Our Front-Nine Wishes for 2014

No. 1:  An Exciting Championship Year.  Tiger may be the J.R. of golf, but he improves the stature of the game with every final twosome he enters.  Let’s hope Phil Mickelson connects with his Luke Skywalker destiny to win the U.S. Open at Pinehurst.  Let’s see more of Adam Scott, and tomorrow’s golf leaders truly emerge in 2014.   We look forward to the excitement.

No. 2:  A Collaboration Among Golf’s Leaders:  Can’t we all get along? The game needs leaders, not finger pointers, if we’re committed to growing the game for all.   Let’s not focus on Fox, and find better ways to make the game affordable, playable, and more fun for all ages.

No. 3:  A Return to Golf Travel:  Boy, the last five years have been tough for the industry.  We all feel like we’ve been imprisoned for loving a game considered luxury.  We can include golf on a vacation with the family, with a business trip, or for a quick overnight with the guys.  It’s ok.  We love to play it, we have the equipment, and it should be used.  Let’s find a way to play more – home or abroad – in the new year.  Even if it’s only one trip.

No. 4:  Innovation – and Simplicity:  Are we the only ones that are overwhelmed and confused with golf technology? Honestly – what really works?  We’re struggling now on our short game and putting, and we’re looking for good ways – techniques, tools and practice – that make these tasks simpler, rather than more complicated.  Please don’t make us look up another metal alloy type or what an extra-deep groove might do.

No. 5:  Seeing more kids on the course:  We need more kids and family play days, more after-school 9-hole tee times, more junior practice sessions, more father-son weekly after-dinner rounds.  More junior leagues that go head to head with other sports.  Golf is a game you can play for life, but the passion starts young.  Let’s show real commitment to a summer-long, measurable program to get more kids hooked.

No. 6:  Golfers Seeking Memberships:  Keep an eye on this – it’s making not a comeback, but a new force.  This is not your father’s Caddyshack country club.  Annual memberships, local rounds packaging and loyalty cards mix well with high-end clubs that also have fishing, shooting, swimming, kayaking, hiking trails and more – in addition to golf.  People continue to crave outdoor activity, especially Gen Xers and their kids.  Expect that folks will crave community in the new year ahead.  No one does this better than Canadians in the Rockies, by the way.   If more people are members of some sort of club, league or group, it benefits the game as a whole – because they’re playing more golf, and enjoying it more.

No. 7:  Golf Socials:  Avid golfers can play anytime, with anyone.

There are more than enough tee times.  How can we get the fringe golfer, that we’re in danger of losing, to include golf in their monthly exercise regimen?  We recommend more golf and social events currently growing.  How about more golf playing lesson events with the pro, or area pros? How about more impromptu long-drive contests on the range, putting challenges with a nibble at each hole?  Quarterly Pro-Shop raids? Whiskey, wine and nine?  We can take a lot of intimidation out of the game for fringe golfers by helping them improve skills and enjoy their time.  Yes, that means women, grandmas, Baby Boomers and even college kids at home.

No. 8:  More golfers supporting the Amateur competitors:  There are a lot of high school and college kids out there that are really good.  They need you to attend events, encourage them, say hi and cheer them on at the course.  Find out what they’re learning, buy a ticket to a regional amateur event, or participate in one by being a volunteer, player or spectator.  There’s a lot of exciting talent coming out of developmental tours and clubs within your own community.  Take a moment to find out who our next stars will be.  Remember – the 2016 Olympic Games is not far away, and we need more great Canadians to represent us.

No. 9:  A Year Without a Catastrophic Weather Event:  We want Kananaskis Country to reopen, for the good of the community.  We hope not rain, nor snow, nor tornadoes or hurricanes hits any course, let alone golfers and their families, their homes.  Weather plays a huge role every year in the game’s success, so we can’t help but hope for rain at night, sun during the day, and having a need for more sunscreen and hats.