Why isn't golf more popular?

[Deleted member 15344]

Most clubs will do clinics in golf for youngsters

Ours is on a Sunday morning and you see them all walking to the practise ground

Today was an adult/junior scramble - 30 kids turned up to play

Bedfordshire have club pros go into schools during PE lessons and have golf on the list of sports - twice a week one of our pros go into each school in the town

All the parents either help out or have a free coffee in the stud bar.

During the Summer there is even more events on during the week

I know this is done in four of the clubs in the area.

 

[upsidedown]

Traditional members club here and whilst at our Xmas party last night noticed on the notice board applications for 20 new memberships.

Also have a thriving junior section run by Pro and assistant pro and volunteer parents/members on a sat afternoon starting at 2 pm for 2 hours. Those with handicaps can play a 9 hole comp in Winter and 18 holes in summer off their own tees , rest have skills coaching and comps over our 3 hole par 3 course. Parents happily chat away in clubhouse ( yes in jeans ) over tea or something stronger. if weather naff they have a junior room with pol table, darts and other games .At the end of their two hours there are prizes given for the comps.
Last week they all went 10 pin bowling for Xmas treat , subsidised by the club.

In the summer term the pro has the local school come in every Monday for golf taster sessions from 9 to 2 .

 

[Rumpokid]

Golf is boring, slow, not fun to watch etc, for anyone having a sneeky peep..Get them playing and it is a totally different story...

 

[guest100718]

to many clubs run by old codgers with no ones interests but there own.

 

[GB72]

Some great examples of how some clubs do great things to encourage kids and am sure that they reap the rewards. Compare that to mine where a message had to be sent to stop some members yelling at kids for minor infringements

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Choice, nowadays a kid has no end of other sports/leisure activities all trying to get there custom,
As previously mentioned Golf Clubs taking the kids bowling or holding Disco's to keep them interested.
They don't have to stick or concentrate for too long on anything, even TV, don't like the programme they're watching, choose another one out of 100 or more, (feel old) in my day it was 3 Channels either watch it or turn off. 😃

 

[Deleted member 18588]

That's what happens to sports which cost money when there is a financial crisis in the country

And there, my friend, we are in total agreement.

I rather suspect that golf will never greatly increase its market share.

There may be occasional spikes such as the late '80s when the game took over from squash as the "in thing" and ten years or so later there was the Tiger effect but overall it will never have the mass appeal of certain other sports.

Time and costs will always mitigate against it.

The former can be reduced by, say, 9 holes rather than 18 being the norm but that would alienate far too many existing participants.

It is difficult to see what can be done about the latter. Equipment companies are already struggling worldwide and green-fees and/or membership subs are, in real terms, about as low as they can go.

Golf is not elitist but participation requires a level of commitment that most in today's society are unwilling to give.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

And there, my friend, we are in total agreement.

I rather suspect that golf will never greatly increase its market share.

There may be occasional spikes such as the late '80s when the game took over from squash as the "in thing" and ten years or so later there was the Tiger effect but overall it will never have the mass appeal of certain other sports.

Time and costs will always mitigate against it.

The former can be reduced by, say, 9 holes rather than 18 being the norm but that would alienate far too many existing participants.

It is difficult to see what can be done about the latter. Equipment companies are already struggling worldwide and green-fees and/or membership subs are, in real terms, about as low as they can go.

Golf is not elitist but participation requires a level of commitment that most in today's society are unwilling to give.

Agreed😃 well said

 

[upsidedown]

to many clubs run by old codgers with no ones interests but there own.

Ours is run by members who have all retired yes, but certainly are looking to the future and the benefit of all members

 

[Deleted member 15344]

And there, my friend, we are in total agreement.

I rather suspect that golf will never greatly increase its market share.

There may be occasional spikes such as the late '80s when the game took over from squash as the "in thing" and ten years or so later there was the Tiger effect but overall it will never have the mass appeal of certain other sports.

Time and costs will always mitigate against it.

The former can be reduced by, say, 9 holes rather than 18 being the norm but that would alienate far too many existing participants.

It is difficult to see what can be done about the latter. Equipment companies are already struggling worldwide and green-fees and/or membership subs are, in real terms, about as low as they can go.

Golf is not elitist but participation requires a level of commitment that most in today's society are unwilling to give.

