Is It Time Golf Reconfigured Itself?
In spite of all the wonderful gadgets that we have and a world full of electronic media devices people are hard pressed to find time for leisure and recreation.
Today’s Family Life
The typical family life is structured around both partners working outside of the home. They then rush home to take their children to soccer, baseball, or hockey practice, to dance or music lessons. By the time dinner is over it is either time for the children’s bedtime or homework. Come the weekend there are still sports games to be played, swimming lessons, or dance classes, to be attended. In all this frenzy of activity and commitment there is very little time left to spend 4 to 5 hours on the golf course.
Difficult Golf Courses
Besides the time constraints recent years have brought about the building of more and more difficult golf courses. The tour players are hitting the ball so far that it seems the traditional courses don’t suit their game. Many of the modern golf architects have found the need to create courses where the carry from tee to fairway is way beyond the average golfer’s ability.
<Dropping Numbers of Players
There is concern that the number of participants are dropping. The National Golf Foundation estimates a decline of about four million in the last five years. These numbers are especially prevalent to women and juniors.
Programs to Address these Problems
This has not gone unnoticed by organizations such as the United States Golf Association and the PGA. In July of this year all across the country a program called “Tee It Forward” promoted the idea that if average golfers moved to a forward tee position they would find golf a much more pleasurable sport.
This fall Jack Nicklaus staged a Labor Day weekend event at Muirfield Village Golf Club where there were two 12 hole tournaments, during which golfers were encouraged to play one tee up from where they normally play, the hole was almost doubled in size, and participants were penalized for slow play. More and more people want to find a way to play golf in less time. The playing of nine holes needs to become “cool” not thought of as something that is only for older players who are winding down their golf.
Dress Codes
Other issues around playing golf have to do with the required dress codes. There is a desire to be able to golf in today’s leisure style. This would mean allowing tank tops, muscle shirts, shirts without collars, cut off jeans, and street shoes such as running shoes. Although this goes against the grain of many country clubs and traditionalists it does reflect the way society now dresses.
Access to Golf Courses by Children
Another factor is access to the golf course by children. Everything is now family oriented. Parents, grandparents, and children want to spend time hanging out together. There is a need for day care facilities at golf courses. This would allow parents to play nine holes then have lunch with their children. If golf is going to grow it is going to have to become more and more accessible to children. There are programs such as the First Tee and U.S. Kids Golf but going through these programs does not guarantee that the child will be able to play at their parents’ golf course.
With the first steps to address some of these issues in place it will be interesting to see if golf can reinvent itself.
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Twitter: kezanari
says:
One of the reason I never played golf because I always thought that it was expensive but it turns out that it is not. On the driving range there is not a dress code at my local course.
Robert recently posted..340 Comment Luv Blogs With PR For You To Comment To
Golf can be very expensive and certainly the cost is beyond many people’s pockets however there are many facilities that offer affordable golf. If golf is to grow rather than shrink these issues must be addressed and cost is a factor. With the current recession many golf clubs have had to close their doors.
Pat recently posted..The New face of LPGA
Golf is one of those sports that looks easier than it actually is. Last summer, I spent a lot of time at the golf course as well as at the driving ranges so I could alt least hold my own when I play. Hit and miss. I never could drive the ball consistantly.
I still enjoy golfing, but, sadly, I dont have the skill (or time) for it.
Cheers!
Golf, just like any other recreational sport, is something you want to learn so you can enjoy it. If you are a young family, just starting out, you will be hard-pressed to find the time. Rather than playing, which may take up to four hours, going to a driving range for a family outing takes much less time. You will never know, unless you do this, whether or not any members of the family might learn to enjoy golf. It’s just a matter of picking out a time when the driving range will be less crowded. How old are the kids? Young children can get bored very quickly. Keep in mind, you are introducing not only your self, but the other members of the family to a game they can enjoy the rest of their lives. I have seen too many families totally devote their lives to their children, then when the children have grown and left the nest, they look at each other and say, what do we do now? It’s all a matter of personal taste, and we develop our taste for different things by trying them. Good luck and don’t remember to have fun along the way.
Honestly Golf is a game and people trying to get into this game must at first get in for the fun in the game, and to do so you need to love it, the other materials related to this game are no more than marketing materials that make golf as a multi billion dollar business
the fun in games are always about competition, I’ve never played golf but i’d gladly take on any challengers if they are just as a skilled as I am.
kevin recently posted..Reviewing The Casio CTK-2100 61 Key Personal Keyboard
Twitter: The4thMarketeer
says:
There was a great life analogy that one of my old teachers once told me.
“Doesn’t matter how much you screw up your drive, you can slice it into the ruff, hook it into the woods, but you always get the second shot to make it right.
You can bugger anything up Ben, but always remember that you can fix it”
Benny Howe recently posted..5 Ways to Overcome Procrastination
I’m sure we all can do better the second time, but I hope you don’t drive it like that on purpose the first time.
joe recently posted..Muscle Massage Tools updated Tue Sep 20 2011 11:00 am CDT
Twitter: TechieSaves
says:
Golf is a great game but I’m guessing many people just play it for the social side. Let’s face it, if you have to get in a car to follow the ball, it’s not really a sport
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Twitter: Techbugs
says:
Well i haven’t played golf till now..But i always wanted to..
Abhishek recently posted..How To Spy On Your Own PC,Track Each And Everything In Your Absence
Twitter: spokanedental
says:
The problem with golf is twofold. First is after tiger got bounced, there is no heroine to really route for or against. Also the Caddyshack movies need a revamp to get folks interested again!
Ed Washington recently posted..Tips after a tooth extraction
I’ve never been able to get into Golf. Probably cause it’s harder to hit the ball than it looks. Maybe if I could afford some golf lessons, I’d get into it more.
