MLK Day Question - Where are the African American golfers?

[colin007]

37 minutes ago, chspeed said:

Here are some rough numbers using the below study and US 2010 census demographics:

Whites 1 in 10 play golf

Blacks 1 in 30 play golf

 

 

That's exactly what I was talking about. Huge disparity.

[Club Rat]

Quote

While the National Golf Foundation's yearly study on participation may not be as statistically rigorous as a Fortune 500 company's annual report, it is as powerful an indication of the game's health -- and hope -- as any Presidential State of the Union speech. 

And the review of 2014, despite indications from several quarters to the contrary during the year, seems to suggest the state of golf's union is at the very least stable, and may be trending in a surprisingly positive direction.

For the third straight year, the NGF reports the number of golfers in 2014 was near 25 million. This number (24.7 million) matches the figure for 2013, but is down from 2010 (26 million) and 17 percent off the peak in 2005 of 30 million. It also matches the pre-Tiger Woods number of 24.7 million in 1995. According to the report, that number has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 875,000 golfers. 

Under the NGF's methodology, the participation rate number is based on the estimated number of people ages 6 and over who played golf, on a golf course, at least once during the survey year. The survey is part of a larger survey of 40,000 Americans conducted by the Physical Activity Council regarding their participation in over 100 sports and fitness activities. 

According to the NGF, 8.5 percent of those surveyed indicated they played golf in 2014, but while participation rates have remained steady, the NGF cites data from PGA PerformanceTrak that says golfers played more often when conditions were playable. Rounds played per "playable day" were up nearly 1 percent in 2014 vs. 2013. The NGF says core golfers -- those who play eight rounds per year -- played two more rounds per year (32) than they did in 2005 when golf participation (in terms of numbers of golfers) was at its peak.

While the number of core golfers, occasional golfers and junior golfers all stayed relatively the same, the survey also tracked the number of golfers who played golf for the first time ever in 2014 at approximately 2 million, consistent with 2013. According to the report, the largest percentage of beginning golfers was in the 18-39 age group, accounting for more than half of all beginning golfers. The report says that roughly 4 million people began or returned to the game in 2014. 

But the NGF report also tracked interest in the game among these latent golfers, what it calls "individuals who did not play golf during the survey year but expressed interest in playing golf now." The number of latent golfers (32 million) has grown every year since 2011, when it was 27 million. 

Among other highlights of the NGF study:

-- The highest percentage of core golfers came in the 30-39 age group (18.8 percent of all golfers), followed by the 40-49 (17.6) group. There were a larger percentage of  golfers under the age of 40 than there were over the age of 50 (47 percent to 35 percent).

-- The household income for the average golfer is $93,000, but nearly 40 percent have a household income less than $75,000. Still, the largest percentage of all golfers (27 percent) have a household income over $125,000.

-- Participation rates in New England and the Midwest regions (Ohio to North Dakota) were the highest. The lowest were in the South Central (Kentucky to Texas).

For the third straight year, the NGF reports the number of golfers in 2014 was near 25 million.

Seems the number hasn't changed since 2010?

 

[Lihu]

What's interesting is that only 1:20 Asians play who are 5.6% of the population and only 1:20 Latino play who are 17% of the population. This is also a really big disparity.

Given these statistics, there's a very low percentage of non-European descent people playing golf in America in general. More than likely, the combined majority of all golfers around the world are likely people of European descent. Not surprising considering golf's origins, but hopefully that will change. . .

[dave s]

I would 'guess' there are disproportionately fewer African-American golfers compared to other races, Asian-American and white folk.

It is my opinion that the single most important role the PGA and USGA can play is growing the game across all ages, genders and socioeconomic groups world-wide.

There are so many African-American professional athletes who play golf and play the game very well.  Why not reach out to  Michael Jordan, JR Smith (CAVS NBA), Charles Barkley (ok he doesn't play well!) Cam Newton (just to name a few) and the many others who play the game and have them spread the word to those who might not choose golf?

IMO, PGA and USGA aren't doing NEARLY enough marketing to the masses in an effort to grow the game.

dave

[dak4n6]

When you are a kid, golf requires much more specialized equipment and a special place to play, unlike baseball, basketball, and football. Golf will never have the demographics and participation that the other big sports have, and I don't know why we expect it to.

[chspeed]

11 hours ago, dak4n6 said:

Golf will never have the demographics and participation that the other big sports have, and I don't know why we expect it to.

Certainly not. Just hoping for an improvement. I think anything we can do to involve more people in golf is important. As we saw with Tiger, getting more minorities on the tour can dramatically improve viewership, purses, etc. by potentially appealing to an untapped fan base. It's just disappointing that it doesn't seem to have led to an increase in minorities playing golf.

[Golfingdad]

On 1/18/2016 at 8:44 AM, Club Rat said:

Golf has always competed against other sports at all levels from kids to the professional level. Other sports offer opportunities for greater numbers because they are team sports.

The team sports are so much easier to get into at a young age because they don't require any kind of specialized equipment.

