Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward).

SACRAMENTO — Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) this week announced her disappointment with the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s (LPGA) new policy that states all players must speak English or face suspension.

The LPGA has pointed to the need for players to be able to entertain sponsors in pro-am tournaments as the reason for the decision.

“This decision sends the wrong message to our young people,” stated Hayashi. “With the success of Tiger Woods, so many children of color have been inspired to take on the sport of golf, believing they had an equal opportunity to play. The LPGA is potentially reversing hard-won progress, especially for women, by showing that talent, passion, and hard work is not enough.”

The decision is a reminder of the sport’s historic issues with race and gender, according to Hayashi. The LPGA specifically met with South Korean players about the policy, as they make up 45 out of 121 international members. Of 30 rookies on the LPGA Tour, only eight are from the U.S.

For several years, the press has been reporting on tensions over the growing Korean and Asian presence on the tour.

“To our knowledge, no other major professional sports association has such a policy,” continued Hayashi, who is herself a native of South Korea. “It is hard to imagine the MLB or NBA carrying out such sanctions against their international players. They know it would be bad for the sport and for us as a country. The LPGA should embrace diversity.”

Hayashi is planning to organize hearings on this issue and possibly consider a bill that could lead to the end of such practices.

A member of the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, she serves the 18th Assembly District, which includes San Leandro, Hayward, Dublin, most of Castro Valley and Pleasanton, and a portion of Oakland.