U.S.G.A. to Stay with Trump

U.S.G.A. to Stay with Trump October 26, 2016

TrumpNationalGolfClubBedminsterThe United States Golf Association has decided to continue with its plan to stage the world’s premiere women’s golf tournament–the U.S. Women’s Open–at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on July 13-16, 2017. On October 14, I posted, “Is Donald Trump Hurting the U.S.G.A.?” Eight days later I posted, “U.S.G.A. Under Pressure to Move U.S. Women’s Open.” Before that, on June 2, I posted, “Is Donald Trump Hurting the PGA Tour?

The latest development in this Trump-pro golf saga is that three Democratic U.S. Senators–Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Edward Markey of Massachusetts, and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania–have now sent a letter to U.S.G.A. executive director and CEO Mike Davis asking the U.S.G.A. to suspend conducting any of its future events at Donald Trump Organization properties. The letter alleges that Donald Trump has demonstrated a “pattern of degrading and dehumanizing women” for decades.

Mike Davis declined to respond publicly to this letter. Instead, U.S.G.A. spokeswoman Janeen Driscoll did by replying, “With the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open less than a year away, our focus is still on conducting an excellent championship for the players, the spectators, the fans, and the volunteers.” She added, “Beyond that, we simply will not comment on politics.”

The Ladies Professional Golfers Association (LPGA) has indicated it will not protest but simply go along with whatever the U.S.G.A. decides. “I know my players on tour,” LPGA commissioner Mike Whan told Golfweek earlier this month. “What they really want is great venues and to play in front of big crowds and big TV…. The last thing they’d want their commissioner to do is to have a real statement in politics that affects opportunities out here.”

I don’t think we’ve heard the last about the U.S. Women’s Open being played next year at a Trump facility. If it happens, will activist Martha Burk organize women to demonstrate at the tournament as she did at the 2002 Masters?


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