Life is too short to spend it on Morning Read
Alas, all good things apparently must end. It's kind of like that feeling I get mid-16th fairway of a great day, knowing my round will end soon.
I've been playing golf for the past 40-plus years to enjoy a challenge, the great outdoors and for a several-hour break from the hectic pace of society.
Unfortunately, Morning Read insists on invading my safe place of golf with the politics of the day (“It’s beginning of end for Donald Trump’s golf empire,” Jan. 12). I can no longer put up with this intrusion into a very important part of my life.
You can keep your politics and impose your views on the “sheeple” who look the other way of your clear bias. I'm done with interruptions to my glorious pastime. Life is too short for your interruptions of political nonsense.
Roger Suchy
Roselle, Ill.
Upon further review …
Like many others, I wrote in and lambasted Alex Miceli over his recent left-wing rant about President Donald Trump. Upon reflection, I decided that the PGA of America is taking the correct action, because the 2022 PGA Championship would have been disrupted and tarnished by protests and also by Trump’s showing off in his normal manner (“PGA of America pulls 2022 PGA from Donald Trump,” Jan. 12).
What I am writing about today is just to say that Miceli struck the right tone in Tuesday’s commentary (“It’s beginning of end for Donald Trump’s golf empire,” Jan. 12).
He certainly has a right to his political views just as we all do, but he presented the facts of the situation in an even-handed manner, and I agree with everything he said.
John Abercrombie
Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Well done, Miceli and Morning Read
Thank you, Alex Miceli and Morning Read, for this editorial regarding President Donald Trump’s continued involvement in golf (“It’s beginning of end for Donald Trump’s golf empire,” Jan. 12).
As much as I love golf, I love my country more.
Peter Rosenfeld
Albany, Calif.
Shame on Morning Read
Interestingly, I always thought golf might be the last respite from politics. True, me and my buddies discuss politics during a round, but generally our rounds are about camaraderie, enjoying the beautiful outdoors and trying to improve our games.
Sadly, I find the slanted view by Morning Read to be as biased as that of CNN, The New York Times and others. Does bashing President Donald Trump really have to be part of the golf commentary?
Shame on you for taking such a biased political view (“It’s beginning of end for Donald Trump’s golf empire,” Jan. 12).
Up to this point, I have enjoyed Morning Read, but given this shamefully biased politicizing, I surely will unsubscribe and encourage my golf friends to do the same. I am so offended and disappointed in your enjoyment in bashing the president.
George Hargrove
Charlotte, N.C.
Separating politics from golf isn’t that easy
Several readers have responded that they would prefer to keep politics apart from sports and specifically separate out of Morning Read (“From the Morning Read inbox,” Jan. 11; Jan. 12). I believe this may not be possible.
Sports are an integral part of our lives, and congressional action can alter this passion in not so obvious ways. For example, when the tax laws changed to suppress business lunch deductions, club memberships took a small hit.
As citizens of this democracy, we must fulfill our civic duty by continually educating ourselves about our elected leaders and what they believe. Sports do not exist in a vacuum. We might play golf to escape from the pressures of life, but at the end of our round, reality bites again.
I applaud all the respondents to Morning Read for stating their case about President Donald Trump. Healthy dialog can hopefully lead to understanding and compromise.
Good luck to our next commander in chief; he has quite a job in front him. How many rounds will he be able to squeeze in? I peg the over/under at 24.
Ken Chojnacki
Delran, N.J.
Keep playing it down the middle, Morning Read
Thank you, Morning Read, for remaining balanced in your evaluations of the effect that President Donald Trump has had on golf and the game’s reaction to him.
Golf is a conservative sport, and Morning Read often takes flak for its positions from the right and the left (“From the Morning Read inbox,” Jan. 11; Jan. 12). I see that as evidence that Morning Read is doing well.
Please keep holding us all accountable for our opinions and actions as they relate to the health and future of golf. And, hopefully, this crisis, too, will pass.
Rich Jepsen
Alameda, Calif.
Proper focus
The R&A comment was appropriate (“It’s beginning of end for Donald Trump’s golf empire,” Jan. 12).
It wants the focus to be on the tournament, the course and the players.
Paul Golabowski
Noblesville, Ind.
Looking forward to a future without Trump in golf
Actions need to have consequences.
I’m truly happy that the golf community at large finally has stood up and held President Donald Trump accountable (“PGA of America pulls 2022 PGA from Donald Trump,” Jan. 12).
Having worked as a golf tour operator, I have played several of the fantastic golf courses that he acquired, though none in the past four years. I’m looking forward to the moment when he will need to sell them to pay his debts so the focus will be on golf, instead of Trump, at Turnberry, Doral, et al.
Andreas Körösi
Stockholm
Follow the money
Well done, PGA of America. It took you awhile, but you got it right (“PGA of America pulls 2022 PGA from Donald Trump,” Jan. 12).
Is that because there is no money at stake?
Years ago, when golf was on the decline, Donald Trump was a bailout option. Now, what about China? Can’t go there? Too much dough on the line? Morals or money? You pick.
Tony DeMarco
Gig Harbor, Wash.
Ah, those were the days for 'this e-rag'
When I read the headline “Golf needs to take a stand against Donald Trump,” I knew who wrote it before I opened the article.
I have read this e-rag since it started. Keep politics out. It was a wonderful read before you changed your format and brought politics in.
Greg Gardner
Salem, N.H.
Golf is no place for Trump
I agree with keeping President Donald Trump out of golf as much as possible. Kudos to the PGA of America and the R&A (“PGA of America pulls 2022 PGA from Donald Trump,” Jan. 12).
Are you listening, USGA, Augusta National and all professional tours?
His reputation and known cheating at the game run contrary to everything those administering the game try to teach youngsters and newcomers.
I have had the privilege of being in the golf business for more than 50 years. We don’t need someone like Trump involved.
Denny Davenport
Geneva, Ill.
(Davenport, the former executive director of the Chicago District Golf Association and the former executive director of the Northern California Golf Association, is president of Davenport Consulting.)
Miceli is beating the wrong drum
Alex Miceli must be proud to be the drum beater for the voice of golf (“It’s beginning of end for Donald Trump’s golf empire,” Jan. 12).
He can get an “attaboy” from his friends and fellow golf writers, but he seemed to have forgotten his most important audience: his readers.
I don't read or subscribe for takes on political views that I can read in other publications. I chose Morning Read because of its fine golf writers.
Step back and think more about the publication and its subscribers.
Chris Ferrara
Pittsburgh
Trash-talking
The best line in Alex Miceli's article is that "golf is a gentleman's game, and [President Donald] Trump has proved that he falls far short of that quality" (“It’s beginning of end for Donald Trump’s golf empire,” Jan. 12).
Also, that "golf can wait no longer for the 74-year-old to grow up."
Good riddance to rubbish.
Ken Horn
San Antonio
Miceli veers out of bounds
I respect Alex Miceli and his right to his opinions on the political scene, but I do not wish to read it in a golf column (“It’s beginning of end for Donald Trump’s golf empire,” Jan. 12).
Bill Robischon
Tequesta, Fla.
Please return to sender
I know that Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player were not born in the U.S., but in listening to them, I think they are great people, outside of golf.
I would request that each returns the Presidential Medal of Freedom (“3 luminaries win Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Jan. 8). The man who bestowed them Thursday incited an insurrection only one day earlier. American politics aside, the reputations of Sorenstam and Player will be tarnished only very slightly in my eyes if they don’t.
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is a staunch Donald Trump supporter and declined the medal this week.
Sorenstam and Player should do the right thing and send the medals back.
Roger Clark
Hilton Head Island, S.C.
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