Why is Tiger the only black man on tour?

[AmenCorner]

I agree with many of the posts, its a matter of social norms coupled with the fact that the sport is not very affordable or accessible compared to others. Compare golf to basketball and it's no wonder more black kids are playing basketball.

[walk18]

great post

[immts007]

I disagree. Black's a color. If you want to say African American, you say that. "Black" is a color. Vijay Singh is black. He's also a minority, and he's Fijian, not African American.

Very well could be, I suppose. And of course, black is a color - but capital "B" Black has come to be specifically used to refer to people who are of African tribal descent. And the pendulum, and popular opinion in the Black community has moved away from "African-American" and back to Black.

Do you really use black to refer only to skin color? If so then as I said, if you see a dark-skinned Mexican, are they Black? There are some Japanese with very dark skin and American Indians as well, but I never hear them referred to as B/black. Vijay is from Fiji, BUT his ethinicity is Indian as in the "asian" conitinent. Which is where the 'asian' comes from for those who are confused. Like Ghandi, Ravi Shankar and Zubin Mehta. Conversely if it's simply about phenotype, then is a Black man with albinism actually white? There are many asians with skin fairer than europeans are they white? Are Mexicans "Brown" are American Indians "Red" - I'm not saying that there is anything innately inappropriate about observations about skin-color. But it is my, perhaps erroneous, understanding that as a social convention we don't use the hue of people's skin to classify or categorize them. "White" is used to specifically refer to Europeans, not anyone with fair skin. Right? Sorry for going off-topic, but a natural tangent has developed in this thread, as is often the case in real-life conversation.

[beach_golfer]

I would like to point out that the most recent Masters winner was an African. There is no argument about that. Though he may not be dark skinned, he is still a born and bred African!

[dkglf98]

So if Trevor moves to the U.S. has kids and would we call his kids African Americans?

[ShotCaLLa]

So if Trevor moves to the U.S. has kids and would we call his kids African Americans?

That would be an incorrect correct label. They are White South African Americans.

The skin color of an individual, as is clearly illustrated in many posts, does not determine their ethnicity or country of origin. However, it is usually an important variable in determining their race/ethnicity, along with other characteristics like facial features and accents. For more info on Black African American golf history, check out http://www.afrogolf.com/page18.html

[Ruari]

In the city I grew up in the par 3 course I lived by was in an area of town that was 60% black, 30% hispanic, and 10% white.

The course actually received the largest grant in USGA history and then was mostly squandered by the head pro. Very sad situation but shows that just throwing money at a situation will create more black golfers.

The second best golfer on my high school team was black and lived steps from the same par three course. He was an incredible athlete and did not get any grief in the circles we crossed each other in for playing golf. He did play basketball and football very well which probably helped.

There is normal percentage of black golfers playing on the local par three and the crappy 9 hole course both on the black side of town. However, at both courses it was common place to have kids steal your golf balls and run a muck. Seems like the young kids in the neighborhood wanted to destroy the course and give the golfers trouble long before they wanted to take the game up. The adult black population there did embrace the game.

[beach_golfer]

That would be an incorrect correct label. They are White South African Americans.

True he is White South African, but his child is still and African American. Father was born in Africa, child born from African born father in America. 1+1= African American.

[flap]

I play allmost all muni and public courses and I play a lot as a single on Long Island.Golf on Long Island which includes Bethpage is 90 percent white.Call it anything or reason you want but that is what I see and I play over 100 rounds per year.When I go to Myrtle I very seldom see Black golfers so evidently they must be playing elsewhere or they just do not like golf.

[Lefty731PM]

I would like to point out that the most recent Masters winner was an African. There is no argument about that. Though he may not be dark skinned, he is still a born and bred African!

No argument? Really? He is South African. Do you think Egyptians call themselves Africans?

[lordnazgul]

2. Look at swimming. How many African/Americans are great swimmers? Not as many as there would be if they had the same opportunities as the average white person in American society. Golf is a wealthy person's sport, as is swimming. Runners can train by running out the front door, young swimmers/golfers have to be driven to the pool/course, picked up and coaches' fees paid.

When looking at swimming, there are practically no black people because of the genetic makeup of different races, white people have less dense muscles and bones, better for swimming, not as good for explosive sports such as sprinting (dominated by black people), body building (dominated by black people) and heavyweight boxing (dominated by black people)

On this basis, swimming is completely different to golf, no race or genetic makeup has a particular advantage over another. When looking at skiing, the key reason for this may well be that for the most part, where black people originate from (not necessarily live) snow is non-existent. People in africa etc cannot go skiing, hence the reason there are not many (if any) black skiers. I think there are lots of reasons for a lack of black players on the pga tour, and it is impossible to pinpoint it to one specific reason!

