Ethnology of Golf

A detailed Summary of Ethnology of Golf

Golf makes an interesting topic for an ethnology study because it brings people together who may belong to different subgroups and joins them in a new group, that of "golfers." Playing golf has rules for the game, but there are also social rules about how to behave while playing the game. Sometimes those who belong to the group called "golfers" assume a common background among all the players, and sometimes that assumption is misplaced.

For my study I interviewed two men who play golf at a local golf club. The two men are friends and often play together. One man is 34 and a graduate of Washington University. He is married with one child. He has played golf since he was 12, and is Caucasian. The other man is named George. He is 32 and a graduate of Stanford University. He was on the Stanford golf team and has played golf since he was ten. He is married with two children, and of African-American heritage.

Although the two men are of different races, in some ways their backgrounds are similar. Both men were only able to go to the universities they attended because of academic scholarships, and both majored in chemistry. This is in fact how they first met each other: they both worked for the same company as chemists. As they worked

together and gradually got to know each other, they found that they had a fair amount of things in common, including their college background, similarities in their family, and a shared passion for golf. In fact the golf club Henry belonged to had broadened its membership rules after decades of barring not only Blacks but also Jews and women, and Henry sponsored George for membership. Both men were willing to talk freely with me.

Henry noticed things that George probably noticed but did not mention. Except for the few, new, Black members, every other Black person was employed there in one way or another. The dining room had Black waiters, some of the groundskeepers were Black, and many of the caddies were Black. After a few weeks of this, Henry says he had a frank talk with George. He wanted to make sure he was not putting his friend in an uncomfortable situation. George acknowledged that it was awkward sometimes, but the pleasure of playing on a really good golf course was worth the aggravation.

I asked George if being mistaken for a caddy angered him. He said that it did not, and that since he had been a caddy at one time he saw no shame in it. He said that the members of the club had seen only one kind of person there for decades and gave the people there credit for not snubbing him. George feels he has an advantage because he is a good player, and he and Henry have been invited to play in foursomes. He is invited to join people at tables in the bar after a round, but does not socialize with any of these people outside the club except for Henry.

I talked to Henry first. He got into golf because his father played golf. His father gave him lessons, and he developed ability. He was on his high school and his college golf teams. In addition, when he was in high school he played competitively and by the time he graduated had accumulated, as he said, "quite a few trophies." He was never interested in playing professionally. He did not think he was good enough to do that, but also he was a strong student who enjoyed learning. He couldn't see himself as a professional athlete.

This was not an expensive or exclusive country club. Neither George nor Henry were in a position to afford an upscale club, but the grounds were maintained well.<

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1521
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Sports