November 23, 2020 | BY AAGD STAFF
“It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. It took one afternoon on the golf course,” said Major League Baseball legend Hank Aaron. Now, in this time of COVID-19, many Americans are finding golf to be the perfect recreational sport.
Unlike many other sports like basketball, football, and soccer, a round of golf–or even hitting on the driving range–provides for plenty of social distancing. Plus, the game can be played individually, without a playing partner, so one can ditch the mask and gloves. Once you wipe down your golf cart, you are pretty much playing safely and at your own discretion.
In September, golfers played 12 million more rounds in the U.S. compared to a year ago, a 26% jump, according to Golf Datatech, a market research firm. That’s a welcome boost for a sport whose popularity has been on the wane in recent years.
David Lorentz, chief research officer for the National Golf Foundation said “Golf started on a good note in terms of rounds in January and February, and then a ton of the things that compete with golf for time, attention and money — like trips and the plethora of leisure activities and work and personal commitments — were eliminated.” He added, “In favorable weather and the COVID-induced demand for escape, and we’ve got the past five months.”
Skyrocketing sales
The immense jump in golf equipment sales cannot be disputed. In August, consumers spent a record $331 million on clubs, balls, gloves and other gear — that was up 32% over the year-ago period and topped the previous sales record for that month in 2006, according to Golf Datatech.
For the first 10 months of 2020, golf equipment sales were up nearly 30% compared to the same period last year, Matt Powell, an analyst with market research firm NPD Group, told CBS MoneyWatch. Training tools, such as hitting screens, swing aids and putting mats are up 75% as enthusiasts practice their technique away from the golf course.
Plus, consider the millions of Americans who are now bringing their businesses into their homes, freelancing, and being put into home offices by their employers, this is all impacting the way people are working and the amount of leisure time they have available to enjoy. Because of the virus, individuals no longer have to sneak away from their desks to play a quick nine holes.
“People’s idea of working from home was a euphemism for, ‘I’m on the tee at 10 o’clock every day,” said Gene Mulak, director of golf at Silver Spring Country Club in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
Mulak, who has worked as a head golf pro since 1996, said this season has been his busiest ever. Last year, 16,500 rounds were played at the Fairfield County golf course. This year, members and guests are on track to play 23,000 rounds, he said.
Nine is the popular number
Research by the National Golf Foundation is showing that the number of so-called “short loops” is growing, and was up more than 15% in 2020,
“This challenges the assumption that golf is an 18-hole sport. People are starting to see the beauty of carving out two hours for nine holes instead of three or four,” said Lorentz of the National Golf Foundation. “That could be a real positive for the industry coming out of the pandemic.
Just a few years ago, interest in golf had slumped to the point that industry leaders began experimenting with changes to the game, including introducing 15-inch holes, almost four times the diameter of a standard hole, to make it easier to sink puts and speed up the pace of play.
Now, Shannon McKelvey, a Tampa, Florida architect and avid golfer said he has been out on the golf course weekly and has played more rounds in 2020 than ever before. “The fresh air and ability to play alone without wearing a mask have been great. I do miss my golfing buddies, wagering and having a drink at the clubhouse; but I like much better knowing that I am being safe. Hopefully, COVID-19 will be gone soon, and we can all resume our competitive rounds,” he said.
