June 14, 2016
Mr. Mike Davis
Executive Director
United States Golf Association
77 Liberty Corner Road
Far Hills, NJ 07931
Dear Mr. Davis:
With a sense of pride and personal satisfaction in December 2011, I deposited in the USGA Museum a sizeable amount of golf material relating to African Americans that was collected over the years. It was my intention to deposit the remainder of my not insubstantial files and memorabilia to the Museum at such time when I no longer felt a need for the material to remain in my possession.
Also over the following years, I have encouraged others to deposit their collections of like material to the Museum and I have offered opinions to the Museum staff on matters pertaining to greater racial diversity in our beloved sport. In the light of recent developments, however, I have decided to reexamine my relationship with USGA.
When I learned some months ago that USGA intended to hold the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, I was appalled and infuriated. I drafted a letter to you expressing my concerns. But after many personal hours of agonizing deliberations, I decided to withhold action pending further developments. As it is now abundantly clear that USGA has no intention to alter its course, I am compelled to state my position. Additional forbearance would be hypocrisy.
The organization’s decision seems to be governed by a warped notion of fiduciary rectitude rather than a sense of moral probity. Pious pronouncements about “inclusion”, “broader access”, and “disparities”, ring hollow when USGA is forced to confront vexing challenges. Unless USGA changes the venue for the 2017 event and severs its relationship with a blatant racist and misogynist, I have no alternative but to relinquish my association with the organization.
I request that you share the contents of this letter with members of the Executive Committee and senior members of the administrative staff.
With bitter disappointment and profound disenchantment.
Calvin H. Sinnette, M.D.
Dr. Calvin Sinnette is the author of Forbidden Fairways: African Americans and the Game of Golf and Emeritus Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Howard University College of Medicine.
READ USGA RESPONSE HERE
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