golf in peaceful protest. Their arrest, conviction, and subsequent legal battle ultimately led to the desegregation of public golf courses in Greensboro and across the South.
Today, this legacy is honored on site through a historical marker and continues to inform Gillespie’s identity as a place rooted in equity, courage, and community access.
Expanding Access to Golf for All
Gillespie remains a leader in inclusive and community-focused golf programming. It was the first course in North Carolina to offer PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), a national program supporting the physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being of veterans and active-duty military. The course is also one of the only facilities in the Triad to offer adaptive golf instruction, including a standing golf cart for players with spinal cord injuries or mobility differences. Gillespie is home to First Tee – Central Carolina, providing youth from all backgrounds with access to golf, life skills, and mentorship, and serves as a vital entry point to the game for new golfers throughout the region.
Investing in the Future of Gillespie
While Gillespie is a beloved and heavily used facility, its infrastructure and amenities are showing their age. In response, the City of Greensboro has committed significant resources toward reimagining the future of the course, including more than $3 million in public investment and a $250,000 PGA Places to Play grant secured by Greensboro Parks Foundation in collaboration with Greensboro Parks and Recreation. These funds have supported the development of a comprehensive master plan, infrastructure improvements, and early redevelopment work—laying the groundwork for a bold, community-driven vision for what comes next. That vision is now taking shape. Completed in 2024, the Gillespie Golf Course Master Plan provides a thoughtful roadmap for strategic improvements that honor the course’s rich legacy while expanding opportunities for recreation, learning, and community connection. The plan outlines recommended course renovations, upgraded practice and learning facilities, a revitalized clubhouse, enhanced accessibility, and new gathering spaces that celebrate Gillespie’s history and strengthen its role as a welcoming, affordable, and high-quality public golf destination for generations to come.
Community Partnership Needed
We invite visionary supporters to partner with us in shaping the future of Gillespie Golf Course—an investment that expands access to recreation, honors a nationally significant civil rights legacy, and strengthens community connection for generations to come. Transformational support may include major outright gifts, gifts of stock or other securities, and estate or legacy commitments that reflect a deep belief in the lasting power of public spaces. Greensboro Parks Foundation welcomes the opportunity to work with donors to align their philanthropic goals with this landmark project and create a meaningful, enduring impact.