LPGA to require English proficiency

[gbk56]

I think it is interesting that:

1. Choice Hotels is also questioning LPGAs decision

2. Lorena Ochoa thinks suspension seems a little too drastic and she believes the korean players are doing enough

3. This quote from the LA Times states that revenue from Korean television is LPGA's biggest single source of annual income.

Green wrote in England's Observer newspaper that in 2009, "the Tour will visit not only Korea but also Thailand, Singapore, China and Japan. American players there will not be required to speak the local language. Furthermore, revenue from Korean television is the LPGA's biggest single source of annual income.

"A cynic might say the message seems to be: 'We like the way your money talks but not the way you do.' "

[julie_m]

I think it is interesting that:

I did some reading since you mention a lot of names but never put the quotes or the sources. So this is what I've found:

Ochoa: 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." source: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ap...-1/SPORTSFRONT (No sign of "Korean players are doing enough," I'm sorry.)

I also do not believe SeRi Park agrees with the LPGA. She stated that she believes that suspension is too harsh. This is contrary to the LPGA's stated policy.

Pak: South Korean star Se Ri Pak supports LPGA’s new policy requiring that all players be proficient in speaking English or risk having their membership suspended. "When you win, you should give your speech in English," she said. Source: http://capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.d...PORTS/80831011 (This is similar to the interview I saw with her, though I don't have a direct quote. I'm not finding anything where she says she doesn't like the rule.) I'm also not finding anything on Choice Hotels besides the contest they have up, though I'd like to see it.

[gbk56]

I did some reading since you mention a lot of names but never put the quotes or the sources. So this is what I've found:

Sorry I will try to do better.

While some believe the rule was aimed at the Koreans, Ochoa said, "I think they are making an effort and they are trying to communicate more with the players, I think they are doing enough." http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/go...ref=rss_latest Even so, the magazine reported, many South Korean players interviewed supported the policy, including the Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak. "We agree we should speak some English," said Pak, who added that she thought fines seemed a fairer penalty than suspensions. "We play so good over all. When you win, you should give your speech in English." http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/27/sports/GOLF.php David Peikin, senior director-corporate communications at Choice Hotels International, said, "We have a great deal of interest in the intentions of the LPGA on this subject. Based on our understanding, this policy is currently under review by the LPGA, and a final decision and any related details will be determined over the next four months. Until that time, we will be closely monitoring LPGA news and announcements." http://golf.fanhouse.com/2008/09/03/...lost-sponsors/

[julie_m]

It seems a lot of the women players have many views on the issue. They do owe a lot to the opportunities the LPGA has given them. We have to be careful about summing them up in one word as supporting or not supporting if they're just expressing multiple POVs.

Just don't be surprised if this rule doesn't go away. Adapting, perhaps, but I doubt it'll disappear.

[carl4four]

If the LPGA wants to hire me as a legal consutant, WE can win any case,

Why would they hire you as a legal consultant when they have attorneys on staff and the ability to hire attorneys to represent them and advise them? But yea maybe they want to disregard obtainging legal advice from actual attorneys that have gone to law school and passed the bar and actually practice law in order to hire a guy that not only didn't go to any law school but didnt even graduate from undergraduate school.

[PEZGolf]

It seems a lot of the women players have many views on the issue. They do owe a lot to the opportunities the LPGA has given them. We have to be careful about summing them up in one word as supporting or not supporting if they're just expressing multiple POVs.

The sponsors are starting to react. "USA Today", in an article written by Jerry Potter, in today's issue, on page 10C, reports that the State Farm Insurance Company, a title sponsor since 1993, has issued this statement:

"We 're not certain this policy is necessary," said Phil Supple, company spokesperson. "We've asked the LPGA to take another look at it."

[shredfit]

I suspect this issue will fall back to what the LPGA is currently doing... (strongly suggesting that they{the Koreans} need to learn some English). With a fine if a formal complaint is made, being the most that happens, with none compliance.

Just my gut feeling, given the info at hand.

We will have to see.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

Christine Brennan antes up her opinion. Click here http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colum...a-policy_N.htm if you're interested in what Christine has to say.

[Harry Longshanks]

Christine Brennan antes up her opinion. Click here

Thanks for the link Qx3.

