2017 PGA in North Carolina

[Gary Sato]

It appears this is being swept under the rug in the golf community.  CBS nor the PGA are discussing it???


The NBA pulled next years All Star game (costing the state an estimated $100 million) due to the law which limits anti discrimination protection for gays etc.

[Jason Thurman]

The NBA knows its audience. The PGA does too.

[noonan]

It appears this is being swept under the rug in the golf community.  CBS nor the PGA are discussing it???


The NBA pulled next years All Star game (costing the state an estimated $100 million) due to the law which limits anti discrimination protection for gays etc.

It is about the transgender bathrooms.


If I identify as a pro golfer will they let me enter

[Carl Johnson]

Two local (Charlotte) newspaper articles about the 2017 PGA Tournament and the HB2 issue;


http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article91263937.html


http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/other-sports/article92157607.html


By the way, I haven't actually read either of them, but still I thought some of you might be interested.

[Jon Cavalier]

In fairness, Charlotte (the site of the venue for the 2017 PGA) passed the law granting LGBT protections than then triggered the state to pass the regressive law banning municipalities from enacting those kinds of laws.

So it does make some sense to keep the event. Not that this was PGAs motivation for doing so, but nevertheless...

[William_G]

not a stellar site for the PGA...so hopefully a one and done

[Tim_Cronin]

The PGA of America only moves a PGA Championship when the attorney general of a state threatens to sanction them. See 1962, Brentwood CC to Aronimink CC.

[Matt_Cohn]

The PGA of America only moves a PGA Championship when the attorney general of a state threatens to sanction them. See 1962, Brentwood CC to Aronimink CC.

I had to look this one up. From Wikipedia:


"This championship was originally scheduled for Brentwood Country Club in Los Angeles,[6][7] the first in California since1929. In November 1960, the PGA of America had voted to retain its "caucasian only" clause, and had gained the ire of California's attorney general Stanley Mosk, who threatened to shut down the PGA in the state until the clause was removed. In response, the championship for 1962 was moved from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. The PGA of America dropped the clause in November 1961 by amending its constitution."

[Carl Johnson]

Two local (Charlotte) newspaper articles about the 2017 PGA Tournament and the HB2 issue;


http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article91263937.html


http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/other-sports/article92157607.html


By the way, I haven't actually read either of them, but still I thought some of you might be interested.

Oral arguments are being heard today (Mon., Aug. 1, 2016) on challenges to HB2.  The case is before the same Federal District Court Judge who o.k.'ed North Carolina's voting law changes as racially nondiscriminatory, but then had his decision recently overturned (on the basis that the laws were, in fact, racially discriminatory in intent) by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.  http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article93020547.html

[Joel_Stewart]

Carl:


Those are good articles.  It's a weak argument that the PGA is taking stating the club is private and can do what it wants. Even the chairman of the club calls the law a train wreck.


The PGA is spineless on this issue but that shouldn't surprise anyone.  Kudos to the NBA.

[Cliff Hamm]

http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/pga-championship-2017-pga-america-turned-its-back-its-own-mission


Not to mention that the PGA and USGA continue to have tournaments scheduled at Trump courses.  Grow the game? Don't be exclusionary? Change the elitist image of golf?

[Brad Hill]

PGA of America always has Valhalla as an emergency venue should they ever need one.

[A.G._Crockett]

It is worth mentioning, I think, that the transgender bathroom issue is only the headliner of HB2; there is quite a bit of other stuff in the bill, and the other provisions are arguably more far-reaching and potentially impact rather larger numbers of people.  Some of the other provisions might also be of even more dubious constitutionality as well.

FWIW, I have heard NO talk here in NC about the PGA being moved; the possible relocation of the NBA All-Star game was a discussion point almost immediately.  I don't know if that is significant or not.