The Muni | Stories From A Public Golf Course

A love letter to the game of golf, told by the African-American caddies-turned-players who despite Jim Crow laws and the lasting effects of racism built a rich and vibrant golf culture on a historic municipal course.
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For the guys at Muni, golf has been and will continue to be an essential part of their lives until they die.
Narrated by popular rock and country singer (and golfer) Darius Rucker, Muni is a documentary film of intimate and interwoven stories about the game of golf and life. Told by a collection of people who have played the Asheville, North Carolina municipal golf course for decades. The film gives voice to people who simply wanted to play the game, on a good course for a fair price.
Designed by legendary architect Donald Ross and built in the 1920’s Asheville’s Muni has always been a public course. But here, blacks were prohibited from playing openly until the 1950’s. Then, the caddies became the players, and a vibrant integrated golf culture grew at Muni, highlighted by the notable Skyview Golf Tournament. In it’s hey-day, beginning in 1960, the Skyview hosted the most prominent black golfers of the day working towards the PGA tour, and it continues today with a diverse and talented field.

[@tomrichardson9799]

What a great film! I’m 72 and grew up a poor white kid. My father was in the navy so I had access to play at the local military course on a monthly ticket of $7.50. I became a good golfer winning club,city,and, state championships. I always found golf to be a melting pot for all people. The best way to learn about another person was to see how they acted on a golf course. The biggest mistake golf made was back in the 80’s when everyone wanted to build the newest and toughest course in the area. Golf is supposed to fun. Build a fair course that everyone can play. Golfers want to have fun with their friends for a fair price and then come into the clubhouse have a few beers tell a few lies laugh and look for to meeting again without a high price tag.

[@madD8845]

I got my start on a Navy Course. MCBH Kaneohe Bay, They call poor mans Pebble Beach. Great Course

[@jameshagan2832]

There is a course near i live called buttonhole that is designed as a teaching course for juniors. It is a short par 3 course but it is so much fun to play. I will play it a few times in the spring to work on my short game and get yardages dialled in for my short clubs

[@dannyrand1733]

4:33 "There's something different every time you swing the club". Damn if that's not the truth, lol.

[@dmartins3531]

WOW!!! Simply the best thing I've watched in years. So much respect for these men. Thank you, Callaway Golf.

[@GolfRx]

To: Callaway Golf, You have not only earned respect, but won many hearts. Its a history lesson where the golf courses does not judge the golfer by his or her color, but the skill brought to challenge the golf course. Cheers to growing the game through history and compassion. -Love Golf

[@callawaygolf]

Appreciate the kind words Ken. Lets take the game to the next level!

[@jimgavin1726]

@@owenryan3868 Christ you’ve got a beef about this..

[@blahblahblah8003]

@@jimgavin1726 - Exactly...

[@jackwilner9271]

Some of the greatest players (and people) to ever play the game...I played with some of the best, Al Duhon, Raffe Botts, Jim Thorpe....Friends for life...memories forever...

[@bigbensarrowheadchannel2739]

Anybody dying to book a 3 day weekend in Asheville and go play this legendary track?? This is the coolest sports movie I've seen in 20 years.

[@lillagahnavich7700]

I moved to Asheville in 2010 and made my friend move down from New York to live with me....I ended up getting him back into golf (he was a semi-pro tennis player) and we lived 10 mins from this track...had no idea the history until seeing this...it's such a fun course.... Front nine is all built on the lower field and plays links style, the back nine goes up into the hills and offers play that I was not used to being from Charleston by the beach where everything is flat....great trip down memory lane. Especially when a (playoff hole) was lost by Chaser yanking a drive into the road and breaking a windshield haha...good times

[@matthew5684]

gonna be honest - this course is not one you want to travel to play. its in terrible shape

[@moosehook]

Reminds me of what Harvey Penick said, " if you read my book, you're my pupil and if you play golf, you're my friend...

[@roberttyson6657]

What an awesome documentary! Watched it last night on the Golf Channel and back to watch again after telling my golf buddies to look this up.

[@jimconner1028]

Thanks for this film. I've played there, more than once. It's a great track with a great vibe. Everyone welcome. NC had a lot of Muni courses back in the day but this one is probably the best. Mooresville track pretty good too.

[@Labgorilla]

Time flew by watching this. Beautiful. It would be an honour to share a course with these gents.

[@gloriataylor5951]

Congratulations to my class mate Paul bonesteel this was a great documentary on our African Americans I will be sharing this with done of my friends and our friends from high school great job Paul

[@Bgimpel7]

Billy seems like a helluva guy. This place is officially a bucket list course for me

[@ssgearhead]

Asheville born and raised. I learned this great game at Muni and 20 years later I still play a few times a month there. Always great to see Bax at his podium. I never knew this history and now I'm quite proud to call muni my home course. I'm due for a new set of sticks. I believe those new paradyms should do nicely. Thanks for doing this Callaway!