I have no idea who Christine Brennan is, or what side of the political fence she is on, but I think that is the most articulate statement I have read of why the policy was implemented. And why the issue was not stated as bluntly as this by the LPGA is a mystery:

If only all those people had taken a moment to think — had stepped away from their shot, to use a golf analogy — they might have decided to go after this news with their pitching wedge rather than a sledgehammer. If they had done that, it would have been noted that the LPGA and the PGA Tour have almost nothing in common, except for the word golf. While the PGA Tour is swimming in cash, most LPGA events live and die by selling the opportunity to play with the pros in weekly pro-ams. It's an experience unique to golf, akin to an NBA star having to play a basketball game every week with sponsors in different cities or a major league baseball player having to spend hours helping the owner learn the basics of playing shortstop. This is not an idle exercise for an LPGA player. She is expected to interact, offer advice and tell stories with her foursome, which is filled with sponsors or their customers paying anywhere from $4,000 to $12,000 per person for the experience. If those sponsors can't converse with the player (65% of LPGA events are in the USA), the tournament often hears about it. And if the tournament doesn't do something about it, the sponsor might decide not to come back next year, especially in these tough economic times. This might sound a bit unusual, but it's the way the LPGA stays in business. "A pro-am is largely responsible for making LPGA events possible," Commissioner Carolyn Bivens said in a phone interview Wednesday. "It is the single largest source of revenue for a tournament. There are no domestic TV rights fees. This is our oxygen. It's that important. As recently as the past two weeks, I've had tournament directors tell me they are getting complaints (about international players who cannot speak enough English to talk to their pro-am partners). We have to be aware of that, because we've had sponsors who say they have had a bad time and might pull out because of it. That's our reality."

I can only assume that news of the policy was leaked before the LPGA was prepared with a statement, and they have been playing catch-up ever since.

I still don't like the slippery slope on which the policy is perched, but if the above information is accurate, I'm going to come down in favor of it. In hard economic times with sponsors pulling out of all golf tours, I'd rather have a potentially thriving LPGA with a less-than-perfect policy, than a floundering tour with an impeccable policy record. I'm not thrilled about it, but I'll take it.

[gbk56]

It seems a lot of the women players have many views on the issue. They do owe a lot to the opportunities the LPGA has given them. We have to be careful about summing them up in one word as supporting or not supporting if they're just expressing multiple POVs.

It appears some Women's groups are not too happy:

Not surprisingly, the LPGA's patronizing tone with this language requirement has caused some uproar from groups representing Asian-Americans and women, such as the Asian American Justice Center and the California National Organization for Women. http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_10374482

[iacas]

It appears some Women's groups are not too happy:

Oh boo hoo. Do they pay to play in the pro-ams?

Not surprisingly, the LPGA's patronizing tone with this language requirement

When in doubt, just throw in words like "patronizing" to make your case? What's patronizing about the discussion they've started? Or their "tone"? Nothing from where I'm sitting; I didn't know a statement of facts could be "patronizing."

[NBGC]

Sate Farm is the first major sponsor to publicly cry out about the policy and threaten to re-evaluate thier contract next year and possibly pull out of the LPGA if it isn't revisited. Hooray for them.

They are only the first, other's will voice the same as State Farm since they've already made the first step. I'd be surprised to see any major sponsor's back the LPGA policy publicly, in fact, I'd go as far as to say almost all of them will either pull out or remain silent if the policy remains unchanged.

I'll bet all my rep ( ) that the finalized version of the policy is far more lenient then the one that has been percieved.

Either way, the LPGA has handled this issue the worst possible scenario and it will take a lot of ass kissing by Biven's and Galloway to lessen the PR disaster. Had they made a press conference stating thier intention's, plan, and position it would have been better received by the public and press. Instead, it was leaked out and they've been back peddling ever since.

I still agree that speaking English is the best thing for the LPGA, it's just the manner that the LPGA handled it. Damned if they do- lose major sponsors and revenue, lost tourney's......Damned if they don't- ProAm'rs still bitching.

One thing I'm still confused about with the ProAm. I know the players are required to play in X amount of tourney's, and have to play in every tourney in X amount of years, i.e. missed the State Farm Classic this year, gotta play in it next year, etc. The thing I'm confused about is: there are X amount of players committed to a tourney, say 80-100 of the 400+. Not all of the 100 will be playing in the ProAm because there's no way they're gonna get off 100 foursomes, and even if they do, what percentage of the Pro's playing can't speak english? If it's so large that's causing this problem then the solution would be- require more of the English speaking Pro's to do the ProAm's. Also, as I've stated, what's the problem with a 5th in the foursome that's a translator?

