Growing the Game But Should We Be Careful What We Wish For?

The push to "grow the game" has led to increased participation and more golf club memberships. But while the sport seems to be thriving, there are growing concerns about the long-term effects of this rapid growth. In this article, avid golfer and Golfshake Ambassador Matt Holbrook explores the potential challenges and why we may need to be cautious about what we wish for.

All I’ve heard about for the past few years is ‘grow the game’ this and ‘grow the game’ that – and it would appear, that even still hanging onto the post covid boom golf saw, it has done just that.

I believe that people are playing more golf, and more members are attached to golf clubs – alongside the introduction of the iGolf membership from England Golf.

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So golf seems to be in a good place – but I can’t help but ask myself, for how long?

Allow me to set the scene.

I am a 39 year old golfer and have played the game I love for 15 years – the last 4 of them off a single figure index. I am a member of 2 golf clubs and during the summer months will aim to play around 3 times a week. 

I’d class myself as a traditional club golfer. 

Entering as many comps as I can and as many casual rounds go onto my EG as possible. 

I have held numerous club committee positions over the years too. 

I am laying this all out here to try and help understand the angle this article comes from – which is ultimately an avid club golfer who, to be honest, is getting slightly worried and frustrated with which the direction the game is heading.

I’m not sure if it's just me, but there are a number of areas that are starting to worry me about golf – and I have listed them below.

Handicap/WHS

Firstly, let me state that I am a fan of the WHS. I truly believe, that if every golfer used it correctly in the way it has been designed, then there would be less moans and groans about it. I’ll leave the discussion around whether the system is good or a ‘cheats charter’ for other people on a different article.

My issue is however, with the introduction of the higher handicap limits and the somewhat relaxation of the need to actually get better at this game.

Golf courses seem to be getting filled up with golfers that have an index of 28 or more.

Gone of the days where you used have to show a handicap certificate when stepping foot on a golf course. Now I know some of these things were seen to be a barrier into the game and in some cases, it's great that this has been relaxed, but I have lost count in the last 18 months the amount of time I have – or seen – people walking off the golf course due to slow play, which in parts is due to ability levels (I am also by no means saying that slow play is caused by golfers shooting in the 100’s but it definitely isn’t helping).

Technology

Tech has been a great addition to the game. Good time to point out that I first picked up a golf club which started a life long affair with this game, at Top Golf in Chigwell. So it has a lot to answer for. But we are now seeing more and more tech in golf and I can’t help but fell its starting to have detrimental effect – and I can give you 2 examples.

I visited a driving range while at working out and about last week. I wont name the range itself, but I was staggered to have to pay £12 for 75 balls – because it was a top tracer range. My local range is now £10 for 80 balls  (also a top tracer range). The range opposite one of my clubs doesn’t have any tech, and you can still get 110 balls for around £7/£8.
So during the winter months, for those that are working on their games visiting a range twice a week will soon start costing you £80 a month – which quite frankly is obscene.

Another example is lesson prices. Because a lot of golf professionals now have some kind of launch monitor, lesson prices are creeping up, you will struggle to find a decent lesson for less than £50/£60 an hour. With this in mind, so many people are turning to things like Youtube instead of getting a proper individual fix or advice.

Busy Courses

With the growing membership of many golf clubs (Without mentioning the membership fees going up each year) finding a tee time is getting more and more difficult for many golfers. But with the additional increase in some kind of flexible membership or off peak membership, the days of nipping out after work and flying around the course seem to be slowly evaporating. Now getting around a golf course, regardless of the time of day, seems to take closer to 4 hours more often than not. Courses are as busy as ever and this mixed with the above mentioned issues with ability levels, is making golf a drawn out activity.

So with these points in mind, how much more do we REALLY want golf to grow?? Has it grown enough, does it still need more? Or am I just turning into a massive golf snob??

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