Not enough time: millions quitting golf
Over the past 5 years, over 4 million Americans have quit golf. Even the hardcore golfers are playing fewer rounds each year. The main problem appears to be that it takes too long to play 18 holes, and people have family obligations.
The golf industry is looking for a fix. I have the solution: make a round of golf 6 holes. You can divide up 18 holes into 3 courses. People can finish in under 90 minutes. (More)
10 Comments:
Hopefully the ones quitting are the slow ones.
Seriously, it takes a lot of time to get competent at golf, and in the age of instant gratification, more people would rather do something easier.
I'll still be out there...
Part of the problem in the US is how laboriously slow the whole process is. I don't know if it's related to everyone being in carts most of the time, but round regularly take 5 hours. In the UK, if you take over 3 hours for 18 you tend to get a warning from the club.
I wrote a small post about this issue a few months back and definitely believe the 6-hole track is the way to go...
http://e9golf.typepad.com/weblog/2007/08/the-six-hole-go.html
Another reason people quit is because of the lack of quality instruction about one in one thousand teaching professionals really understand the golf swing. So it's try this and try that with no real progress so the poor person just quits out of frustration.
Steve Wozeniak PGA Director of Instruction Bellevue/Lake Spanaway Golf Courses www.stevewozeniak.com
I don't feel making x3 6-holes games the remedy. If I go out to a game, then I'd like to play a full game but without the long wait for the tee off. I've been golfing for just two years and just the last few month I've been experiencing slow (5-5.5+ hours) and I can note that the delay is because marshalls are not regulating groups in their pace of play.
While instant gratification, cost, and locations do hamper a game, playing a long game not because the course was hard, long, or difficult but instead due to many players booked, slow tournament play, or un-regulated pace time is what would drive my friends and I off the game we like.
Slow play is my number one issue with playing, so much so that I only play in the morning when there are fewer people on the course.
I run into so many people that have no idea of common golf courtesy. I've caught slow foursomes (when I'm playing solo) and had them just go ahead and tee off while I'm standing there, and then continue on with their game.
I'd love people to get lessons about etiquette...
There are multiple issues that cause slow play:
1. Playing from the wrong tees. If you're not below a 10 handicap, you have no business playing from the tips or the blues. Play the freaking white tees and you'll improve both your enjoyment of the game and the time of your round.
2. Believing you're a better player than you are. If you're not less than a six handicap, and you're laying in the rough 260 out from the green on a par five, DO NOT wait for the green to clear. You. Are. Not. Going. To. Hit. The. Green. Take your seven iron, skull it down the fairway 150 yards, then hit your pitching wedge in on your next shot.
3. Taking 15 practice swings on your putt. It's not going to help. take two, three, and then freaking putt the darn ball.
Surely if golfers are concerned about the length of time it takes to play 18 they are just as likely to play a 9 hole round as they are playing a special 6 hole course if it was available?
I think the problem is slow play and that needs to be addressed by the golf clubs themselves to keep people interested.
Maybe if enough people quit, the courses won't be as crowded or expensive. Then we can play cheaper golf and play faster!
A couple of 6 hole facilities have spring up in the UK recently such as one at Northwick Park. There's also this new idea called Powerplay golf, where you have 2 flags and you score points based on whether you elect to play to a difficult or easy flag. I've not played it yet, but they had one at my golf club recently and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
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