Is golf really struggling

[Tashyboy]

Before anyone says Doh. I just don't see it.

our club is not struggling as far as I am aware. It has gone from strength to strength for the last three years I have been there, and I have never come off the course moaning that those in front have held us up for an hour.

I have lost lost count the amount of times I have said "this is millionaires golf.

however I only play golf mid week and when on three shifts at times the course is gloriously quiet.

Having seen some of the weekend comps with hundred plus people in it, I just think " that's not for me".

now not bigging up our club, but last year it was runner up in the Golfmark of the year competition. To the best of my knowledge not one other club has been in touch to see how Norwood is successfully helping how to promote golf, and get young uns playing. Nor have I seen anything published anywhere to say what we and the winners are actually doing.
whilst I am on me soap box, big up thanks to Golf monthly for not even spelling our clubs name right when announcing the comps winners and R up.

Now I have subscribed to golf monthly again for next year, and I am sure that It will have the usual interviews with players, tips on curing me slice and hitting it 400 yd. Latest expensive equipment, best expensive courses in UK, Europe and the world.

But, if golf is struggling as is suggested, I would like to read a lengthy piece with all concerned in golf from pros to clubs on how to get people playing golf.

 

[bluewolf]

Hang on.. I may be reading this wrong (I probably am). But, are you saying that golf isn't struggling because your course is very quiet? Wouldn't that be the definition of struggling?

Should the question be - Do we care that golf is struggling?

 

[Tongo]

I dont think golf is struggling, but it does appear to be regressing. Whether this is a natural regression after the Tiger boom of more affluent times i'm not sure. There will always be people who will want to play the sport and there will be plenty of clubs that will witness no problems but it does seem to be open season on criticising the game at the moment. Picking the actual truth from the morass of hyperbole and conjecture is not an easy task.

 

[John_Findlay]

Should the question be - Do we care that golf is struggling?

or, why is golf struggling?

Personally, I don't see any great drop-off in interest in playing the game. However, we've come through tough times recently and I know of a few friends who've stopped playing so often or given up their annual membership simply out of financial necessity. Clubs have suffered accordingly but I don't believe that's through any drop-off in desire to play the game.

 

[GB72]

I think that there is a big difference between midweek golf and weekend golf. At many clubs I suspect that the midweek scene is very different to that on a Saturday and Sunday. At my club there are plenty of midweek rollups and pretty high participation in them plus plenty of comps including some of the more 'fun' formats. At the weekend you have those who play 7 days a week turning up plus those that can only play at the weekend so the course is busy and the comps are nearly always medals in the summer. Both of these contribute to longer rounds.

I think that it is actually the weekend golfers that the sport is in most danger of losing. If you play several times in the week then your membership is incredible value. Add to that the fact that during the week we have plenty of retired people with the time and inclination to arrange roll ups, events etc and you have an attractive package. For the weekender golfer, you have to pay the highest level of fees for the chance to play maybe once or twice a week. At my club the social scene is not the same at weekends as family pressures and (for me anyway) lack of clubhouse atmosphere mean that many have one drink and head home. On that basis, the membership fee does not appear as attractive and many can find deals to play a different course every week for the similar cost per round of a membership.

 

[pokerjoke]

The way I read it is you personally don't actually play competition golf [weekends] when
its busy, because its busy?.
Knocking it around midweek with friends is ok but for me its all about competition,entering
qualifiers and getting my handicap down.
Going down my course its very quiet in the week but at weekends its busy and theres a buzz
around.
If your club was so well run surely they would see its quiet during the week and do more to
get people playing during the quiet times by adding promotions for weekdays.
Also a club with as you say hundreds playing at weekends im surprised its quiet at all as membership
must be high.

 

[wonga]

At our club, Tuesday is seniors day and anywhere from 30 to 50 golfers turn up to play no matter the weather. Most days are busy in the morning so based on this I know that my club is not struggling and yes I do play at the weekend as well.

 

[JCW]

We have a waiting list at Parkstone to join , even the £2500 joining fee does not put them off , Its now a great golf course after all the course work , more this winter and course is already in the top 100 in UK with more to come , so i say golf is healthy if the product is right, as for the game in general i say its holing its own

 

[louise_a]

It is a fact that membership of golf clubs across the country is in decline and has been for several years. Maybe all the people who have given up membership are paying and playing but its club membership that is generally used as the benchmark.

