Ryder cup

[WTF11]

The Europeans are a masterclass when it comes to chants. I personally love it but understand it?s not everyone?s cup of tea. I?ve never been to any yank sporting event where any singing occurs.

Golf here would be like baseball is in the UK. It?s a fringe sport that is pretty much the domain of wealthy whites and Asians.

Thank you for the history lesson on the Ryder. However I wonder if it was just of yahoos and clowns just yelling and being buffoons rather than any real orchestrated payback for past actions.

Most Americans didn?t even know it was happening or even what the Ryder cup is. I?m happy it?s a big deal to the Europeans and they win since it means something. I caught a 4 pound smallmouth this weekend so I think I did better than the yanks did

Errr.....no, golf in the USA is most definitely NOT the equivalent of baseball in the UK. Golf there is big business and makes a VERY good living for the professionals (as is the case with baseball players there). Golf in the UK and Europe much the same, generating huge public interest and lucrative careers for many professionals. Baseball here, not exactly worthy of a mention so no comparison at all.

As for the Ryder Cup being some kind of small-time golf competition of limited interest to folks there, care to explain the huge spectator numbers and the substantial media interest? More delusional, misrepresentation of what the world sees, endemic in Trumps America.

[spaldy]

No idea what you are on about. Most schools don’t have golf teams and none of urban schools do. A sport that doesn’t have varsity sport status is a fringe sport here in the US. It’s in the same league as hockey, lacrosse, rugby, badminton,bowling and field hockey. Pockets of interest but not a sport that gets statewide interest or participation. If less than 10% of school age kids play it then the economics don’t work over time. Frankly it sounds like a big deal in Europe. You should be kicking our ass if you have hat many kids playing at all ages

Ver popular for elites and wealthy.

No sur what Trump has to do with this.

Maybe you can enlighten this 65 year resident of the US on how popular golf is. Especially since my wife, kids -3 college athletes (2 D-1) and i have never played a round of golf

[spaldy]

Couldn?t help myself. So I went on and looked up the ratings since it?s such a huge spectator sport with huge media interest. The best day was 3.1 million. That puts it in the same league as reruns Seinfeld and the Rosie odonnel show. 335 million population and you get 3 million viewers in prime time on a weekend.

I know that facts are troublesome to your enlightened state of mind and that all Americans are rubes and rednecks but this is not a big time sport here and Trump did not order us to not watch this

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

We don?t all hate Americans or 🇺🇸 Spaldy!

I can think of at least one American on this site who is a top bloke ??.

[spaldy]

The Brit/US relationship is a unique one. I'll generalize some of my rants/thoughts.

The King sends all his criminals, incorribibles as well as Independent thinking subjects to a far away land and then acts stunned when they start "acting up". Mix in a Little French intervention stirring up the pot and you end up with motley group that decides they want to be a free country. Start throwing in other countries rejects and come up with a constitution that everyone signs on to and you end up with the US. The one common denominator is freedom, independence and capitalism which largely eliminates a "caste system". Anyone can make good. Our founding fathers were some of the most brilliant men in history.

Success has softened and fattened us up and the caste system has been created. Not by a monarch but by a government that has subjected urban kids to substandard schools, horrid crime and a dependence on the government that makes them little different than the serfs and subjects that our ancestors strived to get away from 200+ years ago.

Throw in massive tracts of land and resources that do all the food generation and much of the manufacturing (referred to a "fly over country" by our rulers) and you end up with the volatile mix that elected Trump. They are the majority. We are set up as a representative republic (not a democracy) and over 90% of the counties ( I think Yorkshire would be the equivalent) voted for Trump. The big urban areas view most of the country as peasants that are happy to toil on their behalf. We also supply much of the cannon fodder for the endless wars that our rulers need to keep the military industrial complex humming. Their lobbyists pay the congress critters the best. The nerve of our president to try to end the endless wars and the open borders that allow people that hate our country to enter and reside easily.

Most yanks like the UK and Europe and look at it as ancient homeland. Many, including me, like the monarchy and appreciate the history and pomp that has been maintained much better than ours.

Tying this back to the thread. Golf is an activity of the elite here stateside. Country clubs are domains or the privileged few. it's cost prohibitive and some are blatantly racist. However, since politicians and judges are key members minor details such as being the wrong color, wrong *** or wrong religion are overlooked. "One set of rules for thee and another for me". The schools that have golf clubs are wealthy, white and suburban.

