Discussions

I am doing a little digging into why people are slowly fading away from the game of golf. It appears locally that a lot of people who used to play the game regularly are now playing very little and those who use to play occasionally are now not playing at all. If you are one of these individuals or have some insight as to why you think this is happening I want to hear your thoughts.  
 
Is it too expensive? Too time consuming? Too difficult? I have heard that people are busy with work and kids activities and while I can definitely see that cutting into your time these are not new concepts. Parenting and work have always been around so why is it now that it appears to eat up so much of a persons time?  
 
I work at a golf course and want to ensure that everyone continues playing the game and enjoys doing so. Hearing from the public is vital to doing this properly so please, discuss.

Years ago, people didn't work on Sundays/things were just not open (mall,etc), so more got out then.  
 
It has become a pricy outing.  
 
Life in general seems to have become more hectic/bills and when there is down time one just wants to relax without shelling out a bunch of cash...  
 
That's my thoughts...

Golfing requires time, money and course interest. I'm personally a cheep social golfer and require an invitation to go to a free round of golf. Unless it's a must have hobby, I think the rest of Brandon is in the same boat as myself.

I love golf. I am in my 40' and love that it is a sport that I can still play as I get older. It is not a cheap sport. I own my clubs but golfing is expensive. Times are tough financially for a lot of people lately and I think that is why there is less people golfing right now.  
 
Personally for me I only golf with my husband as I don't have any female friends that golf. As a result I only get to golf when he doesn't want to golf with his friends. He tries to golf with me as much as he can but again it's expensive so to golf with me and his buddies regularly......it gets pricey.  
 
Just my experience and thoughts

Love golf, I would play more, but I need a job first  
 
I am desperately trying to find employment  
 
Edited by md1, 2017-08-19 11:20:11

I used to golf lots. I had a membership at Shilo and Yamaha gas golf cart. I loved it and still do love game. When I had a membership, every day the sun was shinning I felt that I needed to go golfing or I was wasting money. After I dropped my annual membership, Shilo kicked me out of their indoor cart storage. I moved my cart to Sunnyside, had a membership there for a year (played less than ten games), then paid for inside storage for another two years. In 2014, I played two games of 18 holes, in 2015 one game 18 holes and 2016 only nine holes. I sold my power cart last year. My goal this year was to play two rounds of 18 holes. I have not played yet. Since I retired in 2013, we have been blessed with four grandchildren. Two of them live in Brandon and two are at CFB Trenton. Golf money and time are spent on plane tickets, making quilts, grand-parenting and play dates at the park or road trips to Clear Lake.

I enjoy Golf, but I'm a social golfer. Could not justify spending a huge amount of time or money on a sport.

Time.  
 
Golf is to time consuming. I prefer 9 hole courses. But there never kept as nice. It's a tough call.

I've gone golfing a few times years ago and have simply not found it to be my thing, kinda boring.  
I prefer doing things with the kids:  
-Canoeing/fishing/boating/camping  
-Picnics, country drives to other towns to explore other parks n playgrounds.  
-Swimming at Souris pool  
-Building gokarts and riding dirtbike with my kids and their friends.  
-Hiking Brandon Hills trails, playing baseball/catch with the kids  
-Yardwork, work, home projects, dating my girlfriend, etc...  
I prefer to do all the above and more- over a golf game. Why? Feels like progress when i get things done, teaching the kids life lessons and skills, investing effort into my property and family.  
 
But i guess the kids can learn to golf too...  
 
