How to get more people to play and get interested in golf

[rstyle]

Article in the Palm Beach Post last week in which it talks about J Nicklaus is getting people together to figure out

ways to get more people interested in the game. They feel golf is going in a downhill slope. They are even

talking about 12 hole courses or rounds

Any ideas?

Several quick ones I can think of:

1) 20-100k memberships

2) private clubs should allow limited outside play

3) What 15-25 yr old wants to spend $25-$75 to play golf..........plus cost of lessons

4) I love playing with my wife. Wonderful time together by ourselves. It costs me exactly double $$ to be able to do it.

If a course is $50, I have to pay $100

[Mr3Wiggle]

Before Tigermania I used to play golf for $10 a round.  Not just one place, a few places by me.  I'd be okay with fewer golfers again.

[x129]

All  your complaints are pretty much about money. I have no idea what your point about 4 is though. Movies cost my 2x with the wife. So do dinners, airplane trips, sporting events, and pretty much everything else in life.

Originally Posted by rstyle

Article in the Palm Beach Post last week in which it talks about J Nicklaus is getting people together to figure out

ways to get more people interested in the game. They feel golf is going in a downhill slope. They are even

talking about 12 hole courses or rounds

Any ideas?

Several quick ones I can think of:

1) 20-100k memberships

2) private clubs should allow limited outside play

3) What 15-25 yr old wants to spend $25-$75 to play golf..........plus cost of lessons

4) I love playing with my wife. Wonderful time together by ourselves. It costs me exactly double $$ to be able to do it.

If a course is $50, I have to pay $100

[iacas]

Originally Posted by rstyle

4) I love playing with my wife. Wonderful time together by ourselves. It costs me exactly double $$ to be able to do it.

If a course is $50, I have to pay $100

You should axe that one from your list. You don't get to attend a movie for the same $8 (or whatever) if you bring your whole family either.

[Topper]

In the short time that I've been playing, I've come to the conclusion that golf cannot be expanded in the U.S. because the game is too hard and takes a long time relative to a shrinking amount of discretionary time (and cash) available to U.S. households.  Productivity of U.S. businesses continue to increase while salaries remain relatively flat.  Translation, people spend more of their "free" time working.  As a salaried professional, the amount of free time I spend handling calls, emails, revising reports, etc. is almost depressing.

Also, golf is competing with an increasing array of other activities that are available to children and adults.  And did I mention that golf is ridiculously hard.

With that said, I love to play......most of the time.

[1puttit]

Originally Posted by Topper

In the short time that I've been playing, I've come to the conclusion that golf cannot be expanded in the U.S. because the game is too hard and takes a long time relative to a shrinking amount of discretionary time (and cash) available to U.S. households.  Productivity of U.S. businesses continue to increase while salaries remain relatively flat.  Translation, people spend more of their "free" time working.

I think this is exactly right. Most people I know that used to play but quit stopped because to the time commitment. Very hard for a family man to take 6 - 8 hours (with travel time, warm-up, drinks after) on a Saturday or Sunday to play golf. But when I suggest they just play a quick 9 the response is " I'm not going to go through all the hassle of getting the clubs out, driving to the course, etc just to play nine holes".

What has really hurt the game is the demise of the cheap 9 hole course. In Chicagoland at least, most of them are gone because the land was more valuable so it was sold off to build houses.

[Topper]

Originally Posted by 1puttit

I think this is exactly right. Most people I know that used to play but quit stopped because to the time commitment. Very hard for a family man to take 6 - 8 hours (with travel time, warm-up, drinks after) on a Saturday or Sunday to play golf. But when I suggest they just play a quick 9 the response is " I'm not going to go through all the hassle of getting the clubs out, driving to the course, etc just to play nine holes".

What has really hurt the game is the demise of the cheap 9 hole course. In Chicagoland at least, most of them are gone because the land was more valuable so it was sold off to build houses.

I "force" golf into my schedule by playing whatever I have time to play...including 9 holes if that's all I have time for.  I have played one full round in the last 6 weeks and that was because I took a half day vacation from work.  I have cousins and brother-in-laws that can golf but don't.  They're busy like me but have the same attitude you describe...."If I can't play 18, I don't want to bother."

[rstyle]

I guess what I meant by number 4 is that going to the movies with my wife and spending 20-25 dollars does not bother me as much as wanting to play a nice course on a trip and having to pay

100-400 dollars for both to be able to play

It is fun to be able to play golf together and fun to go on a trip and plan to play together at a nice course but at current prices we cannot afford it.

