The Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America), founded in 1916, has undergone significant transformations and faced numerous challenges throughout its history. From its initial mission to elevate the standards of golf professionals and grow the game, the organization has navigated issues of inclusivity, internal disputes, and the evolving landscape of professional golf. These milestones and challenges have shaped the PGA of America into
the influential body it is today, representing over 30,000 members and continuing its work in the sport.
Early Inclusivity Struggles: The "Caucasian-Only" Clause
One of the most significant and regrettable chapters in the PGA of America's history involves its discriminatory membership policies. From 1934 until November 1961, the association maintained a "Caucasian-only" clause within its bylaws. This exclusionary rule prevented non-white golfers from becoming members, reflecting broader societal prejudices of the era. The clause was a stark barrier to entry for many talented professionals and stood in direct opposition to the idea of growing the game for all.
The pressure to remove this discriminatory clause intensified, particularly in the early 1960s. In 1960, the PGA had voted to retain the clause, drawing the ire of California Attorney General Stanley Mosk. Mosk threatened to shut down the PGA's operations within California unless the clause was rescinded. This legal and public pressure ultimately led to the amendment of the PGA's constitution, removing the "Caucasian-only" clause in November 1961. The controversy even impacted tournament scheduling; the 1962 PGA Championship, originally slated for Brentwood Country Club in Los Angeles, was moved to Aronimink in Philadelphia due to the ongoing dispute.
The Great Divide: Formation of the PGA Tour
The late 1960s marked another pivotal moment for the PGA of America, leading to a significant restructuring of professional golf in the United States. An increase in revenue, largely driven by expanded television coverage, created a dispute between touring professionals and the PGA of America. The touring players sought larger prize purses, while the PGA of America desired to allocate more funds to its general fund to support the growth of golf at the local level, often through club professionals.
This friction escalated following the PGA Championship in July 1968, where several leading tour professionals voiced dissatisfaction with the tournament venue and the high number of club professionals in the field. The growing discontent culminated in August 1968 with the formation of a new entity: American Professional Golfers, Inc. (APG), an organization independent of the PGA of America, created by the tournament players. After several months of negotiations, a compromise was reached in December. The tour players agreed to disband the APG and form the PGA "Tournament Players Division." This new division was designed to be fully autonomous, overseen by a 10-member Tournament Policy Board comprising four tour players, three PGA of America executives, and three outside business executives. This division eventually hired its own commissioner and was renamed the "PGA Tour" in the mid-1970s, marking a clear separation between the organization representing club professionals and the entity managing professional tournaments.
Expanding Inclusivity: Women in the PGA
While the "Caucasian-only" clause was removed in 1961, another significant barrier to membership persisted for decades: gender. Women were not permitted to be members of the PGA of America until 1977. This change marked a crucial step towards greater inclusivity within the organization, allowing female golf professionals to join the ranks and contribute to the association's mission. The integration of women into the PGA of America reflected broader societal shifts and a growing recognition of women's roles in professional sports.
Leadership Controversies and Modern Challenges
Even in more recent times, the PGA of America has faced leadership challenges and controversies. In October 2014, PGA President Ted Bishop was fired after making "unacceptable" and "insensitive gender-based" statements. Bishop had referred to golfer Ian Poulter as a "lil' girl" in response to Poulter's criticism of Ryder Cup captaincy. More recently, in 2026, Don Rea Jr. was removed from his presidency 18 months into his term by the board of directors. This removal followed his downplaying of vulgar fan behavior directed at the European team during the 2025 Ryder Cup. These incidents highlight the ongoing scrutiny and evolving standards of conduct expected from leaders within prominent sports organizations, underscoring the PGA of America's continuous journey to uphold its stated values and maintain its reputation in the public eye.
