Someone forwarded me an article from the Business Insider (UK) with the above title. It's not the first article on the subject to be sure. But, it was an interesting read, so I though I'd share the link and some highlights. You can find it here:
http://uk.businessinsider.com/golf-...u&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_article
The U.S. is the largest golf market by far, and the gist of the article is that it is declining steadily here and in most markets around the world. In 2011, golf in the U.S. was a 70B market, still substantial, but, trending down. Last year, 160 courses closed and it is expected that this trend will continue for the next 10 years before supply and demand are in balance. Participation is also declining in Australia, Japan, England, Ireland and even Scotland. Australia's club membership is down more than 25% since 1998. Japan's participation is down by 40% since the early 90's. Participation is growing in the Czech Republic, Germany, and China (where building new golf courses is illegal), but, these are small markets. While professional golf is still healthy, retailers like Dick's and merchandisers like Nike and Adidas are feeling the pinch.
What is also interesting is why golf is declining. I'll quote just a couple of paragraphs; there are more if you choose to read the article:
"To some extent, golf’s appeal has become its undoing. Its calm, meditative quality does not suit the frenetic pace of modern life. Playing 18 holes, the game’s standard, takes four and a half hours or more, not counting commuting or lunch. Time-starved Americans rarely devote so many hours to anything—other than, perhaps, a transcontinental flight and sleep".
"Golf is a hard sport to master. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson spoke for many frustrated golfers when he described the game as “an ineffectual attempt to put an elusive ball into an obscure hole with implements ill-adapted to the purpose”. Robert O’Neill, the Navy Seal who shot Osama bin Laden, was urged by his psychologist to take up golf, but found it “more stressful than combat”. Nor can it be neglected for some time and picked up again with ease, like skiing or tennis. Its rule-book is some 200 pages long, too big to tote around in a golf bag. “Golf is my life, but I’m still learning new rules every time I play,” says Charles Grace, who works on Wall Street and has been a golfer for 13 years".
The article also cites the economy as a large contributor to golf's decline, as well as the "wobbles" of some it's stars, notably Tiger Woods. It holds the 2016 Olympics as the one bright star that could rekindle interest.
It is an interesting read whether you buy into it totally or not. If you have the time and inclination, I recommend it.
http://uk.businessinsider.com/golf-...u&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_article
The U.S. is the largest golf market by far, and the gist of the article is that it is declining steadily here and in most markets around the world. In 2011, golf in the U.S. was a 70B market, still substantial, but, trending down. Last year, 160 courses closed and it is expected that this trend will continue for the next 10 years before supply and demand are in balance. Participation is also declining in Australia, Japan, England, Ireland and even Scotland. Australia's club membership is down more than 25% since 1998. Japan's participation is down by 40% since the early 90's. Participation is growing in the Czech Republic, Germany, and China (where building new golf courses is illegal), but, these are small markets. While professional golf is still healthy, retailers like Dick's and merchandisers like Nike and Adidas are feeling the pinch.
What is also interesting is why golf is declining. I'll quote just a couple of paragraphs; there are more if you choose to read the article:
"To some extent, golf’s appeal has become its undoing. Its calm, meditative quality does not suit the frenetic pace of modern life. Playing 18 holes, the game’s standard, takes four and a half hours or more, not counting commuting or lunch. Time-starved Americans rarely devote so many hours to anything—other than, perhaps, a transcontinental flight and sleep".
"Golf is a hard sport to master. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson spoke for many frustrated golfers when he described the game as “an ineffectual attempt to put an elusive ball into an obscure hole with implements ill-adapted to the purpose”. Robert O’Neill, the Navy Seal who shot Osama bin Laden, was urged by his psychologist to take up golf, but found it “more stressful than combat”. Nor can it be neglected for some time and picked up again with ease, like skiing or tennis. Its rule-book is some 200 pages long, too big to tote around in a golf bag. “Golf is my life, but I’m still learning new rules every time I play,” says Charles Grace, who works on Wall Street and has been a golfer for 13 years".
The article also cites the economy as a large contributor to golf's decline, as well as the "wobbles" of some it's stars, notably Tiger Woods. It holds the 2016 Olympics as the one bright star that could rekindle interest.
It is an interesting read whether you buy into it totally or not. If you have the time and inclination, I recommend it.
