Running 2024 golf thread

Remember back to the beginning of the year when we all complained that nobodies were winning events?

 

Let's talk about Golf, not professional golf, which has it's own issues.

Golf is at a crossroads. While places like TopGolf are thriving, we've lost at least five public or semi-private courses within a 30-mile radius of Bradenton because the cost of keeping them open doesn't make up for the lack of play outside of the snowbird invasion. And the places that are still in business are skewing older and older. The Tiger Effect is wearing off and the game is dropping back into some sort of equilibrium.

Perhaps some of you are seeing things differently in your regions, and again because I'm a retiree, I'm playing the course when a lot of other old guys are out there. But even on the weekends or on the range, I'm not seeing a lot of under-40s, let along teens. When I'm paired with other golfers, many of them know little about the rules or etiquitte. I try to help but at the same time, I'm trying to concentrate on my own game.

It's expensive to buy the equipment and time-consuming to get decent enough to not hack around aimlessly for 18 holes. And there are so many other entertainment options available. As more of us Boomers croak (or even just get too old to play), it should be easy to find an open tee time but may require a long drive to find a course still in business.

 

I don't know where to post! But since this could outlast the US Open, I'll post here.

My impressions are the same as @playthrough. Granted, the NYC area has always been crowded for golf. You have to work to get a tee time at the city courses, Westchester courses and Long Island courses. But since the pandemic, it's gotten even more crowded. I've seen a lot, lot lot, more people under the age of 30 playing than before. Great for the courses and the long-term health of the game. Not so great for tee times and pace of play. There are only so many public courses here.

It's unfortunate the pro game is in the midst of its troubles, because right now it really doesn't seem to be taking advantage on the uptick in amateur interest in the game.

 

The public courses in north Jersey have never been more crowded, or more expensive.

 

Whan had better hope the TV rating is good this year and the next few because the TV deal NBC inherited from Fox (and which Fox still pays a big chunk of) is up after 2027.

 

Brickyard Crossing used to be the highest-priced public course at $110 or so. No longer?

 

Participation has never been higher, and anecdotally, I'm not seeing the same thing Maumann is. Places are packed on the weekends, people of all ages. After 17 straight years of decline, our membership has been up significantly in each of the last six years. It's easier than ever to get a handicap index for cheap. You can just go through the USGA and it will funnel you to your local AGA for sign-up options.

Florida's probably a different animal than Virginia, though. There might be some market correction going on when it comes to course closures there.

 

I attribute 90% of Bryson's new-found fandom to ditching the douchebag hat.

 

when he tossed the ball to the kid, had an adult snatch it, then stopped and scolded the adult to give it back I think turned around some people too.