Playing Golf Well Has Little to Do With Language Skill
It may be a good idea that South Korean and other international golfers on U.S. tours have a good command of English. But if they don't, should they be sent back home? Most non-English speaking players surely do not want to quit their career just because of their poor communication skills. But now the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour will soon require all its members to speak effective English.
The LPGA's English requirement is seen as targeting South Korean women golfers. The tour held a mandatory meeting with players from South Korea on Aug. 20 at the Safeway Classic to inform them of the new policy. It announced that all golfers with at least two years of experience in the LPGA must pass an oral English evaluation beginning 2009. Any player who fails the test will have their membership suspended.
The new rule could have a positive effect on both the LPGA and its members. As the tour's deputy commissioner Libba Galloway pointed out, the English requirement can help golfers' professional development. There is little doubt that athletes can accommodate more fans, more media and more sponsors if they speak English proficiently. In a nutshell, it would be much better for the players to be successful in the sports entertainment world.
However, it is absurd to suspend golfers due to their inability to express themselves in English. It goes without saying that athletic performance has little to do with linguistic competence, although it is ideal to combine these two different properties.
Many soccer, baseball and basketball players play for teams in foreign countries. But, they are not suspended or kicked out because they are unable to speak their host country's language. Thus, the LPGA's English requirement could be interpreted as discrimination against international players, despite the tour organizers' denial.
This year, there were 121 international players from 26 countries playing in LPGA events. They include 45 South Koreans, 11 of who are now ranked among the top 30 money winners. The number of South Korean players has rapidly increased over the past 10 years. And the increase might have posed some concerns to LPGA officials, taking into account a possible backlash from American galleries, viewers, sponsors and television networks.
But, the LPGA needs to pay more heed to criticism for its English policy which commentators call Draconian, xenophobic and discriminatory. Tour officials should reconsider their decision. Instead of this mandatory requirement, it would be better for the LPGA to focus more on English-learning programs to help foreign players better communicate in English, develop interview skills and accommodate fans and sponsors.
