According to the National Golf Federation, there are fewer golfers today than there were four years ago. While someone with a political slant could blame the President, there really is no easy explanation for the downturn in the numbers of golfers nationwide. It does seem like a strange coincidence, though, that the peak in golf participation coincided with the peak of Tiger Woods’ dominance on the PGA Tour.
Regardless of what has triggered the dip in golfing, the NGF estimates that two out of every three people who take up the game wind up quitting. This is good news for people who are familiar with the book "How To Quit Golf," but is disconcerting to those of us who always seem to be looking for a second, third, and/or fourth. The whole point of the game, after all, is to have a good time with friends and get some exercise and drinking in at the same time.
As it turns out, the NGF speculates that many people quit the game because it can be very difficult to get from Point A, starting to learn the game, to Point B, getting drunk on the course with your buddies. And it may very well be that process that is holding back the expansion of golf.
First, golf is an expensive game. It can cost over $1,000 just to get the appropriate equipment between buying irons, woods, a putter, balls, shoes, a bag, a glove, a towel, and other accessories. Then you have to learn how to play. That will usually cost a hefty sum in lessons because even the cheapest teachers make over $40 per hour. Then you have to practice what you learn by hitting at the driving range, which consumes time and money. Oh, and you have to buy a collared shirt and nice pants to even get on a golf course.
Even if you can manage to afford the small debt, the game is time-consuming. On average, a round can take nearly five hours to play. For the obsessive golfer, that is no problem. The more golfing they can do, the better it is. But, for the average person with a life, a job, and a family, it can be very difficult to find five consecutive open hours for a round. Practicing takes even more time and is absolutely necessary if you want to save yourself embarrassment of topping the ball on the first tee.
Oh, and on top of all that, it can be difficult to learn golfing protocol. After all, unless you know someone who plays golf often, it is tough to find courses to play. Hell, most people have difficulty making a tee time their first time. Then you have to learn golf course etiquette and customs. And, as an inexperienced player, you are often subject to the gripes and ribs of more experienced and less tolerant older players.
Golfing is frustration for most, but for beginners, there is an extra layer of annoyance that may be driving new players away for good. So, what do we do about it?
Well, it seems like there needs to be a comprehensive strategy to encourage golfers through the learning curve. There needs to be more done than having athletes and celebrities to tell Americans to play golf. We need to hold the hands of new golfers, show them how easy it is to access the game, and make sure that it can be as affordable as possible.
My idea is that we develop something along the lines of "The First Tee" program for adults. "The First Tee" gives children discounted access to facilities, equipment, and lessons to learn the game. This allows children the opportunity to foster a lifelong love for the game at a young age. The problem, though, is that most people do not decide to be interested in learning the game until their 20s.
The similarities between the finances of children and of young adults fresh out of college are astounding. There is a reason college kids drink Milwaukee's Best and it is not for the taste. Golf must be made fun, cheap, and accessible — like cheap beer — in order for young adults to take hold of the game. Free clinics, discounts as golf courses, and driving ranges for newcomers, and even golfing leagues at public courses could make this happen.
The USGA and PGA of America could team up to make this a reality. They already do much to help get support for the game. Now it is time, though, to take those efforts to a new set of people and begin to cultivate the next generation of golfers. After all, what good is a golf course if it is empty?
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