Golf 2.0 Has Good Ideals, Few Real Solutions

ORLANDO — As the story goes, Jack Nicklaus momentarily lost track of his credentials for the PGA Merchandise Show on Thursday and was told if anybody in the Orange Country Convention Center didn’t know who he was, they were in the wrong business.

Never was a truer word spoken and to illustrate that fact quite nicely was the crowd waiting to hear the Golden Bear throw his support behind the Golf 2.0 “strategic initiative” to attract new players to the game.

The senior statesman, 72, pointed out that golf has lost 23 per cent of women and 36 per cent of kids playing the game since 2006. He admitted that his 22 grandchildren don’t play all that much and that other sports are grabbing their attention. Read More »

Industry Needs Agreement/Action To Grow The Game

In a setting such as the PGA Merchandise Show, which gets underway Thursday morning, there is no shortage of opinion about the challenges facing golf, particularly participation. “The most important...  Read More »

Off To Orlando

Depending on when you read this, I could be 30,000 feet over North Carolina or Georgia on my way to the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. It’s been a tradition for years and while the show has changed...  Read More »

What Are Golf’s Chances For Tax Deductible Status?

With word that some politicians are pushing to have green fees for business-related golf outings qualify as legitimate deductions, golf operators across Canada have understandably been talking up such...  Read More »

Grimm’s Decision Is Precautionary

I just got off the phone with Dick Grimm, who says his decision not to attend next week’s PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando is precautionary. While he admits he’s been feeling under the weather lately,...  Read More »

Ames Ready To Move Forward

Calgary’s Stephen Ames looked as if he was nicely shaking off the effects of a disappointing 2011 season by his standards. Going into the final round of the Sony Open in Hawaii, Ames was tied for eighth...  Read More »

Should Golf Canada Always Hire Canadian?

I wondered if it would become an issue when Golf Canada last week announced that it had hired Tristan Mullally of Ireland as head coach of the national women’s team. You can read that story here. I didn’t...  Read More »

GNN Poll: Emerging Trends

The past few blogs have been devoted to how the industry sees itself through the GNN Poll and we noticed a few trends that have the potential to emerge in 2012 and beyond.   The Canadian trade shows,...  Read More »

GNN Poll: Is Golf Losing Its Passion?

One of the more poignant and well-read blogs on GNN in 2011 was this one from Kyle German. Normally lighthearted and gregarious, Kyle was seriously considering his future and the possibility of getting...  Read More »

GNN Poll: Same Concerns in 2012 as 2011

Things haven’t changed all that much compared to the beginning of 2011, especially uncertainty in the economy. This year, we’re looking at a European debt crisis that could throw the entire globe into...  Read More »

Hearn, DeLaet Kick Off 2012 Season

Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., kick off their 2012 PGA Tour seasons later this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Both are at the same points in their careers after...  Read More »

Will The Canadian Tour Become A Good PGA Tour Investment?

The PGA Tour will provide the Canadian Tour with an operating loan and lend assistance in tournament development and sponsorship in 2012. Whether the tour will continue that assistance beyond this year...  Read More »

Tough Questions Need Answers At Golf Canada AGM

There have been times in this space when I’ve taken a media colleague to task, but in this case, I agree with ScoreGolf’s Bob Weeks who says here that the upcoming Golf Canada/Royal Canadian Golf Association...  Read More »