Golf courses use gimmicks to lure younger players
Korbel has a cork popping competition at the celebrity golf tournament in Tahoe. Photo/LTN file
By Bill Pennington, New York Times
GREENSBORO, Ga. — Golf holes the size of pizzas. Soccer balls on the back nine. A mulligan on every hole.
These are some of the measures — some would say gimmicks — that golf courses across the country have experimented with to stop people from quitting the game.
Golf has always reveled in its standards and rich tradition. But increasingly a victim of its own image and hidebound ways, golf has lost five million players in the last decade, according to the National Golf Foundation, with 20 percent of the existing 25 million golfers apt to quit in the next few years.
People under 35 have especially spurned the game, saying it takes too long to play, is too difficult to learn and has too many tiresome rules.
Having spoken to management at Lake Tahoe Golf Course, revenue and rounds played has increased the past 3 years. Much of it coming from locals who live in Meyers.
A recent program on CNBC Squawk Box pointed out that golf is declining nationwide at an accelerated rate. They said that sales of golf clothing and equipment is lagging too. Apparently courses are closing in record numbers. The drought will not be helpful in this situation as farmers, fisheries, residents and others users squabble over what water there is.
Bring back some more par 3 “chip and putt” courses, perhaps close to driving ranges and mini golf courses.
There are fewer good players out there too. When I played, a 12 handicap was average. Make some pars, throw in a birdie now and then, and you are a 12 handicap. No big deal. Now that’s considered very good, not average. I think the sport demands too much of people’s time. That’s the problem. But don’t change it. There should be challenges out there for the pursuers of excellence.