COVID CHANGED ALL TRENDS: (it modifies many paragraphs below) The number of golfers increased significantly during Covid. One reason is that the number of Juniors increased because they could not play their "team" sports. Two, the industry junior golf program grew during covid and recognized the opportunity to bring more juniors into the game. And now families (the younger Millenials all wanted to be with their families -- where? -- on the golf course.
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NUMBER OF WOMEN AND GIRL GOLFERS -- are the numbers increasing or decreasing?
IS IT A WAKE UP CALL OR IS THE PHONE ON "SILENT" ?
LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan has taken positive steps in marketing and branding the "LPGA Golfer." And the 2019 LPGA Tour schedule offers more tournaments with bigger prize money than ever. That's his job and gets great marks!!
This is a long post and will be on www.nancysgolfblog.com.
But the latest 2019 Golf Industry Report of the National Golf Foundation (NGF) reports that the number of women golfers in 2018 in the United States -- playing at least one nine-hole round of golf -- is not increasing.
The NGF is not alone in reporting flat-to-negative growth in the number of women golfers in the U.S. Important to note, however, is that the NGF statistics do not include women who play less than nine holes -- perhaps new golfers participating in special events such as the #inviteHER promotion of the LPGA or www.womensgolfday.com June 4, 2019 golf around the globe .
Nor do the statistics include women who play at indoor facilities such as Top Golf, which reports that women constitute a major customer segment. The growth in Indoor golf may be good news or bad news depending on whether beginner golfers at at Top Golf transition to traditional green-grass courses.
But the question persists: Why are more women in the United States NOT playing more golf at traditional golf courses. I refuse to accept that there are not enough U.S golfers on the LPGA Tour. Annika was from Sweden and Lorena Ochoa was from Mexico when the number of women golfers were at its peak. The United States is not alone in facing this issue. Many countries in Europe face similar concerns. I have always maintained that the golf industry underplays the health benefits of golf. So for those that share my opinion, read this European golf article: http://thefutureofgolf.eu/fore-health/.
And for those that recognize that millenials -- women and men -- want something different, read about this golf course owned by a former PGA President #MGOrender in Jacksonville, Florida where you check in at the bar, wear blue jeans and rent music speakers for your golf cart. See http://www.golfbusines…/article.aspx?id=3118&bq=6yfv%5Eg433$.
And for those that think women should assume more leadership roles at golf courses to make them more "women friendly" see: https://www.womensgolf.com/new-women-golfers. Let's #DriveON.
