Golf is a ‘gentleman’s game’?

To the editor:
    A ‘gentleman’s game’ is what they say when talking about the game of golf. I was raised to believe that and have taught my children to respect the old saying. I write today with much disappointment and sadness because the reference has been recently wronged.
    The Member-Guest Weekend has been an annual event in my life for 30 years. The tournament is held every Labor Day weekend. Members ask a guest to play for two days at the Houlton Community Golf Course and most accept the invitation without hesitation. From an employee’s perspective I can say honestly it was the event of the summer. I loved seeing the guests that would visit and play year after year. Long after I stopped working at the club, I still looked forward to Labor Day weekend and have made many wonderful acquaintances that remain in my life today.
    I have watched my Dad, brother, husband, uncles, cousins and great friends play with much fondness over the years. My children have shared in the fun and have mentioned so often their interest in playing in the tournament one day. Foolishly, I encouraged my oldest son to do that this year with a college friend. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a big mistake. I pushed him straight into a wolves’ den.
    Despite the nice weather for golf outside, a black cloud of controversy was manifesting inside. This was no surprise; such behaviors have existed for years and will be around in the future. The difference was that my son was in the middle of the storm brewing in the clubhouse. I watched grown men lower themselves to a level of immaturity that could only be brought on by that green monster we call jealousy. Men unable to rejoice at the thought of young men joining their elite group, while keeping with tradition.
    It made me think that sharing victories with the young are apparently not welcomed by some. It embarrassed me to have to explain this conduct to my grown son and his friend who had traveled miles to play in a tournament described to them by many as the “best time ever, memories in the making.”
    To those of you who were players in this ungentlemanly act I say shame on you for tarnishing this great weekend! We will forgive but sadly will not forget the acts that played out at this venue and continue to be revisited long after the tourney ends.
    Golf tournaments will come and go; it would be nice if this experience could be used as a learning tool so not to put anyone in a situation like this again. If one chooses to make an example of another’s mistake they should perhaps take the opportunity to look at the big picture. Right the wrong that has been enabled and used by many over a long period of time. Embrace the new generation of golf talent, while teaching them the many life lessons that golf creates, otherwise the HCGC will be occupied by cobwebs, silent fairways and empty greens.
Leslie P. Gervais
New Limerick