Samuel A. Barnes (Sam), a resident of Augusta, Georgia and a native of Monroe, Louisiana, started sketching and doodling as a preschooler.  Art has been one of his lifelong passions, arguably rivaling only his passion for the game of golf.

Teachers and faculty in elementary and high school vied for Sam's art support, and encouraged him to further develop his art talent.  Sam graduated from Augusta State University in 1971 with a B.A. degree in Art Education, and did further study at Georgia Military College.  He also studied Graphic Arts at Augusta Technical Institute, and Graphic Art Concepts and Publication Design at printing and multimedia technology workshops in Atlanta, GA and Washington, DC.

Sam served as a soldier in the US Army Signal Corps, and along with his telecommunications duties, wrote, designed and illustrated training and technical publications and other visual and graphics material.  After leaving the Signal Corps, Sam became a Department of Defense Civilian at Fort Gordon, Georgia.  There he continued to work in telecommunications.  He served as a training support illustrator, graphic designer, technical writer, and project officer, and as art director of the official Signal Corps magazine, The Army Communicator. 

Sam was responsible for the overall visual and conceptual integrity of the Army Communicator.  He also wrote and illustrated historical and technical articles, and designed and fabricated Signal Corps visual displays and exhibits.  Sam wrote the official Signal Corps Anthem Poem, I am the Signal Corps, and The Signal Soldier's Creed.  Both are still used throughout the US Army Signal Corps.  Throughout this tenure, Sam did freelance artwork and dabbled in poetry and creative writing.

Sam picked up the game of golf at Fort Gordon.  Over time he became a golf-a-holic: traveling from tournament to tournament, playing, and networking with golfers from all walks of life.  He is also an avid Black history buff.  In particular, Sam is deeply interested in history as it pertains to African Americans and the game of golf.  He reads and collects everything that he can about this subject.  Sam has personally met African American professional golfers Charlie Sifford, Calvin Peete, Jim Dent, Althea Gibson, Nate Starkes, Jim and Chuck Thorpe, Bobby Stobble, Charles Owens, Renee Powell, James Black, Walt Morgan, George Johnson, LaRee Sugg, and Tiger Woods.   

Sam is acutely aware that until recently there was not a significant amount of art or written material on the market showing the involvement of African Americans in golf.  This reality and these collective experiences have given Sam a sense of mission, and a point of view about golf and life, that he expresses through his art, poetry and writing.  He refers to this unique gift as his Art-itude!

Barnes has served in the following capacities in golf:

-Co-founder/President/Tournament Director
Masters City Golf Association
(Augusta, Georgia)

-Secretary - Interstate Golf Association
(States of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina)

-Staff Volunteer, Annual Bill Dickey East-West Golf Classic
( Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona)

-Tournament Staff- Jim Dent Pro-Am
(Augusta, Georgia)

-Tournament Director - Annual Paine College Golf Tournament
( Augusta, Georgia)

-Volunteer/Supporter - The First Tee of Augusta
(Augusta, Georgia)

-Instructor/Mentor - Masters City Junior Golf Program
(Augusta, Georgia)