[Tim_Weiman]

Dick Daley:

I've long thought about your suggestion of remodeling "Mom & Pops". Northeast Ohio, for example, is loaded with such courses and they make the region one of the best places I have seen for "affordable" golf.

But, I do wonder about the economics of such projects. How much money would it make sense to spend on such projects? What would be the impact on green fees and/or rounds played?

I don't know how you can turn the decline in golf with the efforts of a single individual,  Keiser, etc.  Golf needs to attract those that are young to keep them for a lifetime. It has to be done at a local level with vision, with commitment and the ability to keep it inexpensive and available for the young. I don't know if that exists in the psyche of the average person in the US.  When I was an early teen developing my love and appreciation for the game, I saw a considerable number of my peers on the course during those times set aside for Juniors. Today, it is a rare sight for me to see a group of young people on the course at the local muni.

My parents were not of sufficient means to support my golf at today's relative prices. However, the local community made golf very affordable at a rate of $60 for a summer.  The local golf community restricted junior golf to the "off" peak times like weekday mornings or twilight weekend times.  It seemed to work really well.  It certainly isn't any easier for parents to afford the game than it was then.

I hear how golf is considered a family activity in Ireland.  Is that still true?  How do they do it?

Dan,

Dooks, one of my favorite places in golf, used to have a couple days a year when they had an event for very young kids (less than five). Parents would walk along and the entire group - maybe 20-25 kids - would all play together. If I remember correctly they played about 3-4 holes.

It was really special, especially given the setting, but hard to imagine the being done in the States.

That said, the Common Ground project is the past I have seen for affordable offering a way for kids to get into the game. Love how a kids course was built next to the "big" course.

[Kevin_D]

Do we really need a bunch of new projects to "grow the game" or get kids involved?

There is already a great way for kids to learn about the game, and depending on where you live, play some of the best courses in the world - for free!  Mike brings it up in the article: caddying. You learn the etiquette, get to see how different golfers approach holes (and their mistakes), and get access to an otherwise private course for free. I did it from 13 to 22, and it might have been the best job I've ever had.

I'm not trying to turn this into a thread about caddying (and I'm sure some will jump in with their anti-caddie comments), but it's noteworthy that Keiser certainly thinks it's an important part of building the game's future.

As to affordable golf for adults, I think this exists pretty much everywhere already. In New York, the city courses (eg, Pelham, Split Rock, Dyker Beach) are inexpensive. In Philly, you can play Cobbs Creek, go just outside the city to Jeffersonville (a Donald Ross which I think is under $30), or hit Walnut Lane, profiled on this site.  I would imagine less populated areas have even cheaper options.

Now, you might not have access to affordable great golf, but why do people think that's their right anyway? Do you have the "right" to dine at the best restaurants in the country for the cost of TGI Fridays?  Do you have the "right" to drive a Maserati for the price of a Chevy?  Why should golf be any different?

[Jon Wiggett]

Now, you might not have access to affordable great golf, but why do people think that's their right anyway? Do you have the "right" to dine at the best restaurants in the country for the cost of TGI Fridays?  Do you have the "right" to drive a Maserati for the price of a Chevy?  Why should golf be any different?

Kevin,

growing the game is not about 'rights' but about the health of the game. I agree caddying is one way to do it but affordable golf for juniors is the best way to ensure the demographic of a golf club does not become to old as many here in the UK are starting to find out.

When I was a junior ('75-'85) most clubs here supported a strong junior section made up of juniors many of whom did not have a parent in the membership. There were plenty of competitions both internal and at other clubs. We had best part of 100 junior members the last year I was there and the cost was £32 for the year. I do not think that there is any coincidence that the game in the UK had a boom time from '86 nor that the running down of the junior sections after '90 by many clubs has led to the problems they face today.

Jon

[Kevin_D]

Now, you might not have access to affordable great golf, but why do people think that's their right anyway? Do you have the "right" to dine at the best restaurants in the country for the cost of TGI Fridays?  Do you have the "right" to drive a Maserati for the price of a Chevy?  Why should golf be any different?

Kevin,

growing the game is not about 'rights' but about the health of the game. I agree caddying is one way to do it but affordable golf for juniors is the best way to ensure the demographic of a golf club does not become to old as many here in the UK are starting to find out.

When I was a junior ('75-'85) most clubs here supported a strong junior section made up of juniors many of whom did not have a parent in the membership. There were plenty of competitions both internal and at other clubs. We had best part of 100 junior members the last year I was there and the cost was £32 for the year. I do not think that there is any coincidence that the game in the UK had a boom time from '86 nor that the running down of the junior sections after '90 by many clubs has led to the problems they face today.

Jon

Jon,

Great point and idea. The "rights" statement was more about adults, meaning that I do think adults have access to affordable golf, just not necessarily at great courses. And where they do (eg, Bethpage Black, if you count that as affordable), you end up with a demand/supply imbalance, so getting tee times then becomes incredibly difficult.

Kevin

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