Is cost the reason for decline in new golfers?

[BENtSwing]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENtSwing

I've heard of that Ironwood course but never played it...is it fun? There is an 18 hole (all short par 3's) called Heartwell that is pretty fun if you're just starting out. It's in Long Beach/Lakewood off Carson just passed the LB Town Center. Tiger played there when he was little. I've taken my girlfriend there a few times. Fun and cheap. Check that one out for sure @BuhBAM

@BENtSwing, I saw Heartwell when looking for tee times and it looks really nice and fun. I have been wanting to play it so bad. I like par 3s because it keeps your swing under control and really helps with my small game. I think it's a good way for beginners to learn. Ironwood is pretty fun. It's has some challenging holes for beginners. Ryder Cup time!!

Yeah it's fun man. Maybe we can get out there soon...I'll be in touch.

[BuckeyeNut]

Golf isn't too expensive, and the game is doing just fine.    For someone who really wants to play, the game can be played for practically nothing.

1.       Most (if not all)public courses offer memberships of some kind.   A golfer can join an entry level course for practically nothing and play 7 days a week.   For anyone who looks, annual passes can be bought at lower-tier golf courses from a $3-4 hundred on up for unlimited golf playing privileges.    If I was a golfer on a budget, I guarantee I'd have a membership somewhere cheap where I could play every day without digging into my wallet for $$$!!!  I had patron passes and memberships when I was broke, and I still keep a membership this day. (only at better courses)  I can't imagine not having unlimited playing privileges at my disposal at all times.  Paying $$ each time to play seems ridiculous to those of us who play often.

2.        Used clubs and balls can be bought for practically nothing...........point and click online...easy purchase!!

Golf is as expensive as each golfer wants to make it.   Price isn't an issue for those who really want to play.   Excuses not to play are like @ssholes because everybody's got one!!  lol

The next best excuse not to play is "I don't have the time"....., but this is a lame BS excuse too because everybody MAKES TIME to do the things they love.   If they don't have the time, it's because their interests are in other things and there is nothing wrong with that.  Most working golfers(not retired) have a busy schedule, but we find a way to make it happen whether it's playing at 6-630am on the weekends (home by 9-10am) or squeezing in a 9 or 18 before dark when the course empties out.

The way I see it, there are two types of golfers..........

1. Dedicated golfers

2. Non-golfers who occasionally play golf

I have nothing against non-golfers because this game isn't for everybody.......as if any hobby was?

[teeitup22]

Golf isn't too expensive, and the game is doing just fine.    For someone who really wants to play, the game can be played for practically nothing.

1.       Most (if not all)public courses offer memberships of some kind.   A golfer can join an entry level course for practically nothing and play 7 days a week.   For anyone who looks, annual passes can be bought at lower-tier golf courses from a $3-4 hundred on up for unlimited golf playing privileges.    If I was a golfer on a budget, I guarantee I'd have a membership somewhere cheap where I could play every day without digging into my wallet for $$$!!!  I had patron passes and memberships when I was broke, and I still keep a membership this day. (only at better courses)  I can't imagine not having unlimited playing privileges at my disposal at all times.  Paying $$ each time to play seems ridiculous to those of us who play often.

2.        Used clubs and balls can be bought for practically nothing...........point and click online...easy purchase!!

Golf is as expensive as each golfer wants to make it.   Price isn't an issue for those who really want to play.   Excuses not to play are like @ssholes because everybody's got one!!  lol

The next best excuse not to play is "I don't have the time".....,but this is a lame BS excuse too because everybody MAKES TIME to do the things they love.   If they don't have the time, it's because their interests are in other things and there is nothing wrong with that.  Most working golfers(not retired) have a busy schedule, but we find a way to make it happen whether it's playing at 6-630am on the weekends (home by 9-10am) or squeezing in a 9 or 18 before dark when the course empties out.

The way I see it, there are two types of golfers..........

1. Dedicated golfers

2. Non-golfers who occasionally play golf

I have nothing against non-golfers because this game isn't for everybody.......as if any hobby was?

