I have been reading a book by Frank Thomas “Just Hit It” that talks about the decline of golf . He goes into various reasons why long time players are leaving the game, and why potential players give up and quit after a few rounds. His reasons are for the most part pretty sound. Costs associated with green fees. Courses that are too hard for the higher handicapper to enjoy while playing. Newer courses being built that receive the moniker “Championship Course” scaring golfers off, even though no championship will most likely ever be played on them. Another area speaks about is the way equipment is marketed.
That the one club set fits all golfers myth that the major manufacturers throw at the buying public.

The buying public is also to blame I think. I read an article years ago where a guy had two drivers for sale. One would hit the ball safely on to the fairway or miss it by very little 90% of the time. The draw back was it did not hit the ball as far as his second driver he was also peddling. This second driver was no where near as forgiving,, (slice city) but was 30 yards longer. He also sold the longer driver for $50 more than the more forgiving driver. The buying public purchased the higher priced, less forgiving driver 2-1 over the less expensive, more forgiving club. The fact that both clubs were non conforming was not an issue.

Frank Thomas also discusses in his book the lack of quality instruction, and club fitting at reasonable prices. Of course he also discusses some of the ramifications of too many folks leaving the game, and the longer courses being built. That being higher green fees for those of us who continue to play the game to make up for the lost revenue due to fewer players, and maintenance costs.. I am seeing this right now. My home course lets senior, walking golfers play for $9 for 18 holes. This is not a problem until the majority of the paying golfers for the course are these walking seniors. Us non seniors are now paying considerably higher green fees due to this issue. Getting a decent morning tee time is also out of the question. A lot of us now play at other courses that have more reasonable green fees. If this trend continues then the $9 player will also suffer to some extent, because the required maintenance monies won’t be there to keep the course in shape. Please, I do not have a problem with senior players, as I will be one in a few years myself. Hopefully that $9 offer will still be available.

Here is something else I saw this weekend. We all know the Ryder Cup was played this week end. I am at my home course , and after my round I thought I would hit the 19^th hole for a beverage, and catch up on the RC tournament. The place has 5 flat screens, and not one of them is tuned to RC tournament. MLB, Soccer, NFL, Bull Riding, and Bowling is all that were playing,, as requested by the patrons. I saw the same thing at a couple of sports bars I went into over the weekend. No RC being shown on any of the TVs. Is no one watching golf any on TV anymore? Even at a golf course?

Do you think golf play by the non professional is declining? FHs