The National Human Rights Commission of Korea recommends a revision of regulations to remove age limit for "pro-golfer" category.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) recommended recently that the Korea Professional Golfer’s Association (KPGA) revise its regulations to remove the current age limit for participating in the qualifying round of pro-golf tours.
Under the current KPGA regulations, those who pass through the first round of the Qualifying School (‘Q-school’) tournament become “semi-pro” and associate members of the KPGA. Those who pass the second round become associate members and registered pro-golfers. However, players must be less than 50 years of age to participate in the first round and also the Frontier Tour (3 round tour), which gives players the opportunity to move straight to the second round of the Q-school. These regulations prove almost impossible for 50+ aged golfers wishing to become pro-golfers.
The KPGA contended that the age restriction was necessary for several reasons. First, there were not many 50+ players that had passed the pro-test process in the past. Second, it was necessary to restrict the membership strictly, since the difficulty of entry into the top ranks had direct implications on the player’s financial status. Also, the KPGA held that the physical demands of a tournament would affect other players.
The Commission found that the statistics used to demonstrate the low rate of 50+ golfers were from the early times of the KPGA, at which time there were less golfers on the whole. Considering the fact that the average life expectancy is rapidly rising—and that the co-relation between physical strength and age or age and the ability to play is becoming obscure due to advances in medical science and the health profession—restricting entry into the pro-golfers league based on age is unreasonable. Although the Commission acknowledged that those less fit to play could have adverse effect on the game, this factor could be dealt with by employing other methods to measure a player’s ability to play. The Commission maintains that there is no reasonable connection between a player’s age and a performance enhancing environment.
Although the KPGA is a private association and has the right to restrict membership within reason, the fact that it is the only association qualified to give the title of “pro-golfer” affected the Commission’s decision. The Commission made the recommendation that respects the freedom of employment of individual players.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea was established in 2001, offering investigation and remedy services for Korean citizens and foreigners residing in Korea against human rights violations and discrimination. The Commission provides policy recommendations and remedial action against human rights infringements, collaborates with international human rights organizations and implements educational programs to improve the human rights culture.