Public courses are goat pastures as a general rule. There are some like Pebble Beach, Spyglass and other big name courses that are "public". Over $500 a round plus caddy fee and you better know someone at the course that can "grease" your tee time. The only difference is that taxpayers get to foot the bill for these "public courses". Most public courses would never be played by a serious golfer.

Arguing golf is a popular or regular sport here is like arguing that polo is a sport that average Yanks follow.

[WTF11]

[QUOTE=spaldy;40756118]No idea what you are on about. Most schools don?t have golf teams and none of urban schools do. A sport that doesn?t have varsity sport status is a fringe sport here in the US. It?s in the same league as hockey, lacrosse, rugby, badminton,bowling and field hockey. Pockets of interest but not a sport that gets statewide interest or participation. If less than 10% of school age kids play it then the economics don?t work over time. Frankly it sounds like a big deal in Europe. You should be kicking our ass if you have hat many kids playing at all ages

Ver popular for elites and wealthy.

No sur what Trump has to do with this.

Maybe you can enlighten this 65 year resident of the US on how popular golf is. Especially since my wife, kids -3 college athletes (2 D-1) and i have never played a round of golf[/QUOTE

You asked......

https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2023/05/09/report-more-americans-playing-golf-than-ever-before

So in 2022, roughly 1 in 7 Americans played golf. I suspect that figure has gone up now. Not quite sure what definition of "popularity" you are using?

[WTF11]

We don?t all hate Americans or ���� Spaldy!

I can think of at least one American on this site who is a top bloke ??.

I don't hate Americans, and like you suggesting that MT should carefully consider associating some of your posts with certain thinking, you should do the same.

The thread was started as a result of the truly obnoxious behaviour of American "fans", and contained no reference from me as to how popular or otherwise the sport may be. Spaldy raised that subject, and I am happy to respond to his request that I furnish some evidence as to how wrong he is on his view of that matter. No hate necessary. I have made various references in previous posts as to how much I like and admire the US, I used to live there for gods sake, and I look back on those times with fond memories!

There is only one American I hate without ever actually meeting them, you know who he is.

[spaldy]

2022 was peak covid. Our government, in their infinite wisdom, locked down almost all recreational activities.

Golf was one of the few activities that was allowed. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that politicians and rich elites wanted something to do. it was "boom times" for golf courses.

of course, since the muggles play Basketball, Baseball, Football and Soccer parks were closed off. Only Golf courses were open. "Rules for thee but not for me". The school playground behind me was closed for a year. Almost criminal.

Golf is returning to normal. No waiting lists for country clubs and more and membership drives for many , and no problem in getting tee times at many courses.

I would suggest you direct your hatred to a broader sphere. Basically any Washington politician is a slimeball that makes Sepp Blatter look like a choirboy.

[WTF11]

2022 was peak covid. Our government, in their infinite wisdom, locked down almost all recreational activities.

Golf was one of the few activities that was allowed. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that politicians and rich elites wanted something to do. it was "boom times" for golf courses.

of course, since the muggles play Basketball, Baseball, Football and Soccer parks were closed off. Only Golf courses were open. "Rules for thee but not for me". The school playground behind me was closed for a year. Almost criminal.

Golf is returning to normal. No waiting lists for country clubs and more and membership drives for many , and no problem in getting tee times at many courses.

I would suggest you direct your hatred to a broader sphere. Basically any Washington politician is a slimeball that makes Sepp Blatter look like a choirboy.

As previously stated, I don't hate the vast majority of Americans nor the US as a country. I DO despise those who would victimise, marginalise, exploit, exclude and radicalise others. If the cap fits......

[WTF11]

Oh and by the way, isn't Ronald MacDonald a "Washington politician"?

[MrsORichSenior_]

as a diffuser offering....... more people play golf on PlayStation than participate in outdoor golf at clubs....... based on available data showing higher video game sales and player engagement compared to participation in the actual physical sport........

my swinging days 👀 nowadays are limited to tennis and padel tennis........
padel is widely considered the fastest growing sport globally........ that combines elements of tennis and squash, played on an enclosed court about one-third the size of a tennis court........ its rapid growth is attributed to its accessibility and sociable nature leading to a boom in player numbers and the construction of new courts worldwide.

only ever achieved a par 25...... but in general try to use municipal sports facilities which offer generous rates for folks 60 plus.

but have noticed a surge in golf clubs in my coastal region which are new 9 hole courses...... which appear attractive in booking online and fit in better with peoples free time and pockets.

