What Will It Take to Make Golf More Interesting?

Since my days are filled with attempting to get more people to play golf I naturally hear a multitude of different remarks about golf.  Some are excuses to why they don’t play golf and others are just plan OLD misunderstandings of golf.  What is exciting is there are still large numbers of business owners, executives and “Second Career-ers” (people who have retired from one career and starting another) who are very interested in leaning more about golf.  What keeps them from hitting a golf school or taking a lesson is their interest level in golf.  Many non-golfers window shopping golf tell me they find golf interesting but not interesting enough to begin the journey to learning to play golf.

So, what will it take to make golf more interesting to these people?

Most people’s exposure to golf today comes from what they see on TV or word of mouth from people like me who talk about golf all the time.  If you step back and look at golf on TV from a non-golfer’s point of view then you quickly can see why they may not find golf very interesting..the commercials and gimmicks around golf on TV are another story.  If you take a look at the ‘word of mouth’ marketing non-golfers receive then there is no limit to what interest level they walked away with since depending on if the golfer was talking positively about golf or not the non-golfer is going to get that impression of golf.

What I have found that gains most people’s interest of golf is when I speak on golf’s application with developing business.  Since golf on TV and from word of mouth testimonials primarily paint a frilly picture of golf be only for entertainment purposes or only for recreation my discussions can go to either explaining how people can use golf in business or defending golf’s total existence on the planet.  Yes, there are a large number of people who have gained a negative impression of golf that have never played golf..which I find very interesting.

It is very hard, if not impossible, for anyone to understand what makes golf interesting without every hitting a golf ball.  That one action, hitting a golf ball with a golf club, defines what is interesting about golf.  Once that action is taken by someone and is understood then all the other interests people have about golf like… why does Tiger Woods wear Red on Sunday?… and Why are all golf holes not shaped the same?…and How do I get a date with Paula Creamer?.. all start to turn to..Why did the golf ball go that direction when I hit it instead of where I was wanting it to go?

Finding the answers to the questions generated by playing golf or learning to play golf is what makes golf interesting.  However, that experience can also be very frustrating if there is nobody to immediately answer questions.  What makes golf interesting are the questions generated from playing golf.  They never end.  Even the professionals and golfers who play everyday have a question that pops into their mind every time they hit a golf ball.  Questions like…Wow, that felt good..Can I do that again?..or How can I make that perfect shot better?

What will make golf more interesting is in improving the way golf is taught.  With that said, the action of learning to play golf is what many people are telling me is not interesting since there is no end to the learning of golf.  Many people who have attempted to play golf and gave it up went into learning the game of golf with a misguided understanding that learning golf was like playing Chess..after awhile you have learned all there is and you have mastered playing golf.  Golf does not work like any other endeavor.

Golf cannot be learned in a day.  What makes golf interesting to those who began learning golf with the understanding that GOLF is like no other endeavor every encountered find that learning to play golf is a lifetime experience which makes Golf interesting. They ask themselves..what am I going to learn about golf today?

Even after years of playing golf and reaching a level of comfort that allows someone to feel they have mastered the mechanics of golf there is still a lot to learn about golf and how golf changes a person’s thinking.  Years of playing golf rubs off on people since golf is not just a physical activity but also as equal a mental activity.  Learning patience and honesty eventually will carry over into the Non_golf part of life including business.

The hidden aspect of golf that makes golf the best character builder and evaluator is what makes golf a perfect business tool.  It is this aspect of golf that gets the people I talk to interest and what is what they find most interesting about golf.

So, what will it take to make golf more interesting to more people?  Learning to play golf for the purpose of doing business is one, what is your answer?  Let me know how I can help.