COURSES SHOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO PLAY THREE OR SIX HOLES

GOLF NEEDS TO CUT TIME FACTOR 

TO KEEP FAMILY MAN PLAYING

FROM BBC SPORT.COM

The number of people playing golf is falling and Rory McIlroy believes speeding the game up at grass roots level could reverse that trend.

Sport England figures show the amount of 16 to 25-year-olds playing the game regularly almost halved between 2009-10 and 2012-13.
What other initiatives could help golf widen its appeal?
We have been looking at your suggestions, from lowering the cost of play to more offbeat ideas. 

One major obstacle is money. Golf is an expensive hobby for youngsters. How about some of the mega millions earned at the top end of golf being used to subsidise struggling clubs and younger players? bigted
 
My son was a junior member at a prestigious London club until he was 18. Once he had been to university and returned home he would have had to become a full member which he can't afford. Clubs should do more to provide a bridge from junior membership to full membership. Peter
 
Joining fees are the issue. To join a decent club/course near me I'd have to find £3,000. If I relocated again in a year's time that's a sunk cost. Not too appealing when trying to save for a house. Meanwhile, those most settled in life, the retiree who can play seven times a week, doesn't have these concerns - clubs will pay the ultimate price for pricing a generation out of the game in 20 years. AndyL
 T

People playing golf once a week, every week, in England
Year	14-25 year old	16-25 year olds	All ages (16+)
14-25  2009-10		95,700	860,900
2010-11		73,100	833,200
2011-12		55,900	850,500
2012-13	61,400	52,400	751,900

Make it cheaper. Green fees, lessons, gear, balls, all too expensive. Golf clubs and manufacturers at fault. Dave Harrison

Most clubs offer payment plans and there has never been so much used golf equipment available as now. There's no need to buy new kit and many would benefit from using a half set in a lightweight bag rather than the mobile homes on wheels that trundle round our courses, making such a mess in the winter months. Chrisf
 
Slow play has nothing to do with the falling number of younger players playing golf. The primary reason is COST - to play one round; to be a member; to buy golf clubs et al. Gary R

Clubs need to widen the gap between groups on the time sheet, offer nine, 12, 14 and 18-hole competitions and subsequently offer specific memberships to match the competitions and the members' needs. Also clubs should look at the concept of zone golf, pin positions ranging from easy, to medium and hard. The game needs to be 
1. More affordable; 2. Less stressful; 3. Enjoyable. Christian Porter
 
To attract young golfers we need to show the fun side of golf and get rid of stupid dress codes to make it more accessible. Sam Hatton
 
Time stopped me playing golf at 11. Went to tennis. A game of nine holes got me back to golf: Family fun. Ray Bundell

 Could a shot clock be the answer to making golf appeal to more players? How about a timer. Players should have a set time to take their shot. This would add urgency and pressure. Christian

 

Have specific blocked out times for junior four-balls so three or four groups can play together and then speak about the game after. Electric Kid
 
Shorter courses where more sensible club selection and ball accuracy with a difficult layout is the way. Nozzie
 
The player who is deemed first to putt on the green should putt out completely, saving oodles of time - marking the ball, cleaning the ball, lining up the ball etc. Lyle Hill
 
Design or adapt courses to have three six-hole loops. So time-restricted people can play the first six, or the first twelve. Maybe have competitions where an 18-hole round score could be accumulated over, say, a week. Alan

Analysis by BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter
Golf is undoubtedly failing to adapt to modern time pressures and needs to wake up to that fact. It's increasingly difficult to justify the amount of time needed to play a round within the confines of modern family life.
Initiatives are needed to speed up play. More severe penalties are required in the pro game which sets the example for the sport at large. Courses need to be set up with less rough, meaning less time spent searching for balls.
The golf ball travels too far; shorter courses mean shorter rounds. And clubs should encourage nine-hole golf in family friendly environments.
This is one of the few sports families can play together, from grandparents to grandchildren, yet there are too few initiatives to make the most of this.