It goes without saying that we are currently living in uncertain times. It seems that everywhere you look, every industry or facet of life, has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, golf being no exception.
To say the golf industry has been on a rollercoaster ride for the past year is an understatement. But from what seemed like the darkest depths of the industry and in the unlikeliest of situations, golf appears to have emerged stronger than ever. In this article, I explore the reasons why I think the COVID-19 pandemic has ultimately grown the game of golf, at least here in Canada.
To accurately analyze this perspective, let's go back to the beginning of this ride, about a year ago. I had written an article outlining a concern I had for the golf industry; in particular, reasons why I thought more people weren't golfing and what we could do to fix it. It was an article born out of confusion I had on my part, or perhaps necessity. At the time, some considered golf a fading local industry. Naturally I was skeptical, but as I watched course after course close down and sold for land, city officials lobby for the removal of municipal courses based on viability and so on, it was difficult to ignore.
Fast forward to March of this year. As many of us golfers and courses were preparing for the upcoming season, the entire world was shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic. At first, I thought it would have a minimal effect on the industry, keep in mind the Ontario golf season usually kicks off in mid-April. I thought surely it would pass by then. But, as the delays and closures were extended, things began to look grim. Like in many other industries, we had no idea what impact closures of this length would have on the already "fading" golf industry.
So, in these dark times, how did the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, in my opinion, ultimately lead to positive growth in golf? Let's examine this in detail.
I'll look at it from the perspective of Ontario, as that's the only perspective I can speak from. Outbreaks of COVID-19 resulted in the province going into a state of lockdown at the end of March, with non-essential services and businesses forced to close down or, in the case of golf courses, delay their opening. This resulted in a large portion of the population having to work from home or stay home all together. At the beginning of May, it was announced that golf courses could open up for business, to the joy of many golfers but concern to others. I had mixed feelings about this, mainly what the ramifications would be if outbreaks began occurring at courses.
But it was here, during the most uncertain of times, where golf began to grow. On one hand you have people suddenly having more time to themselves, but unable to do the things they want with that time, as a result of the lockdown. On the other hand, you have golf courses being one of the first things to open up. Add these together and you have the perfect situation for growth and a means for introducing new people to the game. In my "Why Don't More People Golf?" article, I noted that time was a major issue as to why more people weren't golfing. My solution was to promote the 9-hole round. A different approach was inadvertently taken as a result of COVID-19; people were given more time.
Perhaps more importantly was the psychological side of things. Adults and children wanted to get out. When you live in a small, crammed city apartment, where you've spent the last month or so, the vast openness of a golf course, that feeling of being immersed in nature, amongst the trees, seems very appealing. If fact, it was reported by TSN's Bob Weeks recently that rounds at the City of Toronto's municipal courses are up by 5,000 over last year.
Credit for this growth must also be given to the courses themselves. While golf is a relatively safe sport compared to others, in terms of contact and distancing (My slices have been social distancing me from my playing partners for years!), many courses have implemented additional measures to reduce risks, such as disinfecting carts, touchless ball retrieval systems, patio-only dining, etc. Had these measures not been in place and outbreaks began occurring at courses, the golf industry would be in serious, most likely irreparable, trouble.
Golf courses have also cut down on the number of tee times they offer per day, in an attempt to lessen the amount of people on the course at any given time. In my experience so far, this appears to have the added effect of reducing the time it takes to finish a round. So now not only do people have more time for golf, the act of golfing could take less time.
For years, golf has struggled to get people to try it out, to get them over that initial hurdle, for various reasons. COVID-19 has inadvertently set off a sequence of events that has ultimately led to people having more time and a desire to get out, with golf being available to meet that desire. And as I noted prior, it's a very addicting game, once you're in and you like it, it's difficult to shake off.
We've spoken thus far about the positive impacts of COVID-19 on golf, but there are no doubt unavoidable consequences. In particular, the off-course social aspect of the game has been completely minimized, as courses attempt to reduce contact between players and staff. The entire act of checking in before a round seems robotic, assembly line-like. To many golfers this is a concern or possible deterrent from the game. But we should all recognize that this is for the better and necessary, at the moment.
Something must be said as well for how COVID-19 has affected professional golf. Like many other sports, professional tours began to cancel events once the pandemic began. Their return, however, was earlier compared to most other major sports (for example, the PGA Tour returned with the Charles Schwab Challenge on June 8th). With no other professional sports to fill the TV time slots during this time, golf tournaments began to receive more coverage, hence more exposure to kids and adults who may not have otherwise seen a tournament before (although online-only streaming for some tournaments has taken place).
When the fan-less tournaments did return, they were different; there's no other way of putting it. From what I've seen, it looks like we're seeing more laid-back versions of golfers and tournaments, but I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing. We're seeing a different but more personal side of golfers. The golfers appear to be relaxed and making the most of the situation, by interacting with each other, reporters and the camera more often. I personally think this is a form of the professional golfer that is more relatable to. Could this encourage more people to pursue the game, either locally or professionally? It's hard to say but it doesn't seem out of the question.
But fans are missed by the pros, as many have said, and can you blame them? Imagine walking down the 18th hole on a Sunday, just a putt away from winning your first tournament. That atmosphere cannot be recreated without fans, especially for events such as the Ryder Cup, which thrive on fan energy and presence.
I would like to end off with a few messages. This article isn't meant to be a "COVID-19 was a good thing" type deal, because it isn't, and it should not be looked at that way. Many people have died from this virus, loved ones lost in the worst of circumstances and conditions. This article is simply an attempt to explain what has been happening in the golf industry here in Canada. It's something I've found rather interesting and the point of this article was to piece it all together.
While the article may appear to be written from the perspective of hindsight, this is still an ongoing situation, both in terms of golf growth and the virus itself. We are currently at a pivotal point in these series of events. We must all do our part to prevent the spread of the virus. As I mentioned above, it is very easy for me to envision a scenario where outbreaks begin to occur at courses, with drastic consequences. We cannot let our guard down. It would be irresponsible of me to write this article and not encourage each and every one of you to follow course and government rules concerning the virus. Golf Canada has a webpage dedicated to this.
What's more important than the state of the golf industry however is the lives of each golfer. If we all play our cards right though, we will emerge from the pandemic healthy, with a flourishing golf industry to return to.
Stay safe and remember to follow the rules,
-Nick
Toronto Golf Reviews
I've given you my perspective of the issue, but what's yours? Leave a comment below with your thoughts and lets start a dialogue.
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