Last night I got into a debate that started innocently on Twitter. It stayed clean and was among friends sharing opinions on the state of the golf industry. The participants were Jason Giesbrecht (Head Professional at Royal Colwood in Victoria, B.C.), The Golf Canada (formally the RCGA and Canada’s governing golf body) and Ashley Chinner (Director of Golf at Signature Risk, formally one of Canada’s premier Golf Tour Professionals and a great friend) and myself CKGolfSolutions. The debate centred around the golf industry and started with the challenges we face, who is responsible and ideas to correct it. Below is the Twitter conversation:
@JasonGiesbrecht @TheGolfCanada@AshleyChinner @PGAofBC No growth, but losing far less rounds from my discussions.#9holes #growthegame
@JasonGiesbrecht @TheGolfCanada@AshleyChinner @PGAofBC Great discussion tonight! I’m feel a blog post coming on for the AM. Stay tuned 🙂
JasonGiesbrecht 9:27pm
JasonGiesbrecht 9:26pm
TheGolfCanada 9:24pm
CKGolfSolutions 9:19pm
@TheGolfCanada @JasonGiesbrecht@AshleyChinner @PGAofBC Pro’s have the same obligation to push #growthegame everyone in the industry does.
TheGolfCanada 9:07pm
@JasonGiesbrecht @CKGolfSolutions@AshleyChinner @PGAofBC #groupthink better discussion for the NGCOA? There are a few Ont. courses w/ > 18
JasonGiesbrecht 9:03pm
@CKGolfSolutions @AshleyChinner Aging population, time value changing & wide range of rec options a huge factor.
CKGolfSolutions 8:52pm
@JasonGiesbrecht @AshleyChinner By the way… great topic for a panel at any PGA Spring Seminar 🙂
CKGolfSolutions 8:51pm
@JasonGiesbrecht @AshleyChinner Is time commitment changing of recreation values? Thoughts why we lose golfers each year? Games not growing.
JasonGiesbrecht 8:46pm
@CKGolfSolutions @AshleyChinner#growthegame Agree mostly, but we don’t need more holes – need to respond to changing recreation values
CKGolfSolutions 8:42pm
@JasonGiesbrecht @AshleyChinner Whatever the model I think all new golf course should have 3, 6, 9, 12 return to the clubhouse. #growthegame
CKGolfSolutions 8:41pm
@JasonGiesbrecht @AshleyChinner None that I know of Jason, but I keep hear it is gaining steam. Ash had a great 6 hole Tweet.
JasonGiesbrecht 8:40pm
@CKGolfSolutions @AshleyChinner Can u name cnd facilities w this model or 12 hole course. Idea only or r there success stories? #curious
AshleyChinner 7:11pm
“@CKGolfSolutions: “@AshleyChinner: 6-hole…2 par 3’s; 2 par 4’s & 2 par 5’s surrounding a driving range #1.5hrs”” $15/6 holes.
TheGolfCanada 7:09pm
@CKGolfSolutions you’re in the trenches talking to many operators. Would you say that high-end tracks or mom & pop operations are hurt more?
TheGolfCanada 7:00pm
@CKGolfSolutions interestingly a few golfers commenting on our facebook page seemed to disagree with the 12 hole model
CKGolfSolutions 6:54pm
@TheGolfCanada @AshleyChinner That’s a start. Next we need to develop 12 hole golf courses & embrace short courses as great golf experience
TheGolfCanada 6:50pm
@CKGolfSolutions @AshleyChinner we’re hoping the National Golf in School program has a positive effect. Any other ideas???
- Invite someone you know doesn’t play golf to a driving range to hit a bucket.
- Play golf with someone you haven’t played with in the past two years.
- Organize a weekly meet-up or Tweet-up event for golfers.
- Provide a free clinic to non-golfers/clients.
- Tweet and Facebook the statement “Play Golf” regularly!
I’m sorry I missed the series of tweets yesterday. I would have posted that our course runs from #1-#11 before the turn most of the year and a number of members love that opportunity to come out and just play 11.
In the late fall and winter, we tee off on #12 so the front side holes from #2 – #10 get a better chance to thaw out. Again, many members enjoy coming out for just 7 holes of golf.
The same in the warmer months when we sometimes come to the course after work and there is an opportunity to go off #12 and then decide after #18 whether to carry on or not.
I like the idea of the six hole course surrounding a driving range (practice area too?).
Lots of good ideas and discussion.