Bottom Of The Barrel

Learn English or Pack Your Bag

The LPGA is adopting a policy that will require its member golfers to speak English or face suspension. All players who have been on the tour for two years could be suspended if they fail to pass an oral evaluation of their English proficiency starting at the end of the 2009 season, while new members will be required to pass the proficiency evaluation immediately. Current LPGA membership includes 121 foreign players from 26 countries, 45 from South Korea. LPGA deputy commissioner Libba Galloway says this new rule "is not meant to be punitive in any way. There are very few players who don't speak English. We don't think suspensions will happen, but if they do, we're not going to say, 'Boom, go home and try again next year.' We'll work with them on identifying areas for improvement." While I can understand the tour's point, I'm not sure requiring the golfer to speak English will in any way make their product more marketable or profitable.

On the other hand maybe the message of English is good for the sponsors has been lost on some people. When asked about the new rule, LPGA State Farm tournament director Kate Peters said "This is an American tour." She continued by saying that it is "important for sponsors to be able to interact with players and have a positive experience." So which is it? I believe the first is overshadowing the second in many peoples mind so let me offer these two facts:

1. The LPGA stands for Ladies Professional Golf Association not LPG of America
2. The 2008 schedule includes a total of 37 stops, 25 in the US and 12 on foreign soil

With 32.4% of the stops outside the US, I am hard pressed to consider the LPGA tour an American tour. I guess if the tour really wants things to be fair, then requiring the golfers to learn Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese, Mandarin and English would be fine by me. But who says sports is fair.

Labels: Sports

posted by TheWino @ 12:58 PM