I agree with most of what you said. However, in my city a season's pass is well over $1,000 at a par 72 decent course.

[David in FL]

[quote name="teeitup22" url="/t/77323/is-cost-the-reason-for-decline-in-new-golfers/144#post_1059462"]I agree with most of what you said. However, in my city a season's pass is well over $1,000 at a par 72 decent course. [/quote] That doesn't mean that cheap golf isn't available. If you want, you can play either Northridge CC, or Oakland Golf and CC for $10 today in Omaha.

[BuckeyeNut]

I agree with most of what you said. However, in my city a season's pass is well over $1,000 at a par 72 decent course.

If you play 150 rounds of golf........this is $6.66 per round?   This sounds cheap to me!!!  Even a HS student can afford this if they have a job working minimum wage.  Even if you only play 100 rounds, it's still only $10 per round on what you call a "Decent Course".  For the dedicated golfer, a membership like this is a no-brainer.

The alternative.....a golfer can pay $30-40 a pop........play a measly 25-30 times per year.....and spend the same $$$.

[flopster]

It shouldn't be, the way I see it is golf is cheaper now than 30 years ago, unless you have to play brand new pro v's every round and lose a couple each time.

[teeitup22]

If you play 150 rounds of golf........this is $6.66 per round?   This sounds cheap to me!!!  Even a HS student can afford this if they have a job working minimum wage.  Even if you only play 100 rounds, it's still only $10 per round on what you call a "Decent Course".  For the dedicated golfer, a membership like this is a no-brainer.

The alternative.....a golfer can pay $30-40 a pop........play a measly 25-30 times per year.....and spend the same $$$.

150 rounds of golf is playing nearly everyday for 7 months. That is not happening for me. I'd like to play 100, but that may be a stretch. I looked at all the options for a season pass in my city and the cheapest is 1,500 for unlimited monday through sunday including golf car. But I would have to play everyday to get my money's worth. Unless I am calculating something wrong. I live in Omaha, Nebraska so I'm figuring April through October as the 7 months.

What do you pay and how many months of the year do you get in?

[teeitup22]

That doesn't mean that cheap golf isn't available.

If you want, you can play either Northridge CC, or Oakland Golf and CC for $10 today in Omaha.

Both of those courses are 1 hour away from Omaha. You would pay in gas money to get there. That's why they only charge $10.

[Lihu]

Both of those courses are 1 hour away from Omaha. You would pay in gas money to get there. That's why they only charge $10.

Isn't the speed limit 90mph in Nebraska? ;-)

[David in FL]

Both of those courses are 1 hour away from Omaha. You would pay in gas money to get there. That's why they only charge $10.

4 guys in the car = another 3 or 4 bucks each. Still cheap golf available, and that's the point in this thread.

[Spitfisher]

Is cost the reason for the decline of golf........well Cost can be money or time, after all Time is money.

The actual cost would be clubs, balls & Misc and green fees, not driving an hour, car pooling and splitting gas money.

In neck of the woods New England you would be hard pressed to find a decent golf course for under 75.00 . , 30, 40 and < $50 are a thing of the past.

This year I played one course under $50, it was a very nice 9 hole course that you played from 2 different tee boxes, did not include cart and it was week day after 11:00am and 2 .5 hours away.

[MS256]

Whether golf is expensive or not depends on:

The financial status of the person you are asking.

Whether they want to play enough to actually have a chance to get good at it or if they just want to occasionally go hack a ball around a goat tract.

Whether they have other family members that they are also paying for.

[inthehole]

In neck of the woods New England you would be hard pressed to find a decent golf course for under 75.00 . , 30, 40 and < $50 are a thing of the past.

This year I played one course under $50, it was a very nice 9 hole course that you played from 2 different tee boxes, did not include cart and it was week day after 11:00am and 2 .5 hours away.

wow - I'm afraid I'd give up the game if I had to pay that much.   Not that I couldn't, it just takes the enjoyment out of it for me.    I just like the art of searching for a deal on golfnow or all the other online tee time sites ... I played a really nice $55 course for $18 yesterday.  Makes it sooooo much more enjoyable to get a deal ...