MOT

[WTF11]

as a diffuser offering....... more people play golf on PlayStation than participate in outdoor golf at clubs....... based on available data showing higher video game sales and player engagement compared to participation in the actual physical sport........

my swinging days 👀 nowadays are limited to tennis and padel tennis........
padel is widely considered the fastest growing sport globally........ that combines elements of tennis and squash, played on an enclosed court about one-third the size of a tennis court........ its rapid growth is attributed to its accessibility and sociable nature leading to a boom in player numbers and the construction of new courts worldwide.

only ever achieved a par 25...... but in general try to use municipal sports facilities which offer generous rates for folks 60 plus.

but have noticed a surge in golf clubs in my coastal region which are new 9 hole courses...... which appear attractive in booking online and fit in better with peoples free time and pockets.

MOT

How many play golf in any country on the globe is an irrelevance to the reason I started the thread.

My reason was to call out the xenophobic, racist and ***ist behaviour of the so-called "fans" of the American team aimed at the European team, the players, caddies and family members.

I'd suggest that the absence of any criticism of such behaviour by those who share their place of residence, if not necessarily their view, is significant.

[MrsORichSenior_]

How many play golf in any country on the globe is an irrelevance to the reason I started the thread.

My reason was to call out the xenophobic, racist and ***ist behaviour of the so-called "fans" of the American team aimed at the European team, the players, caddies and family members.

I'd suggest that the absence of any criticism of such behaviour by those who share their place of residence, if not necessarily their view, is significant.

i wanted to place the emphasis onto golf as a sport nowadays ....... as the thread was getting ugly between you and Spaldy who i know have certain strong opinions....... on a range of matters.

i played twice weekly at Golf de La Gloriette in Tours where i used to live........ 2 hours spent playing next to the Loire river..........but should have spent more time in the practice nets........ but young kids and work etc....... never had the time to lower the handicap......... great times.

but always prefered more physical endurance sports that tested my metal...... as a kid loved to box at St Pats gym in Leeds........ where discipline and code of conduct mattered....... not today in boxing as fighters antics and rowdy crowds are the norm....... i also love road cycling on my bike.... another sport with issues and rowdy spectators..... ultimate point is lines must be drawn which i agree with you........ but i feel lines must also be drawn on here....... as the forum comes first and should not be a place that becomes rowdy as it can put folks off......

MOT

[WTF11]

i wanted to place the emphasis onto golf as a sport nowadays ....... as the thread was getting ugly between you and Spaldy who i know have certain strong opinions....... on a range of matters.

i played twice weekly at Golf de La Gloriette in Tours where i used to live........ 2 hours spent playing next to the Loire river..........but should have spent more time in the practice nets........ but young kids and work etc....... never had the time to lower the handicap......... great times.

but always prefered more physical endurance sports that tested my metal...... as a kid loved to box at St Pats gym in Leeds........ where discipline and code of conduct mattered....... not today in boxing as fighters antics and rowdy crowds are the norm....... i also love road cycling on my bike.... another sport with issues and rowdy spectators..... ultimate point is lines must be drawn which i agree with you........ but i feel lines must also be drawn on here....... as the forum comes first and should not be a place that becomes rowdy as it can put folks off......

MOT

Remains an irrelevance and a somewhat naive attmempt to defuse a significant discussion.

Current US emotion as expressed by the MAGA community makes it less likely that sporting events held in the USA will be a celebration of sporting achievement by those from across the globe. Instead they will be more portrayed as events that either support.or confront a mysoginist, right wing, white is right semantic.

Just saying

[WTF11]

i wanted to place the emphasis onto golf as a sport nowadays ....... as the thread was getting ugly between you and Spaldy who i know have certain strong opinions....... on a range of matters.

i played twice weekly at Golf de La Gloriette in Tours where i used to live........ 2 hours spent playing next to the Loire river..........but should have spent more time in the practice nets........ but young kids and work etc....... never had the time to lower the handicap......... great times.

but always prefered more physical endurance sports that tested my metal...... as a kid loved to box at St Pats gym in Leeds........ where discipline and code of conduct mattered....... not today in boxing as fighters antics and rowdy crowds are the norm....... i also love road cycling on my bike.... another sport with issues and rowdy spectators..... ultimate point is lines must be drawn which i agree with you........ but i feel lines must also be drawn on here....... as the forum comes first and should not be a place that becomes rowdy as it can put folks off......

MOT

Pouring oil on troubled waters rarely brings.a positive outcome, more often a simmering mix of explosive emotions and sentiment.

Pandering to those who would seek to impose their view on how society should behave and/or how the people should kow tow to their governments have less than positive precedents, as Vichy French should kwniw all too well.