THIS probably won’t go down well in some circles, but please keep an open mind when reading this suggestion.
Golf clubs countrywide are currently struggling to survive.
All sorts of reasons are being bandied about at club executive committee level, but the real truth is that the perception in the broader community is that golf is expensive and clubs have traditionally been the domain of an elite few.
There’s no disputing that membership is predominantly white and aging.
The South Coast in particular is blessed with some fine golf courses – Selborne, Umdoni and Scottburgh – plus a really great driving range/coaching facility at Selborne.
And further south, Port Shepstone, Margate, Southbroom, San Lameer, Wild Coast and even Port Edward.
If we let those facilities slowly fade away, tourism – our very lifeblood – will suffer terribly.
The answer is to change the perceptions-of-old and convince the youth as well as previously disadvantaged communities that golf is a great sport, a great leveller and a great way to help integrate a divided nation/community.
Any golfer will tell you that once you get onto the first tee, all the rest of your woes disappear for the next four or five hours at least. All your focus is on getting that ball in the hole!
How do we kickstart this process?
• Virtually every golfer has a second set of golf clubs that “don’t work” (for them, anyway). Give them to club pro shops to sell or rent out;
• Offer cut-rate golf lessons;
• One can already buy “slightly used” golf balls for as little as R3;
• Offer highly attractive rates – membership and green fees – to the youth as well as the poorer, previously disadvantage people who show an interest in the sport. This to get rid of the “elitist” tag and open the door.
Golf is addictive and once the bug has bitten, memberships might just flourish again.
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