UP Golf Club apologizes for Facebook hashtag

UP Golf Club issued an apology on Monday, Oct. 16 after drawing flak from netizens following its "tone-deaf" Facebook post recently. 

The newly established club launched its official page and posted photos of its “experienced and first-time golfers” members during their first-ever meet up to celebrate “golf for all” on Friday, Oct. 13, at the Royal Ace Driving Range, Capitol Hills, Quezon City. 

However, it was the hashtag that read “wag niyo po kami nakawan sa campus” that was at the end of the caption which drew criticism from netizens.

It was called out by students and other social media users for being problematic considering UP is a state school and a number of its demographics are scholars who came from underprivileged backgrounds. 

Though the post has been edited, it has since garnered 12,000 reactions, more than 800 comments and 3,700 shares, and screenshots of the original caption have been shared all over social media. 

“We sincerely apologize for the decision to add the hashtag “#wagnyopokaminakawansacampus", which unfortunately caused a misunderstanding of our club's principles and mission. We take full responsibility for the abrupt decision in including the said hashtag,” the statement read. 

The club is now offering free beginner golf tutoring services, free golf clinics and other initiatives to make up for the blunder. 

“As an organization, all of the projects proposed are and will be solely funded by income-generating projects and sponsorships that will always be transparently managed and sourced by the members of the UP Golf Club, and UP alumni golf patrons and not from the University,” it added.