Ryder Cup Lotter for Tickets

[RONGIL]

In 2003, I entered the lottery for the upcoming 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills . Upon receiving verification of what ticket package I had been offered, I found that I was not offered any of the 3 or 4 choices of ticket packages that I had opted for. I e-mailed the PGA of America regarding this. I was informed that ALL tickets for my preferences had been spoken for. So, I paid for what I was eligable for and prepared to go to the event. Several days prior to the event, the PGA of America puts out a notice that there were still a couple of thousand tickets still available for the event. These tickets were the same ticket packages that I had chosen as options and had been told that there were none left. I was furious with this apparent lie. I immediatley contacted them and was informed that the tickets were from those that did not meet the dealine for purchase and said tickets were then placed back into the ticket pool. I asked them why those that had these tickets packages marked as an option had not been given an opportunity to purchase them or be put back into another lottery for a chance at getting those tickets. I received no response. So, I went to the event and had a blast even though the US was defeated and I had to spend the afternoon listening to "oh lay, oh lay oh lay, oooooooh lay, oooooh lay" over and over again. Then comes this years lottery. Again, I did not receive any of my options for ticket packages. Instead I was offered 2 Wed. practice round tickets for $80 total. I was again quite furious with this outcome. I contacted the PGA of America through the hotline number that came with the verification of tickets e-mail. After telling the customer rep of my disatisfaction and asking what I could do, she went to her supervisor and, per her supervisor, I was told that if I did not purchase the tickets I was offered, I would not have a chance at getting into any "possible" future lotteries for the tickets that I wanted. In other words, I had to buy what I did not want in order to get a chance at what I did want. That borderlines on extortion as well as bait and switch. The PGA of America preaches this message of honesty, honor and integrity. This policy reflects that all of those character traits are not possessed by this organization. It is not free tickets that I want. If in fact there is another lottery, I want to be placed into this lottery for the tickets that I want without being forced to pay for something that I do not want

[Grumpter]

If that's the way they are pressuring people to buy practice round tickets then it's more than a little sleazy. I would tell them to practice shoving their offered practice tickets where the sun don't shine.

[RONGIL]

Already did that. I have also written to The Golf Channel, ESPN, Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, The Chicago Sun Times, The New York Times, and several other newspapers and magazines with the hope that I could at least stir up quite a bit of bad press for these guys. In this time of "economic downturn" it is not wise to piss off those that are contributing to the growth of the game. I will not stand for this second slap in the face by an organization that has no accountability or honor toward its demographic. It is time that we all stood up to this type of treatment. I went on to StubHub.com and there are several thousand tickets available for the package that I applied for. Problem is, they are up to 5 times the face value and not one is equal to face value. I thought scalping was also illegal, but apparently not if you do it on line.

[RONGIL]

Ladies and gentlemen, I have received a new hope in the integrity of our golfing peers. After writing to everyone that I could think of, I received a phone call from the director of events for the Ryder Cup(I was so shocked when he revealed his title, that I forgot to get his name, lol!). He was telephoning me to express his deepest apologies with this apparent misunderstanding. He had just gotten off of the phone with Mr. Jack Nicklaus' foundation and they were expressing concern that whether what I was saying to them had merit or not. They had stated that if it did, then I had a legitimate complaint. After looking into this, he then telephoned me to inform me that, if there were going to be any future lotteries for tickets not paid for from this lottery, then I would be eligible to be in that lottery without having to pay for what I did not want. He again expressed his sincerest apologies. I informed him that I would be writing to everyone that I had written to and would let them know of the professionalism with which this was handled and that I was completely satisfied with the outcome. At this point, I could care less if I got tickets now. The mere fact that the director himself called me at the prompting of Jack Nicklaus was enough to quell my offense. I then wrote to all that I had complained to and did as I said I would. If some of you are wondering how this guy got my phone number, most of the sites I went to required that information prior to your being allowed to post an e-mail to them. There is still integrity within golf, ladies and gentlemen. RONGIL