The PGA of America is renaming its Horton Smith Award after a review of history revealing that Smith, a Springfield-native, defended the Caucasian-only membership clause when he served as PGA president in the 1950s.
The PGA of America board voted to rename it the PGA Professional Development Award. It honors a PGA member for outstanding contributions to professional education.
The award, which had been presented annually since 1965, was named after Smith, a two-time Masters Champion, including the inaugural tournament, who served as PGA President from 1952-54. Smith also was a defender of the “Caucasian-only” membership clause, which, according to the PGA of America, “was regrettably included in the PGA Bylaws from 1934-61.