The Secretive Golf Club Finally Opening Its Doors for the U.S. Open
Los Angeles Country Club is preparing to host the U.S. Open, over 100 years after the club was first established. The private Californian club, which for decades refused membership to Jews and only admitted its first black member in the early 1990s, has only opened its doors to non-members in recent years. Since then, it has become a landmark golfing venue that is described by the Golf Digest as “more private than Augusta National.” The club’s U.S. Open debut follows the 2017 Walker Cup and marks the culmination of significant restoration work by renowned course designers Gil Hanse and Geoff Shackelford.
Los Angeles Country Club: An Accidental Enclave
The Los Angeles Country Club was established in the late 1890s and was, initially, a relatively inconspicuous venue surrounded by rural farmland. However, the club today is situated in one of the country’s busiest cities and is less known for its golfing facilities than for the barriers it put up to exclude particular groups of people from membership. Despite this, the course has remained a magnificent venue that has garnered a reputation for being one of the most exclusive clubs in the world.
The Club’s Isolation and its Belated Opening to Non-Members
Los Angeles Country Club is famed for rejecting offers to host the U.S. Open, with club elders being intent on preserving the club’s privacy and being highly selective about the members they admitted. It was only in the early 2000s that women were allowed to play on the course, and minority groups have only been welcome more recently. This has helped to raise the club’s profile, but it has still maintained its status as an exclusive club for the wealthy and well-connected.
A U.S. Open Course as You’ve Never Seen Before
Many golfing experts describe Los Angeles Country Club as a truly unique course, with its stark natural beauty and rustic character setting it apart from more genteel venues like Augusta National. Los Angeles’ barranca and jagged bunkers are visible throughout the course, making it a challenging experience for professional golfers. In the lead-up to the U.S. Open, the club has undergone almost constant maintenance work, with Gil Hanse and Geoff Shackelford being enlisted to oversee the restoration work.
A Highly Exclusive Club That Has Managed To Get Past Its Discriminatory Heritage
Despite its long-held reputation for exclusivity and discrimination, the Los Angeles Country Club has in recent years become something of a benefactor due to the lucrative sponsorship deals associated with hosting the U.S. Open. However, it is important to recognize the significant steps that the club has taken to address issues of discrimination. Women’s groups have called for greater inclusion, and the club has welcomed a diverse range of members in recent years.
The Backstory of a Prejudiced Golfing Environment
Like other golfing venues, the Los Angeles Country Club’s history is intertwined with the history of American social injustice. The club has been accused of being one of the most exclusionary of elite golfing venues, with reports that Jews were turned away from membership because of their faith, African-Americans were not admitted until the early 1990s and that women were traditionally required to play in dresses or skirts.
A Center of Urban Golfing Innovation
Despite its heritage, Los Angeles Country Club has been an influential and innovative golfing venue that has helped to drive advances in urban golfing. Many golfers describe the club as being critical in driving forward the evolution of golfing within urban spaces. The club’s natural beauty, coupled with its focus on diversity and inclusivity, has made it a destination of choice for the more progressive elements of the golfing world.
A Star-Studded Club with a Troubling Past
Los Angeles Country Club has a long history of attracting notable golfers, wealthy businessmen, and celebrities. The club has hosted exhibitions and events featuring the likes of Bing Crosby and Tiger Woods. However, the club’s history of discrimination has led it to become something of a pariah among more liberal golf organizations.
The Opening of the Club To Non-Members
The opening up of Los Angeles Country Club to non-members has proven to be a source of controversy, with long-term members arguing that it risks diluting the club’s character and exclusivity. However, the increased attention brought by hosting major events has helped to bring the club to the public’s attention and made it an integral part of the golfing conversation.
The Challenge of Hosting the U.S. Open
The U.S. Open is one of the most challenging events in golf, with courses needing to be rigorously maintained, and players needing to be at the top of their game. This has been particularly challenging for Los Angeles Country Club, given its status as a private club that has only recently opened its doors to the wider public. However, with the club’s experienced management and world-class restoration work, the event is expected to be a great success.
The Significance of the U.S. Open for Los Angeles County Club
The U.S. Open is a significant event in the golfing calendar, and it is rare for any club to have the opportunity to host the event. For the Los Angeles County Club, the hosting of the event marks a turning point in the club’s history, demonstrating that it is now an important player in the wider golfing community.
Conclusion
The Los Angeles County Club has come a long way since it first opened its doors just over a century ago. Though the club has a troubled past, with many groups being excluded from membership for decades, it is now emerging as a more diverse and inclusive golfing venue. This year’s U.S. Open marks a significant step forward for the club, as it becomes the center of attention for golfers from around the world.
FAQs
What is the Los Angeles County Club?
The Los Angeles County Club is a private Californian golfing venue that has undergone significant restoration work to become one of the most unique courses in the world.
What is the U.S. Open?
The U.S. Open is an annual golf tournament that is one of the four major events in the sport, featuring the world’s best golfers and some of the most challenging courses.
Why has Los Angeles County Club faced criticism in the golfing world?
Los Angeles County Club has been criticized for its long-standing implications of exclusivity and discrimination, but it has also made significant steps to become a more diverse venue in recent years.
What challenges has Los Angeles County Club faced in hosting the U.S. Open?
The club’s limited experience with hosting major events, as well as its need to maintain its exclusivity while opening its doors to the wider public, have made hosting the U.S. Open a challenging event.
What progress has been made toward more diverse and inclusive golfing venues?
In recent years, many golfing organizations have made significant steps toward greater inclusivity, particularly in promoting the sport among minority groups and women.