What, if anything, has been good so far golf wise in 2020?

[Thomas Dai]

2020 hasn’t so far been much of a year what with Covid.
Trying to look at least a little on the bright side for a moment what, if anything, has been good golf wise so far during 2020?
Atb

[David Jones]

I’m in East Lothian and it’s been quite incredible how busy the golf courses have been through summer, autumn and into winter.


Since May we have been able to play golf throughout the various different lockdowns, as a result the golf course has become the place to spend time with friends and family when few other options are available. Some have discovered the game, some have reignited their passion. It’s been frustrating at times not to be able to get a tee time (!) but it’s been wonderful to see the role that golf has played in the community. That’s something at least!

[Pete Lavallee]

Golf here in the States has been much quicker with no removing the flagstick and no need to rake bunkers. Placing your ball a club length in the bunker has made our muni courses 1 day a week bunker grooming work out great. Even with a perfect lie every time it’s still not easy!

[Tim Martin]

Walkers/walking had a big resurgence. Clubs with historically stringent policies as to carts, caddies and pushcarts relaxed them. The game at least in the short term is simpler.

[Pete_Pittock]

some numbers to ponder through
 https://www.oga.org/handicap-hub-nerding-out-2020-numbers?utm_source=GHIN%20E-Revision&utm_medium=Dec.%2015


Tee times are harder to come by, clubs asking us to advise them when your tee time will be unfilled. I wonder how many more kids and family will take up the game after this weekend's TV.


Score posting is easier.

[Peter Sayegh]

Needed a reason to really lose weight.
Made me want to walk and play golf. Did all three.
And met great people.
What a great game/hobby/pastime!

[jeffwarne]

Walkers/walking had a big resurgence. Clubs with historically stringent policies as to carts, caddies and pushcarts relaxed them. The game at least in the short term is simpler.

Many golfers (re)discovered that golf, not all the trappings, are what provides the enjoyment.
Much simpler.
Counting our blessings.

[Pat Burke]

Well, more people in many places are walking and discovered the value just being on a golf course can bring.


If as an industry, we can capture the interest and not get greedy trying to “catch back up” we could see a pretty nice growth in interest


Lot of kids and families are finding the game in our area

[JohnVDB]

For golf in general, it seems like a lot of people have tried the game or rediscovered an interest in it.  Also more people seem to be walking which is good.

Personally, at the beginning of the year I bought a small 1-bedroom place in Dornoch. Because of that I was able to go over in July, do my two weeks quarantine and spend 3 more months there.


Here in NJ, I’ve rediscovered the joy of playing municipal courses and meeting lots of Everyman golfers.


Because of this, my average cost of a round of golf this year was just over $15.

[Matt_Cohn]

Pace of play has been great due to increased spacing between tee times.

[Adrian_Stiff]

If I had to sum things up I would say 2020 has been a very very good year for golf. All due to the Covid pandemic, golf has seen a big increase in play and the values of playing the game have been re-patriated to the world.

[Ira Fishman]

1. I have not heard a single person complain about getting a bad lie in a bunker. People are just happy to be outside and playing.


2. People are more appreciative of the golf staff.


Ira

[David_Tepper]

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-worst-year-in-memory-was-a-boom-year-for-golf

[David Wuthrich]

Some clubs that would NEVER allow push carts are allowing them and I don't think there have been any adverse effects!

[John Kavanaugh]

It doesn't feel safe to go to the club just to hand out Christmas money.

[Ira Fishman]

It doesn't feel safe to go to the club just to hand out Christmas money.

We gave ours to the Club Manager and Golf and Tennis Pros. They were more than glad to hand them to their staffs.


Ira

[Eric Smith]

GCAer Barry Doyle won the 2020 5th Major!

[Steve Lang]

Golf.com's Sub Par Podcasts with Colt Knost & Drew Stoltz...  watching amatuers can be entertaining like the NLU guys or the gm_golf kids, but the weekly Sub Par has presented some excellent content in 2020 with current young tour players and others like McCord, Barkley, McMahon, & Manziel.  Link to their premier from Feb 2020 BC (before Covid)


https://youtu.be/KVcJbMlqSMA

[Lou_Duran]

I've been thinking real hard about this and I am coming up mostly with blanks.  Played a lot, but not well.  Walked a lot, but have gained weight.  Traveled minimally, but have re-discovered a couple of courses that I really liked.  With little cost to me, I played a small part in reigniting the interest in golf in a hard-working family man who now has the time and resources to return to the game after leaving it for many years.  Perhaps gaining greater appreciation for little things I've taken for granted in the past?


Big fears: bad habits taking hold (e.g. not raking bunkers), new people coming to the game without taking the time to learn the customs, etiquette and courtesies of the game, and golf operators who might interpret the surge as the new normal and become complacent.       

[Steve Lang]

  Lou,
Please tell me, if you're doing any cart ball  that you don't have a bluetooth speaker with a siren's voice calling out yardage, in between blaring country tunes or perhaps a waltz for timing the swing.Now retired, still looking to play north in Dallas,  maybe in 2021, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year man!

[Pat Burke]

Playing for a living, in many ways gave me a different perspective about the game.  It was about trying to get better and compete (and make a living). It’s weird, I loved practicing and competing.  I have loved teaching, especially helping kids.  But I have also in many ways struggled in a life of golf with uncertainties, injuries, and security.


As a kid, I loved golf courses.  I got to play countless Nj and NY golf courses as a kid.  I drew golf courses in notebooks.  I took a job on a maintenance staff to learn more at 18.


I always played better in tournaments  on courses I just liked.  Kingston Heath, Royal Melbourne, Pebble etc


It’s funny how much “the golf course” has meant to me my whole life, even while sometimes the “business” made me dislike the game.


In a year that has sucked for the world, my dysfunctional experiences in golf absolutely make me feel it makes sense that golf would do well.  It’s a bizarre game that requires a certain craziness to excel in

[Sean_A]

1. I have not heard a single person complain about getting a bad lie in a bunker. People are just happy to be outside and playing.
Ira

Maybe the reason for this in the UK is folks can move the ball.

Ciao

[Terry Lavin]

It doesn't feel safe to go to the club just to hand out Christmas money.

We gave ours to the Club Manager and Golf and Tennis Pros. They were more than glad to hand them to their staffs.


Ira

Like many, our club has a holiday fund for club employees. This year, the members contributed nearly $100K. This came after we spent the golf season tipping like crazy, because we were so appreciative of them working so hard during a public health crisis. In a way, everybody who works at Beverly was a front line worker, people who worked their asses off so we could get out asses off the couch. Bright side of a dark time.

[John Kavanaugh]

Absolutely. One of my bright spots this year is a sweetheart who makes me off menu milkshakes. I wish I had more to give.

[Mike_Young]

Covid basically brought golf back....more than any Topgolf or Kids in trees on golf or First Tee or Hook a Kid or any of that stuff.  And people that had dropped it years earlier realized how much easier it was to play with larger drivers etc and began to like it again...also made them realze that kid travel sport leagues were BS and they could play normal baseball etc and then golf with kids....