Nicklaus hopes to change golf for better

Nicklaus hopes to change golf for better

December 12, 2011



A minute with Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus shares his thoughts about the Charles Schwab Cup, his course designs, and the progression of golf.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Golf icon Jack Nicklaus on Monday suggested major changes to the current state of the sport, saying it's alienating the average golfer and certain demographics.

"I believe that the game of golf needs help," Nicklaus said. "The game takes too long to play, it's relatively expensive [and] it's too difficult. There's a lot of things that could happen."

Speaking to members at the Desert Mountain Club, where he designed all six golf courses, to promote next year's Charles Schwab Cup Championship, Nicklaus cited significant declines in female and junior golfers in the past five years to display the waning interest in the game.

Since 2006, Nicklaus noted, the female golf demographic has declined about 23 percent — roughly 2 million golfers — while the junior demographic has seen a drop of about 34 percent, about 1.3 million.

Nicklaus, 71, said the biggest problem today is that the average golfer can no longer do the things professional golfers do.

"I think it's really important that the average golfer relates to the golf pros," Nicklaus said. "He always wants to be able to play like the pros, and today I don't think you can."

Nicklaus said golf balls used since the "Big Dimple" ball, which has a higher trajectory, was introduced by Titleist in the 1970s make it harder for the average golfer to drive the ball like professional golfers do. That, he said, has made people enjoy the game less and lose interest.

Nicklaus, who won a record 18 major championships in 25 years on the PGA Tour, is working with the Tour to determine ways to interest young golfers in particular.

"We need to bring people into the game and we need to keep them in the game," Nicklaus said. "We need to think out of the box."

As for particular ways to address his criticisms, Nicklaus said he has used tournaments to test stroke penalties for slow play and larger holes — eight inches instead of four. Those measures, he said, were well received.

Nicklaus knows the "core" golfers resist changes to the game and admitted he has always been a bit of a traditionalist, but knows that golf requires some tweaking to sustain relevance and start growing again.

"I've always believed that the game should be played a certain way and played by the rules and so forth," Nicklaus said. "That's just not working anymore."




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i think for a start, there should be more 9 hole courses....AND....unless its major, do away with the 4 rounds....my take

8 inch hole but 30 degree slopes on the green....make putting easier and harder like those miniature golf...

Jack was speaking about US context, i believe. They need a new idol who wins majors (or for Tiger to be back to his dominating ways). US fans' interests wane if the Euros dominate PGA and Asians dominate LPGA. Much like Se Ri Pak and YE Yang inspires legions of young koreans to pick up the game, and e.g. much like those red neck pros who wouldn't pick Luke Donald as POY.

in addition, USA has been in financial crisis and or recession since what, mid 2007? Golf is good when economy is good.

I dunno if slow play is THE biggest issue in USA. the last two years, I played in Nor Cal few times. Courses I played were empty leh (albeit, I didnt play Olympic Club or Harding Park). I played three balls also no one cares. They have so many courses and if you read the mags, it seems the courses/resorts are advertising so much for people to come during spring break etc, and you read news about courses getting into financial trouble.

When the americans are not winning anymore, they starts to try and make changes to the rules
equipment specs etc. I remember the commissioner of the LPGA tried to implement a "must know how to speak english" rule after the korean girls starts to dominate the LPGA tour. The international communities protested and it was never implemented. They just cannot accept the fact that others, especially the asians have caught up or surpass them.

Nicklaus said golf balls used since the "Big Dimple" ball, which has a higher trajectory, was introduced by Titleist in the 1970s make it harder for the average golfer to drive the ball like professional golfers do. That, he said, has made people enjoy the game less and lose interest.

deeper dimples higher ball flight.
big dimples cover less surface area - not sure what that does to ball flight, but big dimples make putting roll less true, impact on putter face may be a little off.

Birdman, can you illuminate on the "big dimple" comment?
Thanks