How do we make golf more attractive?
Golf Course Architect, Jonathan Gaunt, gives a personal view of what is wrong with golf and how, in his opinion, it can attract more juniors and families to particpate
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t seems to be an endless, recurring theme in golf conferences - well, we could start with making it less time-consuming. The golfing authorities could make it easier to participate in, or make it a less complicated sport to play. Golf is now an Olympic sport, and the way things are looking in the UK (a fully developed golfing nation), especially if the education system and/or the Government has anything to do with it, we’ll be struggling to put together a consistent team of golfers in the future. The development of golf in juniors has always been the responsibility of the golf club, and not the school. The attitude outside the UK is very different. Okay, there are now initiatives, such as Tri Golf - it is designed to be fun as well as informative; allowing those that take part to enjoy the game of golf, and feel the excitement that can come from competition in a sport that isn’t as popular as national curriculum sports that are provided in schools. Tri Golf is a new form of developing junior golf produced by the Golf Foundation and it is targeted at children aged between 4 and 16. I know a young golf professional in Cheshire who coached eight schools on a six week programme and, at the end of this time, each school took part in a golf festival where the pupils of each school played a tournament for the Tri Golf School Award - it was very successful. He’s been asked to run the six week course again this autumn. He’s also given juniors free golf lessons once a month to help to promote and improve future talent amongst the youngsters. It’s a good move forward, however, this
professional is in the minority. Many are less interested in nurturing youngsters and encouraging them to take up the game - there’s no incentive for them to do so.
Concerning the opportunities in this country - Devon Cliffs
there has always been a desperate shortage of high quality, exciting and attractive golf courses and practice facilities that are open to the general public. Many private clubs in the country still have a situation whereby golfers hit their own balls into a mown grass field and collect them by hand.
Municipal golf courses, as a recreational facility, have now become a very low priority within local authorities - in general they are too expensive to maintain, many struggle to break even and most lose money. Birmingham Council is currently tendering all of its seven golf courses Boldmere Golf Course, Cocks Moors Woods Golf Course, Hatchford Brook Golf Course, Hilltop Golf Course, Lickey Hills Golf Course, Pype Hayes Golf Course, Harborne Church Farm Golf Course (9 holes), for a private operator to take over. Whether a private operator is able to make any of them turn a profit remains to be seen. Why are they not making good money?
The quality of municipal facilities is, in general, poor and this is where the problem begins. Where else can a golfing beginner get an introduction to the game? Okay, they can visit a local, privately owned driving range and take a lesson with the local professional. However, many of these are
Hafan-y-mor
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