Does Golf Need Saving?

/ The Grateful Golfer

There is much talk about how golf is slowly dying as fewer people take up the sport. Golf is a game that is time-consuming, requires practice, is difficult to master and can be expensive to play. It is difficult to dispute these facts, however, is the golf industry really dying or is it going through an economic adjustment?

CTV News reported that, “a new survey finds the overall number of rounds played has dropped by nearly 15 per cent since 2008 — a tough hit for a multi-billion-dollar industry.” One of the current difficulties is keeping “under 30” players playing! If we match the rising costs of everything from fuel, fertilizer, wages, and equipment to the economic downturn from 2008-2012, there is no wonder that people with very little disposable income are finding something else to do.

Rick Harrow of Fox Sports is suggesting a different story. The golf industry and the PGA are doing fine. The influx of money from the Fox TV deal and the growth of club professionals are macro indicators that things are not as doom and gloom as some might suggest. Have a look below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lglGuYlsUM

Does golf really need to adapt to survive? As a traditionalist, I suggest that some modifications to the game might be required, but not as to change the game dramatically. The “TEE IT FORWARD” initiative is a great example of modifying a round of golf without changing its integrity. However, even the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, thinks it is time to make changes to mainstream golf. See below.

Personally, I am not a fan of bigger golf holes, playing football on the golf course, or changing the basic premise of the game. However, I am already an avid golfer so my opinion is definitely biased!

Earlier I wrote an article for Punditarena.com called “Is Golf Imploding?” The landscape of golf is changing. New faces of golf are emerging everyday. I would suggest that golf is evolving instead of imploding. This multi-billion-dollar industry will make the economic adjustment required to survive and grow….it always does!

Do you think that golf needs saving?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

9 thoughts on “Does Golf Need Saving?”

  1. Jim,

    I think what really happened was Taylormade and Callaway riding this wave of Tiger-mania for 15 years and built the golf industry into an unsustainable bubble with their crazy 2 or 3 major product releases in a single golf season. That obviously worked for awhile but even the most die-hard “must play the newest gear” golfers must be tired of updating their gear mid-season when their ‘obsolete’ equipments are still brand new but now available at 1/2 the price. To be honest, from the golf I’ve played this year, I’ve only seen the SLDR in play once and it was from a local golf pro playing at his own golf course. This will probably correct itself through basic supply and demand- lowered expectations and fewer releases will also help golf retailers and give the average player some confidence that they are really getting the best equipment available for the season for their money.

    Let’s hope Rory and Rickie can continue their runs. Golf needs someone to dominate- Tiger brought in the viewers- whether you love him or hate him, you can tune in and either root for his comeback or watch him implode. A new rivalry between young, dominant and easily recognizable players will hopefully recover younger golfers who are so distracted by everything available to them today.

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    • Crunchy

      Well said. I agree with the continuous release of new gear….how much can technology really change in such a short time!

      Golf does need three players to be dominate! Rory for sure, Rickie ok, maybe Jordan. All really young guys and I am not sure they are ready. Time will tell.

      Cheers
      Jim

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  2. Jim, no fix needed. Besides as parents start to pull kids away from concussion related sports like football and hockey, some will gravitate to golf and replenish the shrinking ranks. Thanks. Brian

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  3. It is evolving from an exclusive upper class endeavor that captured the hearts of Mad Men business executive types and their prodigy into a global flat economy mainstream attraction but that evolution will have dramatic changes at the sponsorship and regional local participation levels and when it returns we won’t recognize many aspects of participation.

    I also think virtual training tools and virtual gaming along with online broadcasting will help expand its reach among the millennials, boomers, gen x, generation D, and the ever growing emerging economies. Unfortunately for the US and Europe for the under 30 middle class guy or girl, unemployment is at all time highs so I don’t see disposable income picking up the other half of big sponsorship stuff.

    More local sponsorships and less huge corporations sounds like part of the recipe. Because big money usually ends up in few pockets and rarely promotes more amateur participation. IMHO. But no matter what I’ll keep playing. Just keep those foot and frisbee golfers away from my putting green. In a team building way I mean. 🙂

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