Is Golf Stagnating?

[ThinkingPlus]

I had lunch with a dear friend last week. This person is the author of several successful golf books and as a result, keeps a keen eye on the industry. I learned that worldwide, more people are leaving the game than joining.

Why is this happening and what needs to be done?

Thanks,

Bagger

Golf is a difficult game. Fewer people stick with hard to do activities because that is human nature. However, there is a group of people who embrace hard to do things because they are hard to do ( ). My guess is that the number in this "like things difficult" category remains relatively constant over time. Real growth is numbers of players will only arise by stealing from other "hard" activities or making people aware of golf who have never heard of the game. The increase in numbers of players due to the Tiger effect will fall off as these players realize the difficulties involved. Only the hardy will stick with it. The decrease you are seeing is this fall off I suspect. JMHO

[Trig]

I'd like to see the actual statistics if anyone has them.

[Bagger Lance]

Here's what the author told me.

For the most part, beginning golfers have a miserable experience their first few times out, then never return.

• They start with poor equipment.
• They are humiliated and embarrased by their performance.
• They don't know the basics of making a golf stroke.
• They get hounded by the Marshal for slow play.
• They get hounded by groups behind them for slow play.
• They don't know the rules or etiquette of the game.
• They expect to have at least a few great shots per round like they see on TV, but it rarely happens.

Why would anyone with a start like this ever want to return?
Steph is right-on that there is a challenge factor, and certain personalities are motivated by that, but not the mainstream.

People just want to have fun.

So what can be done about this?
Who are the key stakeholders in insuring that beginners to the game have fun, and look forward to returning?
How can they be prepared?

Bagger

P.S. Trig wanted some stats - This is about 9 months old from the National Golf Foundation www.ngf.org - I couldn't find the latest for 05, but I'll take my friends word.

[brianmanzella]

Great post/thread...

Here is a quick list:

STUPID hard golf courses.

All courses should be 5,200 to 6,200 from the 'white tees,' designed to let you putt it from 1 tee to 18 green, like old Augusta and St. Andrews.

TERRIBLE instruction:

No not terrible TGM instruction, terrible INSTRUCTION. The worst TGMer in the land is at the 90% percentile. PGA, Golf Channel and the magazines are the top reasons.

HORRIBLE leadership:

I once asked at a PGA meeting (to a new person up for election) "What do you stand for"? I was nearly booed, and quickly laughed at.

Thank God for the internet and sites like mine and Lynn's.

[Daryl]

I think using the statistical chart of Baggers’ and our own historical perspectives that we have nothing too much to worry about, at least, in our lifetimes. For my great grandchildren, whom I have not yet met, I couldn’t care less if they play golf, as long as they don’t do bowling.

The chart indicates that the number of total golfers has increased about 20% during the past fifteen years. The US population has grown from 248M to 293M. For us math wizards, that’s 20%. The group of core golfers appears to have also increased.

Is it true, that the number of new golf courses from 1990-2000, at least equals the largest decade of golf course growth in US history. I don’t have stats to support this, but I’m remembering some stats being thrown around a few years ago.

I think that having to always wait for tee times can give us some insight as to supply and demand.

Also, I don’t know about you guys, but the stink’ in golf outings have got to stop. I swear that if the golf course down the street doesn’t curtail their golf outings, then I’m going to start playing the course three blocks more down the road. I mean it; too.

I saw one outing for legal secretaries. Scary.

This is the big one…..The number of golf books and the amount of training aids being purchased. Obviously, people are trying (just not the foursome ahead of me, lol).

Brian. Sorry to hear about your disappointing experience with the PGA. Unfortunately, most organizations are managed with out leadership. It’s sad. It has always been that way. Government is also an organization. But you have had more experience with the efforts of that organization, right.

I think that there are more golfers than Hunters, Basketball players, racecar drivers, etc.

I don’t know all the reasons why people play golf, or quit. Personally, I have the love-hate relationship going on. I love playing well and scoring low, I hate playing poorly and scoring high. So I practice, log long hours reading forums, read the yellow book, buy Brian’s videos (need more videos), read more forums and practice more, oh, and go to Lynn’s schools.

So, is golf stagnating? Not today.

[Bagger Lance]

The golf industry is not growing and it's not for lack of marketing. It's lack of introducing new players in a way that makes them want to come back.

I'll try to answer my own questions about what can be done.

Golf Courses have a vested interest and most are struggling for greens fees and member enrollment. So rather than cater to the average public golfer or member, they go for the bigger payoffs of corporate outings and special events. The alternative is to attract high volume daily fee players with special incentives on discounted rates plus food, drink, etc. More of a survival than high margin tactic. How many of these courses cater to new, beginning golfers by providing free seminars on the fundamentals of playing tee to green, etiquette, equipment, and set the right expectations for personal growth? How many provide a for-fee seminar with custom clubs for little to no profit just to get a beginner started on the right track? The Club Pro has the responsibility here. The beginning golfer has a great time and guess what? A repeat customer for a long time.

Golf Teachers have a vested interest. There is nothing wrong with starting a program for beginning golfers that teach basic mechanics and basic playing. There are ways to take a group of beginners and introduce them to playing. Take an entire group out for 9 holes and show them the way to keep pace. Teach a Community College or University Extension Course and include custom clubs as part of the fee. Have a special event at your equipment store for beginners and give them a seminar on how to play a course, then take them all out!

The Equipment Industry has a vested interest. They are doing everything they can to make equipment forgiving. But I doubt they are making the numbers they would like to make.

The Media has a vested interest. Unfortunately they do nothing to guide beginners on the right path from a mechanics or playing perspective.

The PGA has a vested interest and has the primary responsibility for creating ease of entry to the game. They have failed according to the numbers.

So it's safe to say that the industry is not growing and there are many that would like to see growth, not stagnation. It begins with correct instruction on and off the course. It would be great to see more on-course fundamentals taught for the raw beginner. A lifetime of enjoyment begins there. How many of us introduce our friends to golf this way? I believe experienced golfers, teaching pros, and club pros need to do more in this area. Those that are should be highly commended and supported.

Grab a beginner and take them out next week! Introduce someone new to the game.

Bagger

[Bagger Lance]

My friend referenced in this thread is Barbara Puett, Author of Golf Etiquette and The Womans Guide to Golf. She studied directly under Harvey Penick and teaches with Chuck Cook at the Barton Creek Resort. Both of her books have had staying power on the shelves of major retailers over the years which is the true measure of a books success. One of her primary mantra's is "Pace of Play".
She also teaches beginners class on Golf at the University of Texas in Austin and holds numerous group seminars all over the country for Women and beginning golfers.
She is a true ambassador for the industry and she has greatly influenced my thoughts about beginning golfers. I'll see if I can get her to post some thoughts here. In return I gave her some dowels with instructions on how to teach with them.

Bagger

[12 piece bucket]

I think it's all about economics. The game is hard but that's what makes it so great.

EVERYTHING about golf costs way too much. Period. But if there are enough morons out there that'll pay $400 for a driver (one stinkin' club) whachugonnadu?

[bew69]

Daryl -

Are we looking at the same chart? Looks to me like the total number of golfers has gone from about 26M to 28M, less than a 10% increase. Worse yet, the number of Core golfers is stagnant.

Bruce

[Daryl]

Yes. The same chart. No lines on the chart, no glassess on. I was trying to be in the middle.