The Future of Golf

[Duckster]

Why is there currently such an onus being put on "getting people into golf"? Is golf really stagnating? Currently the number of people playing regular golf on a full course is around the same as the late 90's (and that's not taking into account for those who just pay to play). We hit a peak in 2004 when the economy was also at its peak and people had more money to spend. But then the recession hit and one of the first things to go is an expensive recreation. Is it really dying or is just that it took an unsustainable leap upwards along with peoples disposable income in the 00’s and is now settling back to realistic numbers?

The article states that Giles Morgan suggests "the game should embrace the foursomes alternate shot format and bring together top men and women at the same events." - I read that as The European / PGA Tours, not the game at all – as Hacker mentions, it’ll be nice to move away from the 72 hole medal week in week out as it could make for more interesting TV, but that not The Game. How many of us play 4 day medals? Then throughout the year how many play stableford comps, in shotgun events, matchplay knockouts, foursomes, 3 clubs and putter, golfer/non-golfer etc… etc... There’s lots of stuff out there.

At my club we play matchplay and foursomes quite a lot and a couple of the most contested trophies are played in those format (one of which has my name etched on it…).

I'd be looking to push the kids, schools, colleges etc... and getting those into golf. NB: HSBC is actually very good at this as they support the Golf Roots program which does go out to kids and schools (and also employs a few of my mates).

If I was in charge of a club I'd be looking at free membership for kids of current members, free club hire for juniors (or at least very cheap), get the club involved with the local primary/high school, do a Christmas club thing like they do at my local bike shop. Anything to make it cheaper and easier and more fun to get the kids in. Once you've got them hooked, you go for the next batch of kids.

 

[GB72]

I was interested to read all 3 of the articles mentioned on this thread and recall that one of them mentioned that it was not the juniors that clubs needed but rather those aged 35-45. These are the people who may be members for a number of years and may stay loyal to the club and the game. Many of these people are also reaching the age where more physical sports are beyond them due to injuries and age and so are looking for something to fill the gap.
Aside from all of the points mentioned about pace of play etc, to my mind one of the main things to do is make a golf club somewhere that they actually want to go and spend time. I will put my hands up and say that mine certainly is not somewhere that I would want to socialise much beyond playing golf. It is a bit stuffy, a bit old fashioned and all events are arranged with the 65 plus age group in mind (dinner and dances etc). The fact is as well that club functions have room for 10 tables, 1 of which is reserved for the captain and guests, one for the lady captain and guests and 2 for the committee and guests and so 40% of the capacity is gone before you start. On new years eve the rest sold out to the first 6 people in the queue who bought for the seniors section and the event was then hopeless for any of the younger members to enjoy.
Simple fact is that different age groups want different things and whilst the game at club level is run by those 65 and over, all decisions will be made to benefit those age groups and their sentiments.

Why do clubs need to attract people in this age group or any other, if the amount of times each year that the flag at my club is at half mast due to the sad passing of another long term member then new blood is essential.

 

[TheCaddie]

The idea if getting juniors into the game is noble yet flawed. Many of the youngsters do not have the money to enjoy the sport neither do they have a car to make it easy to get to and from the course.

Best bet is to nab the people in their twenties who are looking to hang up the nightclubs and put some golf clubs in their hands. This age group has a bit of money in their pockets, drive their own cars and looking for something that doesn't involve getting completely trashed every weekend. They want another way to punish their body and mind and golf is the perfect answer. They are getting too old to be kicked up and down a pitch every weekend.

Get them hooked before the young ones arrive. Offer lower fees up until the age of 35. Get someone playing for 10 years and you have them for life.

Absolutely hit the nail on the head for me!!!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

One stat that did shock me was that the average age of people that play golf at least once a week has gone up from 48 in 2009 to 63 now.

I don't know where that stat came from but to me it smacks of someone trying to make up sensationalist facts. Do you have a link?

Obviously a lot of retirees play more than the working man but there is still a healthy turnout of young(er) people at clubs on weekend mornings.

