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Something that is being overlooked was that when Tiger Woods burst on the scene in the early 2000’s and was winning tournament after tournament and in commercials and on the covers of more than just golf magazines, golf became hugely more popular, not only on TV but it also got more people into playing golf, especially younger people who never would have considered taking up the game. Similarly Annika Sorenstam did the same with respect to more women taking up the golf.

But the huge upswing of popularity also hurt the game as the influx of new players, some of whom never bothered to take any lessons or learn the rules and etiquette, and the long playing times (5 to 6 hours for 18 holes) and difficulty even getting tee times, drove a lot of long time players away out of frustration.

And then when Tiger crashed and burned both professionally and personally, Annika retired and Wie failed to live up to expectations, and people found it wasn’t as easy as the pros make it appear on TV and it had lost the “cool factor”, a lot of those newcomers lost interest.

Yes, I’m sure the economy factors into the equation as well.

I stopped playing around 2006 mostly because of lower back issues and then a gain of more weight than I’m comfortable carrying. Of course being unemployed between 2009 and 2010 also had a lot to do with it.

But I’m working out and losing weight and have been thinking recently of dusting off my clubs and at least going to the driving range and playing a round or two in the fall, see how my back tolerates it and perhaps playing more regularly.

BTW - Dicks is a terrible place to buy golf equipment, has been for years.

“long playing times (5 to 6 hours for 18 holes)”

Golf could be played for time. Hit the ball, run after it and hit it again. With only low-compression balls allowed, golf courses would take up a lot less acreage. Speed golf would provide a better overall workout, and get you back to the all-important 19th hole in less than an hour!

You know you can walk the course...you don’t have to get a cart...it is really good exercise.