Jack Nicklaus Promotes 'Golf 2.0' at PGA Merchandise Show

While Tiger is playing in the Middle East and Phil is teeing it up at Torrey Pines, the PGA Merchandise Show is being held this week in Orlando, Florida.  It is golf’s answer to a national business convention.

The newest and best golf products are on display and all of the movers and shakers in the golf industry are gathered to promote their latest initiative, idea, or product.

Jack Nicklaus was a keynote speaker at one of the sessions held on Thursday.  He was on hand to promote his new golf initiative “Golf 2.0."

Nicklaus is concerned that the game of golf is not growing at an acceptable rate and is actually losing future participants to other sports.  Women and children especially are not coming into the game as they were over the past decade.  Children are being drawn to other sports such as: soccer, lacrosse, baseball, basketball and football.

 Research has found that the reason golf is regressing in numbers is threefold.

• The game is too slow
• The game is too expensive  
• The game is too difficult

 A panel was assembled to discuss these issues and consisted of:

• Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 major golf championships
• Mike Davis, President of the USGA
• Alan Wronowski, President of the PGA of America
• Ken Griffey Jr., retired professional athlete
• Frank Sanchez Jr., President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Click here for a portion of the panel discussion and highlights of Mr. Nicklaus’ speech.

Several ideas to help grow the game in the future are being considered among them:

• building small golf courses in city parks and recreation areas
• PGA professionals teaching golf in the Boys & Girls Clubs
• shortening actual golf courses  
• making six- and 12-hole golf courses rather than nine- and 18-hole courses.

Fewer golfers across America and around the world leads to lower sales of golf equipment and fewer golfers who pay green fees to support local golf courses.  Maybe it is time to think outside the box and implement some new ideas to bring young people, women and the high handicap golfers back to the game.