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Twitter: BrianHumek
says:
I once heard of speed golf which had people running to their ball after they hit it and taking a quick swing once they found their ball. I don’t remember if this was real or something I saw in a movie.
And about the dress code, I’d hate to see it go. Seems kinda cool to me.
Brian H. recently posted..Fire Lane Photo
Twitter: LuxeGolfHoliday
says:
Pat,
The old guard needs to change. Many of the people in powerful positions within the golf industry don’t have the creative ideas to grow the game. There have been a few ideas and concepts thrown around in 2011 but it won’t be enough.
This is what I believe needs to happen to address a few of the issues golf has.
Difficulty of courses
More golf courses need to be designed that are softer and easier to play for the beginner golf. Like how skiing has easier runs, golf needs easier courses and we need to shed the concept that championship courses (which are 7500 yards long and difficult) are great for the game. Even for the average golfer who doesn’t play a lot of shoot great scores, these courses are far too difficult.
Time
More 9 hole courses and executive 18 hole courses need to be designed, courses where rounds take anywhere from 1:30 to 3 hours to play. Just because some Scots decided that golf needed 18 holes to take a bunch of shots of Scotch doesn’t mean that we still need to create 18 hole golf courses.
Costs
Green fees need to come down to the $25-$50 range. This can happen by scaling back in the maintenance costs for greens crews. Just because PGA Tour players play on pristine courses doesn’t mean we need to. As long as there is grass, we can play golf on it. Greens don’t need to be cut lower and fairways don’t need pretty cut patterns.
Difficulty of playing
This one ties into my last two points. Golf Professionals need to offer to lessons at a cheaper price. This sport might be the toughest to sport of any to play and if someone is just starting out or even an average player, they would need thousands of dollars to spend on lessons.
Golf Professionals need to lower their rates and offer more free lessons. I know the PGA of American has a free lesson week (or month) and that’s a start. If you compare the price of a golf lessons (anywhere from $50-$75) to other professional services, the value just isn’t there. A chiro can really improve one’s life and health but a golf professional really doesn’t make much of an impact on one’s life.
Jordan J. Caron recently posted..What’s your Definite Purpose in Golf?
Jordan;
I think your points are right on. The only issue I would have with them is the rate golf professionals charge with the exception of the teachers to the tour players most teaching pros have extremely reasonable rates. If private lessons are too expensive many facilities offer group rates.
I also think that the maintenance of a golf course even for occasional golfers is more costly than many appreciate.
Pat recently posted..Golf Trek: The Future
Just hovered over the heart above and saw the benefits of registering. Have done so and look forward to other great blog posts.
i must admit that golf is one of the most expensive sports there is in the gaming industry but if you love the sports you do everything to make it happen. Im a golf addict thanks for letting me share.
Timothy Smith recently posted..DoUpTo- The Fastest Way to Make Money Using Your Talent updated Tue Jul 26 2011 1:56 am CDT
Did some minor golfing in my day. I couldn’t imagine fitting in with the pros. A dress code is alright, but I think it should be a little relaxed. I guess I am more comfortable with the smaller courses where I tend to fit in more.
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I must be honest and say I never went playing golf. It is not because of its name (GOLF-Gentlemen only, ladies forbidden), but because I never had an opportunity. Here where I live, there are no golf courses to be found nearby.
Nevertheless, I will share with you one quote of a friend of mine, who plays it and who told me: Once you take up golf to relax, you will discover how relaxed you where before you took up golf!
Kristina L. recently posted..Orion Gadgets Coupon Code
Twitter: amgrose
says:
Definitely, DEFINITELY child care. When you have young children and can actually take them with you and essentially have a sitter on site, I’ll tell you those golf courses would be full.
Amanda recently posted..Annatto Seed: Nature’s Food Coloring
Twitter: LuxeGolfHoliday
says:
Amanda,
Some of the private clubs have actually caught on to this which is surprising as private clubs tend to never change!
Jordan J. Caron recently posted..What’s your Definite Purpose in Golf?
I’m one of those people that thinks golf is an “old person’s” sport. Even though there has been a surge in young players making a name for themselves (Michelle Wie, for example) it always seemed to me a recreational sport that people play when they’re retired. I don’t think the recreational aspect of the sport will go away any time soon. But the professional sport I suppose could be threatened by the factors mentioned above. Access is probably the most important part, as well as encouragement for young people to give it a try.
Twitter: wpwebhost
says:
I’d never understand golf until i was about 22 when i went and played and it’s a whole lot different thing. It’s a very mental game to be honest.
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Twitter: MarcoCastenetto
says:
I think Golf is really boring for me and only for real rich people…Maybe a real mental game..
Marco recently posted..Arginina:
Golf is definitely not a sport for the masses. It is a sport, and a recreation, for those people who are willing to spend a little time and money on developing a game which will allow them to have fun. As in any sport, there are rules and etiquette. Just look around and you’ll find many teaching facilities. Books, videos, TV(GOLF Channel ), and Internet instruction. Once you take up this game, you will enjoy it almost to the point of obsession. If you don’t, that’s okay too. Just develop enough of your skills so as not to be an obstruction or distraction to your fellow golfers who are more concerned with enjoying the day amidst beautiful surroundings. Less than 10% of all golfers can break a score of 90. But watch some golfers, and I think you’ll find they are all enjoying themselves.
I can’t understand why golf is a sport.
Another sport use strengt and teamwork or skill.
But Golf in my personal think. I think Golf use calculate to play this sport.
You will still to work out your body a lot to get that perfect swing. That’s why it’s still a sport.
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