Will USGA Move U.S. Women's Open From Trump Bedminster?

Before I share highlights from two different calls on the USGA to move the 2017 U.S. Women's Open at Trump Bedminster, for the record I asked the USGA for comment on Sunday given the latest revelations of "locker room talk" and still have not received a reply back from the organization.

The predicament is obvious given the lack of time between now and the July Women's Open, along with the possibility of Donald Trump becoming the 45th president of the United States. Still, it's rather unusual to ignore media outlets asking for comment. Furthermore, USGA Executive Director Mike Davis, who was scheduled to appear on Morning Drive next week as part of its junior golf-themed programming, has cancelled due to a "scheduling conflict."

Since the USGA has already condemned the man for previous statements, it would seem that paying their way onto another course might be an understandable use of their massive $400 million-plus war chest. But with Trump Bedminster just down the street from Far Hills headquarters and some USGA employees holding memberships there, apparently making a change is more difficult for the organization than most can fathom.

When contacted, former USGA Executive Director David Fay said that while he's no longer there dealing with the dynamics involved and can't speak to the dynamics of the current Executive Committee, he says, "I'd like to think that I would be actively seeking out a replacement course."

And I think we can be pretty sure how our late friend Frank Hannigan would feel.

In a front page USA Today column, Christine Brennan says the USGA is facing "a terrible problem" in facing the "dreadful reality of holding the world's most important women's golf championship" at Trump Bedminster.

It must be moved. A Trump golf course, no matter how beautiful and centrally located it might be, cannot play host to an event that is the crown jewel of a women’s sport, with competitors from around the world — not after all the awful things Trump has said about minorities, immigrants and women, culminating in the lewd and disgusting video that was made public last Friday.

Steve Politi at NJ.com wonders "what will it take" and "has to finally happen for the United States Golf Association to wake up and move one of its signature events — the U.S. Women's Open — from Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster?"

Politi did not receive a returned call from the USGA.

I called a USGA spokesman on Tuesday morning to see what, exactly, the Far Hills-based organization is thinking. The call, not surprisingly, still hasn't been returned 48 hours later.

Thinking? If USGA officials had been thinking at all, they would have moved this event the moment Trump declared his candidacy and made his offensive comments about Mexicans. They joined golf's other governing bodies then in a tepid anti-Trump statement.

Politi also predicted the USGA would fall back on logistics as its reasoning for not moving:

Still: It must find a way. New Jersey is home to several championship-level courses with a history hosting big events. Hamilton Farm is eight miles away from Trump National and has hosted LPGA events before. Canoe Brook, Ridgewood, Plainfield — all great courses, all tournament tested.

Hosting a less-than-perfect tournament is better than hosting one on Trump's course. When the USGA announced in 2015 that it was adding a U.S Women's Senior Open to its list of events, officials bragged about its role in growing the sport for women.

Sen. John McCain, one of the country's most prominent Republicans, dropped his support of Trump when that recording became public. So have countless of others. When will the USGA? What will it take?