This is part 5 of a series of articles highlighting the reasons why playing the game is a challenge for 18 to 34-year-olds. Read the rest of the series.
While millennial golf participation rates have been on the decline over the past two decades, there is reason to think that the tide is turning. There are currently over seven million active golfers between the ages of 18 and 34, accounting for 28-percent of all golfers in America.
There are a number of obstacles keeping young adults off the course -- here are a few:
- Cost- Golf is expensive! As a poor college student, it’s difficult for me to pay for rent, groceries, gas, and other necessities on top of paying for college. Greens fees in Utah peak at $25.00, and there are college promotional discounts, but most are short-term summer promotions and not all public courses have them. For the most part, the money I make goes toward school and necessities.
- Time- As much as I hate it, I end up studying approximately 20 hours each week. I don’t have time to play four-hour rounds a couple times each week, which is where pace of play comes in.
- Pace of Play- Nine holes is great, but not if I really want to work on improving. And eighteen holes usually takes too long to finish. I don’t have time for that. After working as a 2014 Spring Traveling Communications Intern with the American Junior Golf Association, I realize a good portion of the golf industry is making the improvement of slow pace a top priority; however, pace of play still needs much improvement.
- Friends- Not all my friends play golf, and the ones who do can’t afford it either. Recreational golf to me is playing nine or eighteen with my friends, but if my friends can’t play, I usually don’t end up playing either.
- Weather- Even though weather is an uncontrollable factor, it still influences how often I get to play golf. Northern Utah gets a lot of snow. Need I say more?
By: Megan Terry
Twitter: MegzTerry
Instagram: meganterry12
