Is Golf Stagnating?
 

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

I think if "we" had to do it over again, we'd build 14-hole courses.

Make it about a 3-hour game with green fees less expensive.

I think the time consumption issue is first, followed by cost.

Make it four hole courses. It's a lot easier to get away for an hour then three, four, or five.

Sorting Through the Golf Nut's Catalogue.

B-Ray

Thats GREAT NEWS. I hope more people leave. I hate waiting 2 hours after sign up to play golf. :)

Golf is Hard
 

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 (\\:D/ ](*,) ). 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 :|

Stats
 

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

The Out of Box Experience
 

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.\\:D/

So what can be done about this? :confused:
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.

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.

If the supply of golf courses keeps on growing and the demand (number of regular golfers) doesn't, I would predict that in the near future competition will drive down greens fees. Although I often think about buying a retirement home in a golf community, I am very concerned that some of these places will find it hard to get and retain members, and that will put tremendous financial pressure on the existing homeowners/members.

It's been a booming real estate market for the last 10 years and many people probably think it won't end -- the same people who thought that about the stock market in March 2000.

Bruce

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.