Blacks, Whites Approach Green in Ala.

Black leaders and white Shoal Creek Country Club officials apparently can see the green again after plans for the 1990 PGA Championship sliced into a thicket of racial discrimination claims.

An apology from Shoal Creek founder Hall Thompson and assurances that the all-white country club will not discriminate in its membership or guest policies drew commendations Thursday from black leaders.

“I think from this point we can go forward not only to make the PGA Championship the best event it can possibly be, but to make the greater Birmingham metropolitan area a better place for everyone to live,” said black City Councilman William Bell. “We have a long way to go, but at least we know the direction we need to head.”

A cloud formed over the 1990 Professional Golfers’ Assn. Championship, which will be played Aug. 9-12 at Shoal Creek, when Bell complained about the city’s paying $1,500 for an advertisement in the golf tournament’s program. A 1980 council resolution forbids city support of events at facilities that discriminate on race, creed, color or religion.

On June 21, the day after Bell’s complaint, Thompson was quoted in the Birmingham Post-Herald as saying the all-white club “would not be pressured” into accepting blacks.

He also was quoted as saying members of the club would feel uncomfortable if blacks were admitted. “That’s just not done in Birmingham,” he said in the story.

But in a letter signed Wednesday by Thompson at a Shoal Creek board of governors meeting, he said the comments were taken out of context.

“Regardless, those comments have now become the catalyst for continuing debate and condemnation of our community and its leaders,” Thompson said. “I truly and deeply regret that.

“I hereby apologize to those that took offense at those comments.”

Steve Bradley, an Alabama Power Co. executive who is directing promotion for the tournament at Shoal Creek, helped bring together the black leaders and Shoal Creek officials to discuss the problem. He said Thursday that it is “a difficult issue, certainly one that is emotional and has a long history to it.” But, he said, it is important “to recognize that good-faith efforts have been made.”

Thompson’s son, Mike Thompson, and Tom Hough, co-general chairmen of the PGA event, joined the news conference Thursday along with Bell, Bradley, Eddie Friend, who is president of the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce, City Council President Eddie Blankenship and the Rev. Abraham Woods, president of the Birmingham chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Blankenship, a black, said of Hall Thompson’s apology: “I think with that statement he has grown 10 feet tall.”

Mayor Richard Arrington told the City Council on Tuesday that the ad would not be purchased. But Bell on Thursday withdrew his objection to the city’s purchase of the ad.

Woods also said he will withdraw a threat to lead protests at the PGA. But he said protests could be considered again if Shoal Creek doesn’t at least try to seek out blacks as potential members.

“I’d like to see members of that group actively recruit black members. That is going to be the only way we can put this thing behind us,” Woods said.