The United States Golf Association responds to the resignation of Dr. Calvin Sinnette and Jeffrey Sammons, Ph.D., and the Open Letter from, former USGA Howard Creed Fellow Dr. Cedrick Smith.
“We are happy to share our thoughts on the letters, as we have done publicly since June.
During his presidential campaign, Mr. Trump has made some remarks that are at odds with our belief that golf should be welcoming and inclusive for all. We have reiterated for more than a year that we do not share his views, and that is still true. With the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open less than a year away, our focus is still on conducting the best championship we can for the players, the spectators, the fans, and the volunteers. We welcome everyone to attend, and to celebrate the talents of the international field who represent the very best in women’s golf.
As for Dr. Sammons, Dr. Sinnette, and Dr. Smith, we respect their views. Dr. Sammons and Dr. Sinette have resigned as members of the USGA Museum Committee. Dr. Sammons and Dr. Sinnette made exemplary contributions to our efforts to collect and preserve the rich history of African American golf and we’re truly saddened by their resignations. That said, we understand and respect their personal decisions, and we remain committed to the important work of celebrating the stories of African American pioneers in golf.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to comment.
Janeen Driscoll
Director, Public Relations
United States Golf Association
77 Liberty Corner Road
Far Hills, NJ 07931
(908) 326-1978
