Shoal Creek preparing for US Junior Amateur

SHOAL CREEK, Ala. — Shoal Creek is gearing up to host the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, its first major event since the 1990 PGA Championship was marred by racial controversy.

The par-72 course in suburban Birmingham will play at 7,251 yards from July 21-26.

Ben Kimball of the United States Golf Association said Tuesday it will be the longest course in U.S. Junior Amateur history. He and others spoke at a news conference promoting the event.

It will be the first national tournament at Shoal Creek since 1990, when it drew controversy because of an all-white membership and a comment by founder Hall Thompson that Shoal Creek would never be pressured into accepting blacks as members.

Shoal Creek officials say the club now has four black members.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.