1. The Times calls golf "the leisure activity most closely associated with corporate success in America."
Whether that's literally true, or not -- the old gray Times offers no evidence that it is; not even a quotation from a source speaking on condition of anonymity so as not to offend golfers or corporate succeeders -- there's surely an element of "truthiness" in it.
Golf IS associated, in many minds, with corporate success.
This has always struck me as a bad thing, in the long run, for everyone who loves the game.
2. My daughter, a junior in high school, is entering her fourth season on the high school's girls' varsity. She is one of three good players -- girls who consistently shoot in the mid-80s to low-90s. They would have been winning a lot of matches the past couple of years, except that the team's fourth-best score has been in the 105-110 range. So they've been losing pretty consistently -- and spend the winters hoping that a fourth good player will materialize, somehow.
I was talking to her recently and suggested that she talk to a girl she knows who is the star of the girls' hockey team. Really good athlete. Outstanding hand-eye coordination. Would be a natural golfer. Maybe we could get her interested?
My daughter approached her at school.
The other girl's response: "I don't even think golf's a sport."
I'm guessing she spoke for a lot of young people.
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Seems to me that, if golf is to thrive -- real golf, not the corporate-outing-type golf that, with any luck, really is in decline -- those who love the game must address both of my points.
I am disturbed by your posting. This may classify me as a non-atheletic wimp, but I still think I need to comment.
You and you daughter's search for a player to take the girl's place who can only shoot 105-110 makes me a bit queasy. Might you be emphasizing "Win! Win! Win!" a little much, if you got involved in that? Must the girl who ONLY shoots 110 be told to "sit down, we want to win!"? Is it really that important?
Just an observation of my own, but how about a slightly different approach. Take you daughter to someplace where golf is played, but the site is beautiful. Talk to her of golf as a recreational activity, to be appreciated in all aspects, not just in competition.
My personal suspicion is that people who see golf as more than a competitive sporting event will be more likely to play it all their lives, and FAR more likely to convince friends to do likewise.
But that's just me.
As for corporate succes, just refer them to me. I earn about $20k helping disabled people carry on as close to normal lives as I can imagine for them. It is a job I love and would not trade, but certainly, by American standards, not exactly a corporate success. Yet I venture few love golf and golf courses more than I.
Golf offers much to people of more modest means. If nothing more, it offers excercise in an environment not made up of concrete, cars, and canned music. I am glad for the 'Golden Age of Golf Architecture', that good courses became available to people with less. I hope it continues, though I fear NYT may be correct. The money to invest in public courses is decreasing, and return on investment less certain. We shall see.
Doug