[@marksmith6331]

Huge golf fan and played a bunch of different sports and games. Golf is by far the top of Mt. Everest. Best game on the planet. This video was great. Thank you for putting this together.

[@johnpaul9606]

" Nothing beats you up like golf , just hammers you ! The next day it may kiss you on the cheek and you in totally in love again." Reminds me of my wife .

[@jr-xs9tf]

One has to have a certain masochistic side to love this game. Spank me, Titleist, I've been bad.

[@lildannefantom6195]

​@@jr-xs9tfsicko

[@gregorywalker8746]

Appreciated seeing this! I grew up caddying at a municipal golf course in Akron, Ohio, and my dad was an avid golfer and part of a Black golfers club call Tiretown Golf Club. They would have annual tournaments (which were big events in the 60's and 70's). This film brought back a lot of those memories. Glad to see this story being told, and there are many more like it. Similar events took place in Cleveland, Detroit and other cities in that region. It's an under-recognized part of our history with this sport.

[@edgaranderson3796]

That was AWESOME, Otis. Thanks for a PRIVILEGE to recover a part of our HISTORY.

[@israelmatthews5292]

phenomenal documentary!

[@jamessherrod1954]

Great documentary, watched on the Golf Channel tonight and was glad to see an old PVAMU Alum Jesse Allen featured a couple of times!

[@DrakeyDistiller]

Mr Raiford, explains perfectly why I play golf. In 5 words. I love our Munis in Edinburgh. Been playing for 49 years. What Mr Raiford said....

[@lindapompa4835]

That was just Great, Golf is Life,and Life is Great

[@ricospeedo]

I give these man amillion thumbs up !!!!

[@danw7987]

I grew up on a muni in Oceanside Ca this reminds me that at a country club it’s about status at a muni it’s about par ....well done Calloway !👍🏼

[@DWHarper62]

I've played most of my adult life at the San Clemente Muni (occasionally Oceanside too LOL) Muni golf courses are treasures that keep the game alive for everyone...

[@darrellludlow]

Beautiful documentary. Really captures the spirit of why we love the game.

[@markthegolfaddict9051]

Great stories. Makes me remember my teenage years working at my local muni.

[@dshedd41]

Fantastic film done by Callaway!

[@GodslaveRocks]

This is MY home golf course! I learned how to play golf at Muni as an Asheville native! My heart is bursting with pride, and I used to work with Keith Jarrett, went to school with Matt Bacoate's son, went to UNC Asheville with Pete McDaniel (who went on to write for Golf Magazine). Too many people I know in this video. But take some advice: Beware the 11th hole. It is the hardest hole I have ever played. The fairway is narrow and uphill, with steep slopes on either side. There are some great doglegs on the back nine, and 18 finishes with a downhill shot to a round green near the clubhouse.

[@jimheckert5383]

Great video. Thanks to all the people who were part of this group.

[@phoebethomas8962]

Beautiful documentary!!! Kudos to Paul Bonesteel for enlightening us about this rich history. Just added “The Muni” on my list of must play courses-It will be an honor.

[@footbowl8939]

Fantastic! Kudos to the gentlemen of the Skyview. Would we all be like that, what a world it would be.

[@wadeoden8464]

This was absolutely magnificent and made me so emotional thinking about the old guys I used to play with in Hawaii. This is kind of my ideal retirement scenario: playing golf with my friends. I have a friend (not a golfer) who lives in Asheville. I have an extra excuse to visit him now.

[@coachmcgraf]

Loved the story. I grew up in haw creek and learned to play on this course. Definitely going to get back to my roots of golf at "Muni".

[@ELCONDUCTOR]

The best doc I’ve watched this year.

[@mrmrsshepherd46]

That was an excellent documentary. It is one i could watch over and over. I have grown to like the people in it just listen to what great men they are, they didnt let people hold them back. Kudos to you!!!!

[@raeyearnd3260]

This reminds me of many of the great friends I made playing at the Muni in Galveston Texas,, thank you men for taking me in and teaching me so much,, of Golf and of Life.

[@lillagahnavich7700]

I moved to Asheville in 2010 and made my friend move down from New York to live with me....I ended up getting him back into golf (he was a semi-pro tennis player) and we lived 10 mins from this track...had no idea the history until seeing this...it's such a fun course.... Front nine is all built on the lower field and plays links style, the back nine goes up into the hills and offers play that I was not used to being from Charleston by the beach where everything is flat....great trip down memory lane. Especially when a (playoff hole) was lost by Chaser yanking a drive into the road and breaking a windshield haha...good times

[@marydonnaprather1995]

I don't even play golf, though my husband does, but I loved every second of this film. I grew up in Asheville, have driven by Muni my whole life, but didn't realize it's historical relevance. Also, the older gentlemen profiled in this documentary are some of the most charming individuals ever.

