I live in Surrey and Golf has never been more popular than it is currently. I think the fact the people are working from home means they can get out more and as a result our course is so busy, we don’t even have room for visitors.
For me it’s not cycling or golf....it’s both.
Leeds Urban Bike Park is largely built on an old golf course, definitely the way forward. There's a golf course on the hill where I live, there's a bridleway through it every time I ride I think it would make a perfect bike park too! Loads of space, decent slope and it's never that busy.
The in laws are into Golf, MILs club folded this year when Covid struck. FILs club still going, he was president a few years back. Does seem that getting absolutely smashed at social events is as important as playing itself 😉
Most golf courses really busy at the mo. Tried to book one the other week (booking a week in advance) for a Friday and all the decent ones within a 50 mile radius were chocker. Sat/Sun totally sold out.
My old club has a very active junior section and now has a waiting list to join.
A good mate of mine runs a golf course. It opened around 1997, just as Tiger was getting into his prime and making it cool and business was booming. Being in N Ireland there was also the Rory factor which helped, but then 2012 happened with Wiggo winning the TdF and the Brits cleaning up the cycling medals at the Olympics. Suddenly the club membership numbers started falling to the stage where a few years ago the course was on it's knees and they were seriously considering winding it up. They've managed to survive and the future is looking more stable but there's no doubt that it was the rise of the MAMIL that almost forced them to close.
I stopped playing for one reason, cost. I can see me doing the same with cycling.
No need to stop cycling because of cost Klunk.
Just don't chase the latest fashion. I stopped a while ago. It's liberating.😀
Almost a direct quote from the secretary of one of the nearby clubs "Covid has been really hard for golf, because so many of our members don't really like playing golf, they just use it as an excuse to hang around with their friends for 18 holes then hit the clubhouse and now their wives won't let them".
I only know two golfers these days one is the old stereotype personified, a high earner with a London based job who moved the whole family to a new house that happens to back onto a golf course so he could disappear at will, IMO he's a bit of a bore.
The other is an Italian who spent a chunk of their formative years in the states and is apparently quite good (how would I know). Her hubby comes out riding with me, she barely even mentions golf.
Is the game getting smaller or is it simply that it's mainly the preserve of those who are "time rich" and can set aside most of a day regularly without reprisals from the spouse?
I'm sure you'll still find plenty of boomer-golfists ready to spend a fortnight avoiding the missus on Tenerife if it weren't for covid...
Played golf a lot until a couple of years ago, hip injury (hip impingement) means i couldn't do it any more, i do miss it, but there was a lot of negatives you had to put up with at golf clubs, such as the muppets who thought they owned the place, the seniors having most of the say, so a lot of prime times taken up by them, and things like dress code and so on.
From all the clubs i went and played at in the region, most were struggling, yes they have a fullish membership, but the money that keeps a club going is from visitors (especially big groups) and the clubhouse through food and functions, both of which are hit a bit now due to the current situation.
There is attempts to make it more interesting to younger folk though, such as the recent rule changes, fashions being eased and so on, but at the same time it is getting really expensive with costs of clubs doubling over the last few years, same with memberships and so on, plus the biggest issue is that at any club, on the weekend when comps are being played, the old and bold still rule the place, so can be off putting as well.
Used to play weekly from 10 year old till 24. The local course I used to play is now a over grown field for dog walking. A shame because it had a great driving range, a fantastic clubhouse which was a converted farm house.
Membership was £400 for the year or £10 a round. Some cracking holes, apart from the 17th which was shite.
Moved to Rishton in 2018 and tried to take up golf again but a shoulder injury wrote off most of my chances of that, then end of last year nose surgery over winter, ready to get going a COVID struck ☹️. It was open for members only till last month and I’ve had a few solo rounds so far, nice pleasant course. £15 a round or £450 a year membership.
I once got turned away from a golf course in Huddersfield for not wearing tailored shorts. I wasn't wearing boardies or owt, just plain blue shorts.
Elitest nobs!
