Coachella Valley hosts Grow The Game symposium
May 08, 2017
By Matt McKay
How can we grow the game of golf?
Speed it up.
Make it cheaper.
Stop being snooty.
Get more women and juniors to play.
Those were the basic findings at the American Outreach Foundation Grow the Game of Golf Symposium, held Saturday, May 5 at Thunderbird CC in Rancho Mirage. The symposium, organized by American Outreach Foundation and featuring some of the valley’s top golf names, was convened to generate instantly implementable ideas to expand the game’s reach, encourage involvement and increase player retention.
The symposium featured a distinguished panel, consisting of former LPGA Tour standouts Liselotte Neumann and Donna Caponi; former LPGA Tour Commissioner and business advisor to Arnold Palmer, Charlie Mechem; architect Clive Clark; and 11-time PGA TOUR winner and SCGA Hall of Famer Al Geiberger. The audience included some of golf’s top executives and minds, including ANA Inspiration Tournament Director Gabe Codding, 19-time LPGA Tour winner and Mission Hills CC instructor Sandra Palmer and former Governor of Pennsylvania Tom Ridge, all engaged in an interactive suggestion-fest. Yet no matter what was discussed, or tweak offered, a vast majority of remedies were forwarded to counter golf’s three great hurdles: time, accessibility, intimidation.
Individual transportation units such as the “GolfBoard” and golf bikes, “ready golf” concepts and spin-offs such as Footgolf and Speed Golf were brought up. However, while GolfBoards and Speed Golf might not seem related, they are both “pace of play” fixes. The creation of golf course “loops,” offering players the option of three, six, nine, 12 or 18 holes, re-legitimizing the concept of playing nine holes, and a nine-hole green fee, were also suggested. As varied as the ideas were, they could all be traced to the root problem - golf’s lingering pace-of-play issue/the five-hour, 18-hole round - a turn-off to those with a short-attention span, an impossibility for anyone with a tight work and family schedule.
Others proposed ways golf could become friendlier, or made less “stuffy.” Consideration was given to relaxing some course and clubhouse rules, and to clubhouse employees being more welcoming and engaging, ideas which might encourage more beginners to hang in there. Some beginners fear being scolded by veteran players for what newbies perceive to be minor etiquette violations, said one theorist. Some recommended expanding or creating group play, with events consisting of players with similar abilities. These ideas were clearly intended to deal with the intimidation some feel when deciding to give the game a try, and how facilities and teachers can overcome or minimize it.
Lastly, the seemingly-eternal struggle for affordable, accessible play for those outside the country club structure (including resident juniors) was addressed frequently. The Coachella Valley has always been a “second home” golf market, where members stay and play seasonally at high-end clubs. Consequently, some valley residents simply stow their clubs from January-April, waiting for the inevitable heat to drive part-timers away and green fees down. Resident juniors participate in The First Tee of the Coachella Valley’s programs, the SCGA Junior Golf Pass program or resort to hitting balls and taking lessons to sharpen their game. All because of limited access to a great majority of golf courses in the area, and the prohibitive cost of many others.
The group was nearly unanimous in its belief that juniors and women provide the greatest opportunity to grow the game, at least in the short run. Participants also realized these groups were particularly susceptible to the game’s three biggest deterrents. Mothers - particularly working mothers - find it difficult to carve out time for 18 holes, what with the working and the child care and the kids’ activities, not to mention that husband. Intimidation is also a problem; learning to play in a world structured by and for men (and too often, devoid of women), makes for a less-than-comfortable learning environment.
Problems need solutions, and the group isolated several which could be quickly employed. Rather than build a new junior program from scratch, attendees were encouraged to contact SCGA Junior and The First Tee of the Coachella Valley to find out what they could do for the existing organizations. Clubs could sort teeing grounds for handicap ranges (example: handicap 4 or less, Back Tee; handicap 4-10, gold tee, etc.), and allow juniors to play free starting tomorrow. Golf staffs could immediately begin proactively, aggressively and kindly educating golfers on time-saving “ready golf” tips, such as replacing a club when drawing a club for the next shot, or logging scores on the next tee. In short order, courses or clubs could host more “fun” based programs for beginners and juniors, where everyone learns and plays together, to reduce intimidation. And, incorporating more technologies and social media options into a round, such as on-course applications, could be a fast and easy way to engage Millennials.
When the meeting adjourned, participants left with a renewed passion to generate involvement, and ways to go about it. They also vowed to convene next year for the same purpose.