A look back on the last 12 months
It has been a quite outstanding year for the golf industry. The top professionals have performed at a remarkably high level with techniques and technology now producing golf of the most fabulous order. The power that young players produce today is way beyond anything that could have been imagined 20 or 30 years ago. Obviously, much of this is down to physical conditioning, but greater understanding of the golf swing has definitely helped the process. Lots of the credit for this must go down to the late John Jacobs, our OGRO President, who spent his life teaching a more efficient and effective way of playing golf. We are now onto the second and even third generation of teachers who have benefited from the principles that he introduced all those years ago. It is not surprising that the golf we see today on our television screens across the world is getting better and better.
All amateur golfers now have a much better chance of playing decent, competitive golf: the handicap structure, which is definitely more complex, certainly allows golfers to compete with one another, and enjoy the game in a much more rewarding manner.
LIV Golf has been a real headache for the authorities. Whilst this must be a mighty nuisance for them, it is a more exciting formula for new players to see great golf played in a different and more imaginative way than a basic 72 hole format. This has also forced the arm of the various tours and administrative bodies across the world, who are now coming up with better, more interesting and diverse ways of showcasing the talents of the top players.
LIV Golf, which is spearheaded by Greg Norman, has elbowed its way to the top table. The Official World Golf Rankings, OWGR, is still holding out in denying the LIV Tour golfers access to ranking points from the events that they are playing. This is a ridiculous situation and while the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) must feel the pressure from this new competition, it is disingenuous of the established tours to prevent and block world ranking points being issued to LIV events. This must surely change and the chairman of OWGR, Peter Dawson has a difficult task in juggling the vested interests of the established tours with the fairness of allowing LIV events to attract at least some ranking points.
Major lawsuits will be decided in the coming 12 months, and it is hoped that this may result in a genuine world tour with huge events in America, Europe, the Middle East and the rest of the world, all driving an even greater interest in our brilliant sport.
Saudi Arabia is a country which is trying hard to improve its image and using sports washing as a means to do that. Their appalling record on human rights, inflexible attitude towards homosexuality and criticism of the state is just not acceptable and the murder of the Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, is far too recent to be forgotten and unlikely to ever be forgiven. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia is an important trading partner of the western alliance of countries and it seems impossible to distinguish between governments’ interest and the commercial interests of various golf professionals who wish to take the fabulous wealth offered by the Saudis and enjoy more money for less golf in their careers.
In a year or two, things will look completely different, and Jay Monaghan, Keith Pelley, the R&A, USGA, Augusta National and the USPGA will have to come to an accommodation for the benefit of all. It may well be that Greg Norman does not get to be part of these negotiations, as his single minded determination to push the LIV agenda has been difficult for the traditional golf tours to stomach. He is undoubtedly a talented man, but subtlety and deft diplomacy seem to elude him. We will watch in fascination as this plays out.
Following on from the pandemic, golf is still enjoying a boom. People that took up the sport in the UK, especially when there were no other options for activity, have continued to enjoy the benefits of playing golf in a social setting. Most clubs are enjoying much fuller memberships and green fee income than they were before 2019, however with dark economic clouds gathering, it may well be that certain aspects of the golf industry will take more than just a little hit. Expensive golf equipment is not essential to enjoying the game. I doubt, however, that golf itself will suffer much in the coming couple of years. It is less likely that people will stop playing, rather than cut back on the large capital amounts, such as luxury purchases, new cars and expensive foreign travel. Traditional golf courses, providing they are well run and offer good value for money should be okay. The rising costs of fuel, labour, and of course energy for heating clubhouses and so on, will be a headache for many, but golf will emerge from this period in a good state.
There are new facilities being built and many facilities being transformed to encourage a more fun-based attitude for golfers and new players to enjoy the game. Topgolf is building another great centre in Glasgow; technology for golf ranges is continuing to prove very popular and giving great returns for those that invest in it. Typically, a visit to a golf range is now a group event for many and part of a relatively inexpensive leisure experience, offering for all types of player, particularly popular with a younger set. This can only help golf in the medium and long-term.
Adventure golf continues to be very popular with an average 18 hole course, occupying half an acre, able to entertain more golfers than a full 18 hole course. Adventure golf may not be the full experience that traditional golfers seek, but it gets people involved, and those young players putting a ball will hopefully evolve into young golfers with a greater interest in the main game of golf.
As ever, as we reflect on the year past, there are many people who are no longer with us. Great champions have passed away – and quite recently. We were sad to learn of the death of Sandy Jones, who spearheaded the PGA in Britain for 25 years, leaving the association in very good health, burnishing the PGA brand and ensuring that all PGA professionals are proud to retain their membership of the Association. He was not without his critics and personally I had a fabulous row with him many years ago on a point that we completely disagreed on. The measure of the man was that we made up in fine style and he bore no grudge towards me for having an outspoken and different opinion to him, once the dust has settled. PGA professionals today have far more opportunities to take, really exciting roles within the golf industry and the education programme is getting better and better. Rob Maxfield, who took over from Sandy as the chief executive of the PGA, continues to lead an excellent team for the benefit of the professional game.
So as we look towards 2023, despite some uncertainty over the economic conditions, there is much to look forward to. More great championships, fantastic new formats for golf to be played in, even better television coverage, professional golfers may even reveal a bit more leg! (Golf pros playing in shorts – another useful innovation from LIV Golf)
Forty years ago I turned professional and headed off to the La Manga golf complex in South-east Spain to try and win my European tour card. I failed at the first attempt and then one year later was lucky enough to win one of those tour cards. I wasn’t particularly successful and soon lost my playing privileges, but the experience it gave me was life changing. It was great to see the recent La Manga Legend Tourevent with many old colleagues still playing exceptional golf, even though some of them are now in their 70s.
Just last week the LET Q school took place also at La Manga, which is a fair – but tough – way of determining new blood for the various tours of the world for the forthcoming season. Hopes and aspirations and high nervousness abound, and it is a fortnight to be viewed rather than enjoyed. I wish all those participating in the event the best possible luck and hope that they achieve their playing dreams and that they will have as much fun with a golf career as I have had with mine.
2023 promises to be an exciting period for the golfing industry and we look forward to reporting the major events
Best regards,
Colin Jenkins