 

[bluewolf]

I don't know where that stat came from but to me it smacks of someone trying to make up sensationalist facts. Do you have a link?

Obviously a lot of retirees play more than the working man but there is still a healthy turnout of young(er) people at clubs on weekend mornings.

You'll have to ask Bill..

 

[GB72]

I don't know where that stat came from but to me it smacks of someone trying to make up sensationalist facts. Do you have a link?

Obviously a lot of retirees play more than the working man but there is still a healthy turnout of young(er) people at clubs on weekend mornings.

Not at my place there is not. Aside from maybe half a dozen kids who play from time to time, on a Saturday morning I consider myself one of the youngest on the first tee and I am 42.

I have seen more and more people of my age move away from golf because there is not a membership plan to suit or, more often than not, they are not getting what they want out of a golf club and decide that it is cheaper and better to be a nomad than stay a member at a club that they do not fit in at, do not feel welcome at and are then pilloried as 'car park golfers' when they decide that they would rather go down the pub after a round than sit around it a quiet stuffy bar full of people in their 70s.

 

[pokerjoke]

I don't know where that stat came from but to me it smacks of someone trying to make up sensationalist facts. Do you have a link?

Obviously a lot of retirees play more than the working man but there is still a healthy turnout of young(er) people at clubs on weekend mornings.

Are you accusing Bill of sensationalising facts.

 

[TheAlbatross]

Lots of really interesting opinions on this thread.

Personally, i feel golf could do a heck of a lot more to encourage participation. I think the first step to achieving this is giving people reasons to play golf rather than posting up rules and regulations as to why you can't play. For new and/or inexperienced golfers, some clubs can be an intimidating environment and certainly not one in which you feel relaxed and would want to return to in a social capacity.

A relaxation of dress code both on the course and in the club house would go some way to breaking down barriers between established members and fledgling golfers. A greater on-course tolerance of new golfers finding their way in the game would encourage people to return.

All sports have their fair share of @rseh@les but in my sporting experience the attitude of "what’s goes on the pitch, stays on the pitch and we'll have a laugh about it in the bar afterwards over a few beers" is foreign to golf.

Some members seem to think a visit to the golf course is an opportunity for them to flex their ego and throw their weight around. In typical "bully boy" fashion this usually involves berating newer members or juniors.

I do sometimes long for the attitude seen in certain team sports where if someone starts playing "billy big-time" then they are brought back into line by the senior members of the team or management staff and reminded of the fact they are acting like an idiot.

I don’t know if this something people agree with or whether I’m barking up the wrong tree but having participated in other sports all my life I am finding golf a very difficult sport to adjust to socially, which is a pity because the sport itself is so thoroughly enjoying.

 

[Qwerty]

It isn't just golf that is struggling. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/22806853

Looks like football is down too. Why is that? I'd say similar reasons as to why golf participation figures are down.

One for the more experienced Golfers out there.. Were golf clubs across the land brimming with juniors say 15 years ago, or would you say its always been a sport people tend to take up a little later in life?

 

[Qwerty]

Some members seem to think a visit to the golf course is an opportunity for them to flex their ego and throw their weight around. In typical "bully boy" fashion this usually involves berating newer members or juniors.
.

Ive played for 14 years, played over 100 courses and been a member of several clubs.
I can only speak for myself but Ive honestly never seen or experienced this.

