A New York Times clip today on golf is the most emailed (as of 10:30 a.m. PST). It points out the struggles of the business (in fairness, Callaway Golf had a record year in 2007).
Factors contributing to slide in number of golfers? Rounds take 4 or more hours, too few players want to pick up the game, and kids’ soccer games have become weekend priority. Here’s one other big reason: Golf is hard to master, let alone maintain. Time really is the enemy.
Marketers (and golf courses) want your time as much as they want your money. Having Tiger Woods, among the most recognized athletes (don’t snicker) in the world, as your sport’s ambassador you’d think golf would be flourishing.
But not so. The economy and evolution of what is leisure time are much larger forces at play.
Golf’s best hope is to break from tradition — as all other big-money sports have done. And I’m not just talking about using rock songs in those charged-up PGA promo spots. It’s time for traditionalists to realize the world has changed and new generations don’t all aspire to be genteel the way they once did.
Don’t throw out all the rules. Figure out a way to bend them.
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