What Golf Needs Isn’t Found In “The Woods”
Last Updated on Sunday, 07 August 2011 14:26 Sunday, 07 August 2011 13:21
by: Gayle Moss (www.golfgal.ca)
The 102nd playing of Canada’s National Open Golf Championship returned to Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver this summer with all the fanfare one would expect – accolades about the course, the wealth of spectators and quality of field.
But as I walked the fairways and watched the players, volunteers and fans, I couldn’t help but reflect on the disturbing state of the golf industry – since 2000, the number of golfers in North America has been steadily declining, despite the Tiger affect.
There just aren’t enough young people taking up the game.
So, although the grandstands were full and fairways lined with spectators, the demographics of those in and outside the ropes reflected a typical day at most golf courses – 70% male, marbled like fine prime ribs – well aged ;)
Now I’m the first to encourage people in their twilight years to take up this lifetime sport and I was happy to see so many retiree-hopefuls enjoying the event.
But the fact remains that we baby-boomers cannot sustain, let alone grow this industry, if we keep doing what we’re doing.
We need to attract young men and women to the sport early and keep them interested throughout their teenage years and beyond. To do that we need to think like them and evolve the sport so it fits their style, attitudes and needs.
We have to stop pushing the “traditions of golf” and recognize that the times, 'they-are-a-changing' and golf needs to keep up with the times.
Thankfully at this year’s Open, I witnessed a glimmer of hope in a few players, a few fans and a few fanatics that made me think we might be on the verge of something great.
I saw in this year’s Open, what golf needs…
1. Rule Breakers
2. Audacity
3. Twits
4. New Blood
Rule Breakers
Imagine if these 3 juniors walked into your golf club dressed like this, backward hats and all? Would you let them play that way?
photo credit: charles kelly
How Would These Three Young Orange-Clad Golfers Be Received At Most Private Clubs Today?
And what would you say to this couple looking to tee off with their Canadian flags waving from cheek to cheek?
photo credit: charles kelly
Of Course This Happens To Be John Daly And His Gal Anna Cladakis, But If It Weren't, What Sort Of Reception Might They Be Afforded At Most Golf Clubs Attired In Their Maple Leaf Gear?
What about these colourful gents in their fancy pants. How many jaws would drop if they showed up at your next club championship?
photo credit: charles kelly
Is It Time For The Dress Code At All Golf Clubs To Allow For This Kind Of Expression?
Sad to say, but the dress codes at many courses are archaic. No wonder kids don’t want anything to do with their parents’ stuffy old clubs with their dull duds!
Who wants to play at a club that won’t let them wear their hats the way they wear them everyday, or their Canucks jerseys during the playoffs?
Audacity
“Golf-speak” is getting out of control. Reporters don’t even have to attend press conferences anymore because they can quote players without ever hearing them speak.
The “one shot at a time”, “I need to be patient out there” and “I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing” clichés are as much of a player’s repertoire as their pre-shot routine.
What golf needs is some respectful honesty.
At this year’s Open, as much as I felt a tiny bit insulted at what Geoff Ogilvy had to say about the Shaughnessy Course, I am so happy he had the audacity to say what he thought, just as Bubba Watson did in Paris at the French Open a few weeks ago.
“This is a beautiful property,” said Ogilvy, “The greens are cool. But the bunkers are in the wrong places and the rough doesn’t allow recovery shots.” Ouch!
I know it’s tough to hear, but I find it a lot more refreshing than what the rest of them said, “It’s a great test of golf.” Yeah, yeah, yeah…
Twits
Golf media is ripe with curmudgeons. Walk into any media tent and you’ll find an old boys’ network that believes that micro blogging is for twits and Facebook for fools.
Being the only female around, I wasn’t about to tell them social media was a more powerful communication tool than the newspaper they write for, with enough users to create the 3rd largest country in the world.
That would likely have resulted in there being one less woman golf writer inside the ropes, making that a total of zero.
Sadly, most media outlets haven’t figured out how to engage with readers who embrace social media – many of whom are players and their fans. We must always remember, the game is more important than the media.
Ian Poulter, Stewart Cink, Rory McIlroy and yes, Rickie Fowler (with over 175,000 followers) are avid tweeters. It wasn’t long after a day’s round that he was tweeting about it.
Social media and citizen journalists (aka bloggers) are not fads and freaks, but fantastic opportunities for golf media. It’s time to learn it, use it and then exploit the heck out of it!
New Blood
For years it was like there was only one golfer on the planet - the world revolved around Tiger Woods. People believed that golf couldn’t exist without him and that we needed him to grow the sport. That’s not true.
There are new kids in town who are turning our youth on to golf. And they’re not afraid of being themselves, shouting out loud with their own unique personalities, style and talent, “Hello World!”.
Move over Tiger… Orange is the new red!
Golfgal
