Encouraging New Golfers

[Doon frae Troon]

Slightly confused by this post jonny.

Like you I have been involved in golf for over 40 years.
I have done loads of stuff to help new players {especially juniors} at club county and national level.
You seem to think that the big golf stars should throw lots of money about to attract new golfers into the clubs.
How on earth is that going to work?

The Golf Foundation raised lots of money over many years but was a very poorly run organisation.
They handed the money to the teaching Pros but there was no follow through. This resulted in poor coaching by young Assistant Pros whilst the Pro pocked the money.

It is the job of the clubs to attract new players, many do not have a clue how to do this and many members do not want new golfers joining their club.

IMO the only way many will survive is by increasing fees for existing members and full fees for the Seniors.
There are far fewer 18 year olds around than when we were boys. They will deminish by about 5% a year for the next decade. Fewer kids and more interesting things for them to do than golf means Clubs are on the road to disaster. It will be the survival of the fittest.

 

[bobmac]

You go along to the junior coaching.
You get quite good
You discover wummin, beer and football.
25 years later the kids are grown up, you've drunk enough beer for a lifetime, you cant play football anymore so you go back to golf
How many people join this forum and tell that story?
It's always been the same.
Golf has never been and I doubt if it ever will be "cool" so as long as the 30 somethings keep joining clubs, golf will go on.
What has changed is the supply of courses has grown hugely to the point I believe there are too many chasing too few golfers.
As to questioning if the top players do enough to help, Rory Mcllroy... damned if he does, damned if he doesn't

 

[jonnyround]

I think you are being overly critical and cynical about that yes, he is in New York as he will be playing there this week in the FedEx so teaching local kids in Brooklyn is far more feasible than flying home to his native N.Ireland to do the same thing and then flying back to play.

It's not the tour pro's job to attract players to local clubs, thats the clubs responsibility and the PGA's grass roots responsibility to encourage new people to play the game.

I am sorry but the PGA is the Trade Union of the Golf Professional nothing more or less.

 

[Fader]

Ok So you state not the PGA's responsibility, so then Why is it the tour pros?

It's not, I therefore revert back to my original point thats it's a clubs responsibility to attract members.

 

[dufferman]

IMO, it all comes down to kids in a playground. They can kick a ball around a park or car park without any lessons or equipment (however expensive) all day long through their summer holidays, hence why football is the UK's most popular sport. So the football pro's and football teams and football sports companies feel that there is a real benefit to encourage kids to play, from under 5's teams to teenage hot shots finding their feet 'later' than most - because there is already a wide interest.

As much as golf is a great sport, the equipment and knowledge needed to start doesn't float most kids boats, especially since it's an 'induvidual' sport when compared to football.

Then, as those kids grow up, their passions stay the same. So golf, like hockey, horse riding, tennis, badminton, and all those other sports that need 'specialist' equipment to start, are at a disadvantage.

I'm not saying that no more can be done, I'm just saying Golf is already a length behind some other sports!

 

[jonnyround]

I do not expect the top pros to "throw money" around as you say that is not going to work. But they can be more visible to the general public be more aware as to where their sponsorship money and prize money comes from. As to clubs attracting members while this is correct at one end surely they are there to facilitate existing golfers. I can imagine your complaints if you were stuck behind a 4 ball of of new members who knocked it round in 150 each. Mind you on the continent this does not seem a problem because in Germany you can have a handicap of up to 54 for men and I think 64 for ladies imagine that in the weekly sweep

 

[jonnyround]

I am actually saying it should be the PGA responsibility Just think no golfers no golf professionals. they shoiuld be encouraging these top golfers to be involved as much as possible in growing the game. Instead what do they do they sell the Ryder Cup to Sky how does that help their members keep their jobs.

 

[LeeTurner]

Got to say that our local muni is extremely busy and it is well known that the profit subsidises a lot of other council run sports activities and facilities. Where munis will battle in the future is that private clubs are now offering reduced green fees, trial periods, reduced memberships and getting rid of joining fees.
Our local muni charges £16.50 on weekdays and £18.50 on weekends per round. This used to be cheap but with the aforementioned deals and 2 fore 1 etc they now have a lot of competition. This could end up with the clubs still not making enough money to stay solvent and munis suffering from a reduced income.
The one area that's not been mentioned is with many councils having decent golf facilicites why are they not offering encouragement to youngsters to take up the game? There are no offers, classes or incentives for any youngsters on our local muni during the summer holidays yet the footfall past the course is huge due to it's location in a large public park.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Got to say that our local muni is extremely busy and it is well known that the profit subsidises a lot of other council run sports activities and facilities. Where munis will battle in the future is that private clubs are now offering reduced green fees, trial periods, reduced memberships and getting rid of joining fees.
Our local muni charges £16.50 on weekdays and £18.50 on weekends per round. This used to be cheap but with the aforementioned deals and 2 fore 1 etc they now have a lot of competition. This could end up with the clubs still not making enough money to stay solvent and munis suffering from a reduced income.
The one area that's not been mentioned is with many councils having decent golf facilicites why are they not offering encouragement to youngsters to take up the game? There are no offers, classes or incentives for any youngsters on our local muni during the summer holidays yet the footfall past the course is huge due to it's location in a large public park.

Glasgow city Council offer free golf to the under 18's on their courses.

 

[LeeTurner]

That's good to hear. Maybe it's just limited to our local muni who view it as a cash cow although due to this they do put a lot of work into the upkeep.