Black Heart of Chicago

Well its been a wee while since I wrote a blog and I was wondering why?

Was it lack of time ? Well no.

Was it laziness ? Again no, I may be many things but never lazy.

So why ?

Well the sad truth is I fell out of love with golf!

Watching, playing, debating everything basically.

Since I got back from the states I have played once, once in 3 weeks!

I know I played a lot in the states but its not that I burned myself out while there.

The truth is the events in Chicago simply sickened me, sickened me to the pit of my stomach.

I love the honesty of golf, of golfers.

I love the etiquette. Taking your hat and sunglasses off to shake hands before and after the round. Applauding the good shots of your opponent, commiserating, well taking the piss, of their bad ones. No swearing in the clubhouse, no hats in the club house all that sort of stuff.

But most of all honour.

In Chicago honour died. In Chicago respect died. In Chicago the game I loved died.

Well in my heart at least.

As time goes on and I start to heal a little from it I hope that Chicago is never ever allowed to repeat its self.

Either we sell off our great game like a whore to the marauding masses or we claim it back.

Quite frankly those involved in the disgusting behaviour in Chicago should never be allowed into a golf tournament ever again.

If we allow drunken louts to get away with it at the Ryder cup then what change does run of the mill competitions have ?

The authorities could have, and should have, clamped down on behaviour from the out set, but chose to do nothing.

Its 2 years until the Ryder Cup takes place in Scotland, lets hope that by then some form of charter is drawn up for “acceptable” behaviour from the crowd, but given it is in Scotland I cant see crowd behaviour being an issue, can you ?

But perhaps the PGA, European Tour, and every tour for that, could start by cleaning house now.

Player behaviour, especially those players at the top, needs to be disciplined harder.

Club throwing, tantrums, spitting, rudeness etc, need to be clamped down on.

We can moan and cry about slow play and long putters as much as we like but. For me, we need to restore etiquette in the players before we can expect it from the fans.

The events of Chicago will sicken me for ever and lets hope we never see such behaviour ever again.

If you want to shout and scream like a moron then go to a football game but let us civilised people have our golf back please.