By Lila Brown
The stars are aligning quite nicely to chart the way for many more historic firsts surrounding the 2023 U.S. Open with respect to the past and the state of the sport as of today in terms of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Two daughters of Black fathers who were avid golfers while coming of age exemplified the spirit of diversity when Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass sat alongside Los Angeles County Supervisor, Holly Mitchell as the pair were warmly welcomed by USGA officials and the dignitaries of the Los Angeles Country Club to honor the first U.S. Open returning to the city after a 75 year hiatus.
There hasn’t been a more prominent example of how to champion diversity within the business of sports than the USGA electing Fred Perpall, the first African-American to preside over the sport’s governing body now in its 129th year. He seeks to make a difference in the community bearing the goodness that he feels the sport brings. Efforts prompted those who wield considerable power and influence to put action behind corporate responsibility and public statements after calls for a more equitable socioeconomic contribution became the new expectation for delivered results.
The 123rd U.S. Open Championship will be held on Thursday, June 15th through Sunday, June 18, 2023 for the first time at the Los Angeles Country Club which hasn’t hosted a USGA championship since the Walker Cup Match in 2017. The USGA will also be bringing the championship experience to life for Los Angeles sports fans through its U.S. Open Showcase at Westfield Century City throughout the duration of the championship.
Efforts for Equity and Inclusion in Golf Gain Momentum
Meanwhile, as the City of Los Angeles continues to celebrate yet another first with its namesake private social club-one of the most exclusive memberships in the city finally decided to to open its course for tournament competition, the USGA is furthering another important community partnership. The non-profit organization is recognizing the importance of visionaries such as Maggie Hathaway, the African American actor, singer and activist who championed equality in golf, while also building a learning center and expanding programming for area juniors.
Fundraising efforts were led by local golf enthusiasts that comprises LA’s golf scene which demonstrates the importance of philanthropy through investments that positively impact the youth. The timing goes along with the city’s new leadership to propel a healthier future for the game. The USGA is collaborating with the community in four distinct areas, highlighted by a $1 million donation to restore the Maggie Hathaway Golf Course, a nine-hole, par-3 public facility operated by the County that provides thousands in the area with affordable, accessible golf.
In one of the most significant host community investments in U.S. Open history, the USGA is joining forces with the Southern California Golf Association (SCGA), The LACC, the County and several other organizations for donors to bring the project to life. Acclaimed course architect Gil Hanse will lead the restoration project.
It is widely known, the effects of climate change have drastically effected the weather surrounding Los Angeles with flooding despite a drought randomly catching residents off guard. Mayor Bass has noted the atmospheric river dropped on the region helps in some areas that suffer from drought, but also effects water conservation challenges. As unseasonable temperatures can no longer be ignored, there is a sense that all parties involved with the sport can present practical solutions.
In this case, the USGA continues to put its dollars towards making the organization a eco-friendlier partner with a $30 million commitment over the next 15 years to advance underutilized strategies and technologies that golf courses can use to economically reduce their use of water, a vital and increasingly regulated natural resource with near- and long-term cost and availability concerns. The work will focus on irrigation optimization, advanced conservation innovation and water sourcing and storage. This is vital to maintain the beauty that draws a unique experience from the North Course.
Since 1897, an association formally known as the Los Angeles Golf Club, had one cause which was to promote one of the newest sports to hit the sprawled region. In 1911, after outgrowing three locations and years of planning, the club bordering Beverly Hills officially opened. The grandeur of its clubhouse is reminiscent of the Greco-Romanesque architecture we see with the White House and gives the stately design a creation “The Masters” of the Augusta Nationals would be proud of. This distinct and deliberate charm makes this Southern California country club one of the rarest ever competed on within the championship series.
Its most recent renovations took 16 months to restore the 18-hole courses which was completed in 2015. The North Course was unveiled in 2010 after it was restored to its original design which opened for play in 1928. The LACC’s North Course will be set up at 7,421 yards and will play to a par of 35-35-70. The yardage for each round of the championship will vary due to curse setup and conditions.
The championship is open to any professional golfer and any amateur golfer with a Handicap not exceeding 1.4. This year’s registration has already accepted a record 10,187 entries which for the 11th consecutive year has exceeded 9,000 entries and just the second time entries have exceeded 10,000.
The U.S. Open is highly celebrated because of all the perks that bless the professional and amateur golfer. The top 10 finishers (and ties) are exempt into the following year’s U.S. Open. The top four finishers (and ties) are also invited to the following year’s Masters Tournament. For a rising talent, this kind of berth launched the careers of what became Tiger Woods who in 2002 won the Masters and the U.S.
Open titles in the same year-a feat not witnessed since Arnold Palmer before him in 1960 and Jack Nicklaus in 1972. The only other player to do this since Woods was Jordan Spieth in 2015. The 2023 purse has yet to be announced but last year’s indicator set the bar high at $17.5 million, the highest among golf’s major championships. The winner in 2022 earned $3.15 million.
The last time the U.S. Open was held in Los Angeles, it was played at The Riviera Country Club in 1948. Other benefits the winner receives are a U.S. Open exemption for the next 10 years and for the preceding five years invitations to the next Masters Tournaments, Open Championships, PGA Championships and Players championships. Winners will also received an exempt status on the PGA Tour for five years and the custody of the U.S. Open Trophy for one year, the Jack Nicklaus Medal and a replica trophy.
Other notable guests in attendance included NBA Legend and former Los Angeles Lakers player, James Worthy paired for a day of golf with ESPN SportsCenter anchor, Stan Verrett who frequently enjoys the sport during his free time. Those who joined the occasion for the media day access were also treated with a chance to meet USGA Executive leadership such as CEO Michael Whan, President Perpall, Richard Shortz who is Chairman of the 2023 U.S. Open Championship, and John Bodenhamer who is the Chief Championship Officer.
Los Angeles Country Club President, Gene Sykes were also amongst the brass that greeted Mayor Bass and Supervisor Mitchell. Other influential community leaders such as Frederick Terrell and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn and Mary Porter helped bring a sense of purpose that bringing everyone together builds a lasting legacy for many more generations to come.
