English-Only Golf Rule Doesn't Make Par

Under Fire, LPGA Nixes Policy That Would Suspend Players Who Don't Speak English

(AP)  Under increasing criticism, the LPGA Tour on Friday backed off a proposed policy that would have suspended players who could not efficiently speak English.

LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens said she would announce a revised plan by the end of the year, although it would not include penalties.

Bivens disclosed the tour's original plan in a meeting with South Korean players at the Safeway Classic in Portland, Ore., two weeks ago, which was reported by Golfweek magazine. The policy, which had not been completed, was widely criticized as discriminatory, particularly against Asian players, who won three majors this year.

"We have decided to rescind those penalty provisions," Bivens said in a statement. "After hearing the concerns, we believe there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every tour player."

The announcement came two hours before the Asian Pacific American Legal Center planned a news conference in Los Angeles, where it was to be joined by civil rights groups and elected officials demanding the LPGA overturn its policy.

A California state senator was seeking a legal opinion to determine whether the tour's language requirement for players violated state or federal law. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, hoped for an answer before the LPGA Tour returned to California in October for the Samsung World Championship.

He had asked the Legislature's legal office to examine whether the English policy violated any state or federal anti-discrimination laws. If it was deemed legal, Yee said he would have pushed for legislation banning such policies in California.

"I'm very pleased that the LPGA saw the wisdom of the concerns that we raised. It's a no-brainer for those of us who have been the recipient of these kinds of discriminatory acts," Yee said on Friday.

He said he understood the tour's goal of increasing financial support but disagreed with its approach.

"In 2008, I didn't think an international group like the LPGA would come up with a policy like that," Yee said. "But at the end of the rainbow, the LPGA did understand the harm that they did."

The lawmaker said he will continue with his request to the Legislative Counsel's Office, as a way to prevent similar policies in the future.

Another California lawmaker, Assemblyman Ted Lieu, said he had planned to target the LPGA's corporate sponsors if the tour had persisted with the English requirement. He called its policy indefensible.

"I'm pleased they have come to their senses," he said Friday.

Lieu, a Democrat from the Los Angeles area, said the LPGA's explanation for its requirement made it appear as if the tour was telling players it was more important for them to "schmooze" with sponsors than to play golf.

"If you're a sports fan, you should be outraged," Lieu said.

One of the tour's title sponsors, State Farm, said it was "dumbfounded" by the initiative.

"We don't understand this, and we don't know why they have done it," State Farm spokesman Kip Diggs told Advertising Age on its Web site. "And we have strongly encouraged them to take another look at this."

Bivens said the tour will continue to help international players through a cultural program that has been in place for three years and offers tutors and translators.

[babooph]

Tiger is very relieved-The British open could have been in Wales & it is likely hard to locate a Welch tutor these days.The US open can be played at Shinnicock-those Shinnicocks do not have a language training program at all -this may get very difficult!!

[gatofeo]

My mother came to America in 1947 from Belgium, and didn''t speak English. She learned it and became fluent in a short time.
English is the world''s standard language. It used to be that French was the language of diplomacy and war (I believe West Point cadets are still required to learn French), and German was the language of engineering.
Today, it''s pretty much gone over to English.
American students should be required to learn a second language from 1st grade: French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese or Cantonese.
Yesterday, I saw a magazine ad offering online biology classes in Navajo! Oh yeah, THAT will get you far in the workplace! Of all the silly ideas ...
Speak English in America. Make children learn a second language that is common and marketable, or that illegal immigrant''s son or daughter that knows English AND their heritage tongue will get the job they want.

[deacon20081]

Airline Pilots the World over are REQUIRED TO SPEAK ENGLISH. Don''t wish to speak the language? Stay away from the USA. Comprende Amigo?

[whitecat151]

Posted by nfclrd at 10:14 PM : Sep 05, 2008

English is not the official language of the United States. Only a few states recognize it as official but not the United States of America as a whole. I think lawmakers are too busy trying to fix other things in America before they go to the language subject.

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Please... Get Real...

If you were to move to, or visit Germany, would you demand that the people speak Latvian if that was your native language?

If you were to move to, or visit China, would you demand that the people speak American if that was your native language?

Why not have the LPGA "official language" be American? After all, the LPGA -is- an American institution.

Best Regards,

WC

[ocasanas]

English is not the official language of the United States. Only a few states recognize it as official but not the United States of America as a whole. I think lawmakers are too busy trying to fix other things in America before they go to the language subject.

[ocasanas]

Yes, agreed, English only should stay...and then when playing in another country if you don''t understand chinese, thai, vietnamese, russian, portuguese, hindu, etc., then you should be disqualified too.

[chrissmith22]

I think the rule should have been left in place. English should be the official language of the United States.

[chrissmith22]

I think the rule made par and should have been left in place. I support English as the official language of the United States.

[chrissmith22]

I think the rule made par and should have been left in place. I support English as the official language of the United States.

[seafang]

Well the rule sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Maybe you should ask yourselves (C_BS) just who the blazes pays the big prize money to fund these LPGA tournaments; and why on earth they pay it.
It''s their advertising budget dummy! they pay for the tour so that TV audiences and tournament attendees, will pay attention to the play and the players and incidently to the sponsors advertising.

Damned If I am going to learn Singalese to try and understand some golf player being interviewed by sports reporters.

If you (C_BS) want to pick up the prize money tab for these tournaments so you don''t need to have advertising revenues paying the tab, then oyu can have players speak any *** language you fancy; but I won''t be watching, if it isn''t in English; sorry!