I'm not about to stop her from doing so and visa versa. Time we stopped blaming others for our own inability to seize the day. Ultimately, we've all got choices.
Well said. It's all about trade-offs, but golf, it seems, has become such an easy target as the easiest thing to trade off? I'm in the same age range as well and I see it with my friends too. They take up other hobbies, but not seemingly because they necessarily want to. Is it the time? The money?
I think the overall time it takes to play golf is a deterrent to some to take up the game. But the epidemic of slow play that we all hear about on tour, AJGA, etc. is not stopping people from playing. But maybe it's the new slow play problems that are preventing those that used to play from playing more.
Cost is a huge factor as well but I feel like, for whatever reason, country clubs face a huge perception issue nowadays as well. Costs are down and many clubs are more accessible, but memberships are still waning. So why is that? It seems like for many people, there is just something about the idea of a golf club that is holding them back
I really think we have a couple different issues, but in reality *most* of the issue with the "golf business" is simply a supply issue. While the number of "golfers" is clearly down from the height of the Tiger Boom, a quick search shows number of golfers is up about 17% from 1990, and double that from 1984. The problem is rounds are down (for multiple reasons) and too many courses have been added.
While there certainly are some difficulties in the economy, and that has impacted people, it is really hard to find data that shows people were much better off, other than for brief periods at any point in the last 100 years. The "income gap" has grown, and perhaps the benefit has been realized heavier at the top than the bottom, but still every quintile has grown, albeit some slowly. Cost is certainly a factor, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, but there I don't see a huge shortage of affordable options as a reason golf may not be growing. I think there are several reasons that Country Clubs that have a long stable history are hurting now, and overall participation may slide:
- Societal changes around kids activities. Kids activities are much more organized, even at a young age, than they were 30 years ago. Often families with multiple kids have kids in different activities that require them to each drive kids around to multiple things. I could argue this is not a good thing, but it certainly is real.
- Societal changes around the way kids "get around" and play in non-organized activities. It was not uncommon for kids 5 and up to simply play in the neighborhood unsupervised all day 30 years ago, walk or bike to their little league game on their own, etc. That just isn't the case today.
- Societal changes around drinking and driving. Don't get me wrong, people still do it, but not at the same percentage and it certainly impacts the number of people who stick around spending money on drinks at clubs.
- Societal changes on expectations of fathers. Now, the family revolving around kids *may* have swung to far, but I'm not sure the previous generations had it perfect either. I know my dad, and about 25 of his friends, all with young kids never missed a Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday of golf. That is a lot of time away from your kids. I don't know of any of our members with younger kids who play that regularly and religiously.
- Shift in ways to spend "disposable income". College has increased, and the expectation to pay for kids has increased with it. We don't just *NEED* cell phones, we need cell phones that come with data plans that have a monthly cost which in a year will exceed the cost of annual passes at many publics. We need to have granite countertops in our "starter" home, and the big SUV for our one child.
- And of course, supply. Quite simply we have options and they need to compete.
Chris, I agree with you that a Country Club can carry a "stigma" to many non club golfers. People assume they are elitist, and in fairness some Club players, even at small modest clubs, do portray that attitude. However, I think the biggest hurdle for most at this point is the cost when other options exist. Joining a country club vs getting the annual pass at the reasonably decent semi-private down the street doesn't just come with the 3X or more dues, it also comes with mini charges for things (fireworks assessment, much more expensive member guest, etc). In addition, most already have friends who golf, so you don't have to convince one guy that it's worth 3X, you have to convince a group of guys that like to play together.