Have you had enough of Tiger Woods?
See these articles:
| Also see the article "How Tiger Scored With Women in His Press Conference" also on www.cybergolf.com/womensgolf. |
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| See the article in the The Globe and Mail, Canada's leading newspaper: Is Tiger's Sex Scandel Driving Women away from the Sport? by Siri Agrell, in which I am quoted as saying" The scandal should be a wake up call for the sport executives, forcing them to reconsider it's rliance on Woods as the face of the game." The link to the artile is http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/golf/is-tigers-sex-scandal-driving-women-away-from-the-sport/article1525749/ |
| With all the attention on Tiger and the Masters, I was very pleased that John Paul Newport, who authors a weekly column in the Wall Street Journal weekend edition, chose to write about woman's golf in the March 27-28, 2010 issue. The article, entitled "Golf Searches for Its Feminine Side," is available on line at http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704094104575143772046834464-lMyQjAxMTAwMDIwNzEyNDcyWj.html.) |
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I wrote a follow up article titled "Winning Over Women Golfers" that is available on cybergolf.com at http://www.cybergolf.com/womensgolf.
It's Not Just About Tiger. It's about the PGA Tour" Read my take on the Tiger episode and my ideas about the PGA Tour should be doing. Click "Tiger Woods" on the sidebar tab or read the article on www.cybergolf.com/womensgolf. Ironically, this may be a tipping point may force the PGA Tour to make some long needed changes in televising golf tournaments. The articles includes seven suggestions for the PGA Tour.
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THIS IS IMPORTANT -- More Women on the PGA Board of Directors
Shamefully, for many years, no women served on the PGA of America's Board of Directors - the governing body of the PGA.
But, there are some signs of change. Recently, Suzy Whaley became the second women to join the Board. Suzy was elected from her Connecticut PGA division - quite an honor in itself since she was elected from the 141-member (mostly male) Connecticut division. Suzy joins Sue Fiscoe on the Board. Sue is from Modesto, Calif., and was elected from her PGA Division. See www.suzywhaleygolf.com CONGRATULATIONS, SUZY!
To put this in more context: The PGA Board of Directors is composed of the association's President, Vice President, Secretary, Honorary President and 17 Directors. The directors include representatives from each of the PGA's 14 Districts, two Independent Directors and a Player Director of the PGA Tour. With Suzy and Sue on the Board, there are now two women out of the 17 positions. More context: There are about 900 female PGA Professionals out the 27,000 PGA Professionals.
As I have commented in other articles, the PGA of America professionals are the gatekeepers of the game. They let people in to the golf courses; they are the welcoming committee - if there is one. Maybe the PGA is coming to realize that they can't grow the game with player programs like "Get Golf Ready" without growing the game with more women professionals at all ranks in their organization. And maybe the PGA will also realize that their training and apprentice programs need to include specific training about specific segments like women golfers.
TWO VERY GOOD THINGS ARE ON THE HORIZON FOR WOMEN GOLFERS: IN 2014, THE US MEN'S OPEN AND THE US WOMEN'S OPEN WILL BE PLAYED ONE AFTER THE OTHER ON THE SAME COURSE -- PINEHURST 2. AND, SOON WE WILL LEARN IF GOLF WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE 2016 OLYMPICS. MORE TO COME ON THAT BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE INCREASED PUBLICITY SURROUNDING THOSE TWO EVENTS WILL MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT GOLF IS A GAME FOR GIRLS -- NOT JUST BOYS. I HAVE BEEN URGING FOR GREATER INCLUSIVENESS OF BOTH SEXES IN ALL GOLF MARKETING AND IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
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If you need statistics about women golfers (and junior girls) and can't find them. Here's why
UPDATED STATISTICS FOR GOLFERS IN THE U.S. FOR THE LAST DECADE -- THROUGH 2008The National Golf Foundation keeps delaying the release of more detail regarding the number of women golfers and especially the breakout in ages, scores and the number of times they play. They say that they are working on the 2009 numbers and should be released soon. Below are updated statistics for the number of female and male ADULT golfers (ages 18 and over) and JUNIOR golfers (ages 6 to 17) in the US over the last ten years. "Golfers" are people who report that they played at least one round during the last twelve months. The numbers do not include respondents who only go to practice ranges. Different survey methodologies have been used in the annual NGF studies over the past years, but this table has converted prior studies into comparable data. What can we learn from this data? Looking at adult golfers and comparing 2008 with 1998, the number of females, males and total golfers have all increased about the same -- 11%. Looking at Juniors, thowever, the total number of juniors and boys have decreased. Female junior golfers have increased about 20%, comparing 2008 with 1998. How can the industry sustain the interest in golf by our young girls and insure the growh of the game in the future? That's something to think about!
