It is frustrating to read the countless stories of how Millennials are killing the golf industry! The continuous whining that it is ‘sooooo’ difficult to attract younger players to the links reminds me of the adage of trying to put a square peg in a round hole! I mean really, are millennials really causing havoc to the future of golf or is the industry doing it to itself? Continue reading
golf industry
The Waning Interest in Golf
The waning interest in golf! It is not all about money!
Golf continually follows the ebb and flow popularity. If you as the pundits, they will offer a very long and detailed answer about costs, environmental issues or the lack of interest from the millennials. I am sure there is logic in their answers, however let’s be clear: “It is a nearly $70 billion industry, supporting two million jobs and $55.6 billion in annual wage income. Golf has a long history of giving back to society and provides an annual charitable impact of about $4 billion per year through 143,000 events and 12 million participants.” (Forbes 2015)
There are many reasons for the wax and waning of golf interest. The fundamental reason is complex and I am not really interested in solving because I am a consumer. I let the golf professionals figure out the details; I only want to play golf and support charities as much as possible. Since I started writing a golf blog, I notice a sharp decline in interest starting right about now until April when the Masters peeks it head up from a long winters nap. And when the interest returns in the spring, it does so with a vengeance. Continue reading
Golf is About Economics
Golf is all about economics. Despite what any golfer thinks, if the golf industry is not making money, there will be no golf industry. Of course, the consumer (us) thinks they have a great deal of influence, yet I am not entirely sure this is true. Over the years I have read many articles about “rabbit hole” issues that are the symptoms of my opening statement, but if you peel away the layers like an onion, money is the at the core.
The issue of Jason Day’s comment that he plays golf to win and he will use whatever routine he needs to make that happen is at the forefront of the recent media hype on slow play. Considered one of the slowest players on the PGA Tour, Day can be extremely tiresome to watch. But yet, there we sit living vicariously through his long drives and smooth chips. Golf pundits have wailed on the PGA and European Tours for being ineffective to change this issue and still nothing really changes! Why, because the revenue gained from TV sponsors regardless of the pace of play outweighs the efforts needed to fix the slow play issue. It is all about economics.
The State of Golf – Perception is Reality
The poor state of golf is an easy target for most writers. By gathering stats about the golf industry, it is easy to paint a picture of despair or economic boom. It is an industry that influences most areas of across Canada and has an economic impact that most people do not realize or understand.
Here are some stats about the Canadian 2014 golfing industry from the National Allied Golf Association:
The total direct economic activity (total direct sales, golf related travel, capital spending) resulting from the Canadian Golf Industry is estimated at $19.7 billion.
These facts come from Based on direct, indirect and induced impacts, Canada’s 2013 golf cluster economic impact accounts for about $14.3 billion of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), up from $12.2 billion in 2008. Continue reading
Does Golf Need Saving?
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!
The Grateful Golfer 