Golf Growth & Diversity

These posts focus on growing the game of golf beyond its current demographics and for the enjoyment of future generations.

Golf’s Birthplace Making History

September 19, 2014 | By Pete Girotto | 1 Comment

It’s good to see some positive news being made amongst the crap that has been in the headlines lately. In particular, some attention has been brought to golf’s hometown in regards to their recent vote to remain in the United Kingdom. Scotland has been part of Britain for the past 307 years.And now this vote has caused some serious arguing between fellow Scots all the way down to the friend and family level. In fact, it was almost a 50-50 split but the unionist’s won by a slight margin to keep Scotland in the UK.

So where’s the good news? Well, amidst all the hoopla of independence another story has surfaced. A once male-only golf club has come to grips with the times and decided to open it’s doors to female members. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club has reversed it’s 260 year old policy and apparently it was quite an overwhelmingly large vote to do so. Not too shabby for 2400 male member organization.

It’s reported that a good three-quarters of the members voted with 85% of them in favor of letting females join. So, that means roughly 270 members voted against this change. Hmmmm…I mean, come on guys it’s 2014. I’m wondering if these 270 guys would have voted the same if each of their decisions were made public…probably not. Who wants to be “that guy”?

Regardless, the majority won and it’s about time. Hey, I’m all for hangin’ with the fellas and what-not but our “no girls allowed” secret fort closed it’s doors when I was 10. You follow? Bravo R & A!

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

My Wife’s First Time

August 15, 2014 | By Pete Girotto | 2 Comments

It was a beautiful August night. A light breeze, clear sky and not an ounce of humidity. We paid our greens fees and…wait…you know we’re talking about my wife’s first time GOLFING, right? Come on, get your head out of the gutter. This is a family-friendly site people.

After the past 7 years we’ve been together I had no idea she never went golfing. She’s been to the range before but never hacked up a track. I figured why not do something different for the first time – night golf! We have a local place here that features an executive par 3 under the lights which was perfect for her. Trust me, it’s one of those places that if you played it during the day you would be wondering why you were even there.

I must say though, the place did let her use a set of clubs for free which was very nice of them. Here’s where the irony began. I was concerned she was going to hold up the group behind us because of mis-hits and whatnot that I think I jinxed myself. It ended up that I was spraying all over the place and she kept it straight…go figure.

The important thing is that her first experience was a good one and I think she might have caught the bug. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing yet. Especially if she thinks I’ll be paying for her every time. Regardless, considering golf has been losing players I’ve made it a point to try and introduce more folks to this game we love.

Hit’em long…yell FORE!!!

How to Plant & Grow the Next Generation of Golfers

June 25, 2014 | By Greg D'Andrea | Leave a Comment

Keep it simple when introducing golf (CC-PD-Mark)

It’s no secret the biggest issue in golf (perhaps second only to slow play) is cultivating young golfers who will continue to play as they grow up. Believe it or not, this is our responsibility as adults and parents. We must introduce the game to our children in a way that sticks with them.

For example, kids need activities they can emulate in the backyard. Think about baseball, football, soccer and basketball – all games you can play in some form right outside your back door. You can throw the football around; kick the soccer ball into a practice net; play a game of Wiffle Ball; even erect a 10-foot high net to shoot hoops. But golf? Virtually unheard of.

When I was a teen, I would go outside with my pitching wedge and a few plastic practice balls. I would setup targets around my yard and pitch to them. Sure, I guess you could say I was working on my short game, but it was more than that – I was also playing a game – a mini round if you will. Friends would come over and play my backyard “course” too – we even printed out scorecards to make it official. But how many kids do this? We recently reviewed the backyard golf game, Bonzi Golf – this is one game that can get kids into the spirit.

Another idea is to simply give them access to your clubs. Whenever I have my clubs in the living room, my son is all over them. He wants to learn about what they are and how to use them. He’s only 3, but the interest he had in my clubs prompted me to buy a real putter for kids his age. He now asks to practice putting in the house so he can play along with me.