[Domenic]

simple. Name all the courses "Free beer!" and put up flyers for courses everywhere all over the town.

[Kapanda]

Originally Posted by Domenic

simple. Name all the courses "Free beer!" and put up flyers for courses everywhere all over the town.

And look forward to explaining it 100000000 times that "Free beer!" is just the name of the course.

[mosnas]

I know in my area (mind you it is a small town of 400 that quintouples in summer) it is the fact that kids can't stay focused for longer than 5 holes.  A lot of my friends can't stand that golf is about 40 seconds of action followed by 5 minutes of walking.  It's unfortunate that kids now feel the need to be constantly entertained and don't have the attention span to play even a full 9 rounds.

That combined with lack of availibility of lessons in our area anyways.  10 years ago when I was 8 the local golf pros used to put on group lessons for $10 you got lessons for 1 hour and then could play as many holes as you want.  It was great but now a lot of the courses have switched to an elitist society for people that can afford $70 rounds (can't speak for courses outside my region)

As well cost is a major factor especially for juniors.  Most courses are not kid friendly and don't have a kid friendly atmosphere.  What parent wants to take their kid out for $50 a round when people are constantly gonna be mad at you for slow play.  Combine that with the cost of golf clubs and I think that is the reason that golf numbers are dropping.  In order to make the game bigger we need to make the game more accessible to kids as well as more kid friendly.

[BuckeyeNut]

I got started probably like many.................co-workers dragged me to the course.  LOL

As for the cost?   If anyone is seriously considering to play regularly, a membership is a MUST.  I'm not talking about big $$$ country clubs.   Most public courses offer a wide variety of memberships from patron passes that offer discounted fees, to weekday only passes, to unlimited 7 day player passes that include cart fees too.   You just need to shop around and find a place close to you to call home.   I couldn't imagine paying every time I teed it up.........that would be insane.

[Jwat381]

I have successfully gotten two of my friends into golf in the past few months. For me, it's just about making it as fun and casual as possible at first, then adding the rest of the pieces as they get more hooked. Play the smaller, easier courses (less intimidating, less tiresome, smaller scores, less worry about pace of play, less expensive etc.) let them hit a few balls if need be and make sure they revel heavily in good shots when they do happen. We all know from experience that it usually only takes one pured shot, holed chip, or long putt per round to keep you coming back. My good friend has successfully holed out two chips in his two rounds of golf.

Does this relate to the O.P.'s question? Sorta, not really. These are just my thoughts on how I got two friends into the sport, the sport I already loved. Not every person is going to have someone coaching them thru this process along the way, getting them hooked on the game. As stated above, golf is really really really hard, I've almost given up a number of times, and I'm sure the thought will enter my brain in the future as well.

I think there needs to be two types of golf courses. Championship courses and non-championship courses (all of which need to be relatively priced). I know that when I was first learning I didn't want to play a par 72 course that measured 6500-7000 yards, I wanted to play the course with wider fairways (preferably to the right) and shorter holes. That sounds like a helluva lot more fun than trying to emulate what I see on T.V. on some monster of a course with 430 yd par 4's.

To summarize my random thoughts: I think golf will improve if the standard is dropped a little. Not every course, not every bag of clubs, not every player needs to represent the PGA Tour. Make things more accessible and more fun. The tee it forward program is the right idea, but bad execution in my opinion.

[Jwat381]

One course in town offers a college membership. It's not too spendy, but summer term doesn't count lol. Still outside of my college budget, unfortunately. Lump sums are hard to muster up.

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNut

I got started probably like many.................co-workers dragged me to the course.  LOL

As for the cost?   If anyone is seriously considering to play regularly, a membership is a MUST.  I'm not talking about big $$$ country clubs.   Most public courses offer a wide variety of memberships from patron passes that offer discounted fees, to weekday only passes, to unlimited 7 day player passes that include cart fees too.   You just need to shop around and find a place close to you to call home.   I couldn't imagine paying every time I teed it up.........that would be insane.

[WUTiger]

Originally Posted by Jwat381

... I think there needs to be two types of golf courses. Championship courses and non-championship courses (all of which need to be relatively priced). I know that when I was first learning I didn't want to play a par 72 course that measured 6500-7000 yards, I wanted to play the course with wider fairways (preferably to the right) and shorter holes. That sounds like a helluva lot more fun than trying to emulate what I see on T.V. on some monster of a course with 430 yd par 4's. ...

