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Cle Elum WA
Joined: 8/16/2007
Posts: 54
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Posted: Mar/05/2008 9:44 AM PST
I am curious to get your thoughts on what it will take to attract more young people to the game of golf. The declining number of golfers and golf rounds has been the topic of many recent news stories, including this NY Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/nyregion/21golf. html (you'll need to fix the extra space after the "dot" for this URL to work)
My hunch is that one of the reasons is that there aren’t enough young players to replace the older players.
In fact, a recent survey that we ran on GolfLink shows that 44% of respondents were over 55 while only 17% were under 35. The single largest group was in the 55 - 64 age range (28%).
There are definitely other factors, such as the length of time that it takes to play a round of golf, especially at a muni on the weekend.
But I am curious to know what you think it will take to get more young people to play the game of golf. In particular, what are some things we can do here at GolfLink to appeal to younger golfers?
Thanks for your feedback.
-Doug
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Los Angeles
Joined: 8/16/2007
Posts: 59
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Posted: Mar/05/2008 11:05 AM PST
This might be irrelevant, because the experience of actually playing golf is far different from the virtual experience, but I wonder if things like the golf game on the Nintendo Wii cause people to feel like they have played golf, and therefore don't need to actually get out there and play.
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Cle Elum WA
Joined: 8/16/2007
Posts: 54
Moderator
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Posted: Mar/05/2008 11:21 AM PST
Good point. I have played the Tiger Woods game for the XBOX 360 and it is very realistic. I actually think it makes me want to play even more, especially the courses that I have played online. It really helps you learn the courses and how to approach each shot.
There are a few Internet-based golf games uTour Golf and World Golf Tour that might be an effective way of reaching out to younger audiences. We are currently talking to uTour Golf about creating a GolfLink version of their game specifically for our audience.
-Doug
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Joined: 12/05/2007
Posts: 484
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Posted: Mar/05/2008 1:14 PM PST
When i was a kid I thought golf was "gay" and only played by snobby upper class folks. When Tiger burst onto the scene I was just starting college (i'm 30 now) and that was when I started to take interest simply because he was a "black guy playing golf". For me, being a young black kid who grew up in a mostly white suburb and dealt with a lot of racism I still held a lot of anger and wanted to see him "beat the man at his own game".
I still never took a serious interest in playing golf beyond the occasional trip to a driving range because the cost was still prohibitive for me. In my mid 20's i got the chance to play a couple of times and made enough money to go rent clubs a couple of times and play with friends. I wish someone told me that golf clubs are NOT that expensive to get started, I would have started sooner. I wish someone would have told me that most golf courses have junior rates as well!
Now that I'm older, I can appreciate what Tiger does as a professional practicing his craft, regardless of his sex or race (oh yeah, i also found out that he is really only 1/4 black and almost 3/4 thai!)
At the end of the day, golf isn't an easily accessible game. When your a kid, you can pick up a baseball glove or a basketball or a football and go right out into your yard and play. Golf requires a lot more time and effort and makes the logistics prohibitive for a lot of families.
Golflink is a great tool to attract younger golfers. Young people love technology, they love "Myspace" and social networking sites and people want instant gratification. I love being able to come on here and instantly access tips and knowledge from tons of people. I could see golflink becoming the Premier forum site for golf enthusiasts if it isn't already.
Get the USGA Handicapping service on here and you will get a lot more people here!!!!
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Cartersville, GA
Joined: 8/16/2007
Posts: 166
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Posted: Mar/05/2008 7:29 PM PST
First and foremost, I think kids would need more exposure to the game of golf. Instead of being stationary in the house in front of a video game they could be exposed to a putter or something to attract their interest. It helps to have a parent already enthusiastic about golf and doesn't mind taking their kid to the driving range or out on the course and explaining the game to him/her. Kids love technology so a parent could even take them out and give them the range finder just to arouse the curiosity about the game.
Secondly, I agreed with the previous post. Growing up as a young black kid the projects, we joked about "black people don't play that game, it's for white folks." We didn't even know where a golf course was near us. Now I realize that we just were not exposed to it at all. We only played putt putt at the city park and that was if we were bored. I have been attracted to golf since my early twenties (I'm 30 now) and wish I had picked up the game when I was a kid.
Third,(I had this conversation with my wife), parents think that golf is too expensive of a sport. To an extent that's true. It is expensive if you run out and buy the latest equipment, the best balls, the premium clothing. I mean I look at what I've spent on golf in the last couple of months ($700 irons, $130 shoes, shirts, shorts, pants, socks, gloves, etc. etc. ) and I know that parents will shy away from introducing their kids to golf. I don't think many of them know you can get your kids starter sets, cheaper apparel, and balls made specifically for juniors (Nike makes a great one for $8) and they don't have to run out and buy whatever Tiger has in his bag, or what the pros play and wear. I know there is no way my parents would have bought me clubs even at a cheap price once they found out about all the other things I would need.