 

[Slab]

I was interested to read all 3 of the articles mentioned on this thread and recall that one of them mentioned that it was not the juniors that clubs needed but rather those aged 35-45. These are the people who may be members for a number of years and may stay loyal to the club and the game. Many of these people are also reaching the age where more physical sports are beyond them due to injuries and age and so are looking for something to fill the gap.
Aside from all of the points mentioned about pace of play etc, to my mind one of the main things to do is make a golf club somewhere that they actually want to go and spend time. I will put my hands up and say that mine certainly is not somewhere that I would want to socialise much beyond playing golf. It is a bit stuffy, a bit old fashioned and all events are arranged with the 65 plus age group in mind (dinner and dances etc). The fact is as well that club functions have room for 10 tables, 1 of which is reserved for the captain and guests, one for the lady captain and guests and 2 for the committee and guests and so 40% of the capacity is gone before you start. On new years eve the rest sold out to the first 6 people in the queue who bought for the seniors section and the event was then hopeless for any of the younger members to enjoy.
Simple fact is that different age groups want different things and whilst the game at club level is run by those 65 and over, all decisions will be made to benefit those age groups and their sentiments.

Why do clubs need to attract people in this age group or any other, if the amount of times each year that the flag at my club is at half mast due to the sad passing of another long term member then new blood is essential.

When I read this I had to click on your clubs link and they seem to do a pretty good job of presenting themselves online so I guess a perspective member is only going to find the cracks after joining

Oh the only website fault I could really find is they really let themselves down when you click on 'dress code' Had a bit of a laugh at that


edit: I should add that there's a couple of different links to dress code , its the one that's on a pdf with the don't in bright red with ticks and crosses all over it that tickled me and I can see why it would put off many a visitor/potential member. Not so much what they want (although it's not for me) more the way they thought they should present it to the public

 

[GB72]

Lots of really interesting opinions on this thread.

Personally, i feel golf could do a heck of a lot more to encourage participation. I think the first step to achieving this is giving people reasons to play golf rather than posting up rules and regulations as to why you can't play. For new and/or inexperienced golfers, some clubs can be an intimidating environment and certainly not one in which you feel relaxed and would want to return to in a social capacity.

A relaxation of dress code both on the course and in the club house would go some way to breaking down barriers between established members and fledgling golfers. A greater on-course tolerance of new golfers finding their way in the game would encourage people to return.

All sports have their fair share of @rseh@les but in my sporting experience the attitude of "what’s goes on the pitch, stays on the pitch and we'll have a laugh about it in the bar afterwards over a few beers" is foreign to golf.

Some members seem to think a visit to the golf course is an opportunity for them to flex their ego and throw their weight around. In typical "bully boy" fashion this usually involves berating newer members or juniors.

I do sometimes long for the attitude seen in certain team sports where if someone starts playing "billy big-time" then they are brought back into line by the senior members of the team or management staff and reminded of the fact they are acting like an idiot.

I don’t know if this something people agree with or whether I’m barking up the wrong tree but having participated in other sports all my life I am finding golf a very difficult sport to adjust to socially, which is a pity because the sport itself is so thoroughly enjoying.

Nope, not just you. I have been playing for 7 or 8 years now and I find the social element of club life very difficult. Sometimes I think that the only way that I would fully fit in would be to age 25 years. Cmopare this to rugby where, when I moved to a different area, I walked into the local rugby club and had dozens of people making sure I fitted in, always had someone to keep an eye on me and an instant social life both in and away from the club.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Not at my place there is not. Aside from maybe half a dozen kids who play from time to time, on a Saturday morning I consider myself one of the youngest on the first tee and I am 42.

I have seen more and more people of my age move away from golf because there is not a membership plan to suit or, more often than not, they are not getting what they want out of a golf club and decide that it is cheaper and better to be a nomad than stay a member at a club that they do not fit in at, do not feel welcome at and are then pilloried as 'car park golfers' when they decide that they would rather go down the pub after a round than sit around it a quiet stuffy bar full of people in their 70s.

There are loads of younger members at Hayling and I've recently heard complaints from some that there are too many juniors!

Are you accusing Bill of sensationalising facts.

Certainly not, wash your mouth out! Just saying that the article he read may have been written for effect and not necessarily totally accurate

 

[woody69]

I don't think golf has anything to worry about. It is the simple ebb and flow of any past time. Golf will continue to through popularity rises and decline. Tiger was a contributing factor to an increase in popularity and I am sure another player will come along and kids / young adults will start playing in the future. New courses are still being opened and some are closing as they become financially nonviable. That is simply down to competitiveness and economics. When times are good and there is plenty of money, people partake in more leisure activities like golf. Recently the world has gone through a pretty tough period and a luxury like golf has naturally taken a hit. As the economy starts to recover, so will the number of people wanting to take up the game.

