DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Ideas or ways to get new participants into the game of golf

**natahololll** · 06-08-2010, 09:56 PM

It's pretty well established that golfing participation is down and courses (public and private) are suffering for it, so I won't debate that. There was actually a good article on this subject on USA Today earlier this week. I looked for it, but no dice on the linky.

I think there are three major things that are reducing participation.

1. Money
2. Time
3. Our Culture

1. Golf is super expensive. Especially for the die-hards, but even for the occasional golfer. 30 bucks for an afternoon of fun is a lot of money, and that is cheap in the golfing world. On top of that, you have clubs, balls, bags, clothes, travel, etc, etc. There are private clubs around here that are available to me for almost 50% of what they cost a few years ago. Public courses are running specials every week trying to get people.

2. Slow play or not, there are people that don't have the time to spend doing anything for four hours. Family dynamics are much different than even 10 years ago. It's not the norm for dad to be gone all weekend golfing, fishing, hunting, etc. Instead, he's at the zoo or soccer games. The folks who do have time are faced with courses that don't manage their traffic, so when they get a chance to get out, they are looking at 6 hours instead of 4. Next thing you know, the golf bag is collecting dust in the garage.

3. Our culture loves instant results. Golf is the exact opposite.

06-08-2010, 09:56 PM	#10
natahololll Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 667 Senior Member	It's pretty well established that golfing participation is down and courses (public and private) are suffering for it, so I won't debate that. There was actually a good article on this subject on USA Today earlier this week. I looked for it, but no dice on the linky. I think there are three major things that are reducing participation. 1. Money 2. Time 3. Our Culture 1. Golf is super expensive. Especially for the die-hards, but even for the occasional golfer. 30 bucks for an afternoon of fun is a lot of money, and that is cheap in the golfing world. On top of that, you have clubs, balls, bags, clothes, travel, etc, etc. There are private clubs around here that are available to me for almost 50% of what they cost a few years ago. Public courses are running specials every week trying to get people. 2. Slow play or not, there are people that don't have the time to spend doing anything for four hours. Family dynamics are much different than even 10 years ago. It's not the norm for dad to be gone all weekend golfing, fishing, hunting, etc. Instead, he's at the zoo or soccer games. The folks who do have time are faced with courses that don't manage their traffic, so when they get a chance to get out, they are looking at 6 hours instead of 4. Next thing you know, the golf bag is collecting dust in the garage. 3. Our culture loves instant results. Golf is the exact opposite.
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