Where's the best place to hit capitalism where it hurts? On the course, of course. The links between golf and filthy lucre have always looked pretty strong, as this report in Capitalism magazine perfectly illustrates, hailing the climax of the 2003 US Masters as "a good day for golf, capitalism, and, of course, Mike Weir". After all, what other sport attaches such importance (in public, at any rate) to its 'money list'? Indeed, one of the moments of maximum emotional impact in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11, the evidence that appeared to clinch the case for George Bush's status as corporate ratbag no 1, came when the president turned to the cameras after outlining his stance on global terrorism and urged: "Now watch this drive."
So it seemed appropriate when this year's summit of the G8 group of the world's wealthiest nations was sited in Gleneagles, one of the world's most famous golfing spots. But, those less favourably disposed to the idea of global capitalist hegemony have also dabbled in the sport, and Gleneagles 2005 provided a perfect opportunity for anti-capitalism protesters to make their point. An anarchist organisation calling itself the People's Golfing Association looks able to achieve this aim with some élan, even if their style is slightly more SAS commando than Payne Stewart.
