OTL / BUCK’S TIPS 26 3 4
The State of Golf Instruction STORY BY BUCK MAYERS DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION AT ESCONDIDO GOLF & LAKE CLUB I am not an alarmist but a realists. I spend a good portion of my time studying the golf instruction industry and have come to some alarming conclusions on how many avid golfers are actually taking golf lessons. Less than 10% of golfers who play 12 X a year seek instruction help individually or in a group setting. Golf schools are dwindling at a record pace. Why? Is it too expensive? Is it too difficult? Did you have a poor experience? Would prefer to buy a better game? Or does improvement really matter? Here are some interesting facts about the statistics. Of the 10% of those who are taking lessons, half of them are serious/ competitive players or participating in tournaments. That means regardless, of age or gender, these golfers understand that golf is a multi faceted sport requiring instruction to skill sets in mental game, nutrition, course management, swing, short game, trouble shots and blending all of the above from experts. This requires dedication, passion, financial commitment and support from many.
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2020
So this leaves us with the other 5% that are beginners, or might want to just play with their spouse or friends without embarrassing themselves, or maybe just the challenge to go from a 25 to a 19 handicap. How about just having more fun!! What’s disturbing is that half of these give up instruction far too soon to never manifest falling in love with the game, therefore falling back into the other 90%. Can golf lose another 200 golf courses like 2019? How can the USGA, PGA of America, The PGA TOUR, RNA, The First Tee or Top Golf, etc. move the needle to this struggle? The state of Tournament golf is in great hands. How can the great historians and thousands of passionate professionals come together for the common good. Can we get the game less complicated, less expensive and less time consuming in this millinial age of change? I certainly hope so, because the time has come for serious discussions for golfs sake.
