Shoal Creek Bids to Be Host of Open
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Shoal Creek, at the center of the racial controversary that led to a change in the way future tournament sites will be selected, has bid to be the host of the 1996 U.S. Open.
“They’re not the only club that’s asked for that year,” Robert T. Sommers, U.S. Golf Assn. official, said Sunday, but did not reveal the other clubs.
The Shoal Creek controversy, before the PGA Championship, was ignited by Hall Thompson’s statement that the club he founded would not be pressured into accepting black members.
Shoal Creek awarded an honorary membership to Louis Willie, a black Birmingham executive, and derailed plans of demonstrations.
Sommers said the controversy would not affect the decision.
The PGA Tour announced this week that clubs selected as future sites for tournaments must have open membership practices. U.S. Open sites have been selected through 1995.
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