I've never played but I was walking across our local course on Wednesday and started eyeing up a few holes. It's very scenic and well laid out. Lots of folk use it for dog walking and running and it's great for sledging and XC skiing when conditions permit. Some nice pockets of woodland within it, housing some endangered species too.
Certainly seems to be as popular as ever with the locals and of course it's one of the visitor attractions.
like er… South Essex?
... And Basildon, Cranham, Belhus Park, Hartwood, Orsett, Dunton Hills. I like Lullingstone over in Kent best, no elitist crap on that course.
Mrs Zips sister was told off for wearing the wrong colour socks.
No need to stop cycling because of cost Klunk.
Just don’t chase the latest fashion. I stopped a while ago. It’s liberating.
I ride a secondhand 26" singlespeed with forks from 2007... so i'm not chasing anything, literally and figuratively.
@simon_g I wish I hadn't opened that link. Another reason why I miss Beckenham. I would've loved open water swimming and running routes on my doorstep. The golf course was on its arse in late 2000s. I didn't see many using it.
@spursn17 played Hartswood a few weeks ago and apart from them rebuilding the 18th it was in great condition. Astonished me given how it was a few years ago. Thousands of white leaves trees over there though, lost 2 balls on the fairway.
In case you don't know Dunton is becoming a village in the next couple of years so has had zero investment for a long time. It's appalling but for a hack about has been our only option given how busy everywhere else is.
Mardyke is a hidden gem over this way if you have never played, you suggest a few there I've not tried so thanks.
I forgot about Mardyke, that's where I ued to live as well😂
I remember when they first built it and they were trying to get members, yep, told no shorts! Only played there a couple of times.
Top Meadow in Nth Ockendon is worth a thrash around, bottom end gets a bit wet in winter though.
I used to live just outside Sunningdale - the whole area was rammed with golf courses. Used to cycle across Sunningdale and Wentworth and all the players were courteous to riders and walkers alike - it seems gone are the days that anyone within a mile of someone teeing off had to stand still for 5 minutes or face the wrath of some club elder. The average age of players seemed to be about 45 at a guess.
Played a bit in my teens, but didn’t gel with it. Found it pretty boring tbh. Local course was great for snowboarding in winter though.
I’m happy that it’s not working as a sport as it may push courses to use their land for other outdoor sports.
I think it’s more likely they’d just sell the land for housing.
I started playing when my youngest started school and I had time to kill during the day. It’s five minutes away and £300 a year. No dress code, don’t have to book a time, most people there are ordinary folk not snobs. I’ll play with my mates or by myself, doesn’t bother me. I find it quite relaxing, phone off, fresh air, exercise(ish) and a welcome break from the business of work and home life.
@ spursn17
lots of good riding in and around Lullignstone golf course . There are even some DH trails 5 miles away inside the M25. Best at night when no golfers around .
Never played as it is quite an elite sport in France . I have an english friend who plays quite a lot and he always moan that the golf was crap but he had beer and food was good .
Mrs Zips sister was told off for wearing the wrong colour socks.
I was told off for quoting Swiss Tony at the tee... It's the only one time I've played too.
"First, make sure you've a firm grasp of your equipment, making sure you're right at the top of the shaft. Then, aim for the hole but avoid the rough at all costs...."
@cchris2lou I've not ridden there, I used to ride a bit further over around Plaxtol or Meopham. Those nasty steep Kent hills used to scare me to death. Never go south of the river! 😀
I think it’s more likely they’d just sell the land for housing.
They would need planning permission first!
If they could get outline PP for houses they'd have sold up already as its way more profitable than Golf.
*inserts usual tale of his golfing story*
Was obsessed with golf (like proper obsessed) from 6years old to 17. I was an ok single figure player towards the end, played county junior level. Then I just got fed up of it, I wasn’t improving, I was bored, I got in to biking then instead.
Some of my family play to decent levels, 2 uncles are (well, were) club pros, my brother is off scratch, so is one of my cousins (who works for one of the leading waterproof/garment manufacturers) my other cousin is on the EuroPro tour. Haven’t seen that side of my family in a while so haven’t chatted to them about the game.
