Golf decreasing or increasing?

[alex57834]

Is golf on the whole increasing in popularity or decreasing?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Think it's decreasing but because of the cost

 

[JCW]

With all the pay and play courses around I say increasing but with the recession biting I am not so sure .............................y:fore:

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I have no idea

 

[kid2]

I would say maybe increasing but ever so slightly with the current climate......
I know when i was growing up it was practically unheard of to play the game as working class..... It was only for those that were comfortable enough to afford it.... Its why growing up in a council estate we only played team sports as they cost nothing.....

Nowadays i think its a little easier to take up and doesnt really cost the earth to get going as a junior..... and for the most part is part and parcel of average Joe's life....... No longer is it for people on serious salaries......

 

[bluewolf]

Neither - It appears to be cyclical over the last 15 years. (In my opinion obviously)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would say decreasing given the number of clubs and ranges closing

 

[JCW]

I would say decreasing given the number of clubs and ranges closing

Good point sir

 

[tugglesf239]

I would say decreasing given the number of clubs and ranges closing

Or it could be that the number of courses or golfing facilities is returning to their normal or natural level?

I was always under the impression that there was a huge golfing boom post Faldo era, wherby lots of extra clubs etc started springing up all over the country.

Is it possible (and this is genuinely a question) that we simply had far to many facilities in the first place?

 

[G1BB0]

I would say decreasing and will do more due to the financial climate. If people are tightening their belts in general then guaranteed golf membership or playing better quality courses will be 1st to cease.

 

[19thagain]

If it is decreasing, due to the current financial climate, would a move from expensive clubs to less expensive clubs not be evident?

I am not aware of this move and I am in a less expensive club so it should be awash with new members if a move was taking place.

Scotland always saw golf as open to the masses hence the large number of very good local council courses up here.

Some cLubs playing on council courses are enjoying in excess of 140 years of history.

Our senior section alone has in excess of sixty players knocking the wee ball around in weekly competition - very healthy.

 

[nil1121]

I know the Junior sections have got alot smaller at the clubs my children are members at so would say decreasing.

 

[El Bandito]

In UK generally, participation is decreasing. Less people are playing less often. The majority of clubs are struggling to maintain memberships. The usual 'causes' - 'the economic situation', time pressures do modern life, a lingering perception of the game being snobby etc...however, there is a flight to quality, with the top courses seemingly immune and as clubs react, the shape of the game is changing. Where the club was the seller and able to charge joining fees etc, it was a sellers market. As the situation changed, it became a buyers market, with green fee nomads, society players able to get very good value from clubs. Some rationalisation now probably helps those that remain, but the perception of golf clubs being places where six hour rounds, and grumpy men in blazers hang out can still be off putting - even if the reality does not match the perception.

 

[Sharktooth]

Does it still have an elitist theme that maybe puts people off. I gew up on a concil estate but used to hoof balls around the nearest football pitch with a very old chopped down wooden 3i. Didn't play on a course til I was about 15 and even then it was impossible to join and very expensive... well for a kid with a paper round anyway.

 

[blackpuddinmonster]

I think the amount of people playing golf is pretty stable, possibly even rising slightly.
What is changing is the way we play golf.
As already stated, memberships are falling at most clubs,probably for a lot of reasons, price, value, perception etc, so its up to clubs to identify what it is their members want. This will be different for each club depending on the clubs demographic.
Its wierd, its now possible to get yourself kitted out with a decent set of clubs and join a decent club for less than the price of a decent roach pole, and yet memberships are falling. Clubs need to find out why, if they want to survive.
Change is often painful, so we don't like it, but sometimes neccesary, otherwise people will go elsewhere.
As El Bandito says, its now a buyers market.
Just my thoughts.

 

[slicer79]

In Ireland the Munster region had 1,400 less registered adult golfers in 2013 than 2012. Not sure what the numbers were for rest of country.

 

[One Planer]

I have no idea

Is the correct aswer.

However I would guess that it's popularity is increasing with ever improving TV exposure (Sky, The Golf Channel (US), internet forums)

 

[Keeno]

I would say its decreasing. People generally have less time and less money to make golf a viable option.

 

[louise_a]

What is certain is that golf club membership in England is in decline.

 

[Hovisbap]

It's definitely one or the other ….....