Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

This blog headline refers to the fact that many fans at the U.S. Open Golf Tournament late last week and over the weekend couldn’t help but root – loudly and over-the-top – against an American golfer, Wyndam Clark.

Fan behavior made me never to want to go to New York for any athletic endeavor.

This conduct recalled the same problem at last year’s Ryder Cup golf tournament when NY fans cast aspersions against the European Team.

If there is good news, here it is:

• Clark won the U.S. Open despite the taunts.
• The European team won the Ryder Cup.

Golf deserves better than the behavior of fans in New York.

Here are excerpts from what Golf Digest wrote about the Open under this headline:  Police kick out fans for taunting Wyndham Clark on a day full of abuse from spectators.

“Wyndham Clark wasn’t just playing against the field Sunday on his way to a second career U.S. Open victory.  He also had to hold his own against a vocal and partisan crowd at Shinnecock Hills that wasn’t just rooting for his rivals but openly against him.

“On a handful of holes during the final round, police escorted spectators from the course who openly heckled Clark.

“Ultimately, it didn’t stop the 32-year-old Colorado native from holding on to win by one shot over Sam Burns, shooting a closing 73 for a four-under 276 total.”

In the past, Clark has paid a price for his temper, including last year at U.S. Open at Oakmont when he damaged a locker after playing badly.

Since then, he has taken several actions to atone for his bad behavior:  He has apologized profusely for his conduct, he has attended anger management classes, and he has reimbursed Oakmont for the damage he caused.

More from Golf Digest:

“Carrying a six-shot lead into the final round, Clark was the target of vitriol from the first tee.  Fans greeted him with light applause when his name was announced by the starter for his 2:30 p.m. tee time.  The quiet was then broken by a spectator yelling ‘Canada hates you.’  It was a reference to Clark wearing a USA hockey jersey during last week’s RBC Canadian Open, and just one of many swipes taken throughout the afternoon.

“After hitting his tee shot, fans then cheered ‘get in the bunker,’ a refrain repeated throughout the round, fans openly rooting when he missed greens and failed to hole putts.”

In part, Clark was the victim of being paired in the final twosome with fan-favorite Scottie Scheffler, who was celebrating his 30th birthday and hoped to pull off a comeback win that would have allowed him to complete the career Grand Slam.  Scheffler ultimately finished with a one-over 71 and in a tie for fourth place, four shots back of Clark.

It should be added that I like Clark for several reasons:

• In life, everyone, Clark included, should be given a chance to recover from blunders.

• In college, he transferred to the University of Oregon so he could play for a great college golf coach, Casey Martin.

• And, he is a very good player who knows how to recover from bad shots.

So, play on, Clark – and play well.