 

[Jungle]

there are a few aspects of this theme though.

For me the biggest danger to club golf is an ageing membership. Clubs need to make changes to encourage more young people into the game. Most clubs are being innovative in building their junior sections but clubs must also look to fill the 20 - 35 yr old age group.

There are certainly golf clubs that will be struggling big time and most clubs will be getting by. I would imagine that the group of clubs that see themselves as comfortable would be a pretty exclusive club.

 

[Imurg]

Struggling is a relative term.
Struggling compared to the 90's when there was a surge in people playing and an even bigger surge in building courses - yeah, I'd say it is without doubt.
Even though we're now out of recession there's still not as much cash flying spare as there was then. Some people haven't had a pay rise for several years whereas prices have gone up, admittedly not at a vast rate but still quicker than wages.
Fewer people playing fewer rounds means courses are going to close.. not nice for those who are members but that's life. Businesses go bust every day in all sectors.
Golf will settle into a new level. A lower level of participation but there will still be numbers playing.
If one of the reasons golf appears to be struggling is the time it takes then Cricket is screwed.
There are many reasons that golf isn't growing. We know most of them - time, money etc.
But I think one of the main ones is that its a difficult game to become reasonable at.
Almost anyone can play football, cricket, snooker, darts, etc etc, and still enjoy it without being very good. But with golf, you have to be able to hit the ball at least in the general direction of where you want to go - people are going to lose interest very quickly if they hack the ball 10 yards every time. Making the hole bigger, a common "cure" won't help as its still no fun taking 10 to get to the green and sinking 1 putt into a dustbin sized hole.
We have to accept that golf is declining compared to the "glory" years.
It isn't going to die anytime soon

 

[Hacker Khan]

Before anyone says Doh. I just don't see it.

our club is not struggling as far as I am aware. It has gone from strength to strength for the last three years I have been there, and I have never come off the course moaning that those in front have held us up for an hour.

I have lost lost count the amount of times I have said "this is millionaires golf.

however I only play golf mid week and when on three shifts at times the course is gloriously quiet.

Having seen some of the weekend comps with hundred plus people in it, I just think " that's not for me".

now not bigging up our club, but last year it was runner up in the Golfmark of the year competition. To the best of my knowledge not one other club has been in touch to see how Norwood is successfully helping how to promote golf, and get young uns playing. Nor have I seen anything published anywhere to say what we and the winners are actually doing.
whilst I am on me soap box, big up thanks to Golf monthly for not even spelling our clubs name right when announcing the comps winners and R up.

Now I have subscribed to golf monthly again for next year, and I am sure that It will have the usual interviews with players, tips on curing me slice and hitting it 400 yd. Latest expensive equipment, best expensive courses in UK, Europe and the world.

But, if golf is struggling as is suggested, I would like to read a lengthy piece with all concerned in golf from pros to clubs on how to get people playing golf.

I am sure there are innovative and forward thinking clubs that are thriving, and fair play to them. I've played your course a few times and found it to be very agreeable. But looking at a bigger picture memberships are declining, the average age of golfers is increasing and many respected writers, golf magazines and blue chip sponsors (and don't forget these people have a very vested interest in the sport flourishing, so I see no ulterior motive to say what they are saying really) are expressing concern for the future of the game in its current state.

As already mentioned the game will not go away, indeed a reduction in numbers playing does indeed mean more millionaires golf for those that do play it. Which understandable they may see as a good thing and a very agreeable way to spend your twilight years on gods good earth. But there seems to be mostly common agreement that if it continues as it is, the game will become less of a major sport and more of a niche sport. And once you get into a circle of decline it is very hard to reverse that.

 

[Tashyboy]

poker joke, I probably put it across wrong that I don't play at the weekends because of the number of players playing at that time. I don't play the weekends predominately because I value my time with Missis tash and the grandson having worked three shift cycles. It's just that playing comps of all formats midweek seem a bit more relaxed than weekend, although they are not as prestigious.

in the bubble of my golf course all seems well, but on a bigger scale from what I have read and heard, it is struggling.

whilst having a quiet five mins at work today😜I managed to finish the last ten pages of this months golf monthly, and the very last page was devoted to "Howthe game is struggling" how ironic.

Anyway, bottom line for tash is, with the amount of brass being generated in the game now. I would like to see a task force set up to "modernise " the game and take it forward.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Anyway, bottom line for tash is, with the amount of brass being generated in the game now. I would like to see a task force set up to "modernise " the game and take it forward.

