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Story by San Francisco Public Golf Alliance
In 1955 the Western States Golf Association – one of many Nation’s oldest and largest African American {golfing} organizations – held its inaugural championship event at Sharp Park. The host membership was San Francisco’s Bay Space Golf Membership, which in 1954 was a founding member of Western States, together with golf equipment from Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Phoenix, and three Los Angeles-based golf equipment.
Western States and its member golf equipment had been a part of a nationwide motion which gained power following World Conflict II and was symbolized by baseball’s Jackie Robinson, to finish racial discrimination in sports activities and public recreation. At the moment, the PGA of America had a “Caucasians Solely Rule,” which it famously invoked within the Bay Space on the 1948 Richmond Open to exclude Los Angeles professionals Invoice Spiller and Ted Rhodes (picture beneath), who had each certified for Richmond by making the reduce within the previous Los Angeles Open.
This provoked Spiller, a railroad baggage porter at Los Angeles’ Union Station, to guide a 13-year authorized battle with the PGA during which he enlisted Rhodes and different African American golfers, together with boxing champion Joe Louis and Charlie Sifford. After repeatedly breaking its guarantees to combine, the PGA in 1961 lastly dropped its Caucasians Solely Rule and admitted Sifford as its first African American member — however solely after then-California Legal professional Normal Stanley Mosk threatened to ban all PGA tournaments in California, at each private and non-private programs. Mosk later grew to become a California Supreme Court docket Justice, and Sifford in 2004 was inducted into the World Golf Corridor of Fame.
The PGA admitted Spiller and Rhodes as members in 2009 – however solely after each had died. By 2009, Tiger Woods had received the Masters Event and the PGA Championship 4 occasions apiece and the U.S. and British Open Championships 3 times every. In 2012 former U.S. Secretary of State and Stanford Provost Condoleezza Rice was one of many first two ladies admitted as members of the Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership, residence of the Masters Event.
By 2022, Western States Golf Affiliation has grown to over 30 member golf equipment, together with ladies’s golf equipment, in Washington, Oregon, Northern and Southern California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Texas. Additionally in 2022 Tiger Woods will enter the World Golf Corridor of Fame as a brand new member.
Tiger Woods and Charlie Sifford on the 2009 Bridgestone Invitational
From CBS Sports activities: “Tiger Woods on a life without Charlie Sifford: ‘I probably wouldn’t be here'”
“Charlie Sifford was a hell of a pioneer on the earth of golf and on Tuesday he handed away on the age of 92. This was only a few months after President Obama awarded Sifford with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.On Wednesday Tiger Woods paid his respects. “It has been powerful. Very powerful,” mentioned Woods. “He’s like my grandpa that I by no means had. And it has been a protracted evening and it may be a protracted few days.”
For extra of this story, see “One Man’s Mission,” Al Barkow, Golf Digest, Jan. 7, 2008
“In 1960 Spiller was caddieing at Hillcrest CC for an outdated buddy, Harry Braverman, who requested why Spiller was not instructing or enjoying the event circuit. Spiller defined the tour’s restricted entry to blacks. Braverman really helpful Spiller inform it to California lawyer normal Stanley Mosk, who he thought would lend a supportive ear. He did. Mosk, who would ultimately sit on the California Supreme Court docket, instructed the PGA of America that if it didn’t amend its Caucasians-only clause it couldn’t stage tournaments on California’s public programs. At the moment there have been some 9 occasions held yearly in California, together with tour occasions and affiliation sectional tournaments — virtually all on public programs. The PGA’s preliminary response was that it will then play on personal programs. Mosk mentioned he would put a cease to that, as nicely, together with the 1962 PGA Championship, which was scheduled for Hillcrest CC. What’s extra, Mosk contacted state attorneys normal across the nation, telling them of the scenario, and acquired constructive responses in virtually each occasion. Because of this, in November 1961, the PGA of America quietly expunged the Caucasians-only clause.”
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