Walking the course will soon be something of the past LAST week's ruling by the US Supreme Court that disabled golfer Casey Martin can use a cart to move around the golf course in PGA tournaments seems destined to change the game. It should not be long before all golfers on the PGA Tour will be using carts to get around.
The ruling, based on the 1990 Americans with Disability Act that bans discrimination against the disabled in public accommodations, including golf courses and entertainment sites, followed a vote of seven for and two against. Martin has difficulty walking because of a congenital leg problem, and after listening to those against talking about the importance of walking the course during a tournament, the court, in coming to its decision, stated that walking is not a fundamental part of the sport. The majority of golfers interviewed, however, do not agree. According to them, walking is a part of the game, it is a test of stamina, and regardless of the reasons, to allow anyone to ride around in a cart is to give that person an advantage. Jack Nicklaus is one of those who do not agree. "I think we ought to take them all out and play golf" said the old master. "I think they'd change their minds. I promise you, it's fundamental." As a test of stamina, walking is an important part of the game, but although it is harder when you walk than when you ride, it has nothing to do with the skills of the game. On top of that, the law is the law, golf, as far as the PGA Tour is concerned, is a professional sport, and once he is good enough to be a part of it, a player should not be barred because he is disabled. The concern, therefore, should not be about riding in a cart while playing the Tour, but rather about some being allowed to ride in a cart while others are walking. Disabled or not, those riding in carts must have an advantage over those walking the course. As Marty Parkes, senior director of communications in the US Golf Association, has said, however, there is also another problem. The problem is this: Who is going to determine who is disabled or not, or what disabilities warrant the use of a cart? There is also another one. What if a player sprained an ankle during a tournament and wanted to use a cart? The ruling is bound to bring out other disabled golfers, the more there are, the more those who walk will want to ride; and on top of that, as the night follows the day there will be an increasing number of golfers who are going to turn up on the third and fourth days, between the 37th tee and 72nd hole, with sprained ankles, sore knees and aching backs and who will want to use a cart. In order to prevent confusion and more court cases, the PGA will be forced to level the field. It won't be long, therefore, before those who want to ride will be allowed to do so, and shortly after that everyone, including Steve Pate and Frank Nobilo who share Nicklaus' sentiments, and Hal Sutton who also shares those sentiments and is also suffering from back problems, will be riding a golf cart around the course on the PGA Tour. Tony Becca
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