need_my_wedge
Has Now Found His Wedgie
https://www.randa.org/en/news/2021/05/gbandi-golf-participation-report
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/57...f0nbTIUoJOCjQihZx7w1lky3axqY0EwvdZVHbyOO7jq9A
I remember a few years back that Golf was supposed to be in decline, participation was low and a few courses were closing. Seems Covid has been responsible for a hefty surge in new golfers. I kind of knew that as I've seen a big uptake of new members at ours, and the local range is always rammed, frequently have to wait for a bay, but that's some increase! Can concur with the report, there are a few new female members, and the new members are visibly younger too. It's great all round for golf, increasing income for clubs, Pro's retailers and manufacturers, helping make up for the last year. It does bring a downside though (wouldn't be a post on a here if there wasn't one ), which may be more from the introduction of the booking system and the Covid protocols, than the new members. I quite often play after work around 4pm, sometimes with a partner, sometimes as a single . It used to be a quiet time, we could just rock up and play and would play round quite happily. I'm not worried about racing around the course, am out trying to enjoy and improve (less said about that the better), but it doesn't matter what time of day you play now, you are nearly always sandwiched between 3 and 4 balls. It's not a slow play complaint per se, just a fact that we have to deal with now that there is a much larger footfall on the course.
All in all though, it's should be really good for the game in general, and may go some way to saving a few courses around the country.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/57...f0nbTIUoJOCjQihZx7w1lky3axqY0EwvdZVHbyOO7jq9A
I remember a few years back that Golf was supposed to be in decline, participation was low and a few courses were closing. Seems Covid has been responsible for a hefty surge in new golfers. I kind of knew that as I've seen a big uptake of new members at ours, and the local range is always rammed, frequently have to wait for a bay, but that's some increase! Can concur with the report, there are a few new female members, and the new members are visibly younger too. It's great all round for golf, increasing income for clubs, Pro's retailers and manufacturers, helping make up for the last year. It does bring a downside though (wouldn't be a post on a here if there wasn't one ), which may be more from the introduction of the booking system and the Covid protocols, than the new members. I quite often play after work around 4pm, sometimes with a partner, sometimes as a single . It used to be a quiet time, we could just rock up and play and would play round quite happily. I'm not worried about racing around the course, am out trying to enjoy and improve (less said about that the better), but it doesn't matter what time of day you play now, you are nearly always sandwiched between 3 and 4 balls. It's not a slow play complaint per se, just a fact that we have to deal with now that there is a much larger footfall on the course.
All in all though, it's should be really good for the game in general, and may go some way to saving a few courses around the country.