The CSGA Links Volume 6 Issue 2 May, 2018 | Page 8

FIRST SHOT

A Lazy and Cowardly Decision

Sadly, ignorance surrounding golf is not
limited to environmental issues.

Back in January, Central Connecticut State
University announced that it would be dropping
its men’s and women’s golf teams and eliminat-
ing a total of 35 ½ scholarships from various
other athletic programs.
players were blindsided by the January announce-
ment. Fact is, many intercollegiate golf programs
throughout the country have attracted interna-
tional and diverse student-athletes who are valued
members of their communities. What assump-
tions did President Toro and her task force make
about golf to lead to such an erroneous conclu-
sion?

President Toro was also quoted as say-

This was the culmination of a seven- ing, “It’s a sport that doesn’t help us in the grand
month study conducted by a 13-member task scheme of things in fundraising.”
force assembled by CCSU President Zulma Toro.

Sheesh, was there not a single person on
According to the Central Recorder, President Toro,
President Toro’s task force that understands that
in speaking about the decision to eliminate golf,
golf and fundraising go together like apple pie
stated, “If you consider the cost per student of
and vanilla ice cream? This is hand and glove
all teams, golf is the highest.”
stuff people. Four billion dollars is raised annu-

I would be curious to know how Central ally for charity through golf. You couldn’t come
calculates their cost per student athlete. Having up with a few golf-related ideas to shore up your
spent 22 years in a Division I athletics department cash-strapped department?
I find President Toro’s statement odd at best, un-

Apparently where golf is concerned igno-
less Central’s football team is wearing leather hel-
rance reigns supreme at this institute of higher
mets, no pads, playing all their games at home
education.
on fields that are neither mowed nor lined, never
getting treated for injuries, never attending study
Sensible spending is always a component
halls, and not eating, then maybe golf is more ex- of a successful operation, as is finding or creating
pensive per player.
new revenue streams. Cutting, slashing and elimi-
nating is usually the hallmark of the shortsighted,

President Toro was also quoted as saying,
lazy, and, yes, cowardly. The cost cutters may have
“It’s a team that doesn’t really help us build com-
temporarily improved their bottom line, but they
munity. It doesn’t help us with enrollment.”
have sullied their reputations and damaged their

Well, shame on Central for giving up and brand.
not even trying. And were the President’s pri-

One Central alum recently told me about
orities ever shared with new coaches Kyle Gallo
a general fundraising call he received from the
and Jackie Beck? By all accounts, they and their
school: “The caller said, ‘Can we count on you
for your annual gift?’ and I said, ‘Yes give my $500
to the golf team. Oh wait, you just dropped the
program. Goodbye.’”

President Toro and her task force demon-
strated ignorance of both golf and the lessons of
every sport on their chopping block. You never
give up and you find a way.

Postscript: Congratulations to Coach Gallo and
his men’s team who battled to the very end in winning the
Northeast Conference and qualifying for the NCAA
Championship.
8 | CSGA Links // May 2018
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