The Tiger Effect - Has There Been Any

before we start this is a serious question, and in no way racist!!

When Tiger first came on the scene it was a remarkable seachange in golf. Firstly he was the first black person we had seen at Augusta not wearing white overalls. Secondly he was telegenic and a personable character which did much to get rid of the American steroetypical image, and thirdly he was a phenomonen and brilliantly skillful player.

I fully expected to see more black players make the breakthrough onto the main tours, but that seems not to have materialised, even though Tiger has been the most famouse sportsman on the planet. There are a handful of black golfers at my club, but is it a cultural thing as to why we are not seeing more prominent players. I accept that the 'red neck' yank will always have a problem which could answer the question state side, but is the UK golf club perception also hindering things?

First of all, I don't see and racist issue with the post, I think it answer a frank and honest queston and a good one at that.

I too expceted to see a change to, yet at the clubs i've been a member at in that time there has been no change whatsoever, I cannot even see why. There are as you say a handful of members to at my place but no youngsters which is a shame and where the new talent will come from.

Doc wrote:Firstly he was the first black person we had seen at Augusta not wearing white overalls.

I believe you need to remind yourself of Calvin Peete.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Peete#Results_in_major_championships

Good call LJ, but you get my drift It's not happened and just wondering why it hasn't. The States would be easier to explain knowing the way many of the individual states feel about 'African Americans', indeed there are plenty of States who are anti-whitehouse due to having a black president. Yes it's a generalisation but a valid one.

I just can't understand why there aren't more black players in the UK, after all things are not as bad over here and minorities are well catered for in all walks of life. So is it that there are still clubs where black players are not welcome? or is it something within there own make up that keeps them away from golf.

I suspect it's still a case of the older generation not thinking it's something open to them due to the insular nature of clubs in the past... and the youngsters not wanting to play even though Tiger is such a "celebrity".

I've known with a few black guys who play... but mostly they are in the upper echelons of society and as such are not really representative of a group as a whole. To them it's more of a business thing.

Besides. The black community is still very much an urban centric group for one reason or another. And there are less facilities for golf in the centre of the large urban areas.

LondonJonnyO wrote:I suspect it's still a case of the older generation not thinking it's something open to them due to the insular nature of clubs in the past... and the youngsters not wanting to play even though Tiger is such a "celebrity".

I've known with a few black guys who play... but mostly they are in the upper echelons of society and as such are not really representative of a group as a whole. To them it's more of a business thing.

Besides. The black community is still very much an urban centric group for one reason or another. And there are less facilities for golf in the centre of the large urban areas.

Those are the key points indeed, as LJ says the guys at my place to see it as a business thing to help promote their companies and are not as serious as others, the bigger issue than why are they not playing golf is how can we get them interested in it and playing as clearly the TW effect is not enough

Maybe Mac should answer this question: Mac a 7 foot black drug dealer

A very strange state of affairs though and i agree with LJ on the business aspect and only in the higher echelons, as even that seems to be because the golf course is where a lot of business gets done. They are predominant in athletics football and cricket. being a Yorkshireman I remember the days when we only picked Yorkshire born players, which was a joke when some of the best cricketers in Yorkshire were pakistani and Indian ethnics, but were never made welcome. Thats changed as you would expect, but for some reason it's not made a difference in Golf.

Is it really that strange?

Golf is still seen by the various urbanites as a pastime for laywers, doctors and those who live out in the suburbs.

It's seen as something less than active and usually the go to sport when you pass middle age rather than something which is healthy and fun to play. It also takes a hell of a lot longer than a game of football or basketball.

I was thinking along the same lines as LJ.
Unless you have a parent who's into it it's unlikely you're going to get into a sport at a young age and have that sported ingrained as part of your life. Most of the 'Tiger generation' will presumably be of a similar age to Tiger himself and it will take time for them to take the game up and then in turn encourage their children at an early age.
I think Tiger will have made an impact in terms of black kids in golf but i wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see it in full for another 10 years

An increase in the rate of Tuberculosis?