Frankly Friends tell us what they think about drug testing in golf

A sampling of responses of those who said NO:

If a golfer needs performance-enhancing drugs to "improve" their game, then so be it. He/she would not put money in the honesty box either.

Honesty and Integrity are internal qualities. You either have it or you don't. The game we all love so much calls out those gifts. Artificial checks on those qualities are ultimately useless. The game is what it is and we are who we are. In the end both will be revealed for what they are. In this case, less is indeed more. Play on.

Honesty, honor and integrity are traits that have always been admired and hopefully sought after by everyone. If your are a liar, cheat and thief you will not be able to keep it a secret forever. Bad people can't win forever. Drugs may help make you stronger, recover faster but it will not make you better as a person or a golfer. No testing, it demeans what golf is all about.

If drug testing becomes necessary in golf the integrity that has graced this great game will have already have been lost.

Why pursue a topic that has no evidence of having an impact on the game? One of the most beautiful aspects of golf is the civilized people who play. No other sport that I've played leaves the onus on me to abide by the rules. Introducing drug-testing would bring along too much baggage for the sport to overcome. The clean sanctity of golf is the main reason for the passion I have for the game and I'm relatively new at it. When there's a problem we'll fix it but there's not a problem today.

Let testing be confined to those sports for which integrity is an eroding side issue, not the soul of the game.

I suspect you could make a case that strength enhancement/producing drugs may provide advantages, however, no external magic potion will provide the necessary skills required to put the clubface square on the golf ball at maximum impact. I also believe that true lovers of the game understand and respect the honor of the game and play with this on our minds. In the end let us remember we are accountable for the game we play and despite all the outside influences, the man in the mirror knows the truth.....drug testing is not an issue.....to my way of thinking

How valid would drug testing be to the performance in golf? Golf is so much more than muscle strength or mood alteration. It is skill, management, imagination, competitiveness. What drug can do this?

I don't think drug testing is necessary. Performance enhancing drugs should not be casually dismissed but if rules against their use are in place that should be sufficent.

Honesty and personal integrity are at the heart of the game. Drug testing is completely counter to that notion.

After all, as you had mentioned, golf is a game of honesty and honor. Players are expected to be self-regulating, know the rules and police their own actions.

Read the views of those who said YES to drug testing....click here