The Bermuda Professional Golfers Association (BPGA) will be hosting a Golf Tournament to honor the late Rogers Outerbridge, an iconic figure in local golf history along with his wife Lillian.
Scott Roy BPGA President said, “The name Rogers Outerbridge will finally be honored by the Bermuda PGA during a Pro Am scheduled to be held in April 2019.
“The late Rogers Outerbridge is among the iconic figures of Bermuda’s golf development. In the late 1960’s and 1970’s Rogers, together with his late first wife Lillian, held numerous monthly golf tournaments with an organization named Pro Am & Juniors which attracted golfers from all over Bermuda and visitors from the USA.
“Most notable was Golf Pro Bill Bishop from Philadelphia PGA Section, Mr. Lambeth from Gainesville, Florida, retired US Colonel Robert Faught and others.
“However, it was his annual Rogers Outerbridge Grand Slam that was the local golf tournament with the largest participation, featuring Bermudian golfers of all races, genders and ages. In 1971, with the availability of Port Royal Golf Course, the tournament was oversubscribed, and attracted more than 200 golfers on both Saturday and Sunday in January.
“Rogers Outerbridge was a personable man with a bubbly personality and with his wife Lillian, an astute administrator, the pair made the ideal golf team.
“It is important to appreciate the time context of Rogers Outerbridge’s contribution to golf in Bermuda. Pre 1967, golf was rigidly segregated in Bermuda. Rogers was among the golfers who played out of Ocean View Golf Course, the only golf course where a black person could golf.
Granddaughter Gloria Maria Hayward also reflected on what her Grandfather meant to the sport locally.
