2007 Survey results
The 2007 GCSAA Leadership Survey, a real-time, computerized, opinion poll conducted at GCSAA's Education Conference and Golf Industry Show in Anaheim and available on the GCSAA Web site, examined the opinions of superintendents on trends in golf and golf course management.
The questions were aimed at learning what GCSAA golf course superintendents thought about the related issues of golfer participation and pace of play. The survey is designed to position the golf course superintendent as an expert in trends affecting the golf industry.
Pace of play and golfer participation
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One concern in the golf industry is that golfer participation hasn't grown in recent years. Which of these factors do you think are contributing to this?
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The cost of green fees or memberships
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259
|
57%
|
|
The amount of time it takes to play a round of golf
|
305
|
67%
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|
Frustration with how hard the game is to play
|
57
|
13%
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Difficulty in getting a tee time
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18
|
4%
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Commitments to work and family
|
348
|
77%
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Social or athletic activities competing for the time and money dedicated to golf
|
257
|
57%
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Assuming that cost is a significant factor, which of the following factors most influences the cost of golf today? Choose your top three.
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The cost of course construction
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197
|
44%
|
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Golfer expectations regarding course conditions
The cost of non-golf amenities at the course
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405
|
90%
|
|
175
|
39%
|
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Course designs that are costly to maintain
|
334
|
74%
|
|
Competition among superintendents to provide high-quality conditions
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112
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25%
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Do you think golfers understand the relationship between golf course conditioning and the cost of memberships/green fees?
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Yes
|
67
|
15%
|
|
No
|
374
|
83%
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|
Don't know
|
11
|
2%
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In your opinion, which of these strategies has the most potential to increase golfer participation?
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Adding affordable public and daily fee courses
|
236
|
52%
|
|
Improving the pace of play at existing courses
|
256
|
57%
|
|
Adding junior golf programs
|
261
|
58%
|
|
Creating introductory programs for adults
|
219
|
49%
|
|
Bringing golf to disadvantaged youth
|
20
|
4%
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|
Free lessons for potential new golfers
|
107
|
24%
|
|
Marketing to non-traditional groups, such as women, minorities, etc.
|
213
|
47%
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Assuming pace of play is a significant factor in golfer participation and retention, Rank these factors in order of their influence on the pace of play.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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The superintendent through course maintenance
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38%
|
21%
|
22%
|
12%
|
7%
|
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The pro shop, through manipulation of tee time intervals
|
18%
|
26%
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27%
|
17%
|
11%
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The course architect, through routing and course difficulty
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8%
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17%
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21%
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29%
|
25%
|
|
The course marshals, through monitoring/educating golfers
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19%
|
17%
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23%
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29%
|
13%
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|
The golfers, through proper actions on the course
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9%
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12%
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13%
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18%
|
48%
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Which of the following ways to decrease time on the course would be accepted by golfers?
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Building 12-hole courses
|
34
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8%
|
|
Encouraging and marketing nine-hole rounds
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214
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47%
|
|
Spacing tee times to avoid crowding on the course
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283
|
63%
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|
Designing courses with three, six-hole loops
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105
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23%
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|
Promoting play in twosomes instead of foursomes
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45
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10%
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Increased marshaling to keep players moving
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274
|
61%
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|
Maintenance changes that make the course easier
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243
|
54%
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Have you changed any maintenance practices on your course to improve the pace of play?
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Yes
|
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288
|
64%
|
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No
|
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163
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36%
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Name two course maintenance changes you either have made or could make to improve the pace of play.
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View 433 Responses
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If the difficulty of the game is a factor in golfer participation, which of these course setup changes do you think would make the game more popular?
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More forward tee placements
|
273
|
61%
|
|
Easier hole locations
|
255
|
57%
|
|
Wider fairways
|
316
|
70%
|
|
Shorter rough
|
372
|
83%
|
|
Fewer trees
|
213
|
47%
|
|
More trees
|
1
|
0%
|
|
Firmer bunkers
|
105
|
23%
|
|
Softer bunkers
|
18
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4%
|
|
Higher fairway height for easier approach shots
|
120
|
27%
|
|
Firm, fast fairways for more roll
|
133
|
30%
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|
Slower greens
|
285
|
63%
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Is the overall length of a golf course a negative factor in recruitment or retention of golfers?
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Yes
|
154
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34%
|
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No
|
229
|
51%
|
|
Don't know
|
68
|
15%
|
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Does your course have a set of tees less than 5,300 yards to provide playability for more golfers?
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Yes, it was designed with them
|
216
|
48%
|
|
Yes, we have added new, shorter forward tees
|
106
|
23%
|
|
No, but we are planning new forward tees
|
31
|
7%
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|
No, and we have no plans to add shorter forward tees
|
99
|
22%
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Do the golfers at your course want it to be less difficult or more difficult?
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Less difficult
|
97
|
21%
|
|
Leave it the same
|
296
|
65%
|
|
More difficult
|
59
|
13%
|
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How often do YOU get to play?
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Never
|
6
|
1%
|
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Less than 5 times a year
|
71
|
16%
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5 to 15 times a year
|
159
|
35%
|
|
15 to 30 times a year
|
133
|
29%
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|
More than 30 times a year
|
83
|
18%
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TOP
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