Black Players

No this isn't going to be a controversial post, its mainly about an observation. We had a similar post back on the old beeb site, so thought I'd bring it back to life - if only to keep scarpa happy

At my club we have had 2 black members, which have both moved elsewhere, but not through anything unsavoury, just down to finances I believe. But I have to say that for some reason there doesn't seem to be a proliferation of black golfers. I'm in the north west and play regular in north Yorkshire, but rarley see anything other than white faces on the course. This may be different in other parts of the country I don't know, and in no way am I trying to make this into a racist post. The 2 players mentioned earlier were both great lads, and one of them was brilliant for some of the club charity events, as he always went the extra mile donating things for raffles etc. I played with them both quite a lot and had great fun.

Am I wrong in my perceptions and just not noticing them, or is there a cultural element involved or something else. With club membership on the wane due to economic circumstances, would it be an idea to sell the game differently, to attract membership from different cultures. Do they already have a perception about golf, and the way golf clubs are run, that makes them not want anything to do with it?

Surely this thread should be transferred to the 'dark side?'...

Ouch, Blue. Wanting to push Mac's buttons by any chance

Not at all Grumps, more than happy to leave that task in the capable hands of SR and Merc!

Is this down to demographics. Im assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that a fairly large percentage of black men live in inner city areas. Certainly I see a lot more black people in London than I do where I live out in the sticks, even in Surbiton this was the case.
Are people who live in inner cities, especially London, likely to be golf club members ? Accessability is an issue, not many courses in teh middle of large towns.
Im sure there are other cultural, even financial issues but perhaps location is part of it.

I know lots of players of indian sikh origin and other areas from that part of the world.

But very few black guys. In fact I can only think of one that I've ever seen playing the game. And he was only into it through being a greenkeeper.

Even in inner city areas like Bradford, Leeds, manchester etc, there are plenty of courses around. Leeds is a classic case, because i'm from there originally, and one of the main 'black areas' of leeds has a big Minicapal course called Roundhay in the middle of it. Theres also another huge muni course at Temple Newsome and another at Gotts Park, as welll as plenty of other courses on the doorstep. Bradford is the same as there are plenty in and around these areas, so I would assume it has to be a cultural thing.

I remeber the days that Yorkshire cricket could only have yorkshiremen in the team, and that was not so long ago. YCC changed things when they went for their first overseas player, and brought over a very young Sachin Tendulkar, who was brilliant and we all know what he's done over the years. YCC realised that they were losing out on not involving the sub-continental fans who were in the county in huge numbers. They made a concious effort to involve these communities, because cricket is actually their preffered sport. Gradually memebership at the county club rose substantially as these fans were invloved.

Does golf need to do something to attract members from these people? I would hazzard a guess that there are plenty of them who love watching golf on tv.

It doesnt seem to me that golf makes much of a concious effort to capture anyone really. To many clubs stuck in theor ways, not wanting to change with the times, rigid dress codes, rigid membership structures. Completely out of touch with teh modern world and modern business practise in the leisure industry.
If a lot of clubs go to the wall they will have nobody to blame but themselves.

My club had a guy from Sri Lanka as a Captain a few years ago.

super_realist wrote:My club had a guy from Sri Lanka as a Captain a few years ago.

S-R I would guess that it was very unusual wasn't it, as I would guess theres not many ethnic's up in Scotland compared to England. Plenty of Italian and Greeks maybe

Doc wrote:

super_realist wrote:My club had a guy from Sri Lanka as a Captain a few years ago.

S-R I would guess that it was very unusual wasn't it, as I would guess theres not many ethnic's up in Scotland compared to England. Plenty of Italian and Greeks maybe

The scots are an ethnic minority anyway. Or if not they should be reduced in numbers until they are.

Doc wrote:

super_realist wrote:My club had a guy from Sri Lanka as a Captain a few years ago.

S-R I would guess that it was very unusual wasn't it, as I would guess theres not many ethnic's up in Scotland compared to England. Plenty of Italian and Greeks maybe

Depends where you live. Percentages are perhaps not as high as England, but fairly numerous in the cities, less so in rural areas.
I imagine he's one of few ethnic minorities to have held such a role in the UK, perhaps a dozen or so. Pretty poor really.

There certainly appears to be more black players this year at my club. Don't know if that was related to a local political situation being resolved or whether they were there all along and we just played at different times.

I think that in most cases you can tell in the bar. That's usually a fairly typical section of a clubs demographic. Even if certain people never step foot in the place.

LondonJonnyO wrote:I think that in most cases you can tell in the bar. That's usually a fairly typical section of a clubs demographic. Even if certain people never step foot in the place.

Our club house has been closed for a year and a half so in my case not really

sounds like you need a rebate on your subs! Or at the very least a discount at the local boozer.

I think that the mix of ethnicity at our club probably reflects that of the surrounding area - rural Wiltshire equates to a majority of white UK residents. I can think of a couple of black guys who are members, and one of my regular playing partners is a lady from the Philippines. Quite a few of the greenies and gardeners are Polish, but I'm not aware of any Polish members as yet.

Last year a few people from another forum came down to play at my club, and one of the guys was a Sikh, who played in his turban. This did cause a few people to do a discreet double take, but I think that was because it was probably a first for the club, rather than anything racial.

Doc wrote:
At my club we have had 2 black members, which have both moved elsewhere,...

Hmmm. There's your answer, I think.

Had an e-mail today announcing that one of the guys I mentioned is Captain elect for this year. His Captain's year should be good, as he is a very friendly guy and I'm sure he will get lots of people involved in the comps.

smithersjones wrote:

Doc wrote:
At my club we have had 2 black members, which have both moved elsewhere,...

Hmmm. There's your answer, I think.

Smithers, the 2 guys left for reasons nothing to do with what your insinuating. One moved jobs and the other lost his job, and plays elsewhere. Both were well thought of and liked

Doc, i have a feeling SJ is referring to the use of the word 'which' rather than 'who', inferring the black gentlemen to be objects rather than folk.

A bit pedantic but i think that's what he's trying to say. I may be well wide of the mark though!

MustPuttBetter wrote:Doc, i have a feeling SJ is referring to the use of the word 'which' rather than 'who', inferring the black gentlemen to be objects rather than folk.

A bit pedantic but i think that's what he's trying to say. I may be well wide of the mark though!

Spot on, mpb.