The Ladies Professional Golf Association (as opposed to the Gentlemen’s Professional Golf Association) has required that all its golf players be fluent in English beginning in 2009. Those players who cannot pass an oral evaluation will become suspended from membership in the LPGA and will not qualify to tour. Because in order to hit small, white balls into holes, one must be able to know all the lyrics to “Yankee Doodle.” Obvs.

The Asian American Justice Center has a slight problem with this requirement, though, and are organizing a boycott to try and overturn this new ruling:

“There is already a strong endorsement incentive for the players to learn English to increase their global marketability,” said Tuyet G. Duong, senior staff attorney at AAJC. “The new LPGA policy along with their actions to have a special meeting with the South Korean players, smacks of clear discriminatory targeting of those players.”

“The game of golf has a long history of exclusion of minorities and women and they have fought for years to be included in sport,” added Duong. “That is why it is shocking that the LPGA would issue this policy, which is completely contrary to the spirit of inclusion that drives LPGA pioneer women to continue breaking new ground in their sport.”

There are currently 45 South Koreans on the tour and many see this new requirement — which is ostensibly designed to “satisfy sponsors” — as an act of discrimination against this sizable minority in the LPGA.

With all the discourse surrounding English as a first language and the resulting backlash against Spanish-speakers, we felt the LPGA’s decision was a different twist on discrimination based on language. Although what’s even more troubling than many similar instances involving Spanish-speakers, the South Korean players aren’t trying to “find jobs” or become Americans - they’re just trying to play golf. And most of these players agree that, yes, it’s definitely to their benefit to master English, but still find the policy a bit harsh:

Every Korean player who spoke with Golfweek about the meeting came away with the understanding she would lose her tour card if she failed the test rather than face suspension, according to the report. But Korean players who spoke about the policy supported the tour’s position, though some, including Se Ri Pak, felt fines would be better than suspensions.

“We agree we should speak some English,” Pak said, according to the report. “We play so good overall. When you win, you should give your speech in English.”

Machochip offered Mexican golfer Lorena Ochoa’s take on the LPGA’s stance:

She was asked at a charity event in her hometown of Guadalajara on Tuesday if she thought the new policy discriminated against international players.

“That is a a very strong word. I wouldn’t want to use it,” said Ochoa, who speaks English. “But I do think it is a little drastic.”

What do you all think? Is it helpful? Patronizing? Illegal? Xenophobic? Or maybe just a “little drastic?”

Asian American Justice Center organizes boycott of LPGA for “English proficiency” rule [The Golf Blog]
LPGA Tour will suspend memberships if players don’t learn English [ESPN]
Lorena Ochoa Think The LPGA ‘English-Only’ Rule Is A ‘Little Drastic’ [Machochip]