England golf are certainly looking at taking the game forward, They have a new strategy and are currently trying to get more people involved.

The other issue is still trying to get nomads to join a club and justify the costs and time involved.

Personally speaking if the course is good and the club wants to be proactive and get income in they wont struggle. I tried to book a tee time at a course the other day, Its taken me 3 days to do it. Shocking really.

 

[Hacker Khan]

England golf are certainly looking at taking the game forward, They have a new strategy and are currently trying to get more people involved.

The other issue is still trying to get nomads to join a club and justify the costs and time involved.

Personally speaking if the course is good and the club wants to be proactive and get income in they wont struggle. I tried to book a tee time at a course the other day, Its taken me 3 days to do it. Shocking really.

That's good but as I think I said on another post it really needs to be a coordinated effort from the R&A and USGA in my opinion. As there are so many factors that English Golf can not really influence that will effect how successful they ultimately are in getting more people playing. Where as the R&A and USGA will be able to look at all facets of the game including issues like rules, bifurcation, TV rights etc etc .

 

[Tashyboy]

England golf are certainly looking at taking the game forward, They have a new strategy and are currently trying to get more people involved.

The other issue is still trying to get nomads to join a club and justify the costs and time involved.

Personally speaking if the course is good and the club wants to be proactive and get income in they wont struggle. I tried to book a tee time at a course the other day, Its taken me 3 days to do it. Shocking really.

Thats uncanny Mr Quaker, because whilst I was making my Steakwich "heart attack" butty 20 mins ago before I go to work I was thinking exactly the same. what are England golf doing to improve the game ?

look forward to there findings.

As Hacker rightly points out though, there are many different groups (if that's the right word) that can influence the game. Fundamentally I don't think there is a lot wrong with four day comps. Comps similar to the Ryder, walker cup etc.

but why is there no prestigious one day comps, mixed team comps. Etc.

it will be interesting to see what effect the Olympics has when golf rolls up.

all that is fine and dandy, but and its a massive but. None of that will get "bums on seats, or putters on greens" if as Mr Quaker points out it takes three days to book a course, the course is scabby, members are stuck in the 1900's etc etc

 

[Rooter]

bring this back is the answer! Plenty of very high profile celebs play decent golf these days...

[video=youtube;ZjJk1CRj6Bc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjJk1CRj6Bc[/video]

Found a few celeb handicaps:

Samuel L Jackson - 7
Bill Murray - 7
Hugh Grant - 7
Mark Wahlberg - 9
kevin costner - 11
sly stallone - 11
beefy - 8
jamie redknapp - 8
tim henman - 2

(taken from various rubbish website, so may not be that accurate, but makes a point)

 

[Hacker Khan]

Thats uncanny Mr Quaker, because whilst I was making my Steakwich "heart attack" butty 20 mins ago before I go to work I was thinking exactly the same. what are England golf doing to improve the game ?

look forward to there findings.

As Hacker rightly points out though, there are many different groups (if that's the right word) that can influence the game. Fundamentally I don't think there is a lot wrong with four day comps. Comps similar to the Ryder, walker cup etc.

but why is there no prestigious one day comps, mixed team comps. Etc.

it will be interesting to see what effect the Olympics has when golf rolls up.

all that is fine and dandy, but and its a massive but. None of that will get "bums on seats, or putters on greens" if as Mr Quaker points out it takes three days to book a course, the course is scabby, members are stuck in the 1900's etc etc

Adam Scott was recently quoted as saying something like the public sees the pros 45 weeks a year anyway. So if they want to increase interest in golf at the Olympics then they need to have amateurs competing.

 

[GB72]

I think that the old pro/celebrity golf could well work to attract a younger audience. Trouble is, with the demands of a pros schedule, you are not likely to get the big names to appear.

My concern has always been that change will never happen at a grass routes level when many clubs are run by people who have no interest in anything but the status quo. Many pay lip service to the idea of changes to spread the game, make golf clubs more accepting places etc but little is ever done because the members running the clubs are quite happy with things the way they are.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Golf in decline? It's relative and as I've said before, we've had these peaks and troughs before and the game still survives. It perhaps does some good. Those clubs that get lazy and don't attempt to move forward suffer and die or get their act together. The good ones work harder and at the end of it all we're left with clubs that have survived and are stronger and more resiliant