Is Golf About The Pro Tour(s) ?

[Tim_Weiman]

Tom,


I never thought of golf as being about the Tour. Never.


Yes, golf is truly a healthy activity, especially when one walks. But, I would add one other thing: the social aspect, that is playing with old friends or new people you meet.

[Mike_Young]

I personally would prefer if golf would prioritize the needs of the people who provide great experiences day after day over our need to get in another round. Take a second and think, and it may be you, what it must be like to be in a two income family and suddenly have your children home from school. Think again if you would want children who may have been exposed going over to their elderly grandparents for care. Go for a walk in an actual park and think about anything beside yourselves.

A golf course IS a park.  And you can take your kids, whether you play golf or not.


I am not advocating this for the golf tragics who feel entitled to play, or for the employees of golf courses, for whom I wish nothing but the best, but no different than for any of the other people who may or may not have paychecks in the weeks ahead.


I'm just a firm believer that golf is a healthy activity, and people will really need some healthy activities over the next few weeks.  So, I hope that golf courses are able to stay open.

I agree.Two things:1-As to the "park aspect" of golf and knowing many kids are home from school; the golf course I have just made it where kids under 15 play free with an adult which makes it reasonable for a parent to bring all kids to the course  or another sibling over 16 can do the same. 
2-The muni courses in the city next to us closed for three weeks.  We are covered.  Stop government competition with the private sector public facilities and golf will be working again...

[John Kavanaugh]

I'm currently with my 89 year old father making it possible that he is not exposed to any possible danger. My wife would like everything to get back to normal and sent me the following text this afternoon. We have a home on a public course in Orlando of all places.


"The golf course is absolutely packed. You're out of touch. Lots of fake news."


I think we can all agree that there is a certain amount of danger in a golf course full of smiling people. But we've always known that,

[Tom_Doak]

As to the "park aspect" of golf and knowing many kids are home from school; th golf course I have just made it where kids under 15 play free with an adult which makes it reasonable for a parent to bring all kids to the course  or another sibling over 1 can do the same. 

That's a fine initiative, Mike.

[Pete_Pittock]

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[David Davis]

Or will political correctness prevent golf courses from staying open amidst the outbreak?

Tom,


Unfortunately, in Europe (maybe Germany is the only current exception and that might change in the next days) your latter statement above has hit us this weekend. I wish it wasn't the case but NO golf, at all, in fact, huge fines if you even try to go out on a golf course and this is The Netherlands which was the last (besides Germany and Nordics) to adopt.


I'm of course like the rest of you guys in that I would prefer to keep golfing out in the fresh air, even if I had to do it alone and keep getting some exercise. Within two weeks we won't be allowed to leave the home at all and honestly you may not want to either.

[Tom_Doak]

Unfortunately, in Europe (maybe Germany is the only current exception and that might change in the next days) your latter statement above has hit us this weekend. I wish it wasn't the case but NO golf, at all, in fact, huge fines if you even try to go out on a golf course and this is The Netherlands which was the last (besides Germany and Nordics) to adopt.


I'm of course like the rest of you guys in that I would prefer to keep golfing out in the fresh air, even if I had to do it alone and keep getting some exercise. Within two weeks we won't be allowed to leave the home at all and honestly you may not want to either.

Damn.


What's the rationale, David?  Safety of the workers?

[John Kavanaugh]

Tom,


In my case my wife looks out her window and sees business as usual on the golf course. She then assumes she can go get her nails done. For the most part golfers are the leaders of our communities. We shouldn't be out fiddling while the rest of society quarantines.

[David Davis]

Damn.

What's the rationale, David?  Safety of the workers?

Yes safety of the workers is cited as well as safety of the members.

[Kalen Braley]

While I think the golf bans are well intentioned, it seems to send the wrong message. Recreational golf is the one sport where you can easily practice safe social distancing.


People should be getting outdoors more, if no other reason to avoid feeling trapped in their homes.  Whether its going for walks, bike rides, working in the yard, etc its all good activities to be doing. Spring has hit here in Utah and i'm trying to get ahead of the weed spurt without using round-up or similar.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Today's (professional) sports are about corporate sponsors and these sponsors do not care about THE game; they care about THEIR game. Athletes make their millions because of corporations, as do politicians.


So, if you are a major sport, it is in your best interests to present your external presence - AKA a web site - to match the interests of your benefactors. PGA tour events drive the revenues so, of course, any major industry players will devote "ink" to that instead of to more impactful things. Like: "The State of the Muni Game during Corona".


Non-profits seek to appeal to their donors' concerns and priorities.
Politicians prioritize their donor's needs...on both sides.


Golf is a business dominated by large publicly traded companies whose core priorities are to their investors, not to any specific game.

[Tom_Doak]

Today's (professional) sports are about corporate sponsors and these sponsors do not care about THE game; they care about THEIR game. Athletes make their millions because of corporations, as do politicians.


So, if you are a major sport, it is in your best interests to present your external presence - AKA a web site - to match the interests of your benefactors. PGA tour events drive the revenues so, of course, any major industry players will devote "ink" to that instead of to more impactful things. Like: "The State of the Muni Game during Corona".


Non-profits seek to appeal to their donors' concerns and priorities.
Politicians prioritize their donor's needs...on both sides.


Golf is a business dominated by large publicly traded companies whose core priorities are to their investors, not to any specific game.

Well, I understand that moneyed interests control politics and the media, and it's good of you to mention non-profits . . . anyone who thinks their priorities are geared to those in need, is about to receive a major wake-up call.


However only a very small fraction of GOLF COURSES are actually owned by large publicly traded companies.  Some are member-owned; others by individuals; and others by communities.  They are free to think about what's right for the game, rather than what's right for the advertisers in GOLF DIGEST.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Today's (professional) sports are about corporate sponsors and these sponsors do not care about THE game; they care about THEIR game. Athletes make their millions because of corporations, as do politicians.


So, if you are a major sport, it is in your best interests to present your external presence - AKA a web site - to match the interests of your benefactors. PGA tour events drive the revenues so, of course, any major industry players will devote "ink" to that instead of to more impactful things. Like: "The State of the Muni Game during Corona".


Non-profits seek to appeal to their donors' concerns and priorities.
Politicians prioritize their donor's needs...on both sides.


Golf is a business dominated by large publicly traded companies whose core priorities are to their investors, not to any specific game.

Well, I understand that moneyed interests control politics and the media, and it's good of you to mention non-profits . . . anyone who thinks their priorities are geared to those in need, is about to receive a major wake-up call.


However only a very small fraction of GOLF COURSES are actually owned by large publicly traded companies.  Some are member-owned; others by individuals; and others by communities.  They are free to think about what's right for the game, rather than what's right for the advertisers in GOLF DIGEST.

Tom, I get that; especially the last part.

But your post said, "I peeked at the two major golf magazines' web sites tonight "...hence my view in my response.
My guess is that those sites are owned by rolled-up media conglomerates that are traded on the big board.

Unless you were referring to "The Fried Egg" and others...?...;-)

[Peter Pallotta]

"free to think"
Ah, that's the knife edge isn't it? The delicate and difficult balance of doing all that the authorities tell us to do for the common good (socially/externally) while at the same time staying free & at peace in our minds (personally/internally) to think and act by our own best lights.
If I was a golf course these days, I'd love to be The Old Course. It's very wise -- serving beautifully all its external duties but always staying completely true to itself. 

[Tom_Doak]

If I was a golf course these days, I'd love to be The Old Course. It's very wise -- serving beautifully all its external duties but always staying completely true to itself.

It will outlive us all.