Being in the eye of the storm of golf I hear from many people who are just having to give up playing golf. What concerns me are some of the reasons are not necessarily due to the economy though it is not helping.
Big Three Issues
The top three issues facing golf are still causing more and more golfers to leave the game. There are some new problems on the verge of pushing many people away from golf but are controllable at this point. However, if the major issues are not addressed and dealt with by the powers of golf then the new ones will just be more fuel to the fire that burns golf to the grown.
The top three issues are;
- High Cost of Play
- Slow Pace of Play
- Difficulty in Learning to Play
What will it take to influence these issues? The resolution or cure all for these problems golf is partly on the golfing population. There is no doubt that the financial institutions and investors in golf are going to have to play a big part in solving most of the issues, but a significant part is controlled by you and me.
There are economical ways of going about playing golf while supporting golf. Learning what golf is about and why it is the greatest game or sport every is part of the solution to the problem. And patience is probably the biggest virtues golfers need to have to effect the future of golf.
However, each of us can do something to help golf that is really simple. Just taking a lesson, going to a golf school, entering a golf tournament, taking a golf vacation, sponsoring a golf event impacts golf in many ways, but there are more ways if you think of a bit. Just keeping golf vibrant and active helps.
Unfortunately, there are now new issues developing that are hurting the future of golf..the juniors. The resent antics displayed by Tiger Woods and other professional golfers at the British Open and US Women’s Open are now causing parents to rethink getting their kids involved with golf. Everyone sees those uncalled for outbursts of emotions as something they do not want their children to be part of at that stange in their life.
It is true that the professional athlete is the picture of the ultimate of the sport/game and is what the youth use to mold their interest in playing the sport. It is also true that the professional golfer is human and has emotions. However, what is part of golf that no other sport or game posses is the control of emotions. A gentleman or gentlewoman behavior is as much part of playing golf as the fabulous golf shots they make.
Throwing golf clubs and cursing to release frustrations may look to be OK and many people who do not have the depth of knowledge about the game or who are just entering the game, or who are playing the game for the fringe benefits, may feel it make the sport/game more exciting, but in fact it goes against every principle of the sport/game. Many may see these acts of vulgarity as the player showing his strengths when it is showing the golfer’s biggest weakness. That can be taken advantage of in golf. If people who are not interested in the competiveness of golf feel the lack of emotion makes the game boring then it shows their lack of knowledge of the game and goes back to the basic issue with golf..the difficulty of learning the game.
It is very unfortunate, but the issue here is the young and non-golfers have only the televised golf to see how the game is played. These displays of anger and frustration by the worlds top golfers, men and women, are all they have to judge how to play and act when learning to play golf. Though these actions sell sponsorships and are probably encouraged by the sponsors of the professional golf events to get more viewers to watch their advertisements, it is NOT GOLF as it is set up to play.
What is not seen is these players are sanctioned for their actions with fines or suspensions, but the media and commentators do not report these actions. All in all, those disciplinary actions are taken with a grain of salt and written off as the cost of doing business.
Now what is taking place is thousands of junior golfers are out on the golf courses of the world wanting to be like their hero and are now starting to thrown their clubs and drop the ‘F’ Bomb as they now think that is part of the game. The parents of the world see this as not good and start pulling back on allowing their children to play golf which effects the future golfers of the game and the future of GOLF.
Golf Needs Help
There is really not much outside of not buying a sponsor’s product to get the attention of these professional golfers that their outburst are not part of the game of golf. However, that action will also will run off the few businesses who see value in golf. So, the best thing to do is work on the big three issues, maybe the pressure for these players to change will come to them in their sleep.
Everyone has their own way of helping golf. For me, I help by using my education, training and experience in solving HUGE seemingly impossible problems. I analyze, breakdown and chart out the problems so solutions can be discovered and there are a lot of solutions golf has for it ills.
Unfortunately, many business and investors in golf are not going to like the realities. I also see other solutions that are in the hands of the everyday golfer and these solutions, though they will take longer to solve the problem, are very powerful. These solutions are many and you probably have a few. If you care about the future of golf you should take a moment and think what you could do to help solve these issues golf is facing.
If you really love golf and want to play it for the rest of your life then what are you doing to help golf survive? Let me know how I can help.