[@BombproofCraftsman]

Callaway, Please fund more projects like this. I find the course & club history much more engaging.

[@charlielemay2466]

Callaway should me mega proud of this. It's exactly what the game needs, people with a platform telling these stories. This is what can really help grow the game.

[@nathanaulenbach6997]

This was so well done and put together! I absolutely loved this story and clearly shows how golf needs to become more of an inclusive sport. I think the days of being private courses and only letting the "elite" into certain courses etc.. really should be evaluated. These guys were talking about how they don't see any young people in the game and i think a couple reasons are the costs are very high to play, stigma behind the game (especially if you're new to the gam and not very good) and all the extra rules with it with dress codes, private clubs ... times are changing and golf needs to follow suit. Because it truly is the best game in the world!

[@dylanharrington744]

I would love to play a round with any of these old fellas. Imagine the stories and laughs.

[@djdahndahlas]

You can still catch my father Harry Jeter there almost everyday...And he still gives lessons FOR FREE. Go see him. 💜

[@dylanharrington744]

I'm over in Wales, so not an option for me I'm afraid. Hope you are all safe and well though.

[@Left-Foot-Brake]

Imagine if you saw Harold Varner teeing it up at YOUR local club! Really enjoyed this video!

[@Poppo2468]

Outstanding..Beautiful..

[@TheOne_1969]

Love this film, amazing.

[@sharont1209]

One of the best documentaries I’ve watched in a long time with a great history lesson. Hats off to the producer of this documentary.

[@coophandluke3697]

I grew up playing Brentwood Golf Club in Jacksonville. It was a muni Came from a middle class home, and Jr's could play unlimited golf for 25$ a month! Many good players came out of there, including myself, eventually a 2 handicap. Course closed in 1975.. 1st tee took it over about 20 years ago, but couldn't use any of the original holes, too bad it was a Donald Ross course. Miss those days!!

[@jimgavin1726]

Great documentary. Great to see the old boys playing. Golf is a leveller. I’ve played golf in Scotland for 45 years and experienced similar issues in that the expense to play when I was younger, clubs were expensive and it was deemed as an elite sport. Thankfully things have changed in terms of elitism. I still feel it’s an expensive sport to start playing, but a great way to get out n about and have a laugh. Would love to play this course sometime..

[@andybenson8894]

Thank you so much for sharing this story

[@johnaugsburger6192]

Denver, Colorado muni golfer here. Thanks for putting this up.

[@altonrobinson8402]

This was a great watch.

[@andrewheather3519]

Love this, although it is sad to to see what they went through in the early days. Could definitely see the Strapped boys playing there. Wink Wink.

[@djdahndahlas]

My father kept a legal pistol in his golf bag, just in case. ;)

[@MDD1966]

I used to work at this course in the late 80’s, great old course! Played high school golf here as well.

[@lillagahnavich7700]

I moved to Asheville in 2010 and made my friend move down from New York to live with me....I ended up getting him back into golf (he was a semi-pro tennis player) and we lived 10 mins from this track...had no idea the history until seeing this...it's such a fun course.... Front nine is all built on the lower field and plays links style, the back nine goes up into the hills and offers play that I was not used to being from Charleston by the beach where everything is flat....great trip down memory lane. Especially when a (playoff hole) was lost by Chaser yanking a drive into the road and breaking a windshield haha...good times

[@aljernigan3083]

Thanks Billy for the good time's at the Skyview Open on behalf of ( Sweet Jaws ) Robert Jones and myself .

[@dessertman1181]

What a wonderful story I grew up on a golf course in North Florida and there was a lot of characters like there is at this golf course it was wonderful

[@robgreenspan9389]

Great film!

[@bobsofia68]

Great stuff right here, well done!!

[@GoArmy87]

This was inspirational, I loved the passion and never give up attitude. I will continue to play in honor of them, they are true trailblazers.

[@juanpatricio9204]

This is so great!

[@jacquestaulard3088]

Great show, well done, fun characters, real people. I know a few old timers out here in Cal, some of whom used to talk about the Muni. I had no idea what they were describing. Also, I wondered how Charlie Sifford, et.al., got their experience in. Plaudits to the producer, director, and all the crew. And to ERC, you are truly nuts with some of your projects, but you sure got this one for all Americans, golfers and the deprived non-golfers! Thanks you.

[@aking2903]

This was outstanding / overstanding!!!

