English Mandatory on the LPGA

[Shivas Irons]

This new rule could have some interesting ramifications if someone wishes to challenge it.

http://www.tsn.ca/golf/story/?id=247...headlines_main

[Hacker]

This new rule could have some interesting ramifications if someone wishes to challenge it.

http://www.tsn.ca/golf/story/?id=247...headlines_main

I'm not saying that I'm for it or against it, but I'm wondering how you could challenge it I would think that the LPGA is free to create and enforce its own "rules". If an individual decides that they don't like the rules, they can choose NOT to play on that tour

[LobWedge]

I'm not saying that I'm for it or against it, but I'm wondering how you could challenge it I would think that the LPGA is free to create and enforce its own "rules". If an individual decides that they don't like the rules, they can choose NOT to play on that tour

I can easily see a (U.S.) constitutional challenge. The ACLU will be all over this. I'm not saying they'll win, but you can bet they'll try.

BTW - Ms. Peters is wrong. The Tour may be headquartered in the U.S., but it is an international tour with events held in many countries.

[LobWedge]

Man, the more I think about this, the more angry I get.
Reading between the lines you get the impression that Tour brass are ** off about so many non-Americans (read Asians) doing so well that they figure they need a way to put the screws to them. Shameful.

[Hacker]

Man, the more I think about this, the more angry I get.
Reading between the lines you get the impression that Tour brass are ** off about so many non-Americans (read Asians) doing so well that they figure they need a way to put the screws to them. Shameful.

Interesting......I'm seeing it as the sponsors of the tournies are getting annoyed that they can't use the Champions as spokeswomen for their services/products because they don't speak English. I'm sure that if the Asians could speak English it wouldn't be an issue. I really see this as a language thing as opposed to an ethnicity issue

[LobWedge]

Interesting......I'm seeing it as the sponsors of the tournies are getting annoyed that they can't use the Champions as spokeswomen for their services/products because they don't speak English. I'm sure that if the Asians could speak English it wouldn't be an issue. I really see this as a language thing as opposed to an ethnicity issue

Either way, it stinks.

[justsomeguy]

I'm not saying that I'm for it or against it, but I'm wondering how you could challenge it I would think that the LPGA is free to create and enforce its own "rules". If an individual decides that they don't like the rules, they can choose NOT to play on that tour

I seem to recall that the PGA Tour was forced to make accommodations for a golfer with a disability, so they do not have carte blanche in this area. I'm sure it will be challenged as a form of discrimination under the US Constitution and/or various US labour laws. I'm sure if the NHL, NBA or MLB tried to bring in such a rule there would a MAJOR stink about it...

[Kilroy]

Or they can make a major stink about it.

[mpare]

The US players who occasionally visit Japan to play for very big dollars should have to pass a proficiency test in Japanese.

[Hacker]

Check out the LPGA schedule....the vast majority of official events are in Engkish speaking countries

[LobWedge]

Check out the LPGA schedule....the vast majority of official events are in Engkish speaking countries

And...?

[Kilroy]

Players who don't speak English just are not marketable in North America. This is a problem for the LPGA it seems.

This will likely be hotly contested. I expect it will be fought on the front of racism, when it's really about $ponsors wanting $poke$eople who $peak engli$h. They won't stick around for the outcome if this gets ugly. They will depart for less controversial waters and take their money with them. Since the move is to keep the sponsors happy, this could be one big backfire in the making.

This is a horrible policy that I expect will ultimately hurt the LPGA, just when they seemed to be getting a bit more attention.

[Hacker]

Players who don't speak English just are not marketable in North America. $ponsors wanting $poke$eople who $peak engli$h.

I think you've captured it perfectly there

[sensfan63]

Players who don't speak English just are not marketable in North America. This is a problem for the LPGA it seems.

This will likely be hotly contested. I expect it will be fought on the front of racism, when it's really about $ponsors wanting $poke$eople who $peak engli$h. They won't stick around for the outcome if this gets ugly. They will depart for less controversial waters and take their money with them. Since the move is to keep the sponsors happy, this could be one big backfire in the making.

This is a horrible policy that I expect will ultimately hurt the LPGA, just when they seemed to be getting a bit more attention.

Bob Weeks has a blurb in his blog on Scoregolf.com, and I think he puts it perfectly: "It's a strong move."

The LPGA has struggled to create a name for itself in the marketplace, and now you have arguably the greatest player in its history, and a very marketable one at that, set for retirement. As everyone is saying, this is about sponsorship dollars, no question.

IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT?

The LPGA is a business, and thus has the right to run its business as it sees fit. If you started a company that did the majority of its business in the US, would you hire someone who couldn't speak English as your media spokesperson?

Step outside the sickening bubble of PC that envelops Canada, and realize that this is the type of thing that society needs. You want something? Go get it, but don't say you have a RIGHT to it simply because you exist.

[LobWedge]

Bob Weeks has a blurb in his blog on Scoregolf.com, and I think he puts it perfectly: "It's a strong move."

The LPGA has struggled to create a name for itself in the marketplace, and now you have arguably the greatest player in its history, and a very marketable one at that, set for retirement. As everyone is saying, this is about sponsorship dollars, no question.

IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT?

The LPGA is a business, and thus has the right to run its business as it sees fit. If you started a company that did the majority of its business in the US, would you hire someone who couldn't speak English as your media spokesperson?

Step outside the sickening bubble of PC that envelops Canada, and realize that this is the type of thing that society needs. You want something? Go get it, but don't say you have a RIGHT to it simply because you exist.

A. Weekes is a tool, and always has been.
B. There's a difference between "strong business sense" and trampling on someone's basic human rights.

