Golf’s need for speed by Anand Datla

Golf’s need for speed. As far as adages go, this is one that never rang truer than it does today. An ever expanding internet and the growing influence of television have underlined the fact that time is indeed of the essence. Golf is witnessing a strangely contradicting trend that is beginning to toll some bells. Viewership is seen to be growing even as participation seems to be dipping. Rory McIlroy’s call for a pacier version of the game to embrace more participation has helped bring the focus back on the need for the game to embrace change.

Sports such as Professional Bull Riding (PBR) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) have seen jaw dropping growth over the past decade, riding a wave of lusty consumerism that is sweeping sport across the United States and the world.

The Forbes, in a report published last year, described how PBR (48% CAGR) and MMA’s Ultimate Fighting Championship (140% CAGR) have set the marker for an ever deepening trend of unsurpassed growth that is characterizing success in the market space surrounding sport. [Picture Credit Here]

Meanwhile, a BBC story on golf, which is causing concern among the people driving the game forward. It was pointed out that the number of people between the ages of 16 and 25, playing golf at least once a week has fallen from 95.7k in 2009-10 to just 52.4k three years later.

One needs to admit though that golf is an old fashioned game with a dedicated base of followers, which remains loyal to it from adoption to grave. The courses had to be lengthened and made tougher to keep the challenge steep for an ever improving breed of players.

Traditions have dictated that golfers defer and wait for their fellow players to complete their shots before taking their own. And then there are a myriad other small traditions that add to the nuance and sophistry of this beautiful game.

That being said, we live in an era of instant gratification and endless thrills. Golf needs to adapt and any attempt to live in denial could only precipitate a calamitous decline of support especially among the younger generation.

No game can survive a failure to spread wings across generations and golf is at a cross roads today as it seeks to widen and deepen its appeal to a younger audience. It is just as well that the top golfer in the world has come out strongly in support of the need to embrace change.

“Everything’s so instant now and everyone doesn’t have as much time as they used to,” said McIlroy to the BBC. “So you maybe try some way of speeding the game up.” Cricket and tennis have embraced speed in recent years to some very positive reviews.

The twenty20 format of cricket has caught on like forest fire. The recent introduction of a shot clock between points in the International Premier Tennis League had both fans and commentators raving about it endlessly.

There are no easy solutions for golf. The 18-hole four day weekend is a necessary form and is difficult to tinker with. Perhaps allowing mobility solutions for players and timing players could enhance pace and help television produce engaging fare.

And then the golfing community needs to rally around their thoughts and find newer formats of competition without compromising the sanctity of the game. It needs to done soon too or the game of golf might risk losing ground in an intensely competitive market place.