THE NEWEST OF THE OLD NEWS" THE NGF JUST REPORTED (MAY 2010) THAT THE NUMBER OF TOTAL GOLFERS IN 2009 HAD DECLINED. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF GOLFERS IS NOW 27.1 MILLION -- DOWN 5%. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF FEMALES AGES 6 AND OLDER ALSO DECLINED AND IS NOW .54 (slightly over one half million)-- A DECLINE OF 6%
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*numbers in millions
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1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
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| Adult Female 18+ |
4.7 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
6.3 |
5.6 |
6.4 |
6.1 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
6.0 |
5.2 |
| Adult Male 18+ |
18.4 |
18.9 |
20.9 |
20.2 |
20.4 |
20.6 |
19.7 |
19.8 |
19.7 |
20.1 |
20.5 |
| Total Adults |
23.1 |
23.3 |
25.8 |
26.5 |
26 |
27 |
25.8 |
26.1 |
26.2 |
26.1 |
25.7 |
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| Girls 6-17 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
| Boys 6-17 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.8 |
3.2 |
2.9 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
3.0 |
2.8 |
2.3 |
| Total Juniors |
3.1 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
3.4 |
3.9 |
3.6 |
4.2 |
3.9 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
2.9 |
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| Total Golfers |
26.1 |
26.1 |
29 |
29.8 |
29.9 |
30.6 |
29.8 |
30.0 |
29.8 |
29.5 |
28.6 |
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See my new website www.golfergirlcareers.com which includes the five interviews I did for Golfer Girl Magazine with women who played golf as a junior and how golf shaped their profession, jobs, career and life. Any parent who wonders why their daughter should learn to play golf, will enjoy reading these interviews. The interview with Jane Broderick is also on golfergirlcareers.com.
Sad but true, Golfer Girl Magazine will no longer be published. See the website www.golfergirlmagazine .com which will remain on online and will archive former issues. All of the back issues are on line and girls and their parents will enjoy reading all the fun articles. I was proud to be chairman of the Advisory Board and to worked withe the Hooton family for the past several years. (More will follow about how Libby, Courtney and Chloe Belle are doing).
NEW SITE: www.golfergirlcareers.com CAREERS IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY FOR JUNIOR GIRLS. Every issue contained a "Careers in Golf" interview where I interview a woman who played golf seriusly as a junior and now uses golf in some other career -- other than golf professional or tour player. The first interview I did featured a landscape architect. Then came a golf clothes designer, a golf magazine editor and this latest issue contains an interview with Eunice Cho, the founder of Bonjoc Ball Markers. The most recent issue featured a golf course superintendnent who began her career as a tournament golfer -- but then had to take a detour because of a back injury. My interest in careers in the golf industry goes back a long way. I wrote the book "An Insider's Guide to Carreers in the Golf Industry" almost a decade ago for the National Golf Foundation. It still is a classic and portions will be adopted and adapted for a revised www.junior links website to be published this spring.
So how big is the junior girls market? It depends on how you figure and how grand your reach. Here are some statistics that are based on indusry surveys from the National Golf Foundation: There are about: 180,000 girls ages 12-17 play golf seriously -- who play at least 8 rounds and compete. But there are about 1.4 million girls between the ages of 5 and 17 who play golf or "try" golf at some level --even if just a practice range. That's the upside potential market. PLUS another half-million or so girls who have "never-ever" played and report that they would like to learn.
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Where does tour player Anthony Kim get those bedazzling sparkly belts he wears?
The quick answer is Elevee Custom Clothing. Here's how I know about them. I went to the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando at the end of January. I walked the aisles of apparel and was not excited about anything I saw. I decided to take a break and sat down at one of those round tables of strangers in the refreshment area. I struck up a conversation with the guy to my right -- from Los Angeles -- of all places. Then his friend sat down and I heard the story of Elevee from the designer and VP. Basically, they custom design clothing for people that need it and can afford it. (I always thought those floppy jackets that Jason Timberlake wore were not just off a rack.) Most of their clients are stars of one sort or another and from different industries with a heavy sprinkling of athletes. Check out their website at www.elevee.com. But they also do an amazing thing for a men's member guest. They will custom make trousers for all the men. They will take the measurements the day of the event, have the men choose among their beautiful fabrics and designs and then make them up and send them to them. How does that sound for a unique event gift? Something different! I looked at the belt buckles at the show and think I could wear them also. Maybe they will bring me the same kind of golf luck they have brought Kim! Worth a try.
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Are We Losing the
Battle for Female Golfers?
(This article created quite a stir and I still get calls about it -- see http://www.cybergolf.com/womensgolf/ for the entire articlThis is the question Jim Koppenhaver, President and founder of Pellucid Corp asked at his annual conference at the January 2007 PGA Merchandise Show in
Orlando a few years ago. Indeed, over the last few years, the total number of women golfers has been flat – stubbornly stuck at about 23% of the total number of adult golfers. Jim's presentations are always constructive and his question is a good one. But, I do have problems with his battle metaphor. For starters, I do not believe that the golf industry views growing women's golf as a "battle". A battle suggests an overall plan with goals, strategy and a real commitment of energy and financial resources. Among golf industry associations, only The First Tee really lives up to the battle metaphor. Joe Louis Barrow stated at Golf 20/20 this past November that he was not satisfied with a 34% female representation in First Tee programs. He wants 45%. I have not heard that battle-cry from any other golf industry association.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's not a mystery: Seven Simple Rules: How to Advertise to Women?
Rule 1: Include a photo or drawing of a female golfer.
Rule 2: Use the word “women” as many times as possible.
Rule 3: Include beginning and ending time of the program.
Rule 4: Make it clear what skill level is required.
Rule 5: Convey a “social” and “fun” experience.
Rule 6: Provide free rental equipment. Rule 7: Offer value.
Remember: You can use the Free Help Line to ask Nancy a question about your advertising
Want to know what makes a golf course "Women-Friendly? See
BEST PRACTICES tab on side bar and an easy to use check list.
For another good best practice list of women-friendly practices, see
www.suzywhaleygolf.com.