[Elmer]

Is cost the reason for the decline of golf........well Cost can be money or time, after all Time is money.

The actual cost would be clubs, balls & Misc and green fees, not driving an hour, car pooling and splitting gas money.

In neck of the woods New England you would be hard pressed to find a decent golf course for under 75.00 . , 30, 40 and < $50 are a thing of the past.

This year I played one course under $50, it was a very nice 9 hole course that you played from 2 different tee boxes, did not include cart and it was week day after 11:00am and 2 .5 hours away.

wow - I'm afraid I'd give up the game if I had to pay that much.   Not that I couldn't, it just takes the enjoyment out of it for me.    I just like the art of searching for a deal on golfnow or all the other online tee time sites ... I played a really nice $55 course for $18 yesterday.  Makes it sooooo much more enjoyable to get a deal ...

Around here, weekday rate is $50+ with a cart.

Weekend you are looking at $55+ and up.

If you are a senior citizen you can get a good deal during the week of $35,

but golfing in upstate NY is quite pricey if you want to play some decent courses.

[inthehole]

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthehole

wow - I'm afraid I'd give up the game if I had to pay that much.   Not that I couldn't, it just takes the enjoyment out of it for me.    I just like the art of searching for a deal on golfnow or all the other online tee time sites ... I played a really nice $55 course for $18 yesterday.  Makes it sooooo much more enjoyable to get a deal ...

Around here, weekday rate is $50+ with a cart.

Weekend you are looking at $55+ and up.

If you are a senior citizen you can get a good deal during the week of $35,

but golfing in upstate NY is quite pricey if you want to play some decent courses.

curious ... do you use the online discount tee time sites or just pay full price ?    I've played several super nice Binghamton area courses for very cheap on golfnow (Conklin Players Club, Links at Hiawatha come to mind)

[iacas]

BINGO! These three reasons: cost, time, and difficulty would be my best guess.  My solution to declining interest would be to to make golf a 12 hole game rather than 18. This would cut down the time and cost. Also to combat the difficulty and time factors, I would suggest that players would be encouraged to "Tee it Forward."

You realize golfers can play nine hole rounds and that isn't stemming the tide or anything, right?

I'm not so sure the PGA cares how many people play. Their money stream comes TV & sponsorships (advertisers).

How do you think the PGA (Tour) makes money from advertising? Because people watch… Less golfers = less watchers.

And the PGA itself cares very much about how many people play, because they are a member organization. More golfers = more facilities and more jobs.

---

People don't play golf for three reasons, primarily, IMO:

1. Cost
2. Time
3. Difficulty

Often it's a blend but it's subtly different for everyone. This assumes they've been exposed to it, of course, or else the top reason might simply be that they've never been introduced to the sport.

[Slice of Life]

You realize golfers can play nine hole rounds and that isn't stemming the tide or anything, right?

How do you think the PGA (Tour) makes money from advertising? Because people watch… Less golfers = less watchers.

And the PGA itself cares very much about how many people play, because they are a member organization. More golfers = more facilities and more jobs.

This. I think sometimes people forget that the PGA consists of more than just the tour guys.

[FireDragon76]

This is an old thread but I thought I'd just give my 2 cents as somebody that was interested in golf, but  just never played...  it was the perceived cost, difficulty, and the perceived demographic of golfers (conservative and exclusive).

The cost in time and money is an unavoidable issue especially as the middle class in the US is settling into lower wages, longer hours at work, and much less free time on the weekends (due to changing family structures and expectations).  I know the USGA/PGA and golf courses have pushed 9 hole rounds a lot, but even 9 holes can take quite a while to get to and play out.   Not to mention, to actually get better you have to spend a lot of time on driving ranges paying $$$ to get incremental improvements.   And the cost of PGA instruction is prohibitive.

I'd like to see more pitch and putt courses- I think that could have a lot of the fun of golf but without the costs, time, or steep difficulty (due to not needing full swings).  I know of one that used to be near where I live but it closed due to the owners deciding to sell the land to a parking lot.