Sarnella

10-15 years ago we would never have thought that so many courses would be shutting down . We would never have thought that golf courses would be adding frizbee golf , foot/soccer golf or renting out their course for not just tournaments but team and family functions and parties. Likewise we didnt probably have expect wifi on courses, music players etc. Most if not all private courses are now holding outside tournaments and events to generate revenue.

Non of these have or are taking over or ruining golf . They are going on at courses around here but havent created any issues other than the course isnt available to play golf during those times set aside for other activities. Courses still fill their tee sheets on weekends and so unlikely that those times will be affected in the future. Courses that struggle to stay busy do need to find ways to increase traffic and revenues in less busy times.

Top Golf facility opening here in future as well.

Im as much of a golf traditionalist as the next old fart, but things change, they always do, you embrace and accept it or get passed by it.

    Before I ever touched a golf club I was a 4 nite a week softball player. Softball was big, had to get a permit to get an open field for a couple hours. Delaware has a forth of July tournament that drew 150 teams from all over. Now I drive by the 3 diamond park around my house and the diamonds are empty all summer. I guess young folks don’t play softball anymore. Bowling alleys closing up, small ski bunny hill complex closed down, what do these people do?

      Tinker

      Softball and baseball are still big here. I still play and while the league I run has reduced in size demand for the diamonds is more than we can meet. Success in recent years of the Blue Jays ( not last year) created a big increase in minor ball registrations and we had to move our games later in the evening to allow extra time for the kids. Our complexes are full from after school till 11:30 pm.

      Bowling .....we had a few places in the area now i believe there is only 1 left in the neighbouring city. Bowling is like golf for many, boring. Ive been to a few fundraisers held at bowling alleys and the music is rockin, drinks and food flowing and people having a good time. Hmmm, almost top golf like I'd say. The bowling alley in town here closed several years ago and is a prayer hall now.

      Too many kids now dont play sports, they would rather play video games and spend time on their phones . Phys Ed is now optional in High school. For Those kids who do participate in competitive sports its now become a full year activity . My daughter played rep hockey, rep soccer and competitive gymnastics for a few years. once she got a bit older and playing atbthe highest level the soccer and hockey became such that training became year round with winter elite soccer leagues indoors and summer elite travelling hockey teams. Gynmastics was already year round and 10-15 hours a week. It became too much and in order to play atbthe highest level , most kids need to pick one sport and focus on that. Its certainly different from when I was a kid when hockey players,, even those in the NHL took summers off and went to training camp to get into shape. Not any more.

        Sorry TopGolf is not GOLF. It may resemble some aspects of GOLF, much like Goofy Golf does or did, but is clearly targeting a market that 'Likes the Idea of Golf' but thinks it needs to be more than a driving range.

        I would be interested in finding out when they have the most customers. A Guess after 4pm, especially since most are open till 1 or 2 AM.

        Golf courses closing today was predictable. Cost of maintenance of the course versus revenue against what the real estate can bring in, just dooms many courses. People spend more hours with their kids activities and social networking. Once they make it, have financial stability, Real Golf is something many turn too or will turn too. They will also have the money.

        Slow play is a big issue, it may not drive many away, but it reduces how often they play.

        People between the age 24 and 45, don't have the time or disposable income to spend the money and time needed to keep all these courses open. Just look at how many clubs have had their members age out. This has been going on for 20 plus years.

        Golf won't die, it may scale down some more, but all this other stuff isn't GOLF, great entertainment, good times in the evenings allowing for day time activities with the family and work.

          Martee
          Let's face it....golf is a VERY difficult game to play and play well. It's also time consuming and is not cheap. But the thing that those Top Golf facilities is selling is FUN. Eat, drink, hit a few balls, laugh at your and your friends' mistakes, etc., etc. For the casual "golfer" he/she can get all the "golf" he wants under circumstances like this
          and not have to be hounded by a starter or ranger for his slow play and oafish behavior.
          When I coached a high school golf team I always would have 1 or 2 kids who would rather hit a ton of balls on the driving range than play 18 holes. I finally figured out it was because: a) They didn't have to WALK the 4 miles around the course, and b) They didn't have to own up and play their missed shots!!!

          Top Golf solves both of those problems for people to whom golf is nothing more than an occasional diversion.....plus
          wings and beers between shots!

            Tinker
            What seems to be most different for today's younger people is not playing sports just for fun. When my kids were young they both played at least 4 different sports, all in organized leagues. As they got older and everything became more and more competitive, they gradually dropped most of them until they were down to one in high school. While playing organized sports they never got together with friends just to play for fun like I did when I was a kid. My son played in intramural basketball leagues in college but now at age 27 does not play anything. I played softball into my mid 40s, and could have easily played longer.

              Martee

              All true. But if the Top Golf concept can scratch an itch for the 20-something with a family, just starting out, then perhaps when he/she does find the time and the means to get into the sport - maybe it happens.

              Who knows?

              Knowing what I know now, all these years later... I would've waited until my mid-late 30's to take up the sport. I would've had more time, more disposable income, to fully embrace the lifestyle. Without putting a financial burden on my family, without giving up time spent with my kids growing up.

              We had kids early on in life... so that obviously has to be taken into consideration. Sometimes that's not the case in other situations. Both of my two kids were born in my mid-20's, and although my financial situation wouldn't afford me more than a once-per-week round - I still felt like I was taking both time and money away from my family when I did play, even though it worked out just fine.

              Yet I needed to have an outlet, if that makes sense. Golf just happened to be my outlet. Wasn't into going out drinking with my buddies, didn't have any other hobbies or habits.