BY LARRY AYLWARD, EDITOR in CHIEF Player, Palmer and Nicklaus Talk About What Can Be Done to Grow the Game
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BY LARRY AYLWARD, EDITOR IN CHIEF Player, Palmer and Nicklaus talk about what can be done to grow the game courses have closed in the United States number in 20 years. The NGF said there the past three years than have opened, were 106 closures last year. In 2007, the which obviously means demand has NGF estimates 121.5 18-hole courses not kept up with supply. There are closed while 113 opened. In 2006, 146 fewer golfers in the United States — shut down and 119.5 opened. about 28.6 million — than there were hey're known as "I don't think closing golf courses is in 2000 (28.8 golfers), according to the a good thing for the industry," Palmer National Golf Foundation. There were says. "But I guess that's the reality of the the Big Three in about 30 million golfers in 2005, the world we live in." NGF estimates Tgolfs universe. In Palmer doesn't deny the courses fact, they're such Rounds have dropped since 2000, closcd because there aren't enough golf- luminous stars in when the NGF estimates there were about ers to support them. He says courses that universe that 518 million rounds played compared to should be built in areas where they'll be the trio — Arnold 489 million rounds played in 2008. supported and, ultimately, successful. Palmer, Jack Nick- Golfs problems are no secret, and "Given the right situation, we will laus and Gary Player — is known as there has been extensive debate about recover from this and get back to where much by their first names as they are what to do to grow the game. Interest- we should make sure golf courses for their surnames. ingly, the game has its own "big three," are used [resourcefully! in an area," Amic, Jack and Gary won 34 Major as in complaints, which have hindered Palmer says. championships among them, led by its growth. People gripe that the game Nicklaus, who says 95 percent of his Nicklaus' record 18 titles. With their is too expensive, takes too long to play design business is currently outside the stellar play, good looks and charisma, and is too difficult to learn. United States, believes most courses that the Big Three also are credited with pop- have closed the past three years are the ularizing golf throughout the world. Palmer, Nicklaus and Player offer result of "ill-conceived projects." He Even though they're older, the their advice on these issues and others, also says some of the courses that closcd soon-to-be-80 Palmer, the 69-year-old and what can be done to address them. were "decent projects" that could open Nicklaus and the 73-year-old Player are again in the future. still heavily involved in golf through Supply and demand their respective course design firms and 2008 marks the third consecutive year "But the ones that were ill-con- other endeavors. more U.S. golf courses closed than ceived — poor golf course, poor Realizing the game will live on long opened. The NGF reports 72 18-holc location and poor facility — might not after they're gone, the Big Three still courses opened in 2008, the lowest Continued on page 28 have a tremendous passion for golf. They want to see the sport continue to grow. www.golfdom.com Golfdom 25 Golfdom recently spoke with Palmer, whicbecausNicklauh eha s os anfstruggle growtd Playehd rissues thaboue pas.t Mortth feew egame yeargolsf, Growing the Game [PART3] "If I buy an inexpensive piece of property in a not- very-good location, put a not-very-good golf course on it and charge $20, then, yeah, it's very affordable golf. But it's also one of those courses that's going to go under next year." - JACK NICKLAUS Continued from page 25 reopen," Nicklaus adds. "And maybe that's good." "Good" because today's golfers are smart enough to know the good facili- ties from the bad ones, and they won't play the bad ones, Nicklaus adds. "You just can't go find an old field "I don't think closing golf courses some place, cut the grass and expect is a good thing for the industry. people to flock to it to play," he says. As far as new construction, Player But I guess that's the reality of the suggests American developers build facilities that include more than golf world we live ¡[I." - ARNOLD PALMER courses so the entire family can enjoy them. "We have to change the whole concept of golf," he says. Player points to his 12,000-acre ranch in South Africa as an example. It includes far more activities than any American country club. Player's ranch not only includes a golf course, tennis courts and a swimming pool, it also includes farm animals, a fishing hole, mountain climbing and motorcycle rid- ing, among other activities. Player's idea is that while the men of the family play golf, the "There's not enough women and children can partake discipline enforced [on in the other activities. While his plan doesn't cater to getting more the PGA Tour]. They're women and children involved in playing golf, it at least places family letting players take too o members together at the same facil- z a:0 ity — which Player says is a better 1 much time [to play]. o scenario than just the men leaving g And who's watching? the house for several hours to play O < The world is watching." 18 holes. Player says the wives and children will have so much fun at - GARY PLAYER the "new" club, they'll want to go O there whenever possible. 0 "The children will be asking, 'Dad, Nicklaus says new golf courses don't water use to reduce costs. He calls over- can you take us to the golf course this have to be the most expensive facilities irrigation an unnecessary maintenance. weekend?' Player says. "This is the in the world. That said, as an architect, Nicklaus says it could be difficult to thing of the future." Nicklaus will give an owner what he lower the green fees at some clubs con- Golfs concept needs to change so wants. sidering their costs of doing business. the entire family can become part of the "My philosophy has always been if "There are a lot of facilities where experience. an owner comes to us and he has $ 1 mil- the cost of golf, generally speaking, is "We can't keep going the way we've lion to build a golf course, he gets the based on what you're putting into the been going," Player says. course for a $1 million," Nicklaus says. facility and what you need to get for a "If an owner has $20 million to spend, return," he says. "If I buy an inexpen- The cost factor he gets the course for $20 million. But sive piece of property in a not-very-good Nicklaus, who has made millions play- it's his budget, not my budget. It's our location, put a not-very-good golf course ing golf, says he would never spend the job to produce the best facility possible on it and charge $20, then, yeah, it's $495 it costs to play a round at the pres- for whatever amount of money [the very affordable golf. But it's also one of tigious and picturesque Pebble Beach owner] has to spend." those courses that's going to go under next year." Golf Club. Reducing the game's cost would "I won't pay it," he says. help attract more players, but it's not as Nicklaus could afford to play Peb- easy as it sounds for some courses and Speeding up slow play ble, but the fact he says he wouldn't clubs, Palmer says. Their prices are high Many people don't play golf because speaks volumes about how he views because their costs are high, and that they don't want to spend five or six high green fees. includes the cost of maintenance. hours on a course. Pace of play con- GolPs cost, from green fees to Big "It certainly sounds very attractive, tinues to be detrimental to the game's Bertha drivers, is constantly debated. but how do you reduce costs at the same growth. While the game has tried to shed its time if your [course] is not able to pay Televised PGA Tour events, which "white, rich man's game" label, it hasn't the bills?" Palmer asks. "It's something often show players playing painfully exactly done so. you have to look at carefully." slow, haven't helped matters because How people feel about the game's Player believes increased maintenance the people watching at home tend cost depends a lot on how much money costs are driving up green fees, and that to imitate the players. Consider that they earn and where they live. High- has to stop if the game is to grow with somebody somewhere is doing his best end private clubs in upscale neigh- new players. impression of Sergio Garcia — grip, borhoods cost thousands to join and "People stop playing because [the rcgrip, grip, rcgrip. ... But this is no play, and have mostly wealthy mem- game] is too expensive," he says. charade. This person, having watched bers. Resort places like Pebble Beach Player contends "people would be Garcia play on television, wants to be also cost a pretty penny to play. But astounded" at the numbers if the top like him on the golf course.