The Golfdom Files: The next 25 years

Cover: Golfdom

Forecasting what could impact the immediate and long-term future of golf is not an uncommon concept for this publication. ¶ In the January 1975 issue of Golfdom, Jerry Claussen, a consultant for the National Golf Foundation’s Rocky Mountain Region, took a stab at what he thought were 10 substantial developments in the game of golf at the time. ¶ Forty years later some are still being debated and others are no longer relevant, from the fight against slow play to the automation and mechanization of golf operations. ¶ If we look 40 years into the future of golf, will any of these still be relevant to the industry? To read Claussen’s full article and see how many of his 10 trends are still relevant, visit golfdom.com/exclusive.

Whatever happened to colored sand in bunkers, synthetic grass for greens and lighting of full-length courses?

These were ideas in past years presented by persons in the golf industry that did not, for one reason or another, get far. But there are plenty of new trends and ideas that are changing the business of golf every day.

We see signs everywhere. The PGA Tour competes with tennis for TV time. The price of fertilizer and chemicals has doubled this year. Russia will soon have its first golf course.

There are only a few clues to what is happening. Here are some of the major trends in golf course development and operation that are significant.

Fighting slow play. A strong movement is spreading to find a remedy for slow play that has been choking our busiest courses for years.

The National Golf Foundation made slow play a high priority about six years ago with a humorous promotion campaign using “Speedy” and “Mrs. Speedy,” depicted by rabbits.

A starting time system to utilize all of the course for more hours, with maximum time for playing each nine, was sent to every course. The attempt was commendable, but the results not very noticeable. Then, one by one, golf industry leaders started trumpeting the need for speedier play. Finally, the idea is catching on. Even PGA officials have been tough as they threaten and occasionally levy penalties on slow players.

Many public course operators have picked up ideas for faster play. Most now have 150-yard markers for faster club selection, start nine-hole players from the 10th tee when it is open, use rangers and teach rules and etiquette to beginning classes.

More are using realistic spacing of starting times to avoid jam-ups, reminder signs in the pro shop, on the course, and even on the scorecards suggesting how much it should take to play each hole, nine and 18.

An example of a sign is on the seventh tee of Brookhaven Country Club, a 54-hole club near Dallas: “Par for playing time to this tee should be one hour and 33 minutes. How is your score today? Everyone enjoys the game more when play moves on time. We appreciate your help. Thanks… Your Board of Directors.”

A more expensive game. Golf has been called the “game of a lifetime.” It may be open to almost anyone of any age, but at what price? Inflation is hurting the business.

Private membership clubs have been trying desperately to keep ahead of cost increases. Many are raising dues, imposing house minimum charges, assessing members for losses, raising prices for food, beverage and other services, and/or seeking more outside party business. Increases in the minimum wage, higher costs for food and other services, plus rising taxes, have forced these increases. We have seen monthly dues go from $70 to $90 at one club, $38.50 to $45 at another, and the imposition of a $20 per month house minimum charge at another in the Denver area.