It always felt very "white collar" uppity to me. Not very welcoming to newbies who are there to relax. For peace n quiet, i only have to sit on the deck- living in the country i don't need to hit the golf course to escape the city, i just come home...

price. nuff said  
 
Edited by pigfish, 2017-08-19 14:28:59

Daisyflower said "I love golf. I am in my 40' and love that it is a sport that I can still play as I get older. It is not a cheap sport. I own my clubs but golfing is expensive. Times are tough financially for a lot of people lately and I think that is why there is less people golfing right now.     Personally for me I only golf with my husband as I don't have any female friends that golf. As a result I only get to golf when he doesn't want to golf with his friends. He tries to golf with me as much as he can but again it's expensive so to golf with me and his buddies regularly......it gets pricey.     Just my experience and thoughts "

pm me my wife loves to golf too but has no female friends that golf maybe u girls could go together  
 
Edited by pigfish, 2017-08-19 14:28:01

I've just started golfing more consistently this year because I could never afford it before. Still, it costs so much to go to most golf courses that it's hard to justify dropping $50 or $60 for 18 holes, usually before the cart.

It's so expensive. I've noticed the popularity is really fading. I played a lot in high school when a round was only $15-20. Now memberships and tourneys are so high. Plus playing on 27 degree days is too hot

I stopped golfing at the wheatcity course because of a red shoed middle aged man that had been driving golf balls at people.  
I reported him to the clubhouse once and was told everyone knew who he was and that he has been attacking people on the course for a couple of years.  
 
The staff gave me the city recreation managers email, but they said it was very unlikely he would do anything.  
I emailed the manager and never received an answer.  
 
My only option was to say Good bye Wheatcity golf course. unfortunately, I kind of agree with an earlier comment, existing members think they own the course and kind of ruin it for non members that want to spend time and money on “their” course.

It's the cost for our family. We play to have fun, nothing serious as we do not know the game well enough. Renting clubs or a cart can add up to be an expense. Buying clubs or a cart is even more expensive but worth the investment if we were to play more often than once or twice a month. Also, there is the added cost of paying for a membership/extra fees including travel costs associated with playing at different golf courses.

I love golfing. And my 9 year old son is also starting to love it and even got his own clubs last Christmas. Unfortunately it's so expensive. We usually just go to the range every now and then. Wish we could afford to go out on the course more.

Cause I suck?

I find the spot to be very pretentious. I agree with a fellow commenter that said it's a " white collar " kinda game. I also find if you not all dressed up like your in the PGA tour then you have no right to be on the course kinda attitude, and people feel they can't just keep playing past when your just trying to have a good time.  
 
But I guess in conclusion. It's not welcoming to newcomers, it can be pricey, it gets boring after 6 holes. But what do I know I've only ever gone to get drunk whack some balls and be that idiot on the golf cart.

Only time I would have is on the weekends and I have other stuff to do instead. I have made it out a few times. Also money. I could always do something more productive with my time and money. I do miss golfing as much as I used to. I would like to get my kids into it but it is expensive enough for my 5 rounds a year.

There are still a lot of die hard golfers that I know, mostly divorced now, but it used to be the 'guys' sport. Thankfully, men are becoming more involved as parents these days and spending more of their free time doing family activities rather than at a course.  
 
Golf is a huge time commitment as well as monetary and if you have children, there are bigger priorities.  
 
I used to really enjoy golfing until I had children; now I get more fulfillment from taking the kids to waterslides or the zoo.  
 
Just my take on it.

Thank you all for the replies, keep them coming.  
 
A common answer seems to be the expense of golf. I could write a long winded argument on that topic but here's the "short" version. First, if you find it too expensive for your kids in Shilo we offer 16 and under FREE when accompanied by an adult. I believe there are many other reduced rates out there for juniors as well but I believe that is about as low as we can go. Second, I believe that we have some of the least expensive golf in the country here. Maybe your argument or opinion is that golf is too expensive regardless of where you are and yes there may be an argument for that but I can assure you all of the courses in our area are not charging what they are to get rich. Times have changed, things cost more and maintaining 200 acres of manicured turf costs a significant amount. I think many small businesses can relate to that.  
 
It is troubling to hear that some perceive the sport as unwelcoming and that is terrible to have experiences like that where members have caused you to feel that way. Having spent a lot of time around the game I definitely know what kind of individuals you are referring to BUT I can assure you that is not representative of the majority of golfers at most clubs.  
 
