I still enjoy going out for a round of golf, but between a paucity of friends with an inclination to do so, and a paucity of most-of-the-day-free weekends, I'm doing well to get out more than once or twice a year.
Growing up, both my parents and my mom's folks played golf, and it was a fixture when we'd go to visit. I learned to swing on some kids clubs at the Stanford driving range while my parents were practicing, and I can remember walking courses with the family and getting a chance to hit a few out on the back nine.
I've never been great, but I have a good time. But not so good that I'm going to go out on my own (or be part of a foursome with strangers. So I play in my company's once-a-year event, or if my parish puts on a golf tourney, and … that's about it.
It's not surprising that golf is in decline. I really don't think it has as much to do with the lack of new Tiger Woods folk burning up the link, as much as the cost for a round and the amount of time it takes to play. That, coupled with land use pressures and water restrictions makes it hard to think that golf will ever come back in any serious way. I don't see it shifting to "polo" status any time soon, but it's trending that way.
Why America fell out of love with golf
How America’s slow-going, expensive, old-fashioned pastime fell apart.
Skiing is equally expensive and time-consuming, and I don't think that's dropping nearly so fast, if at all. I don't think those are the real problem, and certainly those are not the reasons I do not play golf (my cycling hobby is both expensive and time-consuming). I think the main problem is that golf is not fashionable any more. There's no more rhyme or reason to it than why fashionable clothing or hairstyles change, but I think other sports have captured the public fancy in a way that golf once did, but no longer does. Personally, my feelings about golf are pretty close to how I feel about clothing and hairstyles I don't like. I try to rationalize my dislike by saying there'ing interesting in hitting a little ball with a crooked stick, but when it comes down to it, I think it's just a preference, like fashion or musical style.
+David Newman Hmmm. Well, yeah, that could be. The comparison to skiing is a pretty good one.
Come to Australia golf is cheaper over here in Perth. Even still the Aud currency is more than usd we sell balls cheaper for driving range.
+Henry Adda Chaisritha Tempting — though, honestly, if I get a chance to holiday in Australia, I'm not likely to bring my clubs along.
I don't buy into the time commitment argument. It's the high cost of golf thats killing it. When golf was on the rise back in the 90s, course developers built too many championship type layouts. Fifty dollars for a round of golf isn't cheap. When I was learning the game in the 70s, I could play 9 holes in the evening for $5. That was great value for a college student(at the time). I also remember when you could buy a nice set of irons for $300. Now drivers cost $300. A person coming out of college now has huge debts, and cannot afford to play. Golf will survive though. It's too great of a game not to.
It seems to me that any sport that you choose to be passionate about can get expensive. Hell, I like that golf takes some time to play ( not slow play ).
+Dean Hall I agree. Nothing like enjoying a wonderful day b the course with your buddy's and nit feeling rushed. Just being outside enjoying the game keeps me coming back. Tiger did bring me into the game but I found a respect for the game that will last far beyond Tiger.
+Dave Hill what would you do here in Australia it's all boring all it has is animals.
I love golf and always will. But with two young kids, it is too expensive in terms of time and money. Yes, I could take my kids, but they are not ready and again it's not for everyone. I have now gotten into disc golf: it's free to play, equipment is minimal, and I can play a round in 1.5 hrs. Plus my kids can come and run around as we play. I am getting as much joy from that as with ball golf. But your milage may vary.
+Dean Hall The cost is definitely a huge factor, though the same is often true for skiing and lift tickets (and, depending on the circumstances, accommodations). One difference being that you often see discount deals for ski resorts, but not so much for golf courses. And golfing today seems to have a much more exclusive/elitist feel to it.
That said, I don't have a good sense as the cost factors in operating a golf course, but it seems labor- and water-intensive, both of which are going to make it difficult to reduce overhead.
+Henry Adda Chaisritha Scenery and animals sound quite attractive. 🙂
+Dean Hall Some cost is a matter of choice, of course. There are a lot of avenues to getting relatively inexpensive clubs; used is a great option there.
The poor economy probably has something to do with it. I would also add that the lack of understanding what the game is has a lot to do with it. Club manufacturers have exaggerated and pushed the "distance" theme off on too many people who were naive enough to believe it. What happened is a few generations of people who think hitting it far is what it's about and the next $300 driver will give you that. So after a few years of believing that shit and their game never improved they walk away frustrated. Also, there is no need for more courses to be built. I know that may hurt some people who do so for a living but even if all the current courses were full each day there is no need for more courses.
+Jay Smooth The decline was starting well before the Great Recession, though I'm sure that hasn't helped any.
I agree completely with the whole club manufacture thing. Even among pros, the tech advances over the past 20-30 years have maybe reduced scores by only one stroke. For most duffers like myself, all being able to hit further (highly theoretically) has done is meant we can hit it further into the rough, trees, neighboring housing developments, or whatever else is in the 120 degree arc in front of us.
Hitting it shorter but straighter is of far more value. But they don't make clubs that do that.
+Dave Hill I agree it started well before the great recession but that had a substantial increase overall with tiger. To hit a straighter shot requires good fundamentals. Unfortunately so few spend the appropriate time on it because they either want to crank it or because of the above mentioned manufacturer influence. It's ass backwards thinking they are teaching. I am well above average in distance. I am 6' 2" 205. I swing very smooth and constantly work my fundamentals more than anything. I'm not bragging on distance cause I am far from the longest, but achieve above average distance with good accuracy because of solid strikes. The club manies would have people believe they can be ridiculous long and accurate yet the PGA stats say otherwise and that's the best in the world.
Sorry for the run on. I'm at work and gotta lay low so I'm speed typing.
Conversely, I don't know enough about the skiing world to have a sense of how much the equipment manufacturers have an influence.
I also agree that way too many golfers play from the wrong tees. They aren't pros! Quit hitting from the tips! It also slows the game down tremendously.
I learned to play on Los Angeles public courses before +Tiger Woods came along; thereafter it was impossible to get a tee time less than an hour drive away. Now I'm at two private clubs and we always finish in four hours or less. I really think interest has fallen a bit with no Tiger. He and that megawatt smile brought millions to the game. In private clubs, no one speaks of him…
Rather than have tees for members,women,social they should have tees based on handicap. I know that those tees are kind of like that anyway, however I find that too many 10 to 20 tee too far forward and it becomes frustrating When those golfers have A better ability than a 30 handicapper… Especially off the tees
+Rae O. But it's not like there aren't some great players on the Tour right now. While there's no doubt that Woods was a spectacular player, I have a sense that his popularity was bolstered by the golf publicity machine for just the ends you describe. Which demonstrates the problems of a cult of personality.
Similar concerns have been raised on tennis, where popular play has dropped off a lot in the past decades. Yet it's not that there aren't great tennis players out there, just nobody that's been had quite the staying power and publicity machine of the pros of old.
So far no one has caught on to what the real problem is, even though he said it. It's not cost nor time or any other tangible.
He said he would never go by himself because he isn't good enough.
Somehow he got the impression that he can't play with others or someone made him feel insecure or unwelcome.
I say so what? There are players and golfers. A golfer is anyone who enjoys and respects the game. I love playing with his golfers. A player is since who has game and can score. It's important to note that ( unfortunately) many players are not good golfers.
All the good golfers need to stand up and welcome anyone of any skill level to the links. We need to make those who aren't feel unwelcome.
(For complete disclosure: I'm a good player, 2.3index, but I'm a better Golfer. I love meeting new people and sharing this great game with people of all skills.)