JUST SAY NO!

Golf is not a sport and PGA TOUR players are not athletes. Isn’t that the debate that has gone on for many years in the media? If you were fortunate enough to experience the US Amateur at Oakmont in person in 2003, you know these young players are indeed athletes, and the thought of golf not being a sport is absurd.

It is because of these young athletes that we decided to look into steroids in golf. We are not so concerned about the PGA TOUR, however; if they do or don’t, it won’t mean a whole lot to most of us. Rather, we are focusing our attention on the hundreds of local players that are trying to make it in golf.

Many young athletes feel the pressure of trying to gain a competitive advantage. The fact that young athletes are so concerned with gaining an edge should be alarming to us all. As young golfers try to advance in their career, they often are competing with players who are consistently out-driving them by 50 yards or more. It can be frustrating having to approach a green with an 8-iron, compared to a playing partner approaching with a wedge. Working on mental toughness, taking proper instruction and hard practice should be the only focus of these young players.

Our greatest concern is with the young players who want so desperately to achieve greatness in a game where

God-given ability is quite possibly more important than training. Genetics, positive attitude and an early introduction to the game could be the key elements to the making of a great young player.

Look at Alexis Thompson from Coral Springs, Florida. At the time she played in the Women’s US Open she was in seventh grade. She was the youngest player to ever compete in the event. At just 13, the thought of steroids is not even a consideration when you think of this young star. What else could it be other than God-given talent and the combination of natural ability and mental toughness?

As with Thompson and the other young, aspiring golfers, it is time to eliminate the thought of illegal substances before they ever become and issue. Taking steroids without an intense training program would do very little to help an athlete. Not too many young golfers are interested in working out in a gym for 2-3 hours a day. After all, when would they have time to practice playing golf, play video games and just be kids?

Random drug testing comes to the LPGA at the beginning of the 2008 season, in late 2008 for the PGA TOUR and the Nationwide TOUR, and in 2009 for the Champions TOUR. The testing couldn’t have come at a better time with the Mitchell Report announcing that 90 Major League Baseball players have allegedly used performance-enhancing drugs.

Golf is the only game—make that “sport”—that competitors call penalties on themselves. Legendary Bobby Jones wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Cheating at golf, on the course or off, should never come into question and would simply tarnish the reputation of this great sport.

Take the time to talk to your children about the harm steroids and performance-enhancing drugs can have on the human body. Take the time to educate yourself and help young athletes understand what long-term harm these drugs could cause. This sport we all love is made from tradition, honesty and dedication to the history of the game. Nothing is quite like it and when Tiger Woods was asked his thoughts on the upcoming testing and he said, “I certainly don’t think it can hurt the game.”

Woods is correct. How could testing of illegal substances hurt the game? Maybe we should ask the players who are using recreational drugs that question. An illegal drug is exactly that—illegal. These professionals should be role models, and, if they are caught using illegal drugs (of any sort), they should be punished.

The balls and the clubs are certainly “juiced” enough to give a talented player everything they need to consistently drive the ball over 300-yards. What more could you ask for?