Here is an article wrote a while ago with arguments on why golf is or isn't dying off if anyone has the time to read it feel free: https://patricklawgolf.com/blogs/news/85423684-is-golf-a-dying-sport  
 
I've rambled enough, keep the comments coming.

But then had kids and got busy coaching them in their sports. Now I would rather hike in the Brandon Hills or clear lake with my dog.  
 
I think you are smart to go after the family market with free golf for kids with paid adult. I used to really enjoy the game. I just don't miss it and a lot of people I know over 50 don't golf.

Some years more often than others.  
 
My reason is similar to a lot of other posters. Nobody to golf with. I can sometimes tell my friends "let's go for a walk today." Once I get them to agree I suggest on the Northern Pines course, sometimes my trick works and sometimes it does not.  
 
I don't enjoy the extreme heat so if I can't get out early enough in the day, sometimes golf takes a back seat. It's sad and unfortunate. But it's my decision.  
 
It's a great sport that can be played well into the golden years if health allows it. Everyone should golf!

Too expensive to do as an activity when i compare it to other things i could do. I dont want to pay for kids and grandkids (4 kids and 7 grandkids so far u do the math for 1 round) Why get them interested in a sport they cant afford.

I have golfed Shilo lots and it has grown to be one of my favourite courses. I never feel like it is pretentious out there and your staff are always fantastic. It has also been a hot summer and while my husband is like a lizard and enjoys the heat, I prefer a little more temperate climate. As a result, I have golfed early summer, not at all Jul/Aug and will probably pick back up in September.  
 
I know that we have some of the cheapest golf in Manitoba but it would seem that times are tough lately job wise for a lot of people. It may just be the times. Hopefully it will pass.

I mini golf, does that count? I went golfing once And my aim was terrible, my ball always got lost. I could never keep up with everyone else. So i gave up and called it quits .

Now that I am retired I thought I would get back into golf...I would golf everyday if I could but at the cost of fees and memberships,it just makes it a sport for the well off...I would love to see the younger members of my family learn the game and take it up but again cost is a major factor.

I do golf, but primarily just at a course that I have a membership at. I know I can get on, play 9 or 18, and be home quickly.  
 
What I don't do much is travel around to golf. Why?  
#1 Cost - already having a membership, then paying to play elsewhere gets expensive. I don't have the disposable income I used to, and prefer to play where it is cheap/inexpensive.  
 
#2 Time - Playing a 5 hour round doesn't interest me. Being on a course backed up with people enjoying their pops too much, or being stuck behind those who don't know or ignore the rules makes golf no fun. 4 hour round acceptable. But when your course says it should take no longer then 4:15 to play, and it is often taking 5 or even 6 hours.... no thanks.

Regardless of why a golf course charges the fee they charge - If it is too costly for some to afford, then they simply cannot afford it. It makes no difference if the price is justified or not, nor even if to you it seems like a bargain for what the course costs to maintain. Money stretches only so far. For myself I don't waste my money on golf-I do not enjoy the game and am not going to waste time, effort and money on it.

BrandonBorn88 said "I find the spot to be very pretentious. I agree with a fellow commenter that said it's a " white collar " kinda game. I also find if you not all dressed up like your in the PGA tour then you have no right to be on the course kinda attitude, and people feel they can't just keep playing past when your just trying to have a good time.     But I guess in conclusion. It's not welcoming to newcomers, it can be pricey, it gets boring after 6 holes. But what do I know I've only ever gone to get drunk whack some balls and be that idiot on the golf cart. "

What did you meant by pretentious? Just curious.  
I don't think it is a "white collar" game. Sure, there are some who dressed up like PGA pros but that's what they like. Nothing to do with newcomers.  
Most people are friendly, and there are always one or two bad eggs out there. Just like in any sports.  
Newcomers need to know the etiquette of the sport, like if you're very slow, let the group behind play though.