Two lads I used to play with (one worked for my uncle) now have a massive YouTube channel, are sponsored by Taylor Made, AP, Audi and have met and filmed vids with all the current greats. Another lad I played with is doing really well and works for some of the mags too. When I found out about them I wondered ‘what if’ but in reality I was no where near as good as them.
I’ve not picked up a club in about 20 years, I do fancy giving it a go again sometime soon.
Not too dissimilar to you Houns. Played off 2 when I was 17, then one day just got bored.
Played at the range with my lad last year and it was far from terrible within a matter of hours
As folk have mentioned above I can’t be arsed with all the formalities, I just want to rock up, smack a ball around a few holes then get off. Luckily I think there’s a local club with no dress codes etc ( I don’t think I’ve any Pringle left hidden away 😂 , mind have you seen the price of Pringle now 😧)
Don’t get me wrong, I think it was a good thing to obsessed about in my teens, kept me out of trouble, taught me a few things etc
Weeksy, and others with a similar story, try and get a copy of ‘nice jumper’ by Tom Cox, his almost identical story to mine of an obsessed teenage golfer in the 90’s
Two lads I used to play with (one worked for my uncle) now have a massive YouTube channel, are sponsored by Taylor Made, AP, Audi and have met and filmed vids with all the current greats.
Piers and Andy?
Yup, glad to see them doing so well
never played in my life but actually thinking about taking it up!
my youngest brother plays and is apparently quite good, him and our dad go for a round whenever he comes back over from Ireland. now the middle brother has taken it up and has started joining them for game too, and he goes to the range a fair bit with brother 1.. so kinda feel like i should join in?
The thing is none of them ride bikes (not proper bikes anyway) and im always of the disposition that if im afforded half a day to do what i want, id rather just go riding... and i already get grief for riding too much...
still, looks like it might be a laugh...
I hear that as of yesterday, Trump no longer plays/cheats (delete as appropriate).
I ride along a path that joins the clubhouse to the course I used to play & it’s always busy .
Packed in about 4 years ago - my mate and I could get round quite comfortably sub 3 hours with a clear run ( not rushing ) . This became rarer than rocking horse poo unfortunately & we were regularly stuck behind folk who thought that 4 -5 hours was what you do & never ever thought about letting us play through . Just ended up saying sod it
Same deal as others, was off 2 when I was 17 then gradually ride more, drank more and chased girls ! Still play not too shabbily with zero practice but all the feel and short stuff is a bit average. It’s enjoyable as a day out mainly for work but given the choice of 4h in the hills or in a course I’d be in the hills every time.
I gave up playing when my back and shoulders wouldn't play ball any more (over 15 years ago). I could have adapted my swing and played for a few more years (I was always threw the kitchen sink at it off the tee) but where's the fun in that?
I couldn't play that often anyway as it was too expensive but I had some fun. Hit a hole in one, had a handful of rounds in the 70's (and my fair share of those over 90!) and even won a par 3 competition at work 🙂
I'm waiting until I retire to start playing swish****...my patience may have improved by then....
One thing I have noticed since the gap between playing as a child and up to my mid twenties and having my rotator cuff repair after a severe dislocation. I just can’t hit my driver, it’s either hit and Mach 2 a few inches off the deck or it goes into space and comes down with as much finesse as a meteor.
So I’ve decided leave it in the garage, now using a 2 hybrid off the Tee instead.
Apropos of nothing, wife & I cycling Woburn last week, 3 middle aged blokes on the course by us, swearing like squaddies
Municipal course near us in MK always seems quiet
Good to see a few on here have played to a decent standard and like me just lost interest/circumstances changed. Haven't been on a course for 3 years now and content myself with the odd bucket of balls at Paul Lawrie's place in Aberdeen. I've been asked to play a few times by old mates since being back, but a combination of potentially embarrassing myself (they all are low single figures and one still a pro) and 5-6 hours for an outing has made me think twice.
My old club has changed a lot and what you park appears to be more important than golfing ability! Maybe that's a reflection of Aberdeen in general though and I'm not sorry to be moving down south again at the end of the month.
