English Required In Order To Play Golf

Golf has often been referred to as a gentleman's game. One of the best golf books ever written is titled "A Good Walk Spoiled" by John Feinstein.

Golf has also been lampooned by comedy in such film classics as Caddyshack, Billy Madison, and Happy Gilmore in which the Gilmore character played by Adam Sandler is given a beat down on the golf course by Bob Barker.

Barker who has been the target of a number of sexual harassment lawsuits provides a perfect segue to the newest golf joke. One suit filed by former Producer Deborah Curling was dropped August 8, 2008.

USA Today recently reported that the Ladies Professional Golf Association has adopted a new policy requiring 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.

The LPGA tour currently features 121 non-US players from 26 countries.

Explaining the rationale for the new policy, LPGA deputy commissioner Libba Galloway said. "We're focusing on the fact that we're in the sports entertainment business and we have to interact with fans and sponsors. We want to emphasize to our players that they need to be approachable."

"This 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."

The tour in 2007 established a program that includes tutoring services available to players and language-learning software from the Rosetta Stone Language Program.

Critics of this decision claim there is no basis for the rule, and that it "reeks with racism".

It seems likely that lawyers may be consulted.