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Casey Martin vs. PGA

© Michelle Struik

If you are a duffer, this is probably old news to you. But I'm laying odds that not a lot of you are out there spend regular time on the links.

The story is fairly simple . . . . Casey Martin is an up-and-coming golfer attempting to make his mark and gain acceptance on the Professional Golf Tour and the PGA appears to be standing in his way.

Mr. Martin was born with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, an extensive veinous malformation involving the skin and muscles of his calf and the lining around his knee joint. Blood gets down his leg, but it returns very slowly. The blood pools and his leg swells, causing chronic pain. Mr. Martin recently went to court to gain the ability to use a golf cart instead of "walking" the course, which is the accepted rule within the PGA. An interim court ruling has allowed him the usage of a golf cart for the first two tourneys in the NIKE Tour until his next court appearance, which will take place Feb. 2, 1998, at which time they will rule once and for all if the PGA will have to adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The PGA at this time is responding that, as a private and non-profit organization, it is not subject to the American Americans with Disabilities Act. The media has presented mixed perspectives on this hot debate. Some hold the view that it will open the "slippery slope" to other disabled persons attempting to gain entrance to organizations such as the NHL or the NBA. Yet others compare having a disability to having a temporary injury. NIKE, the tour sponsor, hasn't to my knowledge even released a press statement in regards to this big "news story" involving their tourney.

The PGA, some members of the media and other players on the tour have brought up the fact that using a golf cart gives Mr. Martin an advantage. They seem to miss the point that he is disadvantaged from the very start. Since Mr. Martin's disability is somewhat hidden (when playing he shows a slight limp) I think several of these people are unaware that this player had beaten so many odds just to make it this far! Comparisons with other players that lost 30 pounds and their game improved fall flat when you stop and think that wouldn't it be wonderful if that is all Mr. Martin had to do so that he may "walk the course."