1990 — THE CREEK CRACKS

Shoal Creek Country Club,
Birmingham, Ala.
Winner: Wayne Grady

In 1990, Shoal Creek was an all-white club whose founder, Hall Thompson, declared that his club wouldn't allow black members. Black organizations threatened to picket and tournament sponsors withdrew $2 million in commercials from ABC and ESPN. Shoal Creek's response? It gave African-American insurance executive Louis J. Willie an honorary membership that week and waived the $35,000 initiation fee. Augusta National followed suit, adding an African-American member later that year.