Future, At Least Short-Term, Deemed Good For Golf As Pandemic Slows
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2022-02-28
By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf
CALGARY, Alberta — There is an air of optimism as golf professionals in Alberta prepare for the third year of pandemic play. It’s expected the demand for tee times, and maybe even equipment, will continue ... at least in the near future.
Speaking to the issues facing those front-line workers in the industry and how they’ve fared for the past two seasons given all the pandemic protocols, both former Canadian PGA president Gregg Schubert, who now serves the public as the head pro at The Track GC outside of Calgary, and the PGA of Alberta’s Executive Director, Robert Russell, said while things have picked up dramatically in their field over the past 24 months the 2022 season will likely be much the same. Beyond that though, it remains an unknown of sorts.
“People in Canada knew there was a trend where the game was levelling off,” Schubert said of his start with the national body a few years back when the industry was struggling to gain momentum. “I think everybody was searching for a magic bullet,” which in turn introduced programs by Golf Canada for junior golf in particular with Golf in Schools and Future Links.
When the COVID-19 pandemic crashed down on the world in the spring of 2020, it seemed that no sport, golf included, was safe. But, as it turned out, perhaps that worldwide health issue helped golf turn the corner once play was approved, at least in the short run.
Rousselle noted that the push to get golf going was largely due to NAGA Alberta, and their dealings with the Alberta government. Once protocols were established and met, things boomed.
“The industry saw a really big boom. With golf courses, the rounds played, etcetera, etcetera, we saw a large increase and we’re going from there. At the end of the day we were lucky to come out on the right side of the coin. It was the right environment and we were able to benefit from it.”
Schubert agreed with that by noting, “I think everybody in the golf industry was shocked at the amount of people that came back to the game. That were spending money on the game whether it was lessons, pull carts, equipment, anything. It really was an eye-opener after so many years of somewhat stagnant growth. That couldn’t have come at a better time for the industry, there’s no doubt about that.”
At the same time though, lockdowns put the fear of God in everyone, everywhere, and especially in the golf world where the money-making season is short.
“One hundred per cent,” Schubert agreed. “It was kind of the fear of the unknown. The pandemic called for changes that 95 per cent of the population didn’t deal very well with so there was a fear of the unknown. Was your golf course going to make it? Would there be any financial assistance? Will lockdowns continue? And why was one province so different than another province? What happens next?”
What happened was that people came rushing back to, or discovered the game for the first time. The influx of people involved was a shock to courses across Alberta and likely the country as well.
“I think that was the biggest surprise, how many people started or returned to the game. It was one of the only outdoor activities, other than going to the mountains for a hike,” that was allowed by provincial governments as they tried to figure out a way to control the spread of COVID-19. “You could get outside. It was a natural, physical, emotional release for people to get outside and do something. It went from an up-and-down rollercoaster,” to a steady influx of players cramming tee sheets.
So headed into that third year of so-called safe play protocols, Rousselle noted this about the present situation for PGA of Alberta member clubs and professionals: “Tee times are still in high demand and the industry is in really good shape.”
While The Business Of Golf Has Boomed Over The Past Two Seasons, The PGA of Alberta Has Taken A Bit Of A Financial Hit Due To The Cancellation Of Two Major Events — The Consumer Buying Shows In Calgary And Edmonton For The Past Three Years And The Buying Show For Courses For The Past Two Years.
While courses are thriving, the PGA of Alberta Association took a financial punch to the wallet because of the loss of the yearly Consumer Golf Shows in Calgary and Edmonton, as well as its annual Buying Show in Calgary. Both of those events, which play host to thousands of recreational golfers and industry professionals have been cancelled for the past three years for the Consumer event and two years for the Buying show. Rousselle did say though, “Dates are already in place for these for next winter or early spring.”
But even while things have slowed on the pandemic front and restrictions are being lifted country-wide, Schubert feels there is still some wariness as courses get ready to swing into action for 2022. At the same time though, there is optimism that perhaps the growth will continue if not hold strong.
“Golf has been lucky that everyone is comfortable with the processes that have been put in place. At the National Golf Course Owners Association conference in November, the beginning of December, it was surprising that there’s a lot of optimism going forward. Golf has done a very good job of being that outlet for people being safe. But, I think at the back of the mind is there’s always going to be that worry. I think the biggest worry right now, this coming summer, is if people can travel again what’s that going to do to the overall play? Is it going to stay consistent? Is it going to drop? Is it going to go up? The feeling is it’s going to remain strong for the next couple of years just based on amount of dollars that have been spent on golf equipment ... it’s not just going into the garage,” to be stored away until who knows when.
Rousselle is much of the same mind. But, he added with a note of caution, it’s not certain how long this boom in the game will continue.
“We have the regular members that play golf and will continue to play golf. But we had a lot of new individuals introduced to the sport who purchased hard goods, soft goods, who love the industry. I think that will be a factor for the upcoming year. For the future we will try to maximize that retention as much as we can. People have been introduced to a beautiful sport, saw what the sport is about. They’ve travelled to new golf courses, made new friends. I think on the short term we’ll see a lot of tight tee sheets. Then, moving into the future, I don’t have a crystal ball but I think the elevation of golf will last a little bit.”
So once the snow leaves and the temperatures warm, it’s hoped by all involved in the game, whether you’re a devotee of the sport, a newbie, or an industry professional, that things will continue to shine brightly at least for the next while.