Congress Doesn't Seem to Like Golf Much

First, Congress didn't include golf course in the bill that responded to the devastation from Hurricane Katrina.  Ok, there are more important things to rebuilding a city than golf courses.  I can live with that.  But, I was kind of offended when it was classified in the same category as casinos and "massage parlors."

Then, Congress expressly excluded golf courses from consideration for receiving stimulus funds.  Long story short, that means that golf course owners couldn't get in on the very strong guaranteed financing promised to other small businesses around the country.

And now, a Democratic Congressman from Virginia wants to talk away the right for Viagra - or any other boner pill maker - to run their commericals on the air before 10PM at night.  CNN reports:

Democratic Rep. Jim Moran introduced the "Families for ED Advertising Decency Act," which prevents erectile dysfunction and male enhancement ads from appearing on radio and television between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

"This [the advertisements] is an intrusion into our daily lives that I believe has become inappropriate." Moran said in an interview with CNN. "There is a saturation of the television airwaves with these E.D. ads, and they have gotten more pervasive, more blunt, and less subtle."

If you have watched golf in the past 10 years, you know that this is a blow directly aimed at golf.  Cialis sponsored the Western Open for crying out loud!  It is the presenting sponsor of Golf Channel's coverage of the PGA Tour!  Viagra commercials always show up on golf telecasts.  Hell, they even reference their print ad in GOLF DIGEST!

Quite frankly, I've had it with Congress stiffing golf.  Pun intended.  But, the golf industry is actually taking this series of slights - boner pills excluded - pretty seriously.  The two head honchos of the PGA of America are coming to Washington next week to meet with politicians on National Golf Day (didn't know that existed, I will be taking off that day since golf is a religion).  They're also circulating a petition to golfers that indicates their support for golf and the golf industry.