[BASHERBAKER69]

but the main reason for a lack of black players on the pga tour is socio economic and/or environmental.

[ShotCaLLa]

True he is White South African, but his child is still and African American. Father was born in Africa, child born from African born father in America. 1+1= African American.

I understand your point of wanting to label him an African American. My point was to try and demonstrate that Africa is a very diverse continent with many different countries that have different ethnicities. South Africa has a completely different ethnic background than Botswana for example. So to call everyone from the continent of Africa, Africans, would be way too broad of a label, in my opinion of course

Lefty sums it up well too...

No argument? Really?

[SirMilton]

Get real everyone.

Most golf is played on private country club courses and most private country clubs do not allow black members because the membership wants it that way.

Black boys look to the best chance (most slots) they can get for a professional sports career, basketball first, baseball second, and football third (higher risk of injury) and it has become such a economic game that white boys are almost totally excluded from basketball where blacks also attend school. My nephew is a 6' 10" high school sophomore that can dribble or shoot with either hand (and really well!) and at his high school he wasn't even allowed to try out for the boys high school basketball team because he would be taking a "disadvantaged" black boy's slot (which is BS, but the coach is black); its OK with him as he is a national class swimmer and there are no blacks there looking to become millionaire athletes.

Personally, I think you could train a pygmy eskimo to be the world's greatest golfer if you start at birth and let them have no life. Kind of like a Russian gymnast or Tiger Woods.

I don't envy Tiger one bit. I have a life; he has never had a life and never will.

Wait another generation, if golf is still popular and still pays well, it will be dominated by blacks. Ther must be 100,000 black children out there with youth clubs trying to be the next Tiger. And with their greater propensity for athleticism, they will get there.

[Ruari]

When looking at swimming, there are practically no black people because of the genetic makeup of different races, white people have less dense muscles and bones

Ethiopians, Kenyans, Berbers and Congo Pygmies being prime examples, of course? Africa is a huge continent, with diversity all across it.

This is getting a bit close to racial theory and eugenics, both of which are discredited. As they should be, for it wasn't until Jesse Owens that black athletes got any kind of recognition. People will take opportunities; if they don't have them, or are denied them, then they won't. It's primarily a class/economic thing - nothing to do with race or ethnic origin.

[Shindig]

Get real everyone.

Where do you get this information? Are there more private county club courses than public ones? What percentage of private ones do not permit black members?

Black boys look to the best chance (most slots) they can get for a professional sports career, basketball first, baseball second, and football third (higher risk of injury) and it has become such a economic game that white boys are almost totally excluded from basketball where blacks also attend school. My nephew is a 6' 10" high school sophomore that can dribble or shoot with either hand (and really well!) and at his high school he wasn't even allowed to try out for the boys high school basketball team because he would be taking a "disadvantaged" black boy's slot (which is BS, but the coach is black); its OK with him as he is a national class swimmer and there are no blacks there looking to become millionaire athletes.

Is this a public or private high school? If he wanted to play basketball, I'd say that if it's private, take your business (nephew) elsewhere. And if he wanted to play but it were public, you would really need to file a racial discrimination lawsuit next time he's not permitted. Racial discrimination towards public facilities is unacceptable in any form.

Personally, I think you could train a pygmy eskimo to be the world's greatest golfer if you start at birth and let them have no life. Kind of like a Russian gymnast or Tiger Woods.

Why do we think Tiger has no life?

[pittpanther]

My nephew is a 6' 10" high school sophomore that can dribble or shoot with either hand (and really well!) and at his high school he wasn't even allowed to try out for the boys high school basketball team because he would be taking a "disadvantaged" black boy's slot (which is BS, but the coach is black); its OK with him as he is a national class swimmer and there are no blacks there looking to become millionaire athletes.

Wait a minute - Your nephew is a 6'10" SOPHOMORE in HS, and can dribble with either hand, but was not allowed to try out? I find this hard to believe - such a player is so rare at the HS level that he would be welcomed with open arms by any coach. In fact, someone with that height and ballhandling skills would almost guarantee that school will go deep into their state tournament.

If he is really all that, and he's white, he is guaranteed a scholarship at a Div 1 school, for basketball. And would probably get drafted into the pros. 6'10" guys who can handle the ball are NOT a dime a dozen! Think Scottie Pippen or Tony Kukoc from Jordan's Chicago Bulls teams. Is he really 6'10"?

[ShotCaLLa]

Get real everyone.

Check that pods. I think you are way off.