Grow the Game...for real. (Part 1)

Tiger Woods has been on tour for over 10 years now.  My point is that the tremendouse numbers that hit the game 8, 9 and 10 years ago because of his emergence are gone.  In fact, golf has been experiencing a zero growth rate the last few years.  It certainly isn't for lack of effort by the PGA of America or the United States Golf Association as is evidenced by their respective campaigns.  The PGA has "Play Golf America" as well as their Foundation.  The USGA has "For the Good of the Game". 

So what's the problem?  Why is golf flat?  Well, it takes up a lot of time in a world that is more and more demanding of our time; it is expensive on a couple of levels; you can't build a course just anywhere; oh yeah...and it's HARD!!  Tiger, Phil, Annika and their friends just make it look easy.

Don't fret, there are some people out there that are trying to bring golf to more and more people.  Golfweek magazine, which in this blogger's opinion is the best golf publication out there HANDS DOWN, recently had an article written by Jeff Achenbach about a company I have become familiar with, Almost Golf, LLC. 

Robert Peterson, creator of the almostGolf ball has a unique vision about the future of golf and his company has been extremely supportive of creative initiatives to bring the game of golf to places never before imagineable.  The "Point3" golf ball only travels about 1/3 of the distance a normal ball travels but it acts and flies like a real ball.  Phil MIchelson's Dad keeps several dozen at his house for when his grandkids visit.  I met Rob at the PGA Show in January and he was immediately helpful and insightful as to what our company's product called the SwingStation was all about and the different ways the SwingStation could be adapted into different businesses.

SwingStation Systems (that's our logo on the left) is about to roll out it's junior after school, at-school golf program in New Jersey April 2nd.  A similar effort is being made in Iowa.  There are other efforts, as discussed in Golfweek magazine, around the country that aboutGolf is supporting.  Our company's pitch has been "we're bringing the golf course to your school" (or your company's office for that matter).    And yes, we are bringing indoor putting greens, hitting nets, chipping targets, the SwingStation Swing Analysis system; but with the Point3 ball, we can actually set up a golf course in an area that is roughly the size of a couple of football fields.  Think about that...

Will this reduced flight ball replace golf as we know it?  Nope.  Will this reduced flight ball REALLY help grow the game?  YUP!  And SwingStation Systems is going to be there to be a part of the whole thing.