Nicklaus: Make the game more accessible, affordable and time-effective

Recreational golf needs to attract people back to the game

Jack Nicklaus for years has called for major changes to the game of golf. In his words, the game is “not accessible, affordable or time effective.” Nicklaus goes on to say that 20 per cent of women and juniors have disappeared from the game. Both public and private courses have lost members with the number of golfers in decline or stagnating since 2000, despite the Tiger Woods factor.

In the United States, the National Golf Association has tracked this gradual decline in participation. In Canada, Score golf magazine has documented the decline since 2005. This decrease in participation also applies to the number of golf courses being built. In British Columbia, the concept of residential real estate attached to a golf course has also not worked very successfully. Tobiano in Kamloops, Tower Ranch in Kelowna, The Falls in Bridal Falls and The Rise in Vernon, have all had their housing projects end in receivership, although the golf courses remain operational. Other projects at Fernie, Chilliwack and Wyndansea in Ucluelet never even got off the ground.

Why the decline?

The reasons for the decline in golfer participation centres on the cost of equipment, high green fees, the time required to play a round of golf and the difficulty of the game. Golfers can do little about the cost of equipment and green fees, other than look for deals or buy in the States. Golf courses, on the other hand, have to keep their green fees under $50 and do a better job of marketing their product. 

Individuals and golf courses can do something about the slow pace of play, with five-hour rounds the standard on any public golf course on a beautiful day. There are many solutions to slow play if golf courses really want to address the problem. In April 2013 the United States Golf Association (USGA) established a committee to make recommendations on the problem. As USGA president Glen Nager said, “slow play has become one of the most significant threats to the health of the game.”

Golf courses have become too long (7,200 yards) and golf architects seem to design and build so-called championship courses that few people can play successfully. The longer the course, the longer it takes to play. Golf as a sport will continue to shrink if the courses don’t. New courses need to be designed no longer than 6,200 yards, with finesse and not length off the tee being the most important factor. The new Tsawwassen Springs Golf Course at only 5,439 yards is a perfect model for the future of recreational golf.

As for the difficulty factor, golf is not an easy game—although it often appears that way on  television. Becoming a good golfer takes years of practice, lessons, hundreds of rounds and money. All sports go through change—think of the three-point shot in basketball or the challenge flag in football. Golf, on the other hand, has changed very little following the original Royal and Ancient Rules laid out in 1754 on the Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland. The time has come for golf to make some major adjustments or have the game become a sport for the rich.  

Some of the suggested changes by Jack Nicklaus and other golf professionals would really shake up the industry. Just imagine:

• Golf courses with only 12 holes (four par 3s, four par 4s and four par 5s).
• Double the size of the flag holes or two flags per green.
• Open tee boxes or tee off where you want, especially around water.
• Use tees on the fairway.
• Belly putters or any other design is acceptable.
• Eliminate all the frivolous rules, such as having to hit out of a divot.
• Long holes could be a par 6. (They already exist.)
• No par 3s over 200 yards.
• Play all lost balls as lateral hazards.
• Each hole has a maximum of shots (double the par).
• Always use winter rules. 
• Reduce the number of clubs in the bag. 
• Golf courses with a par of 82.
• Play match play instead of stroke play.  
• Different score cards and pars for juniors and women. 

These are only possible solutions. Nobody is suggesting that present golf courses convert overnight to 12 holes, but new and redesigned courses could consider a new configuration. The game must become easier for high handicap players, women and juniors. At present, all golfers are expected to follow the same USGA and R&A rules, while in other sports amateurs and professionals have different rules.  

There is nothing wrong with PGA tournament golf, but recreational golf needs to attract people back to the game for the enjoyment of the game. Since 90 per cent of golfers cannot break 100 while playing USGA rules, why continue to make the game harder and longer? Golfers want to have success and fun, not be beaten by the course and rules. 

James Achenbach of Golf Week News and Fox Sports said it best: “I don’t believe golf’s movers and shakers are being entirely straightforward about potential problems. The sport is in danger.”  

It is time for the movers and shakers to talk.