I have played one course which measured about 6,400 yds. from the middle tees, but did not feel overly long. Each side had a couple of LONG holes which basically went downhill. If you kept the ball straight you could get on in regulation. Unfortunately, it got subdivided.

It's hard to make a "championship" course that everyday golfers can play. Even if the middle tees offer shorter holes, there's still forced carries over round-wrecking hazards and unusually brutal bunkers. Hellish hazards are especially tough on senior golfers who hit tee shots less than 200 yds. I've seen some seniors quit playing because they always have to pick up on certain holes due to required distance carry. Relocated tees help, if the course will bother.

This contrasts to a classic course built back in 1910 which I got to play on Monday. It is a tough course, but most holes have a safe line available, and allow recovery shots if you miss the fairway. Gil Hanse, the American who won the contract to build golf courses in Brazil for the 2016 Olympics, has a reputation for designing challenging courses which are also playable by the average golfer.

Here are some commentaries on the state of golf course design:

• Strategic vs. Penal: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/joshua-crane-part-i/part-ii/part-iii/part-iv/
• Symposium on Affordable Golf: http://www.golfbizwiki.com/bin/view/Home/SymposiumOnAffordableGolf-WhitePaper
• Difficult courses ignore average golfer: http://www.travelgolf.com/departments/clubhouse/golf-ratings-systems-difficult-courses-1547.htm
• Trevino backs Tee It Forward: http://thesandtrap.com/t/57552/are-golf-courses-too-long-and-difficult-lee-trevino-interview

[meenman]

Originally Posted by rstyle

2) private clubs should allow limited outside play

This is one is way out of line - you pay to be a member at a private club. With all the horror stories I hear on this board alone about etiquette and slow play - I do NOT want the outside public on my course.

I pay top dollar for my course that has not been destroyed by those that dont care, for my weekend rounds that rarely hit 4 hours and for the general social situation.

If people cant afford to join, they do not belong. That's what public courses are for.

[Jwat381]

I hear you. I was thinking more along the lines of more executive courses. They seem to be far more accessible to the newbie than a standard par-72 course. You gotta figure, the average beginner is just trying to get the ball in play and on the green. As long as every hole isn't a straighaway shot, that's really all they're looking for. Maybe throw in a few challenge holes here and there, but keep it basic and cheap. I've been playing steadily for just about a year, and while my skills have advanced a lot (from nothing) I still enjoy playing a small executive course with friends. Anything to help a beginners confidence and feel for the game is what's going to up participation, in my eyes. This is hard to do under any circumstance, when it gets made to look so easy on t.v.

Originally Posted by WUTiger

I have played one course which measured about 6,400 yds. from the middle tees, but did not feel overly long. Each side had a couple of LONG holes which basically went downhill. If you kept the ball straight you could get on in regulation. Unfortunately, it got subdivided.

It's hard to make a "championship" course that everyday golfers can play. Even if the middle tees offer shorter holes, there's still forced carries over round-wrecking hazards and unusually brutal bunkers. Hellish hazards are especially tough on senior golfers who hit tee shots less than 200 yds. I've seen some seniors quit playing because they always have to pick up on certain holes due to required distance carry. Relocated tees help, if the course will bother.

This contrasts to a classic course built back in 1910 which I got to play on Monday. It is a tough course, but most holes have a safe line available, and allow recovery shots if you miss the fairway. Gil Hanse, the American who won the contract to build golf courses in Brazil for the 2016 Olympics, has a reputation for designing challenging courses which are also playable by the average golfer.

Here are some commentaries on the state of golf course design:

Strategic vs. Penal: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/joshua-crane-part-i/part-ii/part-iii/part-iv/

Symposium on Affordable Golf: http://www.golfbizwiki.com/bin/view/Home/SymposiumOnAffordableGolf-WhitePaper

Difficult courses ignore average golfer: http://www.travelgolf.com/departments/clubhouse/golf-ratings-systems-difficult-courses-1547.htm

Trevino backs Tee It Forward: http://thesandtrap.com/t/57552/are-golf-courses-too-long-and-difficult-lee-trevino-interview

[walk18]

The thing with memberships is then you're playing the same damn course all the time. That would get old quick, unless they have a good reciprocal agreement.