For something like golf, it's almost a requirement that a parent gets you interested because everybody needs clubs, balls, tees, and a course that costs money.  Tennis is similar but to a lesser extent in that everybody needs a racquet and a court.

For football, soccer, and basketball, all you need for a large group of kids is one ball, a park, and some daylight.  For baseball, add one stick, and the same can be true.

I can see very easily that unless somebody is pushing you into it (golf or tennis) and providing you what you need, then it's just too much of a hassle to try.

[Club Rat]

2 hours ago, chspeed said:

As we saw with Tiger, getting more minorities on the tour can dramatically improve viewership, purses, etc.

It really had nothing to do with minorities. Tiger was and still is a great golfer which drove the media craze. The purses are in line with the extraordinary rise of all professional sports.

Are Rory, Jordan, Ricky and the many other really good young players in any minority class? Yes they are, because their better than others and more viewers will watch.

[PhraseUniverse]

1 hour ago, Golfingdad said:

The team sports are so much easier to get into at a young age because they don't require any kind of specialized equipment.

For something like golf, it's almost a requirement that a parent gets you interested because everybody needs clubs, balls, tees, and a course that costs money.  Tennis is similar but to a lesser extent in that everybody needs a racquet and a court.

For football, soccer, and basketball, all you need for a large group of kids is one ball, a park, and some daylight.  For baseball, add one stick, and the same can be true.

I can see very easily that unless somebody is pushing you into it (golf or tennis) and providing you what you need, then it's just too much of a hassle to try.

I agree. Money and exposure to the sport are huge. 

During my childhood (80's), I lived in a middle-to-lower class area, which was about half Caucasian, half African American. No one played golf, mostly baseball, basketball, and football. All we needed as a few kids and a ball, which is much easier to attain than clubs, balls, and fees. We idolized guys like Isiah Thomas, Alan Trammell, and Barry Sanders. We were never exposed to golf, golf was always viewed as a "rich man's sport". I didn't even know there was a course in my childhood city until long after I moved out and got into the sport lol. Also like Golfingdad said, I only knew one kid whose father played golf, so no one had parents that pushed us to play.

When I was 10, my father remarried and moved to the suburbs. It was only then I was exposed to sports like hockey, soccer, tennis, and golf. My high school had a golf team. I was interested in golf and played from time to time, but I had "hoop dreams". And I didn't take up golf seriously until 3-4 years ago (honestly wish I would've done it sooner, I absolutely love golf). 

Also, many African American kids, especially in the inner-city or lower class neighborhoods relate more with NFL, NBA, and MLB players. Because many of those athletes grew up in the same cites and neighborhoods. There doesn't seem to be any pro golfers that can relate to that at the moment. 

There are plenty of African American golfers. It's just most of us got into the game long after childhood because we weren't exposed to it. But now we're introducing the game to our children. So I think eventually there will be more African American golfers, just not as many as other sports. 

Edited January 21, 2016 by PhraseUniverse

[Club Rat]

2 minutes ago, PhraseUniverse said:

There are plenty of African American golfers. It's just most of us got into the game long after childhood because we weren't exposed to it. But now we're introducing the game to our children. So I think eventually there will be more African American golfers, just not as many as other sports. 

I applauded your honesty and agree 100% I likewise grew up in the city and missed out on sports like hockey, golf, skiing which I later in life pursued.

Nowadays, I see more parents becoming active with children in sports, such a the YMCA groups, church, and schools which is a great thing.

I believe if any child wants to play golf nowadays, parents will make it happen.

[chspeed]

2 hours ago, Club Rat said:

It really had nothing to do with minorities. Tiger was and still is a great golfer which drove the media craze. The purses are in line with the extraordinary rise of all professional sports.

Are Rory, Jordan, Ricky and the many other really good young players in any minority class? Yes they are, because their better than others and more viewers will watch.

That's not what the numbers say. Golf viewership has been tumbling in the last few years (see chart) There was definitely a bump in 2015 for the majors (I can't find full season rating numbers), but it's still well short of what it was in Tiger's hedey, both in viewership and in share. At the 2015 year-end Wyndham, a nothing event, Tiger's Saturday round drew a 3.3 rating, which is the same as the final day of the 2015 PGA Championship with Day and Speith going head to head. Granted, he was trying to extend his season.

I'm under no illusion that Tiger being a minority (or indeed even Tiger himself) was the only factor in the increase of viewership and increased purses on the PGA Tour. However I do think that being a minority was part of it.

Games like Golf and Tennis need all the minorities they can get if they still want to stay relatively popular in a hundred years. This country's population is changing, and the so-called minorities will be majorities before too long.

2 hours ago, PhraseUniverse said:

Also, many African American kids, especially in the inner-city or lower class neighborhoods relate more with NFL, NBA, and MLB players. Because many of those athletes grew up in the same cites and neighborhoods. There doesn't seem to be any pro golfers that can relate to that at the moment. 

My point exactly. I wish there were more out there.

Edited January 21, 2016 by chspeed