[BillD]

Since when is playing being priveledged and talented enough to play on the LPGA Tour a "basic human right" ?

[mjf]

B. There's a difference between "strong business sense" and trampling on someone's basic human rights.

Playing golf on the LPGA Tour is a basic human right now? Where do I sign up!

[LobWedge]

Since when is playing being priveledged and talented enough to play on the LPGA Tour a "basic human right" ?

Playing golf on the LPGA Tour is a basic human right now? Where do I sign up!

HELLO! English only, remember? It's got nothing to do with playing ability.

[jvincent]

Playing golf on the LPGA Tour is a basic human right now? Where do I sign up!

I think you need to have your plumbing altered first.

On the positive side, you hit driver further than all the ladies.

[Shivas Irons]

As everyone is saying, this is about sponsorship dollars, no question.
IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT?

Definitely not, but the more appropriate move would have been to offer free English language training to any player that wished to partake. This is going to be a PR disaster for the LPGA.

[Kilroy]

It's the strongest pro tour for the women. If they qualify on their skills and talent they should be allowed to play, as they have been until now. It might be appropriate to help them learn English to enhance their marketability to sponsors, but that should be enough.

[Golfbum]

It's the strongest pro tour for the women. If they qualify on their skills and talent they should be allowed to play, as they have been until now. It might be appropriate to help them learn English to enhance their marketability to sponsors, but that should be enough.

Which in my opinion is exactly what the LPGA is asking for. Basic English skills so the members of the tour can give interviews, Thank their sponsors, talk to their Pro Am partners (who pay heavily to play with a member of the tour)

I agree with the fact that employers have the right to dictate their employees language skills. I would not be hired by a French speaking firm since I can not speak a word in French. So no matter how talented I am I would be of no use to that firm.

IMO it would be a benefit for the foreign players to learn how to communicate in English. After all the majority of the LPGA events are held in North America. The players are traveling and living in the United States where English is the main language spoken.

It seems to me the Koreans or anyone else would be better off being able to speak some English while spending the amount of time they do in USA.

[rancherJ]

Before she join the LPGA tour Lorena Ochoa had a 10 year -- $1 million per year contract with Samsung. Do anybody think that she needs the LPGA to survive... As an athlete you want to join the LPGA (not for the $$) but for the competition

She got that contract because she was going to be playing on the Tour.
and yeah those ladies are there for the "competition" (not the $$)

[smithers40]

I see exactly where they are coming from with this rule. It is ridiculous that all these players come from all over the world to play "mostly" in North America, take the greatly higher purses that the LPGA offers in recent years due to sponsorships, and not have the courtesy to learn the language so that the sponsors can use the players as a spokesperson or at least get a decent post game interview. Its been said before, if you don't want to learn the language, don't play. It's that simple. I'm sure they are not asking these girls to be able to write a novel in english, just be able to say "I had a good round today, I'd like to thank the sponsors and LPGA for running a great tournament, thank you" To me it doesn't sound like that much to ask.

[mpare]

It's presumptuous to make the pejorative claim that the non-English speaking players have not had "the courtesy to learn the language ..." You assume that they have not been trying to learn English. Is there any evidence of that? Also, the legitimate commercial objective that the Tour appears to be pursuing could just as easily been achieved with a lot more finesse and without the need to hold the threat of suspension over the heads of its players. That's why many have reacted with annoyance. It has nothing to do with political correctness, and everything to do with the obvious lack of wisdom, and compassion on the part of the Tour leadership. If this was so important an issue that it merited a draconian measure to ensure compliance, then why was it not announced by Commissioner Bivens?

... It is ridiculous that all these players come from all over the world to play "mostly" in North America, take the greatly higher purses that the LPGA offers in recent years due to sponsorships, and not have the courtesy to learn the language so that the sponsors can use the players as a spokesperson or at least get a decent post game interview. ...

[justsomeguy]

I see exactly where they are coming from with this rule. It is ridiculous that all these players come from all over the world to play "mostly" in North America, take the greatly higher purses that the LPGA offers in recent years due to sponsorships, and not have the courtesy to learn the language so that the sponsors can use the players as a spokesperson or at least get a decent post game interview.

I guess that might have some validity if you only wanted to be the regional pro golf tour for North America. But if you want to be the top woman's tour period - featuring the best female golfers in the world - than you should probably try to be a little more accommodating to players from other countries. In the long run, money always seems to follow the talent rather than the other way around.

[jonf]

what's the big deal? Your employer has the right to insist that you can speak english (or french or whatever other language). Why should it be any different for the LPGA. There is no such thing as discrimination based on ability. If you are unABLE to speak English, and your employer insists that you do so, you may learn the language. It's really as simple as that.

[mpare]

Quite apart from the ham-fisted manner in which the LPGA has crafted this policy (wouldn't it have been better to "encourage" players to learn English), it sends the wrong message internationally. If the LPGA has any intention of expanding their market beyond the limited boundaries of the USA, this policy will hardly assist them in that regard.

what's the big deal? Your employer has the right to insist that you can speak english (or french or whatever other language). Why should it be any different for the LPGA. There is no such thing as discrimination based on ability. If you are unABLE to speak English, and your employer insists that you do so, you may learn the language. It's really as simple as that.

[jonf]

Quite apart from the ham-fisted manner in which the LPGA has crafted this policy (wouldn't it have been better to "encourage" players to learn English), it sends the wrong message internationally. If the LPGA has any intention of expanding their market beyond the limited boundaries of the USA, this policy will hardly assist them in that regard.

I'm not supporting the policy. I think it's stupid and pointless. But that doesn't make it illegal or discriminatory.

[mpare]

Here's a funny, if biting, retort to the LPGA policy: http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the...a_intelligente