LPGA Modeling: Yes or No?

After reading the August edition of Golf Magazine, the most interesting article in the publication was by Alan Shipnuck that discussed LPGA players using their sex appeal to market themselves and the game of golf.

You can the read the entire piece over at Golf.com, or just check out your Golf Magazine if you subscribe.

This topic isn’t new by any means. Golf fans have discussed this for years. And this is an intriguing topic for many different reasons. There’s no right answer in my opinion, as both sides can provide good arguments.

There will be those one side who say that it’s completely bad for the game. They’ll make the point that the LPGA shouldn’t be trying to contradict itself and it’s tradition by allowing women to market their sex appeal, in hopes of helping themselves and their career. I totally understand this viewpoint, and have no problem with it.

Then there will be those who say that it will do nothing but help the game. They’ll say that sex sells above all else, and if it’s going to help expose the game to a new market in the world, then by all means let them do it.

Unfortunately for those people, they don’t get to make the final decisions in this matter, as the decision making is placed in the hands of the tour and its’ players.

You’ve gotta ask the question: what exactly does the LPGA want? Do they want to appeal to those who don’t currently follow the game by using the sex appeal of the ladies involved with the tour? Or do they want to continue with what they’ve got, and only use marketing measures that have proved to not be all that effective?

Ultimately what it comes down to is the choice of the higher powers of the LPGA, and the choice of the women themselves. If a player on the tour wants to do modeling in order to show off their body and promote the sport they play, I’m all for it.

However, if a player chooses not to go into those types of ventures, and just continue on playing the game and using other marketing tactics, I’m perfectly fine with that as well.

But as for saying that “it hurts the game,” I’m not sure I completely buy into that. It’s marketing. The players have the choice as to how they want to be perceived by fans and peers alike. No one is going to force them into it. They will decide if they want to show off their bodies or if they don’t want to.

Look at how it’s worked out for women’s tennis. Women’s tennis has seen struggles in the past, but they’ve opened up to allowing more and more athletes to use their sex appeal to attract a new audience to the sport. And women’s tennis is starting to become more relevant to the casual fan because they’ve seen the players marketing themselves through different avenues. Not just on the court.

People in other jobs have chances to market their talents and try to show others that they have something to offer to a specific company. I understand it’s not the same situation, but if the LPGA players feel they can market their appearance to go along with promoting their sport, I see no problem with it.

Also, understand that I’m not talking about the ladies doing all-out nude modeling and other more extreme photo shoots. Because that’s a whole different issue when you get to that point. I’m simply talking about the modeling that is explained in the story.

And no, I’m not saying that it’s good for the game just because I’m a man. That has nothing to do with it. I just think it would allow the LPGA tour to appeal to a larger audience and give them new marketing ideas and ways to promote the sport.

Sex sells. That’s just the way it works, folks. Some people don’t like it, but we’ve gotta accept it.  Sometimes a sport needs to shed an image it’s had in the past in order to expand the sport’s appeal to the public in today’s society.

And if the other women’s sports can do it, why not golf?

I would love to get your opinion on this topic. Feel free to comment and let me know which side you support!