Anyways, I've backed off this whole issue until the final version come's out and I'm sure we've all wasted alot of negative energy. The final version will be lenient on the punishment and still encourage speaking English, not require.

[Harry Longshanks]

If it's so large that's causing this problem then the solution would be- require more of the English speaking Pro's to do the ProAm's.

Except that would be punishing the English speaking players. (It's no secret that the pro-am requirement is a pain in the arse for the players. They would rather rest or practice.) And it would be a competitive advantage to the non-English speaking players.

In essence, it would encourage players to NOT learn English, which is exactly the opposite of what is in the best interest of the LPGA. Now, what might be possible is pairing Korean players with Korean speaking amateurs. Although, not personally having $4-12k to spend on a round of golf, I'm not sure how many Korean amateurs participate in the pro-ams. But even so, there is still a "favoritism" problem. Pro-Ams are supposed to be randomly paired IIRC. What if a Korean am wants the opportunity to play with Lorena, or a English speaking am wants the chance to play with Jeong Jang? As for the translator option: Who pays? Do you burden new (i.e., broke) players with that cost? And, I'm not sure if you've ever had a conversation through a translator, but man is it a pain in the butt! Everything is awkward, takes 3 times as long (or longer), and virtually no personality comes through (except for maybe the translator's.)

[baal]

Just by principle, a player is taken for his ability to play only.

Take a look at football, players don't learn the language of the country where the club they are in is.

Ronaldo didn't speak Italian.
Zidane didn't speak spanish.
Oleguer Presas doesn't speak Dutch.

and so on..

[Harry Longshanks]

Just by principle, a player is taken for his ability to play only.

While I agree in principle . . . principles don't pay the bills for the LPGA.

Ronaldo, Zidan, and Oleguer Presas didn't/don't have to do a "meet and greet" game with paying fans the day before the actual game in order to keep the lights on. The fan base is so "set" for their sport (like it is for baseball, American football, hockey, etc.) that they don't have to. Check out the link that Q.Q.Q. posted above - it's a good all-around explanation of the problems facing the LPGA. (I'm not a big football/soccer fan. How did/do Ronaldo, Zidane, and Oleguer Presas handle press interviews? Do they always have a translator?)

[julie_m]

Just by principle, a player is taken for his ability to play only.

Ronaldo is from Brazil. He plays for Brazil. They speak Portuguese.

Zidane is from France. He played for France.

[gbk56]

Oh boo hoo. Do they pay to play in the pro-ams?

It seems some sponsors are not too happy either:

Saying it was "flabbergasted" by the Ladies Professional Golf Association's new policy requiring "effective communication in English on the part of all of our Tour members," State Farm is urging the group to reconsider -- or the insurer may reconsider its sponsorship. State Farm is both a general sponsor of the LPGA as well as the sponsor of the State Farm Classic Tournament. "It's something we are dumfounded by," said Kip Diggs, media-relations specialist at the insurer, which is a general sponsor of the league as well as of the State Farm Classic Tournament in Springfield, Ill. "We don't understand this and don't know why they have done it, and we have strongly encouraged them to take another look at this." ... Mr. Diggs, however, said State Farm was unaware that the LPGA was contemplating any such policy. While he would not disclose the value of State Farm's LPGA sponsorship, which runs through next year, he said the policy was something that the company would take into consideration when deciding whether to continue its relationship with the league when its contract expires. ... State Farm isn't the only sponsor taking note. David Peikin, senior director-corporate communications at Choice Hotels International, said, "We have a great deal of interest in the intentions of the LPGA on this subject. Based on our understanding, this policy is currently under review by the LPGA, and a final decision and any related details will be determined over the next four months. Until that time, we will be closely monitoring LPGA news and announcements." http://adage.com/article?article_id=130699

[gbk56]

Ronaldo is from Brazil. He plays for Brazil. They speak Portuguese.

Uh, Ronaldihno is from Brazil and plays for an Italian soccer team.

Ronaldo is from Portugal and plays for Manchester United an English soccer club. I like football and I just wanted to get the facts straight. I have actually never heard either of these guys speak. It is just great to watch them play.