Golf Tee- George Franklin Grant, 1888

There are too many cultural figures from African American history that get unnoticed. George Franklin Grant is one of them. George attended Harvard, just 5 years after the Civil War. Then, he became the first African American professor at Harvard, and later founded the Harvard Odontological Society.

He was an avid golfer, and this is where he made his lasting impact. Prior to George, golf balls were teed up on little mounds of sand that were provided in the tee boxes. Professor Grant saw the need for change, and invented the modern wooden golf tee.  The new Callaway Optiforce driver claims to make you drive the ball 20 yards further. They have nothing on George. After his invention of the golf tee, players were driving 50 yards longer.

Thanks George, you helped make golf the most frustrating sport in the world.