And here’s a novel idea: Take them to the course with you! Bring them along on a nine-hole round at the local muni. Let them sit in the cart or walk along with you. Even let them take a couple shots (maybe a putt or two). But the point is to introduce them to the game while letting them observe you (someone they look up to) enjoying themselves golfing. Of course, this means you can’t let your emotions get the best of you – if you hit a poor shot, don’t show your frustration. Just go out and have fun and they’ll get the idea.

And on the shots you let them take, perhaps swap a regulation ball out for one more forgiving, like the Polara ball for instance (stay with me here). When I spoke to the CEO of Polara, he mentioned letting kids begin by hitting the Polara since it’s much more forgiving. But be transparent – tell your child this is a “special” ball for beginners. The theory is they won’t get as frustrated and will keep at the game long enough to get hooked. Then, they can switch to a regulation ball. The CEO likened it to training wheels on a bike (makes sense to me)!

But perhaps the most important way to get kids to like golf and stick with it is to not make it so complicated! Keep it simple by just teaching them the basic rules and etiquette. There is absolutely no need to hand them a rulebook – instead just go out and play a round with them and then give them the basics as you walk through the course. If you’ve taken them out with you before they are actually playing (as I mention above), then they will already have a decent understanding of the game.

Unfortunately, exposing our kids to golf is not exactly top of mind. We keep our clubs hidden-away in our garages or in the trunks of our cars. And when we do play a round, we tend to leave our children behind. Meanwhile, golf on TV is (let’s face it) boring and there’s no golf little league for them to partake in. So it’s no wonder golf is something we tend to discover later in life (if at all).

If you’re a parent and a golfer, it’s on you to introduce your child to the sport. Buy them a backyard golf game; or show them your clubs. Let them tag along on your next round and when they’re ready to swing on their own – go easy on them with the tips and rules and all that other stuff we tend to overdo when we introduce someone to the game. Heck – even buy them a golf video game if you think it would get them interested.

The reality is, golf isn’t going to grow itself. And kids aren’t just going to gravitate to it. The solution begins with you.

Why Not Little League Golf?

May 5, 2014 | By Chris Chirico | 2 Comments

There's no doubt little league encourages a love of baseball - could it work for golf? — There’s no doubt little league encourages a love of baseball – could it work for golf?

My kids sports schedules are out of control. I have no idea how we ever get anything done outside of run all over God’s creation to get them where they need to be when they need to be there. My oldest plays baseball – practice is everyday after school with at least two games during the week and every other Saturday. The middle child plays lacrosse – practices are three nights a week with a game or two on the weekends. The youngest does gymnastics, which is by far the easiest schedule-wise – her practices are twice a week with a meet once a month. These schedules require either my wife or I to leave work early on a pretty regular basis. It’s like they don’t remember that most parents work. But I don’t mind. It’s what the kids want, so we make it happen. As a matter of fact, if one more sport was included, I could live with it. But that sport would have to be golf.

I’ve wondered for years why little league golf hasn’t really caught on. I certainly understand there are several roadblocks which stand in the way – cost, a course in town, getting times on the course, etc… Lets just say the conditions are not favorable. But with the state in which the game stands – fewer younger people taking it up – courses may want to start considering rethinking their current practices for the benefit of the future of the game.

We all know the game ain’t cheap. So there’s one roadblock right off the bat. It’s not just the equipment – equipment isn’t cheap in many other sports either. Trust me…see the first paragraph. But further standing in the way are greens fees and range time. Neither are inexpensive. This is somewhere where courses could step up and help out a golf little league organization. I’ve yet to play a twilight round at any of my local courses and see the range crowded. Letting a little league golf team use the range and putting green free, or at a handsomely discounted rate, would certainly help.

The rounds themselves are a different story. Obviously this can’t be done at no charge. However, discounting the fees for the local little league teams could only benefit the courses in the future. Problem is, obviously not every town has a golf course. But if there is one in somewhat local driving distance, then towns can combine with surrounding towns to create their little leagues. This would also make the tournaments conveniently at one course as well.

