News
Trending: The Occupy Golf Movement
If you haven't read the unattributed diatribe making the rounds under the loosely-titled "Occupy Golf Movement," you -- depending on your political persuasion -- might find amusing the many parallels drawn between golf and another "occupy" movement.
The Occupy GOLF Movement
WE NEED TO BE HEARD!!!
I am a member of golf's lower 99%. I am an indifferent golfer, and there's no way I could ever make it to the professional level. I will never put in the practice time to be the best. I will never have the shots, skills, or mental toughness to make it in the sport. I just never felt like working all that hard at it.
However, I am a part of the golfing community and, as such, feel I should be paid by the top 1% of golfers for what I do. It isn't fair that those players who have worked harder, have studied the game, have better equipment and are more skilled and dedicated should make all that BIG money.
Where's my share? I'm a Victim!
The top 1% should pay for my club memberships and green fees and lessons, buy me new clubs, balls, clothes and shoes, and pay me some of their winnings. They can afford it. They are "The Rich." The whole system should be changed to accommodate people like me. I think we should get together and occupy a golf course and demand that those who are better at what they do, pay for us who generally don't play as well. Whining should get us something -- maybe we'll make the cover of Time Magazine, garnish some public sympathy. Hell, during this election year we may even get a law or two passed by legislators who want our votes.
P.S. Don't mention this to tennis players. We thought of it first.
The irony in this passage is that golf -- maybe more than any other sport -- does a lot for the amateur community. In fact, the entire culture of golf is predicated around the notion of helping passionate golfers achieve a level of greatness that is satisfactory to them. Sure, not everyone expects to play Pebble Beach, but breaking 90 on their local course is an achievement many of the true 99% take great pride in.
This topic is especially noteworthy on the eve of Masters Week, when, what most would consider the elitist of the elite in golf clubs holds a tournament that we view as the pinnacle of the sport. The .00001% if you will. It is also a tournament where amateurs have historically been treated better than professionals. A place, though shrouded in the allure of exclusivity, keeps ticket and concession prices at a much more reasonable level than it's Major counterparts. And a place where the top 1% gives free exemptions to players who wouldn't otherwise make the cut.
Put another way, Ernie Els may be one golfer who's having a hard time finding the humor in the Occupy Golf movement right now.
-- Derek Evers