August 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 55

It's Ok
Golf is in a difficult position:
According to the National Golf Foundation, golf
lost roughly one million players between 2009
and 2010, shrinking from about 27 million to
around 26 million golfers nationwide. As discretionary income evaporates in the face of
a lagging economy, fewer people can afford
memberships at private clubs.
While the figures may look grim, the challenges created by a
tough economy may be exactly the kind of opportunity the golf industry needs to reboot its elitist image and broaden its appeal to
more diverse players spanning all ages and skill levels. Fortunately,
the Professional Golf Association of America's new player development strategy, dubbed Golf 2.0, seeks to accomplish exactly this.
While the goal of strengthening the industry by increasing membership is hardly a new concept, the PGA's recent appointment of
Darrell Crall as senior director of Golf 2.0 represents a commitment to increasing golf's appeal and accessibility to younger players. During his time as executive director of the Northern Texas
PGA, Crall managed to grow the section's assets by a factor of 15-
all the while initiating groundbreaking programs geared toward increasing youth involvement in the sport. Programs like Help-A-Kid
Play Golf and Golf in Schools reached out to some 300,000 students
in inner-city schools in Texas, and will likely serve as a model for
Golf 2.0's goal of reaching out to younger players.
With the push toward Golf 2.0, the PGA has taken to heart the
World Golf Foundation's Golf 20/20 initiative. According to the World
Golf Foundation, the primary goal is " grass roots activation to ensure the future vitality of the game of golf, " especially through programs directed toward beginners of all ages. One outgrowth of
this is the " Play Golf America " program, a partnership between
the World Golf Foundation and the PGA.

Eric Simard / Dreamstime,

Practical, Affordable Access
The " focus on getting families involved and active has been a continuing effort since the early 1990s, and player development has always been fundamental, " says Richard Singer of the National Golf
Foundation. Given the statistics of player decline, improved marketing and greater options for beginner programming are important,
but player development is clearly insufficient on its own. Marketing
is critical, but it cannot succeed without practical, affordable access to courses.
This is where municipal courses stand to play a vital role in
changing the image and the demographics of the game. According to Terry Anton of Starting New at Golf (SNAG), municipal programs are ideally suited to the inclusive ethos of Golf 2.0: They are
uniquely positioned to " engage younger generations successfully for the future. " Municipal courses, for one, are able to offer fun, lower-cost public programming geared toward families.

from Golf 20/20

1. It's ok to not keep score.
2. It's ok to play from the shortest tees or start
at the 150-yard marker.

3. It's ok to give yourself a better lie by
rolling the ball around a little.

4. It's ok to tee the ball up anywhere when you
are first learning.

5. It's ok to only count swings when you make
contact with the ball.

6. It's ok to throw the ball out of a bunker after
one try.

7. It's ok to forget about a ball that may be lost
or out of bounds.

8. It's ok to drop a ball where you think it might
be...or where you wanted it to be.

9. It's ok to use fun team formats to play
with your group...scrambles are
very popular.

10. It's ok to just chip and putt on a hole
when you feel like it.

11. It's ok to pick up in the middle of the hole

and enjoy the outdoors and scenery.

12. It's ok to skip a hole if you need to take a
break.

13. It's ok to play fewer than 9 or 18 holes and
call it a round of golf.

14. It's ok to move your ball away from trees,
rocks, or very hilly lies.

15. It's ok to hit the same club for the entire

round, while using a putter on the
putting green.

16. It's ok to play golf in your sneakers.
Be comfortable!

17. It's ok to get enthusiastic! (High fives,
fist pumps, and big smiles
are encouraged.)

18. It's ok to talk on the golf course... enjoy a nice
conversation or tell a few jokes.

19. It's ok to bring your kids to the course,
whether they are 5 or 35.

20. It's ok to play golf just for fun!

www.NRPA .ORG

AUGUST 2011

Parks & Recreation 53

August 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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