Of course, always in the way is the cost to simply get involved in the game. Polo shirts, golf shoes, clubs, balls, etc.., it’s never ending. Some costs are unavoidable. But again, the courses can certainly help out with many of these – discounts in the golf shop, especially on used equipment, would certainly help.

In the log run, donating some range time and equipment, discounts, and a little cooperation from courses themselves would certainly help to get younger kids introduced to, and involved in, the game. And, in all likelihood, it would also create future customers, maybe even members. A little help for a future golfer in the beginning could pay off down the road, both for the course and the game itself. It’s something to consider.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Black Girls Can Golf

July 10, 2013 | By Greg D'Andrea | 1 Comment

We all know the USGA wants to grow the game of golf – especially when that growth includes women and minorities. But as I’ve mentioned before, that’s going to be a hard sell as long as venues like Augusta National (which are steeped in a history of racism, sexism and exclusivity) continue to be poster children for the game.

In essence, the stereotype of golf is it’s a white man’s game (Gentleman Only Ladies Forbidden). And that stereotype is pretty much a reality out on the links. We recently posted about the number of women that play golf – the statistic said 25% but that seemed awfully high to us (we figured more like 10% based on the frequency of seeing a female out on the course).

Why aren’t more women playing? Could part of it be this “gentleman only” aspect to the game? Now consider the number of African-American females who play golf. We’re talking about a very low statistic indeed. So low, in fact, that Tiffany Mack Fitzgerald decided to do something about it.

Ms. Fitzgerald was in the corporate world for a decade and noticed “how many [business] opportunities were available to people who played golf.” She also noticed how very few golfers were black females. It was with this in mind that she founded BlackGirlsGolf.net, with the goal being to grow the game of golf to include more women and minorities.

But she also recognized that golf is its own worst enemy when it comes to keeping these women golfing for a lifetime. After all, the game is rather exclusive and unquestionably male dominated – which is a big turn-off for many women. And the fact that most golfers (in the U.S. anyway) are white males may not be the biggest draw for those who are neither white nor male.

Golf has been late to evolve. The exclusivity that once attracted people to the sport, is now one of the things that keeps new golfers from participating. It wasn’t until 1990 that Augusta National invited African-American’s into their club and it would take another 22 years before America’s most prestigious course would allow women. It’s time to shake things up. – Black Girls Golf website

Instead, what Ms. Fitzgerald wanted to create was a “low pressure” and “inviting environment” to introduce the game of golf to women – and more specifically, to black women. To this end, Ms. Fitzgerald began with her website and blog – where she was able to communicate her ethos. More recently, she’s partnered with a golf pro to provide group golf clinics in the Atlanta, Georgia area. These clinics have been so successful at retaining new golfers, she is now looking to expand outside Atlanta to grow the game to women and minorities across the United States.

“Some of these women were so new to the game, they didn’t even know which end of the club to hold,” said Ms. Fitzgerald in a recent phone interview. “But they were able to learn about this game in an inviting environment that made them want to keep playing.”

Unlike recent efforts from the powers that be in the golf industry, here is a grassroots organization that is not only introducing new people to the game, but also making them golfers for life. This is ultimately what the USGA needs to grow the game…but you couldn’t tell based on the so-called initiatives they have currently in place.

Rather, the golf industry needs organizations like this to grow along with it. From the Black Girls Golf website:

It has been our experience that when women have a positive introduction to golf they are more likely to become ‘golfers’. Women who are brand new to the sport tend to make golf clothing and equipment purchases within three to six months of their introduction to the game.

As Ms. Fitzgerald seeks partners to help grow her organization, she is extremely wise to point out the benefits to the industry as a whole should she become successful in her efforts. After all, we all know golf’s core demographics are white men ages 25-64. To which she quips:

When African-American women show up on a golf course we get a lot of attention. Guess who is looking at us….White men, between the ages of 25 and 64.

For more information or to connect with the Black Girls Golf organization, please see:
Website – http://www.blackgirlsgolf.net
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/BlackGirlsGolf.Net
Twitter – https://twitter.com/BlackGirlsGolf