Donald Trump: Only rich people should be allowed to play golf - NJ.com
The major golf organizations are likely to want a mulligan after a shamelessly tepid response to Donald Trump's racist remarks about Mexican immigrants.
But then again, golf has always been a bigoted sport. And still is.
That joint statement issued Wednesday by the LPGA, PGA Tour, PGA of America and USGA -- who are all connected to Trump via tournaments -- insisted the organizations don't share Trump's inflammatory views on immigrants.
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Trump, a New Jersey icon, has put his name on 18 courses worldwide, including one in Bedminster, N.J., which is scheduled to host the 2017 U.S. Women's Open and the 2022 PGA Championship. The USGA, which awarded the Women's Open to Trump, is headquartered in Far Hills, N.J.
The Spineless Four said they have a "strong commitment to an inclusive and welcoming environment in the game of golf," but failed to say whether they would take action against their openly racist partner.
The statement is, frankly, laughable.
Here's what they're committed to: Issuing weakly-worded, attorney-washed statements that poorly feign indignation while protecting a narrow-minded billionaire they're in bed with.
But if Trump's remarks about Mexican "rapists" weren't enough, he also doesn't believe golf should be inclusive. So, he spits in the faces of the LPGA, PGA Tour, PGA of America and USGA there, too.
Before entering the race, the GOP presidential candidate told Fortune magazine in February that golf should be for the rich elite.
Trump wants a limited number of courses (his, of course) with exorbitant greens fees that would naturally drive up the cost -- and price regular folk out of the game.
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Oh, in Trump's world, the unwashed masses could watch golf on TV, or attend tournaments at his clubs and keep pouring money into Trump's bank accounts, but they would be unable to play the game in his elitist golf utopia.
Allowing non-rich adults (and/or any children) to play golf today is "bringing it down," Trump said.
Here's more Trump:
"I think I'm in a minority, but I feel differently about golf. I feel golf should be an aspirational game, something people aspire to. People should come to golf, golf shouldn't come to them." ...
"Golf should be something beautiful, elegant, something people aspire to play eventually." ...
"It may be elitist, and perhaps that's what golf needs. Let golf be elitist. When I say 'aspire,' that's a positive word. Let people work hard and aspire to some day be able to play golf. To afford to play it. They're trying to teach golf to people who will never be able to really play it. They're trying too hard. Because of the expense of playing, and the land needed, golf is never going to be basketball, where all you need is a court.
"All these great athletes, you know what they do when they retire? They do nothing but play golf. Basketball players, hockey players, football players, all they want to do is golf.
"Let it be aspirational instead of bringing it down by trying to get players to do it when they're 15 years old and they're also learning other sports. I think it's very damaging to the game."
The guy is a walking, talking Shoal Creek.
Memo to the LPGA, PGA Tour, PGA of America and USGA: We're still waiting.
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