By now, every golfer at every level of play and every part of the golf industry is aware of the problems with golf.
The one that is beating golf and every golfer who plays the game, down is its IMAGE.
Golf is seen to be just for the elitist of society. Then the problem golf has with being a specialist sport. Then the uncalled for a high initial investment that has to be made in equipment, lessons, and greens fees. All these affect Golf’s Image!
What can Golf do to temper this attitude that mostly non-golfers have about GOlf?
Appearing to be Too Cool
Yes, Golf is a cool game. But golf is not cool when the person acting like they are cool when they are playing and talking golf is NOT COOL. Or if they think because they are playing golf they are Cool.
Nothing turns non-golfers OFF to them than a narcissistic golfer. Yes, you have seen them…the guys who have a 15 handicap but buy a set of $4000 golf clubs so it makes look like they can shoot scratch …and makes sure EVERYONE knows he paid $4000 for them.
The image people have about golfers is they are all snobbish. This is not helping GOLF draw in new players to the game.
Speaking of Money!
The price tag on golf is way too high for most. The start-up cost to play golf is higher than many start-up businesses first-year operating budget.
Then when you throw in the cost for the lessons everyone enters golf will eventually have to have..then you are near the price for a new car.
Throw in green fees and the cost to maintain playing golf…i.e., golf balls, gloves, apparel, etc. The total cost per year is high.
Then There Is The TIME!
Then there is the TIME investment a golfer HAS to make in order to play golf.
The time it takes to learn to play golf totals up to years.
Then the hours of time to takes to play around of golf.
Let’s not forget all of the time it takes to learn and then remember all of the rules for playing the game of golf.
Of course, the years it takes to develop all of the social nuances associated with being a golfer takes a lot of time…or years.
When it comes to TIME…that is a commodity that cannot be refunded or returned.
The amount of time it takes for some to learn to just hit a golf ball off the ground could take several weeks and other just a few minutes.
The time it takes to learn to play at the level of a profession could take many years.
Nonetheless, the time it takes to learn to play golf and then just play a game every once in a while will take more time than many people interested in golf have to spend.
The old adage that time is money is very true in golf.
What’s the Solution?
Is there a solution to the Golf’s problems?
Since golf has had these problems for as long as golf has been played I am not sure there is a solution. But there should be.
The manufacturers of golf equipment need to find ways to bring the cost of start-up down.
Instructors need to find ways to bring the cost of lessons down.
Golf courses need to find ways to speed up play and reduce green fees.
And the rules of golf need to be simplified.
All are simple statements on what needs to be done but offer no solutions.
I’m certain there is something that can be done on all of the problems with golf.
Innovative thinking helps, but there are going to have to be some BOLD moves that Golf is going to have to make to keep the game of golf going back to being a Game for Kings.
Let me know how I can help.
