I need to rebut a misguided and inaccurate comment made by Brian Michelotti, during the CBS special about the bad rule in Montana that bans parents from watching their kids play high-school golf. Michelotti is the assistant athletic director of the Montana High School Association, the organization responsible for enforcing the bad golf rule. At the two-minute mark of the first part of the CBS special, Michelotti says that it is the kids themselves who want this rule. See the clip here: http://www.montanasports.com/2017/11/27/montana-is-the-only-state-in-the-u-s-where-parents-cannot-watch-their-children-play-golf/ Specifically, Michelotti said, "There’s a Ryggs Johnston out there who probably has no problem with the whole gallery following. (Ryggs is the high school golfer who broke both the Montana state class A and class B records this year for low score). You have a lot of other kids who might not be as talented as others that, as I mentioned earlier, are awful happy to get away from one and ten (the only tee boxes visible from the club house where parents can catch a glimpse of their kids) so that they can get on the course and enjoy without having, you know, somebody watching them all the time." Read: Ryggs plays good enough that he doesn’t mind if people watch him. Most other kids who pick up a club probably stink so bad that they are too embarrassed to be seen. By that logic, every kid who isn’t the star of their high-school basketball, football, volleyball, or tennis team, secretly prefer that people don’t watch them play. If that were the case, they’d be happy to stay on the bench during game day, and only participate during private practices. But as we all know, most kids can’t wait to get on the field, no matter what their skill level. Michelotti’s statement also makes no sense because high school golf is played in foursomes. Even if you forbid parents from watching, there are at least three other competitors watching your every shot. The reality is that a round of golf is made up of many dozens of shots. For beginning golfers (of whom Michelotti no doubt speaks) one good shot is so inspiring and so satisfying that it greatly overshadows all the bad ones. At the beginning level, one beautiful shot can make such a wonderful impression on a player (and those watching) that it often inspires the kid to dedicate themselves to the game. Talk to almost any golfer, new or old, and they'll tell you so. The Montana long-jump ski coach put his finger on it when he once said, “give a kid 3 seconds of the right experience, and she’ll spend her entire lifetime trying to get it back.” It is my first-hand experience that the overwhelming majority of junior golfers want to share their successes (and failures) with those who love them and care for them. Imagine how a kid would feel if none of hi/her family or friends came out to watch him/her play basketball, volleyball, or tennis? Golf is no different. For Michelotti to argue otherwise is just plain wrong. The hundreds of comments left on the petition prove this point. I’ve listed just a few of them here, from golfers and their families living across the entire state. Check them out: My son asks for me to come to his tournaments. So I go and sit in the clubhouse or my car in the parking lot. I wish I could support him and the other kids in a better way. -Kathy Wilcox, Toston, MT I missed all four years of my son playing golf at CHS and now two with my daughter. The worst part is college coaches cannot be on the course either, let's help our kids get noticed and get rid of this rule! -Chad Lawrence, Helena, MT I played high school golf and would have loved for my parents to have been able to watch me. -Nichole Brown, Laurel, MT I would like to have my dad watch me play golf. -Danyk Jacobsen, Livingston, MT I played in High School and my family couldn't come watch. It’s hard that every other sport can but not golf. Now I have a teen that is going to encounter the same issue. Time to catch up with the times. It's 2017. -Leah Taylor, Great Falls, MT I am a golfer and this (bad golf rule) affects me. -Tyra Rowsey, Glendive, MT My son has hopes of making the golf team next year, and we would really like to see him compete. -Joe Halligan, Billings, MT My son plays and would like a chance to watch. -James Cook, Fort Benton, MT I had a child that golfed all through high school and never got to cheer him on or watch! - Sandra Carns, Great Falls, MT My son loves golf and I would like to be able to watch him play when he hits high school. If it was up to him middle school would have a golf league. -Jolene Verlanic, Colstrip, MT I’m signing because my son will be a senior next year on the golf team and I’ve never been allowed to watch him compete. I hope the rule is changed in time for me to watch him! -Kory Johnston, Missoula, MT I see no reason for parents to not follow their children's foursome around the golf course. As a player I would have liked to have them there. -Ryan Basye, now living in Cedar Falls, IA My daughter played golf at the HS level in MT and her family never got to support her at tournament's or State. Very disappointing! -Krista Bailey, Billings, MT Thank you for signing the petition! We now have more than 1,200 signatures!