I just read a very interesting article at the online edition of Elysian Fields Quarterly, that got me to thinking how healthy the game of golf actually is, and available for most across the economic spectrum. For those unaware of Elysian Fields Quarterly it is a fine literary baseball magazine. It is to baseball what the Journal of The Shivas Irons Society is to golf.
The article is “And That's a White Sox Winner!” by Douglas Bukowski from Volume 23, Number 1, 2006. In this article a long time White Sox fan laments the changes to the sport, yet while still finding the joy of the game the his team’s long awaited glory. Out of the article he does note how the stadiums are now less fan friendly for those wanting (or needing) to opt for the upper decks, on the long commercial breaks, on the high cost of trying to attend the post-season games, and even (inadvertently) on the games ending so late his son could not stay awake for the finish.
For all the worrying about the equipment and how it is affecting the architecture, I suddenly realized that golf appears to be less harmed by modern technology and hyper-marketing than are most of the other sports. Although very expensive golf clubs, both private and public are often talked about, there are still many reasonably priced municipal and resort courses being built. The price of a trip to Bandon is doable for many golfers. Although very expensive equipment can be found, there are many lower priced alternatives, and the used club market offers many other options. In fact I would argue that the least expensive clubs currently being produced are likely better in technology and quality then the best Ben Hogan clubs sold 25 years ago.
While next year a majority of post-season baseball games will be on cable TV, the networks will still offer over 50 hours of the four professional majors and the US Amateur. In addition, it is easier to win the draw for tickets at face price for either of the Opens or the PGA than to obtain tickets at face price to any post-season baseball or football game.
Where golf surpasses the other sports most of all is on the architecture front. Every new sports stadium means a setback to upper deck fan, while golf continues to offer fine alternatives to the muni fan. Bethpage is still a reasonable price for the NY state resident, city courses have been upgraded while keeping fees reasonable, outer suburbs have seen moderate priced courses built in addition to new high-end priced courses. Fine excellent courses have been built in the Dakotas and surroundings, allowing one to treat oneself to a high-end golf experience at a moderate price. Finally, even the returns to classic style of golf architecture appear to span the price scale of new projects.
My evidence is in both my old hometown of St. Louis, and my new home of Springfield, Mass. The Cardinals built a new stadium, but with less cheap seats, and the old stadium’s 3rd deck sight lines were better than being offered in the new stadium. Meanwhile, Forest Park golf course has completely renovated all 27 holes, and still only costs $35 for a weekend tee time. In addition the Walters Group continues to offer many fine course around St. Louis, which can be easy on the wallet.
Here in New England, rare is the family which can afford to go to Fenway, thus resulting in mainly young males willing to pay the high prices, thus resulting in some of the obnoxious behavior which is bound to occur from large groups of young alcohol fueled males, thus resulting in families not wanting to go to Fenway more than once a year. Meanwhile, the south shore, Cape Cod and Western Mass all offer a variety of new courses and old classics, and with many reasonable rates available on good courses under quality conditions. Examples range from George Wight, Crumpin-Fox, Widow’ Walk, to Stow Acres.