Women's Professional Golf Has a Problem in the U.S.

[NJpatbee]

I live about 30 minutes from the Trump course in Bedminster where the US Women's Open is being played.  You can get 4 tickets for $100 but I have had no takers on going to the US Open, even for a half day to watch the players and see the course.  When I mention the players I would like to see most golfers recognize Michelle Wie but I get a blank stare for most of the other top female golfers.  Perhaps it is the lack of many notable US female golfers or most people want to watch only the best on the men's PGA Tour.    It seems a shame since the competition can be tough and the tournament exciting.  Most of us male golfers could also learn something from these typically smaller women driving the ball 250+ yards which is longer than my drive.  Someone in Marketing at the LPGA should take notice. 

 

[BaconNEggs]

"Women's professional golf has a problem in the US"

In what sense?

Would you go to a women's basketball game? Soccer? Hockey?

I would think the answer to all of the above would be overwhelmingly "no" for most people. If you watched any March Madness this year, you may have noted that many women's games were virtually empty-- even UConn, a perennial powerhouse with a fairly dedicated fan base, were playing games with less than a quarter of the arena full.

Personally I enjoy watching women's golf, but most people don't. I think most people don't like watching golf, in general; the Golf Channel is the bane of my girlfriend's existence.

Heck, that people could name Michelle Wie is at least something. I doubt most Americans could name a single women's hockey player or basketball player.

[rehmwa]

just the US?

sigh

[iacas]

10 minutes ago, BaconNEggs said:

"Women's professional golf has a problem in the US"

In what sense?

Would you go to a women's basketball game? Soccer? Hockey?

I would think the answer to all of the above would be overwhelmingly "no" for most people.

Yeah. It's women's athletics, not just golf.

Though I'll be watching later today. I enjoy watching the women's game.

[Hategolf]

I enjoy watching Women's golf as much as men's golf.

Not to mention some of them are easy on the eyes. I think women's golf in the US would atrack more viewers if there were more winning US players. 

[jamo]

Not everything in the world needs to be as huge as football or European soccer. Sports are allowed to be niche without having "a problem."

[Groucho Valentine]

1 minute ago, jamo said:

Not everything in the world needs to be as huge as football or European soccer. Sports are allowed to be niche without having "a problem."

Tru dat. 

But as far as pro sports go, i think women's games are always going to have to be part pornography to be commerically successful if left up to men to be the primary consumer. More women have to start supporting women's sport. 

Edited July 13, 2017 by Groucho Valentine

[NJpatbee]

Women's tennis has a good following but I would agree that most women's sports do not.  By "problem" I meant a small amount of fans which in a pro sport impacts revenue. 

[Hardspoon]

2 hours ago, NJpatbee said:

Women's tennis has a good following

Women's tennis equals or exceeds men's tennis in popularity.  It's not uncommon for the women's final in a tournament to beat the men's final in ratings.

3 hours ago, jamo said:

Not everything in the world needs to be as huge as football or European soccer. Sports are allowed to be niche without having "a problem."

Right. If you compare the LPGA to the PGA, it doesn't look good. But...if you compare the PGA to the NFL, it's worse. The LPGA makes enough that female players can afford to be full-time professionals...so they are at least meeting some minimum standard.

[Phil McGleno]

The only problem I see is that the American players are all too often losing to the cow Feng and other players that are tougher to relate to because they are Korean or something and do not speak English so we do not get to know them.

Americans will root for a foreigner if they can get to know her. Annika was rooted for-And against! Lydia Ko. Suzann.

[Patch]

I always wanted to know why they played on the same days as the men do. 

[chilepepper]

I went to the Kyocera when it was at Stoneridge in San Diego/Poway a couple times. Enjoyed it but, if I'm going to walk a golf course it's going to be to play a round. I'd just rather participate or watch on TV where I can have something else going on also. 

[iacas]

12 minutes ago, Patch said:

I always wanted to know why they played on the same days as the men do. 

Because even fewer people are gonna watch a final round on, what, Wednesday?

[bkuehn1952]

I am always impressed by all the young women who did not speak English as their first language.  Doing interviews in a foreign language, and most often doing it well, is fantastic.

The LPGA membership spans all body types like the World as a whole.  Yes, some could probably spend a bit more time in the gym, but so could many of us.  Still, I would like to think that somewhere a young girl carrying a bit too much weight might be inspired by Shanshan, begin to play golf and maybe become a bit healthier and happier.

Edited July 13, 2017 by bkuehn1952
Typo

[Golfingdad]

1 hour ago, Hardspoon said:

Women's tennis equals or exceeds men's tennis in popularity.  It's not uncommon for the women's final in a tournament to beat the men's final in ratings.

Right. If you compare the LPGA to the PGA, it doesn't look good. But...if you compare the PGA to the NFL, it's worse. The LPGA makes enough that female players can afford to be full-time professionals...so they are at least meeting some minimum standard.

Really, I think all the LPGA should compare themselves to is, well, themselves.  How popular is it now compared to 5, 10, 20, 30 years ago?  If it is more popular than it used to be, and I suspect that it is, then it's growing and the thread title is incorrect.

[ssbn611]

1 hour ago, Phil McGleno said:

The only problem I see is that the American players are all too often losing to the cow Feng and other players that are tougher to relate to because they are Korean or something and do not speak English so we do not get to know them.

Americans will root for a foreigner if they can get to know her. Annika was rooted for-And against! Lydia Ko. Suzann.

Don't forget Lorena Ochoa. :)

[scotth]

The few times that I have see an LPGA tournament on TV, I have watched and noticed I learn more about game management than watching the PGA.  

The men these days are hitting clubs so much longer than anything I can relate to, I am usually dumbstruck by the distances.  The club selection for approach shots by the women is much more relatable to me, and I find myself paying more attention.  The long hitters on the LPGA tour are still much longer then me, but I learn quite a bit from the shorter and average length players.

[ChrisP]

Look at the leaderboard. There are FOUR Americans in the top-30 of this Open. The first 3 pages of the leaderboard is littered with Orientals that most people have no clue who they are. This is what has happened to Women's Golf. I'm sure there are some that may see the Asian Invasion as a good thing....but I see it as something that has killed the interest in Women's Golf in America. I remember the days of Nancy Lopez and Pat Bradley and Annika Sorrenstam when the US Women's Open was a big story and people would watch. Now no one cares. Heck, I didn't even know it was going on until I saw this thread. SportsCenter barely even mentioned the Open and it's not like there's any other sports going on right now. 

Edited July 13, 2017 by ChrisP