Golf in decline?

[McMahon]

I hear time and time again that golf is a game in decline - that it's a game with a particular demographic and other sports are way more popular! I personally have never seen the game of golf as popular as it is now but on the other hand I hear about golf clubs closing on a daily basis. I'm going to guess that everyone will have a bias opinion on this forum(!) but what are people's thoughts on the sport as a whole?

[Tailgater]

I still believe golf is a niche sport. For a lot of people, they just aren't exposed to golf in a way that they can take it up or want to take it up. I think the people that are into golf are really into golf these days. The time commitment and expense are a deterrent to new golfers

[plum]

IMO the time it takes to play a round is whats killing it

[vangator]

I've seen a drop off at the club I play (a muni). I used to wait on average for an hour to walk on as a single and as high as 2 hours, but now I can get on within 15 minutes. If golf is in decline, I like it!

[RussUK]

I think golf is in decline to a certain extent in that fewer people are becoming members of clubs and as a reult the clubs are having to try different things in order to cover the shortfall in mebership fee's.

I have seen this at my home course as they have recently turned the par 3 course into Footgolf.

I understand the clubs have to diversify in this day and age but its a shame to see courses (whatever their size) close or be used for other purposes.

[newtogolf]

Golf is likely down from the extreme highs it experienced during Tigers top years.  There were a lot of golf courses built in the last 25 years, mostly around new housing developments, that anticipated the local community would support them but the demographics of those communities have changed since they were built and those seem to be the courses that are suffering the most.

[MrDC]

Globally it has to be up there in popularity, it may not get the numbers per event that soccer does, but soccer is not that popular in the US, golf is, so golf is perhaps the most global sport there is.

The golf channel does really well, I don't see many other sports with dedicated channels on the main drag of TV channels, maybe MLB.

Bethpage is my local big name place, with four courses I believe, and it's packed frequently, go there on a weekend and you'll wait 10 minutes each hole easy, a holiday that number goes way up, bring a cooler.

So I think the game is doing fine, personally I hope it stays just this way, I would really hate for it to become a big thing again and have my quiet haunt get overrun with newbies.

[Jeremie Boop]

I think the decline is pretty closely tied to the economic problems we've experienced. Golf is not the cheapest of sports/activities and when times are tough you have to cut back on expenditures. This also ties in with what @newtogolf about the courses in housing developments that went up in the last 10-20 years, people just didn't have the money to join these communities like was originally thought.

[Patch]

I am of the opinion that fewer folks are playing the game these days. I don't see the younger folks out there like I did in years past. Most of the golfers I see are like me. Old, and retired. That said, I don't think the game will ever disappear, but will level off at some point where owners, and players are well accommodated.

I was at a sports bar over the US-O weekend. The place had at least a dozen flat screens . Only one was tuned to the US-O. The rest were tuned to MLB, Soccer, or the local news. No one was complaining.

When I drive into Vegas, I go past a golf course that is no longer being used anymore. It use to be great course to play at. Another course I use to frequent quite often has been changed into a regional park, where golf is no longer allowed.

Cost to play the game is a big problem, and with a poor economy, most folks just don't have the money. Other sports will get the youngsters before golf because the start up costs are much less. Price a base ball glove, or soccer ball against a set of golf clubs if you don't understand my reasoning. I have a grand daughter who plays golf quite well for her age. She likes golf, has her own set of clubs, but prefers to play softball, and soccer to be around her friends. None of her friends play golf.

[Mop Bucket]

If I hadn't started when I was young, there's no way you'd see me shelling out $50 to play a round of 18 as a broke college student. I understand that courses require a lot of money to stay in operation but the prices aren't exactly luring people in the front gates.

[MSDOGS1976]

My club had 500 members in 1998-99, today 165. Public courses haven't picked up new players as they are too struggling around here. Not an indicator of golf as a whole, but the sport has certainly declined in my backyard.

[acetoolguy]

I don't fully understand the time issue. I used to fish a lot, fishing used the same time slot, weekend mornings, and I was usually out longer. You can play nine holes in the time it takes to watch a football or baseball game. Maybe golf needs to promote playing 9 rather than 18 more than it does.

For me the 4 1/2 hour round and 1 hour of telling lies and drinking an adult beverage after is a big part of what I enjoy.

Now I'm trying to remember who told the biggest lies, golfers or fisherman...its close.

[Jeremie Boop]

I don't fully understand the time issue. I used to fish a lot, fishing used the same time slot, weekend mornings, and I was usually out longer. You can play nine holes in the time it takes to watch a football or baseball game. Maybe golf needs to promote playing 9 rather than 18 more than it does.

For me the 4 1/2 hour round and 1 hour of telling lies and drinking an adult beverage after is a big part of what I enjoy.

Now I'm trying to remember who told the biggest lies, golfers or fisherman...its close.

That's really funny because it's pretty accurate the "fish that got away" and the "you should have seen this shot man" stories can be pretty hilarious.

[mvmac]

I don't fully understand the time issue. I used to fish a lot, fishing used the same time slot, weekend mornings, and I was usually out longer. You can play nine holes in the time it takes to watch a football or baseball game. Maybe golf needs to promote playing 9 rather than 18 more than it does.

For me the 4 1/2 hour round and 1 hour of telling lies and drinking an adult beverage after is a big part of what I enjoy.

That's actually a big issue for a lot of golfers/potential golfers. If you have a young family it's tough to get away for 5-6 hours. The time it takes to be good also isn't an attractive part of the sport with the younger, instant-gratification generation.

[Scotsclaff]

I sure don't hope golf is in the decline but if it is.....................more room for me.

[Crim]

That's actually a big issue for a lot of golfers/potential golfers. If you have a young family it's tough to get away for 5-6 hours.

This is me, I only have time for 9 holes about two times per week and I get in a range sessions here and there. I play about one 18 hole round a month. Just don't have the time to get away, but man, once I retire....i mean.....if I retire....

[mcanadiens]

Heck, I know guys that work 60-70 hours a week every week. Full disclosure, I work 90 hours a week during one very particular 2-month stretch and then get something of a life again after that.

One dude I used to play all the time hasn't been heard from this year. Rumor has it that he's chained to a desk somewhere.

[MrDC]

It's not fair to look at the game back in Tiger's day and compare it, the man changed things and got everyone out there, that's rare, so maybe it's simply that we're seeing the normal crowd now, and the Woods effect is over.

As for the family thing, that's the case for everything in their lives, family=nothing but family for the parents, there used to be a time when one could work and the other would take care of things, leaving a little time for both to have some freedom, but those days are over, both parents have to work now, leaving zero time.

But I've always maintained that the time issue is a small one, plenty of people spend plenty of time doing other things, softball leagues, video games, watching TV, sitting at the bar, etc...

If people see a problem with popularity in the game it only comes down to two issues IMO- difficulty and interest, it's a very frustrating game to learn and many just find it boring.