There is no problem with the future of golf. It's quite safe I'm sure.

 

[Hacker Khan]

There are loads of younger members at Hayling and I've recently heard complaints from some that there are too many juniors!



Certainly not, wash your mouth out! Just saying that the article he read may have been written for effect and not necessarily totally accurate

You accusing Bill of writing things for effect and not being accurate??

I think both Bill's article and Mikes editorial were very good and hit the nail on the head. It is pleasing to see that all 3 major golf mags in the UK kind of agree on this, it just seems to be taking a long time for any visible changes to occur. But I suspect once the sponsors start puling out then things may happen then.

To me it's a shame as gradual controlled and planned change is always better than the kind of large scale 'panic' changes companies or organisations make when they have left it too late. As they then end up upsetting existing members/customers and it's usually too late to gain any new ones as the damage has mostly been done.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

You accusing Bill of writing things for effect and not being accurate??

No....I'm saying there are lies, damn lies and statistics.

I've played a lot of golf at a lot of courses, I don't believe the average age of golfers (assuming it is in the UK?) who play once a week is 63. Do you?

 

[Hacker Khan]

When I read this I had to click on your clubs link and they seem to do a pretty good job of presenting themselves online so I guess a perspective member is only going to find the cracks after joining

Oh the only website fault I could really find is they really let themselves down when you click on 'dress code' Had a bit of a laugh at that


edit: I should add that there's a couple of different links to dress code , its the one that's on a pdf with the don't in bright red with ticks and crosses all over it that tickled me and I can see why it would put off many a visitor/potential member. Not so much what they want (although it's not for me) more the way they thought they should present it to the public

To be fair I think just about every clubs' website suffers from the same problem, a long list of what you can't do/wear is never very welcoming. But again, at least on this site the dress code is not the first thing that is linked to when you click on the visitors section, like a lot of web sites seem to have pleasure in doing.

 

[Hacker Khan]

No....I'm saying there are lies, damn lies and statistics.

I've played a lot of golf at a lot of courses, I don't believe the average age of golfers (assuming it is in the UK?) who play once a week is 63. Do you?

Well to quote Bill in the article it was from 'the highly reputable Sports Marketing Surveys'. So in this case if I have to chose between no doubt fact checked research by one of golfs senior and most respected writers, and hearsay and speculation by a member of the GM forum I'm afraid I'll have to go with the former. No offense like.

Although to be fair and in the interests of balance, it did then go on to say the average age of 'anyone who plays the game' has gone up from 41 to 45. Which may be closer to the age you perceive it is? And it's just the coffin dodgers that are playing at least once a week.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

And it's just the coffin dodgers that are playing at least once a week.

I really don't agree with that. Yes, the older members tend to play multiple times a week but the 3 clubs I've been a member at in the last 10 years all have a very large number of younger guys playing on a Saturday or Sunday pretty much every week, weather permitting. To have an AVERAGE age of 63 you would need some very old members playing every week based on the number of younger guys I've seen (I'm talking guys in their 20's to 50's).

And no offence taken

 

[bluewolf]

I really don't agree with that. Yes, the older members tend to play multiple times a week but the 3 clubs I've been a member at in the last 10 years all have a very large number of younger guys playing on a Saturday or Sunday pretty much every week, weather permitting. To have an AVERAGE age of 63 you would need some very old members playing every week based on the number of younger guys I've seen (I'm talking guys in their 20's to 50's).

And no offence taken

I play mostly on weekdays and it wouldn't surprise me if the average age of a weekday player was somewhere in the 60's. I rarely play at weekends so I can't really comment on that..

It's the only place I feel young anymore..