100% spot on :thup:

 

[Dave B]

Fishing used to be the largest participation sport in the UK with over 3 Million anglers however over recent years this has reduced to around 2.5 M Million. According to the BBC there are less than 1 Million golfers. On a pure sports participation scale Swimming is now thought to be the largest participation sport however take the national curriculum out of the equation and this is drastically reduced.

If you look at lifestyles particularly that of the younger generation, the answer is there for all to see. Kids no longer play out, they no longer get involved in countryside activities and they are quite happy to spend all evening on-line or on the X-Box playing games.

When they're not on the X-box or online they have an umbilical cord attached to their mobile, which probably costs around the same as a yearly club membership depending on contract. look at Sky subscriptions, mobiles, on-line fees and that's where a huge percentage of disposable income goes. Sports, fitness and getting out in the fresh air all take second place.

In the 1980's and early 90's I used to fish 100+ peg fishing matches every week all over the country and could take pick from several local venues knowing that there would be a good turn out. A new 16m competition pole today costs between £1500 and £3000. It will last around 3-5 years before it is worn out and will need to be replaced. Compared with golf fishing especially on the competitive side is very expensive. Today you'll find plenty of matches on a number of venues but you'll find very few matches with more than 30-40 anglers. Like golf it is a dying sport.

The reason why is simply due to a change in culture and lifestyle.

Some clubs encourage new golfers but others particularly those where the senior members don't want the club to change have a very hard task ahead. Keeping the existing membership happy and encouraging new members to join is a very difficult task.

A good example would be some of the old working mens clubs. In the north east some clubs still don't allow women in the bar and don't like to have live pop groups or disco's because quite often they're more hassle than they are worth, however as the senior members have died off their memberships have waned and now many are struggling to stay open. The more open mined ones changed their policies, diversified and stayed in business.

Some may think what on earth has that got to do with golf but the bottom line is that it's a business and without an establishment and customer base, neither are viable propositions.

Clubs need to look carefully at their business plans and membership but most importantly they need to plan ahead and protect their interests. Promotional days and events to get people into the sport are far and few in between. Dress codes and golf wear need to be slightly more relaxed.

Hire clubs and hire shoes, (never seen a club with hire shoes), should be available at most clubs as well as "get into golf" promotional days where people can spend a day with the club members and see what it is all about.

Will it happen, who knows because if you ask most members at an established club they will say they have a big enough issue getting a tee when they want it because there are to many society days, to many competitions etc.

As I said earlier it is a very hard balancing act and some clubs who are struggling face a damned if we do and damned if we don't scenario and that's something that I don't envy.

 

[MadAdey]

This would be my proposal to any club that actually realises they need the younger generation to start playing, before the game dies and private clubs have to close.

Late on a Sunday afternoon is normally pretty dead at the club, so to me that is the best time to open up the club for some cheap kids golf. Do this idea through May and June. Drop the dress code for the parents so they can enjoy a drink on the patio and see their kids playing. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt for a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon.

Through May have a 2 hour group session every week for say a nominal fee of £10 that also gives them the use of clubs and say 400 free balls for on the range so they can go and practice between lessons.

Through June if they want to carry on then they pay another £20 get some clubs to use again and another 400 range balls to practice with. But now change it to an hour group lesson with 6 holes of golf after off the red tees for a prize.

You get some volunteers to actually go round with them to show them the basic rules and understand the etiquette of being on the course.

I say about the nominal fee to try and get only the people that are serious, at the end of the day if you can't afford £20 for the month, then golf really isn't something that is going to affordable long term.

Doing this is going to get kids interested and show parents that a private golf club is a friendly place and shrug off any stereotypical image that people have. You might also find that some of the dad's fancy giving it a go too and it's possible you could get some full paying members from it.

I say to do this through May and June with the hope that the kids may want to join as the summer holidays are approaching and they want to play then.

 

[Tongo]

And there, my friend, we are in total agreement.

I rather suspect that golf will never greatly increase its market share.

There may be occasional spikes such as the late '80s when the game took over from squash as the "in thing" and ten years or so later there was the Tiger effect but overall it will never have the mass appeal of certain other sports.

Time and costs will always mitigate against it.

The former can be reduced by, say, 9 holes rather than 18 being the norm but that would alienate far too many existing participants.

It is difficult to see what can be done about the latter. Equipment companies are already struggling worldwide and green-fees and/or membership subs are, in real terms, about as low as they can go.

Golf is not elitist but participation requires a level of commitment that most in today's society are unwilling to give.

Such a simple conclusion to draw but it seems such a difficult concept for many to accept.