The Fans, the Fans, the Fans; The Pitfalls of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Polices
After everything was said and done, the Europeans were crowned victorious at Bethpage Black. Not only did they retain the Cup, but they also won the matches 15 to 13 points.
The Americans mounted a comeback in Sunday singles matches, but they were climbing a very steep mountain due to their poor play on Friday and Saturday, and in the end, it was not enough to beat the Europeans.
Listening to the pundits on the radio and television, I knew the Monday morning quarterbacking was coming, and the blame game was in full force. I am sure there are many places to look at and assign blame, but the talk of the town has been: the fans.
Sure, the fans were obnoxious, and their behavior was unacceptable, but who is it to blame for this?
The three-letter acronym nobody wants to talk about: DEI
The USGA, the PGA Tour, the PGA of America, and the DPWT, have been on a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion run since Covid and after Covid. They wanted to grow the game while sacrificing the sanctity of the game.
They wanted more people on the golf courses, regardless of whether they knew the game or cared about learning the game. As long as golf course operators were making money, these governing bodies didn’t care about the end result.
Sell lots of beer and hotdogs, forget about dress codes, blast as much music as you want, do not repair divots, don’t know the rules? No problem!
I see this every day at my public course. The DEI policies implemented by these bodies have ruined the game of golf, and for what?
If they want to blame the fans for their lack of decorum at Bethpage Black, they need to start by looking at themselves in the mirror. They created these fans through their DEI initiatives.
By bending the rules in the name of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, they have created an uneducated fan base. This new influx of fans and players see golf as a Saturday evening barbeque and do not care one bit about the history of the game. To them, it is nothing but a social activity.
When traveling in Germany, I learned that in order to be able to play golf, players need to apply for a permit, and they need to demonstrate their knowledge of the game before getting a permit. Sure, it sounds draconian, but the more I see the buffoonery and tomfoolery in golf courses across America, the more I wish we had such a thing.
I applaud golf course operators who still enforce dress codes, pace of play, and on-course behavior.
Sacrificing the game for a dollar or for a social score is not only pathetic but an insult to those who see golf as a game of honor and respect.
So, next time the PGA of America or the golf pundits want to place the blame on the fans for their behavior, remember, you created that monster.