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

**ehib8yPc** · 06-09-2010, 01:35 AM

What constitutes a hard core golfer today? The guy or gal willing to play in a downpour? The weekend duffer who drives two hours to play a track he hasn't experienced before but has heard about?

Nope. According to the National Golf Foundation, which speaks for the recreational golf industry, the core golfer today is someone who plays 8 rounds a year.

8 rounds. That's it. Just 8 circuits and you qualify as the heart and soul of recreational golf.

Yes, the bar is indeed being lowered. As fast and as far as the numbers of golfers. We are a dying breed according to the National Golf Foundation.

Millions of golfers each year become ex-golfers. And we know how the NGF and other organizations like the National Golf Course Owners Association are struggling to find ways to attract new, younger players into the game.

The industry brain trust is scratching its head trying to figure out just why millions quit the game every year and why we're left with a situation where someone who plays 8 rounds over 365 days is the beating heart of recreational golf.

A few days ago, Paul Vitello from The New York Times wrote a story that tries to sort out the problem.

It doesn't. The problem has more than one cause. But I don't believe the most popular notion that a round of golf takes up too much time. We can't afford 5 hours outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine surrounded by natural (and some man-made) beauty?

I don't buy the time thing. If anything, it's probably more financial than anything else. And that would certainly be a barrier to young people entering the game. A skateboard or even an Xbox 360 costs less than your average set of irons.

Take a look at the Swedish solution; that country's golf industry has aimed its product at families. And look at how many Swedish touring pros are on men's and women's tours around the world. It's staggering.

The U.K. has adopted a similar plan to the Swedish model. You can find their strategies for growing the game here. You'll need Adobe to open it.

http://www.eagleparbirdie.com/502267...ional_golf.php

06-09-2010, 01:35 AM	#15
ehib8yPc Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 564 Senior Member	What constitutes a hard core golfer today? The guy or gal willing to play in a downpour? The weekend duffer who drives two hours to play a track he hasn't experienced before but has heard about? Nope. According to the National Golf Foundation, which speaks for the recreational golf industry, the core golfer today is someone who plays 8 rounds a year. 8 rounds. That's it. Just 8 circuits and you qualify as the heart and soul of recreational golf. Yes, the bar is indeed being lowered. As fast and as far as the numbers of golfers. We are a dying breed according to the National Golf Foundation. Millions of golfers each year become ex-golfers. And we know how the NGF and other organizations like the National Golf Course Owners Association are struggling to find ways to attract new, younger players into the game. The industry brain trust is scratching its head trying to figure out just why millions quit the game every year and why we're left with a situation where someone who plays 8 rounds over 365 days is the beating heart of recreational golf. A few days ago, Paul Vitello from The New York Times wrote a story that tries to sort out the problem. It doesn't. The problem has more than one cause. But I don't believe the most popular notion that a round of golf takes up too much time. We can't afford 5 hours outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine surrounded by natural (and some man-made) beauty? I don't buy the time thing. If anything, it's probably more financial than anything else. And that would certainly be a barrier to young people entering the game. A skateboard or even an Xbox 360 costs less than your average set of irons. Take a look at the Swedish solution; that country's golf industry has aimed its product at families. And look at how many Swedish touring pros are on men's and women's tours around the world. It's staggering. The U.K. has adopted a similar plan to the Swedish model. You can find their strategies for growing the game here. You'll need Adobe to open it. http://www.eagleparbirdie.com/502267...ional_golf.php
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