Last, I think the prices we pay to play golf have gotten somewhat crazy. I understand it is a business and they have to be run accordingly but for the price it costs at a lot of courses, parents will think of a million other things to do with that money. I read an interview in Golf Digest with one of the European players. He was asked why he thinks there are so many foreigners on the PGA Tour. His response was that it is so much cheaper to play overseas growing up. Memberships there are (or were at the time) $200 for a year. What do we pay on average here? Over $2000 at the least rate. I guess it boils down to wheather or not the parents want to put the time and money into the game if their kids really get into it.
So far my twin girls love it and they are only two years old. They have their own little plastic clubs and have almost picture perfect swings. I just hope they will continue to like it as they grow older.
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Joined: 9/25/2007
Posts: 54
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Posted: Mar/06/2008 9:44 AM PST
Its simple. Kids now dont have the attention span or the patience to learn the game is reason number one why not a lot of young folks are playing golf. Reason number two is 90 percent of kids will never get the chance to learn the game or step onto a course until they are old enough to discover it for themselves. By then they are engrossed in football or basketball and probably wont even think of golf as a fun hobby. Here is how we fix it :
Take a kid golfing. Its that simple. If you dont have kids, mabye your buddies kid and he doesnt have the time or interest to take them. My friends daughter is 11 and he doesnt golf, but she saw my clubs and started asking me about golf, so I took her into my back yard, put and old 8 iron in her hands and let her fire away. She got off a couple of good ones and when she did, she smiled and it made her want to go and learn to play. So in order to get kids interested in golf, they simply need to be exposed to what a great and fun game it is. I know this sounds like an ad or commercial, but it is true : Take a club, (not a driver !) put it in a kids hands, take them to the range and see if they like it. I think we would all be suprised at the nuber of young people we could get into golf if they just had the chance to play
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Joined: 1/20/2008
Posts: 1
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Posted: Mar/06/2008 10:58 AM PST
I love golf, I love to play, I'm 23, but it is expensive. With rising costs of education, oil, inflation, etc. Younger people may not have the extra cash to drop 50-60 dollars to play 18 on the weekends.
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san clemente
Joined: 1/14/2008
Posts: 251
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Posted: Mar/06/2008 10:12 PM PST
My home course offers 5 dollar group lessons for kids and teens they are always well attended.They also have a cheap late rate.Who wouldn't pay 8 bucks to get rid of the kids for two and a half hours. Our local high school has a larger girls golf team than most schools boys programs a year ago SAN CLEMENTE high school had 40 girls try out for golf.
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Joined: 11/23/2007
Posts: 1
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Posted: Mar/07/2008 7:02 PM PST
Reasons I can think of that can be barriers to playing the game:
1. High cost of buying clubs and playing especially in your 20's and 30's as % of disposable income
2. Time requirement to play
3. Even good athletes can be made to look the complete fool when playing golf. Many are not comfortable looking as bad as golf can make them look
4. Many people don't understand the fundamentals and the need to have them so they think they can hack their way to good scores...few can...and again frustrations can add up.
5. It takes a long time to get competent with the many areas of the game and lots of practice. Many struggle to find the patience and without patience and guidance results are not so good. I personally love having to work hard to get results over time.
6. If you're not brought up in golf then the idea of playing a game you suck at, in unfamiliar territory (the course), not knowing how to act, where to go, when to swing, play through, the etiquette issue can really be intimidating. The fear of embarrassment and doing everything wrong is a worrisome process for many and if the anxiety or bad experiences surpass a persons limit then its onto fishing.
I think that the above points can all be looked at as possible barriers to the game and they probably are to a degree or another on a person to person basis. Oppositely, those who love the game would say the above is exactly what makes the game of golf unique and such a great game. I concur.
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san clemente
Joined: 1/14/2008
Posts: 251
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Posted: Mar/10/2008 8:42 PM PST
Most people who learn as adults dont stick with the game. You have to get them when they are kids or teens. Most adult golfers will tell you they tried the game as kids. My friends and I play our kids for money we give them far to many strokes so they win. Trust me the first time you kid clips you for five bucks in a nine hole match
even if you gave them 50 shots to do it they are hooked. Keep it light and get them clubs that fit and take them to group lessons now and then and you just might get a new golf partner and dont give up on the teenagers either they really enjoy hitting things hard.
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How to attract young people to golf
