"But we did notice that at this year's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines that the public authorities there in San Diego banned smoking in the public areas."
Ty Votaw, while speaking for the PGA Tour on a number of subjects, was asked about banning smoking at PGA Tour events.
"We certainly had conversations and discussions with John in the past when certain behavioral issues have come up," Votaw said. "We hope to not have many more of those conversations."
Votaw also said the tour has no plans to ban smoking at events, as has been done at the venues of some other sports.
"We play our sport on an expanse of geography that's a little bit different than contained stadium situations," he said. "But we did notice that at this year's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines that the public authorities there in San Diego banned smoking in the public areas."
And it was wonderful not to smell that rancid odor created by grown men sucking on a bobcat turd.
Seriously, the smell I and others connect with the tour stop at Riviera is not the wonderful eucalyptus scent or that distinctive acacia fragance that floats through the property in February. No, it's cigar smoke. Not a nice connection.
I'm setting 2010 in the PGA Tour bans smoking over/under. Place your wagers!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 06:34 PM
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Reader Comments (11)
Honest to God, Geoff, who are the others and how did all of you wind up so short changed in the game of life that you have to suffer through a Riviera that does not smell of eucalyptus? I don't even smoke and I too hate the smell of cigars, but........I mean.......c'mon.
IMO, the WORST part of golf is the UNEXPLAINABLE connection that some "men" have to reach for a stinkbomb, I mean cigar when they play golf...
Maybe they think they're getting away with behavior that their wives won't tolerate at home....
These guys are frequently the same ones that you see relieving themselves on a tree somewhere on the back nine....
They detract from the pleasant enjoyment of a day on the links for everyone...especially you, JA - you're the biggest tree-pisser of them all...
the notion that smoking should be banned outdoors seems ridiculous to me. while i'm generally suspicious of global statements re: political correctness, we seem to be clamoring for things lately that orwell would have had trouble making up as parody of life in a totalitarian state/farm. i find that a little dispiriting.
and for the "ulterior motives crowd," i am a non-smoker, and not on titleist's --or philip morris's -- payroll.
frankD
frankD
i.e., it is a slap against all that is holy in golf that the eucalyptus trees should not easily be smelt (i wonder if cologne and perfume should be banned as well?); and the items smoked by the philistines are ugly in that they resemble wildlife scat (which we are not confronted with at riv - other than in the mouths of evildoers -- because of all the pesticide runoff, etc, i guess).
Your right to wave your arms about ends at the point where they contact my nose. If the guy next to you was blaring hip-hop at high volume, would you argue on behalf of his right to enjoy music?
Fwiw, when someone in my foursome asks if I mind if he smokes, cigarette or cigar, I've never said yes I mind. I'd rather he didn't, but I appreciate the asking.
I say we let people smoke all they want - so long as they can somehow contain every bit of their smoke within their personal space. As soon as their smoke comes into my personal space, it's an issue of courtesy (and the lack thereof).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrZwAyToxwA