Some 9 years
ago, I suffered a cycling crash which left me unable to play for at least 6
months and probably longer. I advised the Club I had joined a few years earlier
and arranged to be placed on their Membership Hold list for medical reasons.
At the time
I joined the Club, I needed several references and had to endure an interview
process. I then had to attend a ‘chat’ with a committee member and eventually
after what seemed to be a significant process, I was granted membership.
With the
prospect of having more spare time, a few weeks ago I made contact with the Club to enquire
about my status. No problem they said and advised me of a period of membership
credit still available to me. I asked if anything else was needed from me given
the intervening 9 years and there wasn’t.
In further conversation,
they suggested I bring a friend along and mentioned there is currently no
joining fee, nomination process and everyone is welcome to join. Things had changed.
I mentioned
this to a number of people and learned that Golf is very much a sport in
decline and Clubs have all sorts of different member options available as they
seek to attract and retain members.
The British
Open is currently underway and several friends plan for weeks so they can watch
it. At least one takes leave to ensure they see every shot. Many others follow
the results closely and debate, and bet on the outcome. Another records each
round and then watches it back during day, being careful to avoid first hearing
about, or reading details of the day's play.
But no one I
know who follows The Open is under 50 years of age.
It seems younger
people are simply not attracted to Golf. It is too dull, takes too long and is
played by stuffy people in stuffy Clubs. (Apparently)
Increasingly,
we live in a world of instant gratification. A world where we want the outcome
of our activities to reward us immediately. We play computer games, follow the
shortest form of sports like cricket and all too often, business outcomes are
measured by the latest share price rather than allowing the reward of long term strategic investment.
Our Politics
is played out in 140 character tweets and a ravenous 24 hour news cycle where
success is judged by the latest fortnightly opinion poll. Pursuing long term policy outcomes has a negative outcome.
Is it wrong?
No, it is
just different.
It is also
just a little sad that the character building traits of a round of golf, where
the disappointment of a poorly executed shot can be redeemed by way of a great
shot a few minutes later. And where the pressure of a one metre putt teaches
concentration and focus and where the combined challenge of 18 holes over 4
or more hours comes together to provide a measurable outcome of personal
endeavour that is the total responsibility of the individual.
It is probably
too simple to say Golf is a metaphor for how society is evolving, but it does
seem a little sad that a decreasing number of people are being introduced to a
healthy, low physical stress activity that can be enjoyed well in to the later
years.
Long Live
Golf.
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