Cassie Stein files an in-depth report on an incident Monday in which Oregon golf coach Casey Martin was denied the use of a golf cart at the U.S. Junior qualifier in Oceanside.
It seems the USGA contacted the host regional golf association, the SCGA, to ask Martin to give up the cart.
“I’ve never felt more discriminated against or unfairly taken advantage of in my entire life,” Martin told Golfweek that evening.
Pawlak said the USGA contacted the tournament and asked that Martin not use a cart.
“He wasn’t happy about it,” Pawlak said, “but he accepted it.”
When contacted by Golfweek for comment, the USGA issued a statement:
"The United States Golf Association has been and continues to be a strong supporter of Casey Martin. The unfortunate situation at the U.S. Junior qualifier stems from a misunderstanding over the USGA Cart Policy at our championship events. We regret that this misunderstanding may have caused Casey an inconvenience, but it certainly was unintentional. We have extended to Casey accommodations that we offer all disabled spectators at our championships. Despite this unfortunate situation, we continue to admire what Casey has been able to accomplish in the game as both a player and a coach."
The rules are quite clear that carts are not allowed for spectators at USGA events and that one-person scooters will be made available on a first-come basis. However, if those are not available or the course runs out, it would seem logical to grant the use of a cart to one of the few handicapped people on the planet trying to spectate a USGA qualifier, no?