[@phillenz6593]

Awesome story. History not many people know about golf but need to. They think Black and Golf and get "tiger woods" they dont get Jim Dent, Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder (who was named to be a honorary starter at the Masters in 2021 today) and so many more that they dont know of. Their story deserves to be told. Well Done Callaway Golf . I hope to see more in the future.

[@adatshhc]

Thanks for the history lesson.

[@scaldwell20]

Thanks for sharing 🙏🏾

[@alexrosado1729]

This makes me so happy ❤️

[@agardnerwv4]

This is awesome!!

[@michaelgreene8918]

Great Documentary! Inspiring and well done. Thank you

[@jmichael3648]

Wow, this is the most interesting sports story I have come across. So well done. A childhood friend of the family, Roger Camp, was the keeper at this course.

[@jimangelno1]

Was brought up playing my local muni . Went in to win 4 British Open’s, 2 Masters 1 pga and 7 US Opens, 85 tournaments world wide 31 course records and played in 7 Ryder cups

[@jguerrero8558]

A must watch documentary

[@abplusfive]

I love these men. God bless them!

[@donjohnson1596]

I’m right down the road in Greensboro definitely going to play this course soon!

[@bosswray54]

Same here. I’m in Greensboro and I have some buddy’s in Greenville SC. We are planning to meet up there and play soon.

[@fuji4202]

Great Documentary !!👍

[@mas2526]

Much respect! Well done!

[@benblack3780]

Fantastic!

[@elizabethjohnston8193]

I love being hammered by golf....I gave enjoyed the last yr since starting golf...

[@leslieclaytor6126]

Great short movie on a special course. I played Asheville muni in the late 90's while living in Atlanta. Made the drive up just to play the DJ Ross muni and it was well worth it. Maybe I'll drive up from Jacksonville to play in the Skyview one of these days. Keep on Swingin"

[@connorbatts5598]

i play a donald ross muni in Wilmington Nc... great memories!

[@RCLIFTOFFGuy]

Amazing story 💯❤🏌‍♀⛳

[@jadesmith6823]

Awesome 👍

[@rueb.8337]

Now this was some good content 💪🏾💪🏾 Great watch!!!!

[@johnreid6435]

Great watch 👍⛳️⛳️

[@jackd7494]

What a great documentary. I’d be honored to know any of these guys. Golf or no golf (but of course I want to play golf with them!).

[@djdahndahlas]

My father Harry Jeter is still there almost every day. And STILL gives free lessons. Go see him. 😎

[@chaz33xxx]

Cool documentary

[@DSmith4ChristKC]

Excellent watch! Black golf runs deep here in Kansas City, Mo too! Hit ‘em straight!!! 🏌🏾‍♂️

[@huntermcdowell3109]

These guys are a mans man !!!!

[@midnghtryder009]

My favorite line " Ain't no fun when the rabbit has the gun!" lol

[@thechado7868]

There always something special when you see or witness the begging of some kind of change that should have been the way things always should have been.

[@harrymitchell48]

Keep this going.. It's good medicine.....when you play the game we All struggle....does not matter who we are...period end of story

[@dbdors]

Simply an awesome story and very well done Callaway!!

[@ewojajohn9843]

What ah great story ,, Bless you Thank you Love you ,, started back playing golf again two and a half years ago and I moved to Hawaii trying to get as good at golf as I'm at shooting pool ,, long way to go however only 59 ,, so as long as I stay above the divot I got time ,, Aloha from Hawaii 🦎🌈🐢🦁☯️💚💛❤️🕉️🦉☪️🕊️🔯

[@CODextreme123]

I go to montreat college and play there all the time!!!!! I love it

[@jadesmith6823]

Why I love the game ❤️🙏

[@paulcoffland8673]

I love the gentleman who said the first time out, he shot his address number- 111.

[@Thedominicanway]

I would love to play with ol folks not for the knowledge of golf but for the knowledge and struggle of life....

[@jr-xs9tf]

My son played high school golf on this course.What they said about the back nine is very on spot.

[@areguapiri]

Great black golf history!!!

[@buttdreads]

14:24 PURE, what a player.

[@djp411]

I play one of the city courses every fri, sat. and sunday. Everyone in THIS film appeared to be avid golfers and not the 40% of my course's clientele that have no idea what they are doing but it's a good place to get drunk with their buddies..... no marshall, no starter, no rule enforcement whatsoever.... oh, and it's the home of 1st Tee .... Up until 5 years ago or so, it was mostly avid golfers too.... then they added foot golf to nine holes.... steadily downhill ever since.

[@aixmcduck9321]

This was swell!

[@sgassocsg]

America produces these gems to our royalty: muni, public schools, libraries, voting rights and the common man. We are royalty. We deserve the game of golf.